Letitia Elizabeth Landon Quotes

Pure as the snow the summer sun
Never at noon hath look'd upon, —
Deep, as is the diamond wave,
Hidden in the desart cave, —
Changeless, as the greenest leaves
Of the wreath the cypress weaves, —
Hopeless, often, when most fond,
Without hope or fear beyond
Its own pale fidelity, —
And this woman's love can be!

It was his last, his only field:
They brought him back upon his shield,
But victory was won.
I cannot weep when I recall
Thy land has cause to bless thy fall.

Had my eye never on the beauty dwelt
Of human face, and my ear never drank
The music of a human voice; I feel
My spirit would have pour'd itself in song,
Have learn'd a language from the rustling leaves,
The singing of the birds, and of the tide.

Oh ! never should a woman's words be more
Than sighs which have found utterance.

He who seeks pleasure with reference to himself, not others, will ever find that pleasure is only another name for discontent.

I do firmly believe that the Londoner is as contented with his city home as the dweller in the fairest valley among the Appennines ; and that habit brings its usual indifference as to place.

She fell as falls the rose in spring,
The fairest are ever most perishing,
Yet lingers that tale of sorrow and love,
Of the Christian maid and her Moslem love ;
A tale to be told in the twilight hour,
For the beauty's tears in her lonely bower.

Other sorrows soften the heart, — poverty hardens it. Nothing like poverty for chilling the affections and repressing the spirits. Its annoyances are all of the small and mean order ; its regrets all of a selfish kind ; its presence is perpetual ; and the scant meal, and the grudged fire, are repeated day by day, yet who can become accustomed to them ?

And there the lovely Lily grew,
The summer's purest flower,
And many a tiny fairy knew
The shelter of its bower,

A woman whose lover resigns her, and as if for her own sake, though without consulting her, is placed in a most awkward situation. What can she do ? Take him at his word ? That is easy to say, but hard to do, when all the hopes and affections are garnered in his love.

We seek—we find—
And find the charm has with the search declined.
Affections—pleasures—all in which we trust, —
What do they end in ?—Nothing, or disgust.

While we are laid on the battle plain,
Drenched to the skin by the midnight rain,
Pleasant dreams may thy slumber crown,
As thou sinkest to rest amid silk and down :
But shame beside thy pillow stand !
A German maid shall kiss thee not,
A German song rejoice thee not,
And German wine shall warm thee not !
He who has strength to wield a brand,
Let him draw it now for his father-land !

Well, read my cheek, and watch my eye,— Too strictly school'd are they,
One secret of my soul to show, One hidden thought betray.

[Julian - disguised]
Oh, jealousy is but
A shadow cast from vanity, which lain
Would take the shape of love to hide its own
Selfish deformity !

I dreamed a dream, that I had flung a chain
Of roses around Love,—I woke, and found
I had chained Sorrow.