And, when the friendly sunshine smil'd,
And she would mark the opening skies,
_I_ saw no Heaven - but in her eyes.

Young Love's first lesson is -- the heart:
For 'mid that sunshine, and those smiles,
When, from our little cares apart,
And laughing at her girlish wiles,
I'd throw me on her throbbing breast,
And pour my spirit out in tears -
There was no need to speak the rest -
No need to quiet any fears
Of her - who ask'd no reason why,
But turn'd on me her quiet eye!

Yet _more_ than worthy of the love
My spirit struggled with, and strove,
When, on the mountain peak, alone,
Ambition lent it a new tone -
I had no being - but in thee:
The world, and all it did contain
In the earth - the air - the sea -
Its joy - its little lot of pain
That was new pleasure -- the ideal,
Dim, vanities of dreams by night -
And dimmer nothings which were real -
(Shadows - and a more shadowy light!)
Parted upon their misty wings,
And, so, confusedly, became
Thine image, and - a name - a name!