IF THIS WERE SO.
O Love, if I could see you standing here,I, to whom the memory of a scene—This lane, tree-shadowed, with the summer’s lightFalling in golden showers, the boughs between,Upon your upturned face—shines out as clear,Against the background dark of many a year,As yonder solitary starlet brightGleams on the storm-clad bosom of the night.If this were so—if you should come to meWith your calm, angel face, framed in with gold,And lay your hand in mine as long agoYou laid it coldly, would the love untoldHidden within my heart, set my lips freeTo speak of it and know the certaintyOf love crowned or rejected—yes or no?O Love, I could not speak if this were so.But if you came to meet me in the laneWith footsteps swifter than you used of yore—And if your eyes grew brighter, dear, as thoughThey gladdened at my coming back once more—If, when I held your little hand again,Your calmness grew less still, then not in vainMy heart would strive to speak, for it would knowWhat words to utter, Love, if this were so!Kate Mellersh.
O Love, if I could see you standing here,I, to whom the memory of a scene—This lane, tree-shadowed, with the summer’s lightFalling in golden showers, the boughs between,Upon your upturned face—shines out as clear,Against the background dark of many a year,As yonder solitary starlet brightGleams on the storm-clad bosom of the night.If this were so—if you should come to meWith your calm, angel face, framed in with gold,And lay your hand in mine as long agoYou laid it coldly, would the love untoldHidden within my heart, set my lips freeTo speak of it and know the certaintyOf love crowned or rejected—yes or no?O Love, I could not speak if this were so.But if you came to meet me in the laneWith footsteps swifter than you used of yore—And if your eyes grew brighter, dear, as thoughThey gladdened at my coming back once more—If, when I held your little hand again,Your calmness grew less still, then not in vainMy heart would strive to speak, for it would knowWhat words to utter, Love, if this were so!Kate Mellersh.
O Love, if I could see you standing here,I, to whom the memory of a scene—This lane, tree-shadowed, with the summer’s lightFalling in golden showers, the boughs between,Upon your upturned face—shines out as clear,Against the background dark of many a year,As yonder solitary starlet brightGleams on the storm-clad bosom of the night.
O Love, if I could see you standing here,
I, to whom the memory of a scene—
This lane, tree-shadowed, with the summer’s light
Falling in golden showers, the boughs between,
Upon your upturned face—shines out as clear,
Against the background dark of many a year,
As yonder solitary starlet bright
Gleams on the storm-clad bosom of the night.
If this were so—if you should come to meWith your calm, angel face, framed in with gold,And lay your hand in mine as long agoYou laid it coldly, would the love untoldHidden within my heart, set my lips freeTo speak of it and know the certaintyOf love crowned or rejected—yes or no?O Love, I could not speak if this were so.
If this were so—if you should come to me
With your calm, angel face, framed in with gold,
And lay your hand in mine as long ago
You laid it coldly, would the love untold
Hidden within my heart, set my lips free
To speak of it and know the certainty
Of love crowned or rejected—yes or no?
O Love, I could not speak if this were so.
But if you came to meet me in the laneWith footsteps swifter than you used of yore—And if your eyes grew brighter, dear, as thoughThey gladdened at my coming back once more—If, when I held your little hand again,Your calmness grew less still, then not in vainMy heart would strive to speak, for it would knowWhat words to utter, Love, if this were so!Kate Mellersh.
But if you came to meet me in the lane
With footsteps swifter than you used of yore—
And if your eyes grew brighter, dear, as though
They gladdened at my coming back once more—
If, when I held your little hand again,
Your calmness grew less still, then not in vain
My heart would strive to speak, for it would know
What words to utter, Love, if this were so!
Kate Mellersh.
The Conductor ofChambers’s Journalbegs to direct the attention ofContributorsto the following notice:
1st.All communications should be addressed to the ‘Editor, 339 High Street, Edinburgh.’2d.For its return in case of ineligibility, postage-stamps should accompany every manuscript.3d.To secure their safe return if ineligible,All Manuscripts, whether accompanied by a letter of advice or otherwise,should have the writer’s Name and Address written upon themIN FULL.4th.Offerings of Verse should invariably be accompanied by a stamped and directed envelope.
1st.All communications should be addressed to the ‘Editor, 339 High Street, Edinburgh.’
2d.For its return in case of ineligibility, postage-stamps should accompany every manuscript.
3d.To secure their safe return if ineligible,All Manuscripts, whether accompanied by a letter of advice or otherwise,should have the writer’s Name and Address written upon themIN FULL.
4th.Offerings of Verse should invariably be accompanied by a stamped and directed envelope.
If the above rules are complied with, the Editor will do his best to insure the safe return of ineligible papers.
Printed and Published byW. & R. Chambers, 47 Paternoster Row,London, and 339 High Street,Edinburgh.
All rights reserved.
[Transcriber’s note—the following changes have been made to this text.
Page 693: Villiars to Villiers—“down Villiers Street”.]