Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II. THE WIFE, THE MOTHER, THE EXILE. Josephine, now in her full bloom, Leans on the arm of a bridegroom; Lists to her epithalamium. Beauharnais, man of high bearing, Worthy the duty of caring For the sweet maiden of Martinique. Beauharnais, proud of the flower, Bore from its fair western bower Over the sea, to his princely home. Josephine, now in a high sphere, Lived, as though never a dark fear Whispered to mind, of her coming fate. Swiftly the happy hours glided. Guardian angels that guided Josephine on in her happiness, Smiled, as they saw that her offspring, Would to her future a joy bring, Solace, and joy in her loneliness. Mother of Hortense and Eugene, Mother, a title that I ween, Dearer by far was to Josephine, Than appellation more sounding; Mother, the word is abounding, Carefulness, prayerfulness mingle here. Vain are our dreams of the present; Though at the dawn it is pleasant, Balmy air, sunshine and zephyr may, Ere the god Phrebus has driven The day car of gold, to mid heaven, Change, for the lightning and hurricane. So, though the morn may betoken Gladness, ere noon may be broken Every string of the human heart; Man be borne over the dark tide, "Where the pale spirits and ghosts bide, Into the land of the wonderful. Josephine's life, once unclouded, Now with a dark veil is shrouded, That veil was woven by jealousy. He who had promised to guide her, Guard her whate'er should betide her, Coldly refuses to shelter her. Jealousy, fury with baned tongue, Many a soul hath thy fangs stung. Daughter of darkness and misery, Worse than the Gorgon Medusa, Thou of the change art producer, Change, that to stone turns the spirit part. Sent out as Hagar of old was; Earth then to Jo...