Charles Swain

Selections from Charles Swain

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906. Excerpt: ... DRAMATIC CHAPTERS CHAPTER I Lieutenant Somerville and Percival. Scene--The Garrison, Fort St. George, India. Somerville. I marvel that thou seek'st to screen this Delmont, And urge excuses for his gallantries. A wedded man should nurse his home-bom flowers, Not trespass o'er his neighbour's pales and rob Some unprotected garden of its bloom. Percival. I screen no gallantries:--and yet methinks, If woman took but half the pains to keep The husband which she used to win the lover, The home-born flowers, of which you seem so fond, Might charm so much, all other sweets were sours. CHAPTER II Olivia discovered gazing from the window. I have outwatched the hour--night's star is out; And like a tear, too sweet for sorrow's cheek, Still to the closing rose the dewdrop clings. Oh, favoured tree! with thy leaves young of hope, Thy bloom of promises, thy fragrant sighs, Thy modest beauty, blushing to be seen; Oh for thy sweetness, tenderness and grace! Be henceforth called, thou rose, the tree of Love! And for thy name, charm thou the air with sweets; Spread thine enchantments round for him whose step, If melody may have its flowers of sound, Is as the rose to mine expecting heart. How is't that I am thus absorbed in him? My love scarce known a month--nay, not a month--'Tis not three weeks till ten to-morrow morn. Oh, be that hour to memory consecrate! Three weeks! 'tis but a feather on time's breath, But breathed by love it seems a whole life long, For love lives years in moments.--Still he lingers: Our eastern lattice yields a wider glance O'er hill and river, palm and cedar-glade--I'll to its aid, and watch till he return. Alas! how small a thread seems time departed--How thick a web seems weary time to come. olivia retires. As she retires, a boat is seen approa...