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THE TIFF, by                    
First Line: Ill-fated bard!' she cried, 'whose lengthening grief'
Last Line: "anna matilda never can be thine!"
Alternate Author Name(s): Della Crusca
Subject(s): Farewell; Love; Passion; Suicide; Tragedy; Parting


"ILL-FATED BARD!" she cried, "whose lengthening grief
Had won the pathos of my lyre's relief,
For whom, full oft, I've loiter'd to rehearse
In phrenzied mood the deep impassion'd verse,
Ill-fated Bard! from each frail hope remove,
And shun the certain Suicide of Love:
Lean not to me, th' impassion'd verse is o'er,
Which chain'd thy heart, and forced thee to adore:
For O! observe where haughty Duty stands,
Her form in radiance drest, her eye severe,
Eternal Scorpions writhing in her hands,
To urge th' offender's unavailing tear!
Dread Goddess, I obey!—
Ah! smoothe thy awful terror-striking brow,
Hear and record MATILDA'S sacred vow!
Ne'er will I quit th' undeviating line,
Whose SOURCE THOU art, and THOU the LAW DIVINE.
The Sun shall be subdued, his system fade,
Ere I forsake the path thy FIAT made;
Yet grant one soft regretful tear to flow,
Prompted by pity for a Lover's woe,
O grant without REVENGE, one bursting sigh,
Ere from his desolating grief I fly—
'Tis past,—Farewell! ANOTHER claims my heart;
Then wing thy sinking steps, for here we part,
We PART! and listen, for the word is MINE,
ANNA MATILDA NEVER CAN BE THINE!"





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