The Dissipated Husband.
He comes not ; I have watch’d the moon go down;1
But yet he comes not. Once it was not so.2
He thinks not how these bitter tears do flow,3
The while he holds his riot in that town.4
Yet he will come, and chide, and I shall weep,5
And he will wake my infant from its sleep,6
To blend its feeble wailing with my tears.7
Oh ! how I love a mother’s watch to keep8
Over those sleeping eyes, that smile which cheers9
My heart, though sunk in sorrow, fixed and deep.10
I had a husband once who loved me ; now11
He ever wears a frown upon his brow,12
And feeds his passion on a wanton’s lip,13
As bees from laurel-flowers a poison sip.14
But yet I cannot hate. Oh ! there were hours15
When I could hang forever on his eye ;16
And Time, who stole with silent swiftness by,17
Strew’d, as he hurried on, his path with flowers.18
I loved him then ; he loved me too ; my heart19
Still finds its fondness kindle if he smile ;20
The memory of our loves will ne’er depart ;21
And though the often stings me with a dart,22
Venom’d and barb’d, and wastes upon the vile,23
Caresses which his babe and mine should share ;24
Though he should spurn me, I will calmly bear25
His madness ; and should sickness come and lay26
Its paralyzing hand upon him, then27
I would wish kindness all my wrongs repay,28
Until the penitent should weep, and say,29
How injured and how faithful I had been.30