Fragment: A Gentle Story of Two Lovers Young

[Published by Mrs. Shelley, "Poetical Works", 1839, 2nd edition.]



A gentle story of two lovers young,
Who met in innocence and died in sorrow,
And of one selfish heart, whose rancour clung
Like curses on them; are ye slow to borrow
The lore of truth from such a tale?                                  _5
Or in this world's deserted vale,
Do ye not see a star of gladness
Pierce the shadows of its sadness,--
When ye are cold, that love is a light sent
From Heaven, which none shall quench, to cheer the innocent?         _10
NOTE:
_9 cold]told cj. A.C. Bradley.
   For the metre cp. Fragment: To a Friend Released from Prison.