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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  641. To Helene On a Gift-ring carelessly lost

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

George Darley. 1795–1846

641. To Helene On a Gift-ring carelessly lost

I SENT a ring—a little band 
  Of emerald and ruby stone, 
And bade it, sparkling on thy hand, 
  Tell thee sweet tales of one 
    Whose constant memory         5
    Was full of loveliness, and thee. 
 
A shell was graven on its gold,— 
  ‘Twas Cupid fix’d without his wings— 
To Helene once it would have told 
  More than was ever told by rings:  10
    But now all ‘s past and gone, 
    Her love is buried with that stone. 
 
Thou shalt not see the tears that start 
  From eyes by thoughts like these beguiled; 
Thou shalt not know the beating heart,  15
  Ever a victim and a child: 
    Yet Helene, love, believe 
    The heart that never could deceive. 
 
I’ll hear thy voice of melody 
  In the sweet whispers of the air;  20
I’ll see the brightness of thine eye 
  In the blue evening’s dewy star; 
    In crystal streams thy purity; 
    And look on Heaven to look on thee.