Page:The poetical works of Thomas Campbell.djvu/139

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X.The rose of England bloomed on Gertrude's cheek—What though these shades had seen her birth, her sireA Briton's independence taught to seekFar western worlds; and there his household fireThe light of social love did long inspire,And many a halcyon day he lived to seeUnbroken but by one misfortune dire,When fate had reft his mutual heart—but sheWas gone—and Gertrude climbed a widowed father's knee.
XI.A loved bequest,—and I may half impart—To them that feel the strong paternal tie,How like a new existence to his heartThat living flower uprose beneath his eye,Dear as she was from cherub infancy,From hours when she would round his garden play,To time when as the ripening years went by,Her lovely mind could culture well repay,And more engaging grew, from pleasing day to day.
XII.I may not paint those thousand infant charms;(Unconscious fascination, undesigned!)The orison repeated in his arms,For God to bless her sire and all mankind;The book, the bosom on his knee reclined,Or how sweet fairy-lore he heard her con,(The playmate ere the teacher of her mind:)All uncompanioned else her heart had goneTill now, in Gertrude's eyes, their ninth blue summer shone.
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