Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-04-28
POETRY.
THE FLOWER FORcET-ME-NOT.

THE FLOWER FORcET-ME-NOT.
In late number Of that very interesting pub
ication, the Boston Spectator, we find the an
nexed poem, entitled The foyer Forget
me-not, which we gladly copy. When intro
ducing it tothe readers Of the Spectator, the
al hor prefaced il with the following remarks,
illustrative the foundation of the poem:
"Mills, in his work on chivalry, (says Mr..
Eilis) mentions, that the beautiful little flower
called Forget -mc-not, was known in England,
us early as the time Of Edward w.; and, in a
note, he gives the following pretty incident in
explanation Of the name: Two lovers were
loitering on tho margin Of a lake, on a fine
summers evening, when the maiden discover
ed somi- flowers of the .nysotis growing on the
water, close to the bank Of an island, at some
distance from the shore. She expressed de-
sire to possess them, when her knight, in the
true spirit of chivalry, plunged into the water,
and, swimming to the spot, cropped the wished
for piant--but his strength was unable to fulfil
the object Of his achievement; and feeling that
he could not regain the shore, although very
X.
and casting last affectionate look upon his
lady-love, he said, forget me not and was
buried in the water.''
There straycd knight and maiden fair.
A charming lake beside;
With blended tints, its waters were
In sunsets glories dyed.
Quietly slept the CLASSY lake,
No voice of winds was there; |
Its slumbering waves rose not to wake |
The mariners despair.
Then love, sweet love, was all their theme,
They looked for happier years;
Oh, life was then sunny dream
Delusve hope was theirs!
How bright the hopes that then arose
Gllded with rainbow hucs!
They deemed not then, life stepped in woes
Its fairy tnts could lose:-
In that fair lake, an island bright
As emerald on the wave,
For sea nymphs meet to sport at night,
The chrystal waters lave.
They gazed upon a scene so fair,
Till to their raptured sight,
There seemed gay visions fitting there,
Beneath the golden light
And there the sweet Mysotis grew,
The maiden's favorite Aowor;-
Emblem Of love, and friendship true,
Twas meet for lady's bower.
'0h that those lovely flowers were mine,
On that fair bank that grow,
Or those that on the water shine
With more radiant glow
The maiden said-when her true knight
Chivalrous braved the tide;
And plucked the wished-for howrets bright,
To deck his promised bride.
But far ween, was that islet green,
From where his loved one stood;
And thence the gallant knight was seen,
Contending with the flood.
AT length, exhausted was the knight
'Bravcly himself he bore
lie felt that spent was now his might,
He nc'er could gain the shore.
But still he struggled with the tide
Oh knight! one effort more,
And thou wilt stand thy love beside,
She waits thee on the shore.
Now, venturors knight, the shore thou'rt near
But ah! thy strength is gone;
Lady, those flowers have cost thee dear,
In grief will they be worn!
The sinking knight looked fond adieu,
And cried Forge et-me-nOt!'-
As on the bank the flowers he threw,
And yielded to his lot
Thence, lovers prize that little flower,
Now called Forget-me-not;
And dear to them at twilight hour
Is that sequestered spot.
e They say strange voices there are heard,
Mmmuring, forget me not;
Aud spectral forms have oft appeared
Upon that lonely spot. MARION
CONFESSION !
We could not occupy our columns in a bet
ter manner, than by placing in them the beau
tifh little poem, entitled the Confession -