s: But hush, gentle syren--for, ah, there's less danger


s: In still suffering on, than in hoping again.


s: Long, long, in sorrow, too deep for repining,


s: Gloomy, but tranquil, this bosom hath lain:


s: And joy coming now, like a sudden light shining


s: O'er eyelids long darkened, would bring me but pain.


s: Fly then, ye visions, that Hope would shed o'er me;


s: Lost to the future, my sole chance of rest


s: Now lies not in dreaming of bliss that's before me.


s: But, ah--in forgetting how once I was blest.


s: When home at length, with favoring breeze,


s: Like him, this heart, thro' many a track


s: The Garland I send thee was culled from those bowers


s: Where thou and I wandered in long vanished hours;


s: Not a leaf or a blossom its bloom here displays,


s: But bears some remembrance of those happy days.


s: The roses were gathered by that garden gate,


s: Where our meetings, tho' early, seemed always too late;


s: Where lingering full oft thro' a summer-night's moon,


s: Our partings, tho' late, appeared always too soon.


s: The rest were all culled from the banks of that glade,


s: Where, watching the sunset, so often we've strayed,


s: And mourned, as the time went, that Love had no power


s: To bind in his chain even one happy hour.


s: If I speak to thee in friendship's name,


s: I'm a friend, if such thy heart requires,


s: Tho' the wings of Love will brightly play,


s: While Friendship, tho' on foot she come,


s: If thou wouldst have thy charms enchant our eyes,


s: First win our hearts, for there thy empire lies:


s: Beauty in vain would mount a heartless throne,


s: Her Right Divine is given by Love alone.


s: What would the rose with all her pride be worth,


s: Were there no sun to call her brightness forth?


s: Maidens, unloved, like flowers in darkness thrown,


s: Wait but that light which comes from Love alone.


s: Fair as thy charms in yonder glass appear,


s: Trust not their bloom, they'll fade from year to year:


s: Wouldst thou they still should shine as first they shone,


s: Go, fix thy mirror in Love's eyes alone.


s: And all things fair and bright are Thine!


s: Like some dark, beauteous bird, whose plume


s: So grand, so countless, LORD! are Thine.


s: When youthful Spring around us breathes,


s: And all things fair and bright are Thine.


s: Ne'er stoops to earth her wing, nor flies


s: But high she shoots thro' air and light,


s: Where nothing earthly bounds her flight,


s: "Do not disgrace the throne of thy glory."--_Jer_. xiv. 21.


s: "The LORD called by name a green olive-tree; fair, and of goodly


s: "For he shall be like the heath in the desert."--_Jer_. xvii, 6.


s: Thro' cold reproof and slander's blight?


s: From those who seek their Maker's shrine


s: Which, like the altar's trembling light,


s: "He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds,"


s: Then sorrow, touched by Thee, grows bright


s: Weep not for those whom the veil of the tomb,


s: In life's happy morning, hath hid from our eyes,


s: Ere sin threw a blight o'er the spirit's young bloom,


s: Or earth had profaned what was born for the skies.


s: Death chilled the fair fountain, ere sorrow had stained it;


s: 'Twas frozen in all the pure light of its course,


s: And but sleeps till the sunshine of Heaven has unchained it,


s: To water that Eden where first was its source.


s: Mourn not for her, the young Bride of the Vale,


s: Our gayest and loveliest, lost to us now,


s: Ere life's early lustre had time to grow pale,


s: And the garland of Love was yet fresh on her brow.


s: Oh, then was her moment, dear spirit, for flying


s: From this gloomy world, while its gloom was unknown--


s: And the wild hymns she warbled so sweetly, in dying,


s: Were echoed in Heaven by lips like her own.


s: Weep not for her--in her springtime she flew


s: To that land where the wings of the soul are unfurled;


s: And now, like a star beyond evening's cold dew,


s: Looks radiantly down on the tears of this world.


s: Thy Heaven, on which 'tis bliss to look,


s: That clouds awhile the day-beam's track;


s: From flowers that bloom to stars that glow,


s: JEHOVAH has triumphed--his people are free.


s: Sing--for the pride of the Tyrant is broken,


s: His chariots, his horsemen, all splendid and brave--


s: How vain was their boast, for the LORD hath but spoken,


s: And chariots and horsemen are sunk in the wave.


s: Praise to the Conqueror, praise to the LORD!


s: His word was our arrow, his breath was our sword--


s: Of those she sent forth in the hour of her pride?


s: For the LORD hath looked out from his pillar of glory,


s: And all her brave thousands are dashed in the tide.


s: JEHOVAH has triumphed--his people are free!


s: Go, let me weep--there's bliss in tears,


s: And, while they past, a fragrance threw,


s: Come not, oh LORD, in the dread robe of splendor


s: Thou worest on the Mount, in the day of thine ire;


s: Come veiled in those shadows, deep, awful, but tender,


s: Which Mercy flings over thy features of fire!


s: LORD, thou rememberest the night, when thy Nation


s: Stood fronting her Foe by the red-rolling stream;


s: While Israel basked all the night in its beam.


s: So, when the dread clouds of anger enfold Thee,


s: From us, in thy mercy, the dark side remove;


s: While shrouded in terrors the guilty behold Thee,


s: Oh, turn upon us the mild light of thy Love!


s: As down in the sunless retreats of the Ocean,


s: Sweet flowers are springing no mortal can see,


s: So, deep in my soul the still prayer of devotion,


s: Unheard by the world, rises silent to Thee,


s: As still to the star of its worship, tho' clouded,


s: The needle points faithfully o'er the dim sea,


s: So, dark as I roam, in this wintry world shrouded,


s: The hope of my spirit turns trembling to Thee,


s: "The rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the


s: "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things


s: The Palm-tree's heavenly branch we twine,


s: Without their flames--we wreathe the Palm.


s: Thou wilt see how dark their shadows lie


s: Between Heaven and thee, and trembling fly!


s: Lord, who shall bear that day, so dread, so splendid,


s: When we shall see thy Angel hovering o'er


s: This sinful world with hand to heaven extended,


s: And hear him swear by Thee that time's no more?


s: When Earth shall feel thy fast consuming ray--


s: Who, Mighty God, oh who shall bear that day?


s: When thro' the world thy awful call hath sounded--


s: "Wake, all ye Dead, to judgment wake, ye Dead!"


s: And from the clouds, by seraph eyes surrounded,


s: The Saviour shall put forth his radiant head;


s: While Earth and Heaven before Him pass away--


s: When, with a glance, the Eternal Judge shall sever


s: Earth's evil spirits from the pure and bright,


s: And say to _those_, "Depart from me for ever!"


s: To _these_, "Come, dwell with me in endless light!"


s: When each and all in silence take their way--


s: And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth,


s: Oh, teach me to love Thee, to feel what thou art,


s: Till, filled with the one sacred image, my heart


s: Like some pure temple that shines apart,


s: In joy and in sorrow, thro' praise and thro' blame,


s: Thus still let me, living and dying the same,


s: Tho' born in this desert, and doomed by my birth


s: To pain and affliction, to darkness and dearth,


s: Like some rude dial, that, fixt on earth,


s: "And, he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab...but no man


s: "As he was going to embrace Eleazer and Joshua, and was still


s: That, in those furrows, dark with night,


s: Shalt deign to touch its lifeless chord--


s: Till, waked by Thee, its breath shall rise


s: Come, ye disconsolate, where'er you languish,


s: Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish--


s: Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.


s: Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying,


s: Hope, when all others die, fadeless and pure,


s: Here speaks the Comforter, in GOD'S name saying--


s: "Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot cure."


s: Go, ask the infidel, what boon he brings us


s: What charm for aching hearts _he_ can reveal,


s: Sweet as that heavenly promise Hope sings us--


s: "Earth has no sorrow that GOD cannot heal."


s: O'er foreign fields, o'er farthest waters,


s: Shall lay their treasures down before thee;


s: Are gathering from all earth's dominions,


s: Homeward to shoot their trembling pinions.


s: And make the ground I tread on glorious.


s: And thou shalt name thy walls Salvation.


s: "Who are these that fly as a cloud and as the doves to their


s: "The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee; the fir-tree, the


s: "Thy sun shall no more go down...for the Lord shall be thine


s: everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be


s: There is a bleak Desert, where daylight grows weary


s: Of wasting its smile on a region so dreary--


s: 'Tis Life, cheerless Life, where the few joys that come


s: Are lost, like that daylight, for 'tis not their home.


s: There is a lone Pilgrim, before whose faint eyes


s: The water he pants for but sparkles and flies--


s: 'Tis Man, hapless Man, thro' this life tempted on


s: By fair shining hopes, that in shining are gone.


s: There is a bright Fountain, thro' that Desert stealing


s: To pure lips alone its refreshment revealing--


s: 'Tis Truth, holy Truth, that, like springs under ground,


s: By the gifted of Heaven alone can be found.


s: There is a fair Spirit whose wand hath the spell


s: To point where those waters in secrecy dwell--


s: 'Tis Faith, humble Faith, who hath learned that where'er


s: Her wand bends to worship the Truth must be there!


s: Hark! 'tis the breeze of twilight calling;


s: While, round the couch of Nature falling,


s: Shall look, like eyes of Cherubs shining


s: Grant that, beneath thine eye, securely,


s: Like "sealed fountains," rest till dawn.


s: From earth and the light of the Present,


s: Yet ah, the flowers he round it wreathes,


s: Were plucked beneath pale Passion's moon,


s: Sweet flowers that turn to heavenly fruit,


s: Go forth to the Mount; bring the olive-branch home,


s: And rejoice; for the day of our  freedom is come!


s: From that time, when the moon upon Ajalon's vale,


s: Looking motionless down, saw the kings of the earth,


s: In the presence of God's mighty champion grow pale--


s: Oh, never had Judah an hour of such mirth!


s: Go forth to the Mount--bring the olive-branch home,


s: And rejoice, for the day of our freedom is come!


s: Bring myrtle and palm--bring the boughs of each tree


s: That's worthy to wave o'er the tents of the Free.


s: From that day when the footsteps of Israel shone


s: With a light not their own, thro' the Jordan's deep tide,


s: Whose waters shrunk back as the ark glided on--


s: Oh, never had Judah an hour of such pride!


s: And rejoice, for the day of our Freedom is come!


s: Love, with deathless wing, shall waft her


s: To those she long hath mourned for here?


s: Beneath whose smile we once lay basking,


s: Shall friendship--love--shall all those ties


s: To keep our hearts from wrong and stain,


s: Rise up, ye nations, ye kings, at the sound--


s: "War against Babylon!" shout thro' the world!


s: And the dark curse of Israel's daughters


s: Breaks like a thundercloud over thy brow!


s: Make bright the arrows, and gather the shields,


s: Swarm we, like locusts, o'er all her fields.


s: "Zion" our watchword, and "vengeance" our cry!


s: "Oh thou that dwellest upon many waters...thine end is


s: "Woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their


s: _There_ breathes a language known and felt


s: Far as the pure air spreads its living zone;


s: That language of the soul is felt and known.


s: The soft Peruvian poured his midnight strains,


s: And called his distant love with such sweet power,


s: Not worlds could keep her from his arms away,


s: The Lapland lover bids his reindeer fly,


s: And sings along the lengthening waste of snow,


s: To the pale star that o'er its realm presides,


s: Of human passion rise and fall for thee!


s: "A certain Spaniard, one night late, met an Indian woman in the


s: She draws the cool lymph in her graceful urn;


s: And by her side, in Music's charm dissolving,


s: Some patriot youth, the glorious past revolving,


s: Dreams of bright days that never can return;


s: Round her boy-soldier when that call she hears;


s: And, tho' her fond heart sink with fears,


s: Thy soul-felt charm asserts its wondrous power.--


s: There's a wild air which oft, among the rocks


s: Is heard, when shepherds homeward pipe their flocks,


s: Whose every note hath power to thrill his mind


s: With tenderest thoughts; to bring around his knees


s: He wandered from his hut for scenes like these.


s: Vain, vain is then the trumpet's brazen roar;


s: Sweet notes of home, of love, are all he hears;


s: And the stern eyes that looked for blood before


s: Now melting, mournful, lose themselves in tears.


s: And Freedom's spirit guides the laboring storm,


s: 'Tis then thy vengeance takes a hallowed form,


s: And like Heaven's lightning sacredly destroys.


s: Lives there a sound more grateful to the ear


s: Than the blest sound of fetters breaking,


s: From Slavery's slumber breathes to Liberty.


s: That, while _one_ Spaniard's life-blood beats,


s: That blood shall stain the conqueror's glory.


s: If neither valor's force nor wisdom's light


s: Can break or melt that blood-cemented seal


s: Which shuts so close the books of Europe's right--


s: What muse shall mourn the breathless brave,


s: What harp shall sigh o'er Freedom's grave?


s: For days and nights we've cheerless gone,


s: While answering back the sounds we hear,


s: Kind words are said of friends and home;


s: Come, fill round a bumper, fill up to the brim,


s: He who shrinks from a bumper I pledge not to him;


s: Here's the girl that each loves, be her eye of what hue,


s: Or lustre, it may, so her heart is but true.


s: Charge! (drinks) hip, hip, hurra, hurra!


s: Come charge high, again, boy, nor let the full wine


s: Leave a space in the brimmer, where daylight may shine;


s: Here's "the friends of our youth--tho' of some we're bereft,


s: May the links that are lost but endear what are left!"


s: Once more fill a bumper--ne'er talk of the hour;


s: On hearts thus united old Time has no power.


s: May our lives, tho', alas! like the wine of to-night,


s: They must soon have an end, to the last flow as bright.


s: Quick, quick, now, I'll give you, since Time's glass will run


s: Even faster than ours doth, three bumpers in one;


s: Here's the poet who sings--here's the warrior who fights--


s: Here's the, statesman who speaks, in the cause of men's rights!


s: Come, once more, a bumper!--then drink as you please,


s: Tho', _who_ could fill half-way to toast such as these?


s: Here's our next joyous meeting--and oh when we meet,


s: May our wine be as bright and our union as sweet!


s: Charge! (drinks) hip, hip, hurra, hurra!


s: Shall we bound along the moonlight plain,


s: Or choose the Guaracia's languishing lay,


s: Let us hear each strain from every shore


s: That music haunts, or young feet wander o'er.


s: Hark! 'tis the light march, to whose measured time,


s: Delights thro' gay saloons with step untried to tread,


s: Then comes the smooth waltz, to whose floating sound


s: Say, which shall we dance? which shall we dance?


s: It came o'er her sleep, like a voice of those days,


s: When love, only love was the light of her ways;


s: And, soft as in moments of bliss long ago,


s: It whispered her name from the garden below.


s: "Alas," sighed the maiden, "how fancy can cheat!


s: "The world once had lips that could whisper thus sweet;


s: "But cold now they slumber in yon fatal deep.


s: "Where, oh that beside them this heart too could sleep!"


s: She sunk on her pillow--but no, 'twas in vain


s: To chase the illusion, that Voice came again!


s: She flew to the casement--but, husht as the grave,


s: In moonlight lay slumbering woodland and wave.


s: "Oh sleep, come and shield me," in anguish she said,


s: "From that call of the buried, that cry of the Dead!"


s: And sleep came around her--but, starting, she woke,


s: For still from the garden that spirit Voice spoke!


s: "I come," she exclaimed, "be thy home where it may,


s: "On earth or in Heaven, that call I obey;"


s: Then forth thro' the moonlight, with heart beating fast


s: And loud as a death-watch, the pale maiden past.


s: Still round her the scene all in loneliness shone;


s: And still, in the distance, that Voice led her on;


s: But whither she wandered, by wave or by shore,


s: None ever could tell, for she came back no more.


s: No, ne'er came she back,--but the watchman who stood,


s: That night, in the tower which o'ershadows the flood,


s: Saw dimly, 'tis said, o'er the moonlighted spray,


s: A youth on a steed bear the maiden away.


s: They told her that he, to whose vows she had listened


s: Thro' night's fleeting hours, was a spirit unblest;--


s: Unholy the eyes, that beside her had glistened,


s: And evil the lips she in darkness had prest.


s: "When next in thy chamber the  bridegroom reclineth,


s: "Bring near him thy lamp, when in slumber he lies;


s: "And there, as the light, o'er his dark features shineth,


s: "Thou'lt see what a demon hath won all thy sighs!"


s: Too fond to believe them, yet doubting, yet fearing,


s: When calm lay the sleeper she stole with her light;


s: And saw--such a vision!--no image, appearing


s: To bards in their day-dreams, was ever so bright.


s: A youth, but just passing from childhood's sweet morning,


s: While round him still lingered its innocent ray;


s: Tho' gleams, from beneath his shut eyelids gave warning


s: Of summer-noon lightnings that under them lay.


s: His brow had a grace more than mortal around it,


s: While, glossy as gold from a fairy-land mine,


s: His sunny hair hung, and the flowers that crowned it


s: Seemed fresh from the breeze of some garden divine.


s: Entranced stood the bride, on that miracle gazing,


s: But, ah--in her tremor the fatal lamp raising--


s: A sparkle flew from it and dropt on his brow.


s: All's lost--with a start from his rosy sleep waking;


s: The Spirit flashed o'er her his glances of fire;


s: Then, slow from the clasp of her snowy arms breaking,


s: Thus said, in a voice more of sorrow than ire:


s: "Farewell--what a dream thy suspicion hath broken!


s: "Thus ever. Affection's fond vision is crost;


s: "Dissolved are her spells when a doubt is but spoken,


s: "And love, once distrusted, for ever is lost!"


s: "The night wind is moaning with mournful sigh,


s: "There gleameth no moon in the misty sky


s: "Yet, yet, there is shining one holy light,


s: "One love-kindled star thro' the deep of night,


s: Thus saying, he plunged in the foamy stream,


s: Still fixing his gaze on that distant beam


s: And still, as the surge swept over his head,


s: "To night," he said tenderly, "living or dead,


s: But fiercer around him, the wild waves speed;


s: Oh, Love! in that hour of thy votary's need,


s: He struggles--he sinks--while the hurricane's breath


s: Bears rudely away his last farewell in death--


s: "In stars that wink or flowers that blow,


s: "List thou, the while, that fountain's flow,


s: Listening, the while, that fountain's flow--


s: His song was still "Sweet air, oh come?"


s: But, hark, what sounds from the thicket rise!


s: "'Tis the white-horned doe," the Hunter cries,


s: "Tell me, what's Love?" said Youth, one day,


s: "Tell me, what's Love?" said Youth once more,


s: "Wouldst know the blight it leaves behind?


s: "Tell me, what's Love? "said Youth again,


s: "This, this is Love--sweet Youth, beware."


s: "Where last she pledged her truth to me."


s: Where lone and pale in her bower she lay;


s: "True-hearted maid," said the happy Knight,


s: "She's thinking of one, who is far away."


s: "'Tis," said the Knight, "the same bright boy,


s: "Such," he exclaimed, "was the gift that she


s: With looks that say, "Like lightning, fly!"


s: "Thus," thought the Knight, "she soothes her woes,


s: "By fancying, still, her true-love nigh."


s: But the page returns, and--oh, what a sight,


s: "Such," quoth the Youth, "is Woman's love!"


s: Then, darting forth, with furious bound,


s: Such ills would never have come to pass,


s: The Wizard would still have kept his Glass,


s: And the Knight still thought his Lady true.


s: In vain all the Knights to the Underwald wooed her,


s: Tho' brightest of maidens, the proudest was she;


s: Brave chieftains they sought, and young minstrels they sued her,


s: But worthy were none of the high-born Ladye.


s: "Whosoever I wed," said this maid, so excelling,


s: "That Knight must the conqueror of conquerors be;


s: "He must place me in halls fit for monarchs to dwell in:--


s: "None else shall be Lord of the high-born Ladye!


s: Thus spoke the proud damsel, with scorn looking round her


s: On Knights and on Nobles of highest degree;


s: Who humbly and hopelessly left as they found her,


s: And worshipt at distance the high-born Ladye.


s: At length came a Knight, from a far land to woo her,


s: With plumes on his helm like the foam of the sea;


s: His visor was down--but, with voice that thrilled thro her,


s: He whispered his vows to the high-born Ladye.


s: "Proud maiden! I come with high spousals to grace thee,


s: "In me the great conqueror of conquerors see;


s: "Enthroned in a hall fit for monarchs I'll place thee,


s: "And mine, thou'rt for ever, thou high-born Ladye!"


s: Of thrones and tiaras already dreamt she;


s: And proud was the step, as her bridegroom conveyed her


s: In pomp to his home, of that highborn Ladye.


s: "But whither," she, starting, exclaims, "have you, led me?


s: "Here's naught but a tomb and a dark cypress tree;


s: "Is _this_ the bright palace in which thou wouldst wed me?"


s: With scorn in her glance said the high-born Ladye.


s: "Tis the home," he replied, "of earth's loftiest creatures"--


s: Then lifted his helm for the fair one to see;


s: But she sunk on the ground--'twas a skeleton's features


s: And Death was the Lord of the high-born Ladye!


s: Come list, while I tell of the heart-wounded Stranger


s: Who sleeps her last slumber in this haunted ground;


s: Where often, at midnight, the lonely wood-ranger


s: None e'er knew the name of that heart-stricken lady,


s: Her language, tho' sweet, none could e'er understand;


s: But her features so sunned, and her eyelash so shady,


s: Bespoke her a child of some far Eastern land.


s: 'Twas one summer night, when the village lay sleeping,


s: A soft strain of melody came o'er our ears;


s: So sweet, but so mournful, half song and half weeping,


s: Like music that Sorrow had steeped in her tears.


s: We thought 'twas an anthem some angel had sung us;--


s: But, soon as the day-beams had gushed from on high,


s: With wonder we saw this bright stranger among us,


s: All lovely and lone, as if strayed from the sky.


s: Nor long did her life for this sphere seem intended,


s: For pale was her cheek, with that spirit-like hue,


s: Which comes when the day of this world is nigh ended,


s: And light from another already shines through.


s: Then her eyes, when she sung--oh, but once to have seen them--


s: Left thoughts in the soul that can never depart;


s: While her looks and her voice made a language between them,


s: That spoke more than holiest words to the heart.


s: But she past like a day-dream, no skill could restore her--


s: Whate'er was her sorrow, its ruin came fast;


s: She died with the same spell of mystery o'er her.


s: That song of past days on her lips to the last.


s: Not even in the grave is her sad heart reposing--


s: Still hovers the spirit of grief round her tomb;


s: For oft, when the shadows of midnight are closing,


s: The same strain of music is heard thro' the gloom.


s: 'Tis time enough, when its flowers decay,


s: Yet Time from both, in his silent lapse,


s: Thy charms may be less in bloom, perhaps,


s: When Hope foretells the brightest, best,


s: Here, take my heart--'twill be safe in thy keeping,


s: While I go wandering o'er land and o'er sea;


s: Smiling or sorrowing, waking or sleeping,


s: What need I care, so my heart is with thee?


s: If in the race we are destined to run, love,


s: They who have light hearts the happiest be,


s: Then happier still must be they who have none, love.


s: And that will be _my_ case when mine is with thee.


s: It matters not where I may now be a rover,


s: I care not how many bright eyes I may see;


s: Should Venus herself come and ask me to love her,


s: I'd tell her I couldn't--my heart is with thee.


s: And there let it lie, growing fonder and, fonder--


s: For, even should Fortune turn truant to me,


s: Why, let her go--I've a treasure beyond her,


s: As long as my heart's out at interest With thee!


s: Poor broken flower! what art can now recover thee?


s: Torn from the stem that fed thy rosy breath--


s: The dews of heaven, that once like balm fell over thee;


s: Now are but tears, to weep thy early death.


s: So droops the maid whose lover hath forsaken her,--


s: Thrown from his arms, as lone and lost as thou;


s: The only smile that could from death awaken her,


s: That smile, alas! is gone to others now.


s: "And I'll worship each bud thou bearest.


s: "For the hearts of this world are hollow,


s: "At least there's no art in this weeping"


s: Lights that move not, lights that tremble,


s: And Would Love, too, bring his sweetness,


s: Tell her, oh, tell her, the lute she left lying


s: Beneath the green arbor is still lying there;


s: And breezes like lovers around it are sighing,


s: But not a soft whisper replies to their prayer.


s: Tell her, oh, tell her, the tree that, in going,


s: Beside the green arbor she playfully set,


s: As lovely as, ever is blushing and blowing,


s: And not a, bright leaflet has fallen from it yet.


s: The maiden is wandering, still let her be


s: As true as the lute that no sighing can waken


s: And blooming for ever, unchanged as the tree!


s: All its darts without Caring who feels 'em;


s: Is much better pleased when it heals 'em--


s: Is much better pleased when it heals 'em.


s: "She has beauty, but still you must keep your heart cool;


s: "She has wit, but you mustn't be caught, so;"


s: Thus Reason advises, but Reason's a fool,


s: And 'tis not the first time I have thought so,


s: 'Tis not the first time I have thought so.


s: "She is lovely; then love her, nor let the bliss fly;


s: "'Tis the charm of youth's vanishing season;"


s: Thus Love has advised me and who will deny


s: That Love reasons much better than Reason,


s: From life without freedom, say, who would not fly?


s: For one day of freedom, oh! who would not die?


s: Hark!--hark! 'tis the trumpet! the call of the brave,


s: The death-song of tyrants, the dirge of the slave.


s: Our country lies bleeding--haste, haste to her aid;


s: One arm that defends is worth hosts that invade.


s: In death's kindly bosom our last hope remains--


s: The dead fear no tyrants, the grave has no chains.


s: On, on to the combat! the heroes that bleed


s: For virtue and mankind are heroes indeed.


s: And oh, even if Freedom from _this_ world be driven,


s: Despair not--at least we shall find her in heaven.


s: Young Love found a Dial once in a dark shade


s: Where man ne'er had wandered nor sunbeam played;


s: "Why thus in darkness lie?" whispered young Love,


s: "Thou, whose gay hours in sunshine should move."


s: "I ne'er," said the Dial, "have seen the warm sun,


s: "So noonday and midnight to me, Love, are one."


s: Then Love took the Dial away from the shade,


s: And placed her where Heaven's beam warmly played.


s: There she reclined, beneath Love's gazing eye,


s: While, marked all with sunshine, her hours flew by.


s: "Oh, how," said the Dial, "can any fair maid


s: "That's born to be shone upon rest in the shade?"


s: But night now comes on and the sunbeam's o'er,


s: And Love stops to gaze on the Dial no more.


s: Alone and neglected, while bleak rain and winds


s: Are storming around her, with sorrow she finds


s: That Love had but numbered a few sunny hours,--


s: Then left the remainder to darkness and showers!


s: But there's a nymph, whose chains I feel,


s: That Love with her ne'er thinks of wings,


s: Pain and sorrow shall vanish before us--


s: Youth may wither, but feeling will last;


s: All the shadow that e'er shall fall o'er us


s: Love's light summer-cloud only shall cast.


s: Charms may wither, but feeling shall last:


s: All the shadow that e'er shall fall o'er thee,


s: Love's light summer-cloud sweetly shall cast.


s: Rest, dear bosom, no sorrows shall pain thee,


s: Sighs of pleasure alone shalt thou steal;


s: Beam, bright eyelid, no weeping shall stain thee,


s: Charms may wither, but feeling shall last;


s: All the shadow that e'er shall fall o'er thee.


s: Remember the time, in La Mancha's shades,


s: When you called me the flower of Castilian maids,


s: When I taught you to warble the gay seguadille.


s: Oh, never, dear youth, let you roam where you will,


s: They tell me, you lovers from Erin's green isle,


s: And that soon, in the light of some lovelier smile.


s: But they know not how brave in battle you are,


s: Or they never could think you would rove;


s: For 'tis always the spirit most gallant in war


s: Its thoughts one moment turned from thee,


s: And still, when victory's calm came o'er


s: The hearts where rage had ceased to burn,


s: Tho' brimmed with blessings, pure and rare,


s: Those worlds for which the conqueror sighs


s: All would wake, couldst thou but give me


s: Yes, yes, when, the bloom of Love's boyhood is o'er,


s: He'll turn into friendship that feels no decay;


s: And, tho' Time may take from him the wings he once wore,


s: The charms that remain will be bright as before,


s: And he'll lose but his young trick of flying away.


s: Then let it console thee, if Love should not stay,


s: That Friendship our last happy moments will crown:


s: Like the shadows of morning, Love lessens away,


s: While Friendship, like those at the closing of day,


s: Will linger and lengthen as life's sun goes down.


s: The song of war shall echo thro' our mountains,


s: Till Victory's self shall, smiling, say,


s: "To gild your vines and light your fountains."


s: The young rose I give thee, so dewy and bright,


s: Was the floweret most dear to the sweet bird of night,


s: Who oft, by the moon, o'er her blushes hath hung,


s: And thrilled every leaf with the wild lay he sung.


s: Oh, take thou this young rose, and let her life be


s: Prolonged by the breath she will borrow from thee;


s: For, while o'er her bosom thy soft notes shall thrill,


s: She'll think the sweet night-bird is courting her still.


s: But brings to mind some hope that's fled,


s: The pains, the ills we've wept thro' here


s: With heart o'er idle love-thoughts pining;


s: And laughing says, "We'll steal it slily."


s: Thus, girls, would you keep quiet hearts,


s: _How_ happy, once, tho' winged with sighs,


s: If, after all, you still will doubt and fear me,


s: And think this heart to other loves will stray,


s: If I must swear, then, lovely doubter, hear me;


s: By every dream I have when thou'rt away,


s: By every throb I feel when thou art near me,


s: By those dark eyes, where light is ever playing,


s: Where Love in depth of shadow holds his throne,


s: And by those lips, which give whate'er thou'rt saying,


s: A music far beyond all minstrel's playing,


s: By that fair brow, where Innocence reposes,


s: As pure as moonlight sleeping upon snow,


s: And by that cheek, whose fleeting blush discloses


s: A hue too bright to bless this world below,


s: Or if thought's dark cloud come o'er thy brow,


s: Each flower of form, each grace of mind,


s: Or, should thought's dark cloud come o'er thy brow,


s: When the flowers of life's sweet garden fade,


s: Or if thought's dark cloud come o'er the brow,


s: Rose of the Desert! thou, whose blushing ray,


s: No hand to cull thee, none to woo thy sigh,--


s: In vestal silence left to live and die.--


s: Rose of the Desert! thus should woman be,


s: Shining uncourted, lone and safe, like thee.


s: Rose of the Garden, how, unlike thy doom!


s: Destined for others, not thyself, to bloom;


s: Culled ere thy beauty lives thro' half its day;


s: Rose of the Garden! such is woman's lot,--


s: Worshipt while blooming--when she fades, forgot.


s: And dim would shine her proudest lights,


s: Where Bards have hung their wreaths divine,


s: 'Twill seem as still those friends were near,


s: Safe hast thou reached thy father's cot.


s: For thee alone I brave the boundless deep,


s: Those eyes my light through every distant sea;


s: My waking thoughts, the dream that gilds my sleep,


s: The noon-tide revery, all are given to thee,


s: Tho' future scenes present to Fancy's eye


s: Fair forms of light that crowd the distant air,


s: When nearer viewed, the fairy phantoms fly,


s: The crowds dissolve, and thou alone art there,


s: To win thy smile, I speed from shore to shore,


s: While Hope's sweet voice is heard in every blast,


s: Still whispering on that when some years are o'er,


s: One bright reward shall crown my toil at last,


s: Oh place beside the transport of that hour


s: All earth can boast of fair, of rich, and bright,


s: Wealth's radiant mines, the lofty thrones of power,--


s: Then ask where first thy lover's choice would light?


s: Her last words, at parting, how _can_ I forget?


s: Deep treasured thro' life, in my heart they shall stay;


s: Like music, whose charm in the soul lingers yet,


s: When its sounds from the ear have long melted away.


s: Let Fortune assail me, her threatenings are vain;


s: Those still-breathing words shall my talisman be,--


s: "Remember, in absence, in sorrow, and pain,


s: "There's one heart, unchanging, that beats but for thee."


s: From the desert's sweet well tho' the pilgrim must hie,


s: Never more of that fresh-springing fountain to taste,


s: He hath still of its bright drops a treasured supply,


s: Whose sweetness lends life to his lips thro' the waste.


s: So, dark as my fate is still doomed to remain,


s: These words shall my well in the wilderness be,--


s: Let's take this world as some wide scene.


s: Bright spots where we should love to stay;


s: Should chilling winds and rains come on,


s: We'll raise our awning 'gainst the shower;


s: Down which life's currents all must go,--


s: Nor even that hour shall want its charms,


s: Founded on the fable reported by Arrian (in Indicis) of Hercules


s: Steals o'er the heart, too soon to fleet,


s: But far more bright, more dear than all,


s: His light bark bounds o'er ocean's foam,


s: What charms him most, when evening's star


s: Fond thoughts of absent friends and loves


s: No voice like thine to breathe the song;


s: Not that I wish thee sad--heaven knows--


s: Thou hadst the first, thou hadst the last.


s: That ne'er while I live from my memory shall fade


s: The song or the look of that young Indian maid.


s: Nor e'er while I live from my memory shall fade


s: Those sounds that speak my soldier near;


s: Those joyous steps seem winged fox home.--


s: But hark, more faint the footsteps grow,


s: 'Tis past, 'tis o'er,--hush, heart, thy pain!


s: One note of music, by moonlight's soft ray--


s: Oh, 'tis worth thousands heard coldly by day.


s: Oh, he will tell thee, thro' summer-nights long,


s: Fondest she lends her whole soul to his song.


s: Or if, where Pleasure's wing hath glided,


s: Half breathed to Heaven and half to thee.


s: Let thoughts of me come o'er thy breast;


s: Come, maids and youths, for here we sell


s: We've lots of tears for bards to shower,


s: They'll still in rhyme fresh breaking bear,


s: If packed and marked as "brittle ware,"--


s: If _thou_ wilt call the slumbering strain,


s: Tho' time have frozen the tuneful stream


s: I used to hear, while light was falling,


s: Ah! once how blest that maid would come,


s: And thro' the night those sounds repeating,


s: But, one sad night, when winds were high,


s: Nor earth, nor heaven could hear her cry.


s: And still that sad dream loath to leave,


s: Mind not tho' daylight around us is breaking,--


s: Who'd think now of sleeping when morn's but just waking?


s: Sound the merry viol, and daylight or not,


s: Be all for one hour in the gay dance forgot.


s: See young Aurora up heaven's hill advancing,


s: Tho' fresh from her pillow, even she too is dancing:


s: While thus all creation, earth, heaven, and sea.


s: Are dancing around us, oh, why should not we?


s: Who'll say that moments we use thus are wasted?


s: Such sweet drops of time only flow to be tasted;


s: While hearts are high beating and harps full in tune,


s: The fault is all morning's for coming so soon.


s: They met but once, in youth's sweet hour,


s: While round, from banks of brook or lake,


s: "Think not thy love, while thou'rt away,


s: With both, perchance, may lose our way:--


s: With this bright world to dream of more,


s: Sees all his heaven on Beauty's breast:--


s: "The extremes of each thus taught to shun,


s: "With hearts and souls between them given,


s: And while _one_ Love wrote down the oath,


s: Wouldst know what tricks, by the pale moonlight,


s: Are played by me, the merry little Sprite,


s: Who wing thro' air from the camp to the court,


s: From king to clown, and of all make sport;


s: Who laugh at weak mortals and love the moonlight.


s: To a miser's bed, where he snoring slept


s: And he waked to catch--but away I sprang,


s: I saw thro' the leaves, in a damsel's bower,


s: She was waiting her love at that starlight hour:


s: "Hist--hist!" quoth I, with an amorous sigh,


s: And she flew to the door, but away flew I,


s: While a bard sat inditing an ode to his love,


s: Like a pair of blue meteors I stared from above,


s: And he swooned--for he thought 'twas the ghost, poor man!


s: I come from a land in the sun bright deep,


s: Where the winds of the north, be calmed in sleep,


s: Then haste to that holy Isle with me, etc.


s: To that shadowless orb, in a vernal sky,


s: And the breath we draw from his living fires,


s: And our wild bees lend their rainbow wings


s: Thou bidst me sing the lay I sung to thee


s: In other days ere joy had left this brow;


s: But think, tho' still unchanged the notes may be,


s: How different feels the heart that breathes them now!


s: The rose thou wearst to-night is still the same


s: But, ah! that dew of dawn, that breath which came


s: Like life o'er all its leaves, hath past away.


s: Since first that music touched thy heart and mine,


s: How many a joy and pain o'er both have past,--


s: The joy, a light too precious long to shine,--


s: The pain, a cloud whose shadows always last.


s: And tho' that lay would like the voice of home


s: Breathe o'er our ear, 'twould waken now a sigh--


s: Ah! not, as then, for fancied woes to come,


s: But, sadder far, for real bliss gone by.


s: Is to make it, at least, a _merry_-go-round,


s: And much would their hearts enjoy the whirl,


s: And ere we can say, "How short!"--'tis night.


s: And the best way to make it a _merry_-go-round,


s: That warns us then to fear their flight,


s: "Look here," said Rose, with laughing eyes,


s: "He'll now lie still the whole day long;


s: "Then hark, how sweet and blithe his song!"


s: "Thro' earth and air his song may stray,


s: "Touch but the spring thou knowst so well,


s: "And--hark, how sweet the love-song flows!"


s: No more my heart the enchantress braves,


s: And tears on those eyelids tremble like dew,


s: Oh, then there dwells in those eyes as they glisten


s: A sweet holy charm that mirth never knew.


s: Lights up the sunshine of joy on that brow,


s: Then the young reindeer o'er the hills bounding


s: Was ne'er in its mirth so graceful as thou.


s: When on the skies at midnight thou gazest.


s: A lustre so pure thy features then wear,


s: That, when to some star that bright eye thou raisest,


s: We feel 'tis thy home thou'rt looking for there.


s: But when the word for the gay dance is given,


s: So buoyant thy spirit, so heartfelt thy mirth,


s: Oh then we exclaim, "Ne'er leave earth for heaven,


s: "But linger still here, to make heaven of earth."


s: And, when thou com'st, with gladsome feet,


s: The tree called in the East, Amrita, or the Immortal.


s: That I adore thee, yes, still adore thee.


s: Think'st thou that aught but death could end


s: Shall be to bless thee, yes, still to bless thee.


s: With earth beneath their dove-like shade,


s: There's something strange, I know not what,


s: On earth, its light with all things bright


s: The doom that o'er this heart must fall,


s: But she doth gild with influence bright;


s: The chase was o'er--the bark was caught,


s: And found 'twas just as Love had thought,


s: "_To Bring-to_, to check the course of a ship."--_Falconer_.


s: Still thou fliest, and still I woo thee,


s: Who wooed, he thought, some angel's charms,


s: But found a cloud that from him glided,--


s: As thou dost from these outstretched arms.


s: Scarce I've said, "How fair thou shinest,"


s: The clouds of night, saith, "Look on me,"


s: Then flits again, its splendor hiding.--


s: Then first from Love, in Nature's bowers,


s: "Here take," he said, "the pencil, Love,


s: "No hand should paint such eyes but thine."


s: Of ties that long have ceased to bind me,


s: Yet, sweet Lute, though pain it bring me,


s: Tho' death were in the strain they sing me,


s: Love's sweet light when once 'tis set,--


s: Bright moon, that high in heaven art shining,


s: All smiles, as if within thy bower to-night


s: And thou wouldst wake him with a kiss of light!--


s: By all those visions far too bright for day,


s: Behold, this night, beneath thy lingering ray,--


s: I pray thee, queen of that bright heaven,


s: Quench not to-night thy love-lamp in the sea,


s: Beneath thy beam, her long-vowed kiss to me.


s: Guide hither, guide her steps benighted,


s: Ere thou, sweet moon, thy bashful crescent hide;


s: Then shroud in darkness all the world beside.


s: Long years have past, old friend, since we


s: While some, like flowers mid Autumn's snow,


s: Thank heaven, not all their light is gone,--


s: Then here's to thee, old friend, and long


s: Calmly I'll watch, while light and gloom


s: Flit o'er its face till night is closing--


s: But tho', by turns, thus dark and shining,


s: Whose light returns not, once declining,


s: Tho' lightly sounds the song I sing to thee,


s: Tho' like the lark's its soaring music be,


s: Thou'lt find even here some mournful note that tells


s: How near such April joy to weeping dwells.


s: 'Tis 'mong the gayest scenes that oftenest steal


s: Those saddening thoughts we fear, yet love to feel;


s: As when her mirth forgets itself in tears.


s: Then say not thou this Alpine song is gay--


s: It comes from hearts that, like their mountain-lay,


s: Mix joy with pain, and oft when pleasure's breath


s: Most warms the surface feel most sad beneath.


s: The very beam in which the snow-wreath wears


s: Its gayest smile is that which wins its tears,--


s: And passion's power can never lend the glow


s: Which wakens bliss, without some touch of woe.


s: As we row along thro' the waves so clear,


s: Illume its spray, like the fleeting smile


s: For him there's a story in every breeze,


s: 'Tis sweet to behold when the billows are sleeping,


s: Some gay-colored bark moving gracefully by;


s: No damp on her deck but the eventide's weeping,


s: No breath in her sails but the summer wind's sigh.


s: Yet who would not turn with a fonder emotion,


s: To gaze on the life-boat, tho' rugged and worn.


s: Which often hath wafted o'er hills of the ocean


s: The lost light of hope to the seaman forlorn!


s: Oh! grant that of those who in life's sunny slumber


s: Around us like summer-barks idly have played,


s: When storms are abroad we may find in the number


s: One friend, like the life-boat, to fly to our aid.


s: Around the lattice their tendrils spread,


s: But lips, tho' blooming, must still be fed,


s: The flowers laid down their heads to die,


s: And Hope fell sick as the witch drew nigh.


s: And raised the latch, where the young god lay;


s: "Oh ho!" said Love--"is it you? good-by;"


s: Are lost when touched, and turned to pain;


s: That tho' the heart would break with _more_,


s: A maid gave her heart, as she would her glove,


s: And, tho' beaux, like monkeys, amuse us,


s: Oh! think not we'd give such a delicate gem


s: As the heart to be played with or sullied by them;


s: Tho' plagued, Heaven knows! by the foolish zeal


s: Oh, think not I'd follow their desperate rule,


s: Who get rid of the folly by wedding the fool;


s: When Charles was deceived by the maid he loved,


s: But proudly he smiled as if gay and unmoved,


s: Tho' the wound in his heart was deep and lasting.


s: And oft at night when the tempest rolled


s: He sung as he paced the dark deck over--


s: As the heart of a maid that deceives her lover."


s: Yet he lived with the happy and seemed to be gay,


s: Tho' the wound but sunk more deep for concealing;


s: And Fortune threw many a thorn in his way,


s: Which, true to one anguish, he trod without feeling!


s: And still by the frowning of Fate unsubdued


s: He sung as if sorrow had placed him above her--


s: "Frown, Fate, frown! thou art not so rude


s: At length his career found a close in death,


s: The close he long wished to his cheerless roving,


s: And he died in a cause of his heart's approving.


s: But still he remembered his sorrow,--and still


s: He sung till the vision of life was over--


s: "Come, death, come! thou art not so chill


s: So well, each thought the whole his own.


s: Tho' sacred the tie that our country entwineth,


s: And dear to the heart her remembrance remains,


s: Yet dark are the ties where no liberty shineth,


s: And sad the remembrance that slavery stains.


s: O thou who wert born in the cot of the peasant,


s: Our vision when absent--our glory, when present--


s: Where thou art, O Liberty! there is my home.


s: Farewell to the land where in childhood I've wandered!


s: In vain is she mighty, in vain, is she brave!


s: Unblest is the blood that for tyrants is squandered,


s: And fame has no wreaths for the brow of the slave.


s: But hail to thee, Albion! who meet'st the commotion.


s: Of Europe as calm as thy cliffs meet the foam!


s: With no bonds but the law, and no slave but the ocean,


s: Hail, Temple of Liberty! thou art my home.


s: But the smile of the victor will take it;


s: Has power at those moments to rouse him.


s: That the life almost seemed to forsake him,


s: From the trumpet of glory would wake him.


s: Mr. Orator Puff had two tones in his voice,


s: The one squeaking thus, and the other down so!


s: In each sentence he uttered he gave you your choice,


s: For one was B alt, and the rest G below.


s: One voice for one orator's surely enough.


s: But he still talked away spite of coughs and of frowns,


s: So distracting all ears with his ups and his downs,


s: That a wag once on hearing the orator say,


s: "My voice is for war," asked him, "Which of them, pray?"


s: Reeling homewards one evening, top-heavy with gin,


s: And rehearsing his speech on the weight of the crown,


s: He tript near a sawpit, and tumbled right in,


s: "Sinking Fund," the last words as his noddle came down.


s: "Help! help!" he exclaimed, in his he and she tones,


s: "Help me out! help me out--I have broken my bones!"


s: "Help you out?" said a Paddy who passed, "what a bother!


s: Why, there's two of you there, can't you help one another?"


s: (_Entering as if to announce the Play_.)


s: For the ninth time--oh accents of delight


s: To the poor author's ear, when _three times three_


s: When, long by money, and the muse, forsaken,


s: He finds at length his jokes and boxes taken,


s: The only bill on which his name will pass!


s: Thus, Vapid, thus shall Thespian scrolls of fame


s: Thro' box and gallery waft your well-known name,


s: While critic eyes the happy cast shall con,


s: And learned ladies spell your _Dram. Person_.


s: To help my night, and _he_, ye know, has friends.


s: Friends, did I say? for fixing friends, or _parts_,


s: There's nothing like him! wits, at his request.


s: Are turned to fools, and dull dogs learn to jest;


s: Soldiers, for him, good "trembling cowards" make,


s: And beaus, turned clowns, look ugly for his sake;


s: For him even lawyers talk without a fee,


s: For him (oh friendship) _I_ act tragedy!


s: In short, like Orpheus, his persuasive tricks


s: Make _boars_ amusing, and put life in _sticks_.


s: With _such_ a manager we can't but please,


s: Tho' London sent us all her loud  O. P.'s,


s: Let them come on, like snakes, all hiss and rattle,


s: Armed with a thousand fans, we'd  give them battle;


s: You, on our side, R. P.upon our  banners,


s: Soon should we teach the saucy O. P.'s manners:


s: And show that, here--howe'er John Bull may doubt--


s: In all _our_ plays, the Riot-Act's cut out;


s: And, while we skim the cream of many a jest,


s: Your well-timed thunder never sours its zest.


s: Oh gently thus, when three short weeks are past,


s: At Shakespeare's altar, shall we breathe our last;


s: And, ere this long-loved dome to ruin nods,


s: Yet, even here, tho' Fiction rules the hour,


s: There shine some genuine smiles, beyond her power;


s: And there are tears, too--tears that Memory sheds


s: Even o'er the feast that mimic fancy spreads,


s: When her heart misses one lamented guest,


s: Whose eye so long threw light o'er all the rest!


s: There, there, indeed, the Muse forgets her task,


s: And drooping weeps behind Thalia's mask.


s: Forgive this gloom--forgive this joyless strain,


s: Too sad to welcome pleasure's smiling train.


s: But, meeting thus, our hearts will part the lighter,


s: As mist at dawn but makes the setting brighter;


s: Gay Epilogue will shine where Prologue fails--


s: As glow-worms keep their splendor for their tails.


s: I know not why--but time, methinks, hath past


s: More fleet than usual since we parted last.


s: It seems but like a dream of yesternight.


s: Whose charm still hangs, with fond, delaying light;


s: And, ere the memory lose one glowing hue


s: With trackless foot along life's vulgar waste,


s: When thus they reach the sunny spots we love.


s: Let this be still the solstice of the year,


s: Where Pleasure's sun shall at its height remain,


s: And Sylphs, like other pretty creatures,


s: Who knocks them down to the best bidder.


s: Large fire-flies, such as shine at night


s: Among the Orient's flowers and spices;--


s: Whose waves at night like wildfire run--


s: That by their own gay light were eat up.


s: Some prudent Gnomes, 'tis said, apprised


s: And by his flame tho' somewhat frighted,


s: With the fair Sylph, light as a feather;


s: They looked like two fresh sunbeams glancing


s: Though not _yet_ kindled--who could tell


s: (Like that which barred young Thisbe's bliss,)


s: Thro' whose small holes this dangerous pair


s: At first the torch looked rather bluely,--


s: Sylphs, gnomes, and fiddlers mixt together,


s: With all their aunts, sons, cousins, nieces,


s: Were blown--legs, wings, and tails--to pieces!


s: "'Tis not the _first_ time Love has made


s: What! _thou_, with thy genius, thy youth, and thy name--


s: Thou, born of a Russell--whose instinct to run


s: The accustomed career of thy sires, is the same


s: As the eaglet's, to soar with his eyes on the sun!


s: Whose nobility comes to thee, stampt with a seal,


s: Far, far more ennobling than monarch e'er set;


s: With the blood of thy race, offered up for the weal


s: Of a nation that swears by that martyrdom yet!


s: Shalt _thou_ be faint-hearted and turn from the strife,


s: From the mighty arena, where all that is grand


s: And devoted and pure and adorning in life,


s: 'Tis for high-thoughted spirits like thine to command?


s: Oh no, never dream it--while good men despair


s: Between tyrants and traitors, and timid men bow,


s: Never think for an instant thy country can spare


s: Such a light from her darkening horizon as thou.


s: With a spirit, as meek as the gentlest of those


s: Who in life's sunny valley lie sheltered and warm;


s: To the top cliffs of Fortune and breasted her storm;


s: With an ardor for liberty fresh as in youth


s: It first kindles the bard and gives life to his lyre;


s: Yet mellowed, even now, by that mildness of truth


s: Which tempers but chills not the patriot fire;


s: With an eloquence--not like those rills from a height,


s: Which sparkle and foam and in vapor are o'er;


s: But a current that works out its way into light


s: Thro' the filtering recesses of thought and of lore.


s: Thus gifted, thou never canst sleep in the shade;


s: If the stirrings of Genius, the music of fame,


s: And the charms of thy cause have not power to persuade,


s: Yet think how to Freedom thou'rt pledged by thy Name.


s: Like the boughs of that laurel by Delphi's decree


s: Set apart for the Fane and its service divine,


s: So the branches that spring from the old Russell tree


s: Are by Liberty _claimed_ for the use of her Shrine.


s: The lights and shades, the joy and pain,


s: Those friendships, in my boyhood twined,


s: Where Love's true light at last I've found,


s: The more I've viewed this world, the more I've found,


s: That filled as 'tis with scenes and creatures rare,


s: Fancy commands within her own bright round


s: A world of scenes and creatures far more fair.


s: Nor is it that her power can call up there


s: A single charm, that's not from Nature won,--


s: No more than rainbows in their pride can wear


s: But 'tis the mental medium; it shines thro',


s: That lends to Beauty all its charm and hue;


s: As the same light that o'er the level lake


s: Will, entering in the rounded raindrop, make


s: Colors as gay as those on angels' wings!


s: That even the time it would take to weep


s: The Love that's ordered to bathe in wine,


s: But ah! the mirror would cease to shine,


s: Then wait no longer till tears shall flow--


s: Thou wouldst not, Lesbia, part from mine.


s: With all thy craft, such spells adorn thee,


s: Comrades and friends! with whom, where'er


s: The fates have willed thro' life I've roved,


s: Which feels the ploughshare's edge and dies!


s: _peninsularum Sirmio, insularumque ocelle_.


s: Or sleep enwreathed by Neptune's smiles--


s: When tired with toil o'er land and deep,


s: _nulla tuum nobis subducet femina lectum, etc.,


s: And still alone thou charm'st my sight--


s: With women and apples both Paris and Adam


s: God be praised that the fate of mankind, my dear Madam,


s: For, weak as I am with temptation to grapple,


s: The world would have doubly to rue thee:


s: Like Adam, I'd gladly take _from_ thee the apple,


s: (And, heaven knows, too oft they _are_ so,)--


s: Larks stewed in Morning's roseate breath,


s: Like young pigs whipt to make them tender.


s: Such fare may suit those bards, who are able


s: Where Bromham rears its ancient steeple--


s: 'Twill turn to dainties;--while the cup,


s: Grand, from the Truth that reigns o'er all;


s: The unshrinking truth that lets her light


s: Where Truth herself half veils the Wrong,


s: 'Mong the few days I've known with thee,


s: With that pure, mellowing power of Taste,


s: Friend of long years! of friendship tried


s: In doubts, my judge--in taste, my guide--


s: Such was our host; and tho', since then,


s: Slight clouds have risen 'twixt him and me,


s: Bright was our board that day--tho' _one_


s: The lines that follow allude to a day passed in company with Mr.


s: I've seen thee, from thy childhood, wear,


s: Nor 'mong the countless charms that spring


s: Then all thou _wert_ comes o'er my heart--


s: I've watched thee thro' so bright hath been,


s: Of all speculations the market holds forth,


s: The best that I know for a lover of pelf,


s: Is to buy Marcus up, at the price he is worth,


s: And then sell him at that which he sets on himself.


s: From which the life that, fills and warms


s: 'Tis thus, tho' wooed by flattering friends,


s: With love's true instinct, back to thee!


s: And wild and strange enough, Heaven knows,


s: And Love that night slept rather better.


s: Next day the case gave further hope yet,


s: That Love, who first ne'er slept at all,


s: Now took, the rogue! to downright snoring.


s: Ay--down to the dust with them, slaves as they are,


s: That shrunk at the first touch of Liberty's war,


s: Be wasted for tyrants, or stagnate in chains.


s: On, on like a cloud, thro' their beautiful vales,


s: Ye locusts of tyranny, blasting them o'er--


s: Fill, fill up their wide sunny waters, ye sails


s: From each slave-mart of Europe and shadow their shore!


s: Let their fate be a mock-word--let men of all lands


s: Laugh out with a scorn that shall ring to the poles,


s: When each sword that the cowards let fall from their hands


s: Shall be forged into fetters to enter their souls.


s: And deep, and more deep, as the iron is driven,


s: Base slaves! let the whet of their agony be,


s: To think--as the Doomed often think of that heaven


s: They had once within reach--that they _might_ have been free.


s: Oh shame! when there was not a bosom whose heat


s: Ever rose 'bove the _zero_ of Castlereagh's heart.


s: That did not, like echo, your war-hymn repeat,


s: And send all its prayers with your Liberty's start;


s: When the world stood in hope--when a spirit that breathed


s: The fresh air of the olden time whispered about;


s: And the swords of all Italy, halfway unsheathed,


s: But waited one conquering cry to flash out!


s: When around you the shades of your Mighty in fame,


s: FILICAJAS and PETRARCHS, seemed bursting to view,


s: And their words and their warnings, like tongues of bright flame


s: Over Freedom's apostles, fell kindling on you!


s: Oh shame! that in such a proud moment of life


s: Worth the history of ages, when, had you but hurled


s: One bolt at your tyrant invader, that strife


s: Between freemen and tyrants had spread thro' the world--


s: That then--oh! disgrace upon manhood--even then,


s: You should falter, should cling to your pitiful breath;


s: Cower down into beasts, when you might have stood men,


s: And prefer the slave's life of prostration to death.


s: It is strange, it is dreadful:--shout, Tyranny, shout


s: Thro' your dungeons and palaces, "Freedom is o'er;"--


s: If there lingers one spark of her light, tread it out,


s: And return to your empire of darkness once more.


s: For if _such_ are the braggarts that claim to be free,


s: Come, Despot of Russia, thy feet let me kiss;


s: Far nobler to live the brute bondman of thee,


s: Than to sully even chains by a struggle like this!


s: "Those lips, thro' which I feel the breath


s: "Of Heaven itself, whene'er they sever--


s: "Those ringlets, and bright lips of thine,


s: "Thou'rt now in heaven where nothing dies,


s: "And in these arms--what _canst_ thou fear?"


s: And, tho' there ne'er was transport given


s: "Come, come," said Tom's father, "at your time of life,


s: "There's no longer excuse for thus playing the rake--


s: "It is time you should think, boy, of taking a wife"--


s: "Why, so it is, father--whose wife shall I take?"


s: Pure as the mantle, which, o'er him who stood


s: By Jordan's stream, descended from the sky,


s: Is that remembrance which the wise and good


s: Leave in the hearts that love them, when they die.


s: So pure, so precious shall the memory be,


s: Bequeathed, in dying, to our souls by thee--


s: So shall the love we bore thee, cherisht warm


s: Within our souls thro' grief and pain and strife,


s: Wherewith to "heal the waters" of this life!


s: That they would smile, did you but hint,


s: Each minute makes the sad truth plainer,


s: When near its close, requires a strainer.


s: Of which this heart were fonder, vainer,


s: To have _thy_ friendship for its strainer.


s: With foreign names, one's ear to buzz in!


s: When George, alarmed for England's creed,


s: He sent such hints thro' Viscount _This_,


s: To Marquis _That_, as clenched the thing.


s: Kean learned from Ned his cleverest parts,


s: And Scott's last work by him was hinted.


s: And, here and there infused some soul in't--


s: In _that_ Ned--trust him--had his finger.


s: One night the nymph called country dance--


s: That mincing thing, _Mamselle_ quadrille)--


s: "Here, here, at least," she cried, tho' driven


s: "See naught but _true-blue_ Country Dancers,


s: "Here still I reign, and, fresh in charms,


s: "That scorn the threatened _chaine anglaise_."


s: (Quadrillers in their hearts no doubt,)--


s: Were in the cloak-room seen assembling--


s: From the First Fiddle, set her trembling.


s: Alas, in vain her ears would 'scape it--


s: Quadrille, there meets her, face to face.


s: Their looks and language, airs and trickery.


s: There stood Quadrille, with cat-like face


s: So still, you'd hardly think 'twas _going_.


s: A fresh, frank nymph, whom you would know


s: And playing, oft, the devil with flounces.


s: Which struck up now--she proudly spoke--


s: "Heard you that strain--that joyous strain?


s: "Ere Waltz, that rake from foreign lands,


s: "On virtuous English backs and shoulders--


s: "And, yet unfleeced by funding block-heads,


s: "But danced to, 'Money in both pockets.'


s: "Where is the land could 'scape disasters,


s: "Tho' whispered but in _queue-de-chats_.


s: "What looks in _setting_ were exchanged,


s: "What tender words in _down the middle_;


s: "By this cold, silent, foot-coquetting--


s: "The important question in _poussetteing_.


s: "Since vile Quadrilling spoiled the trade."


s: She ceased--tears fell from every Miss--


s: She now had touched the true pathetic:--


s: Such bright hours were not made to stay;


s: If ever life was like the lengthened flow


s: Of some sweet music, sweetness to the last,


s: 'Twas his who, mourned by many, sleeps below.


s: The sunny temper, bright where all is strife.


s: The simple heart above all worldly wiles;


s: Light wit that plays along the calm of life,


s: And stirs its languid surface into smiles;


s: Pure charity that comes not in a shower,


s: Sudden and loud, oppressing what it feeds,


s: But, like the dew, with gradual silent power,


s: Felt in the bloom it leaves along the meads;


s: The happy grateful spirit, that improves


s: And brightens every gift by fortune given;


s: That, wander where it will with those it loves,


s: Makes every place a home, and home a heaven:


s: All these were his.--Oh, thou who read'st this stone,


s: When for thyself, thy children, to the sky


s: Thou humbly prayest, ask this boon alone,


s: That ye like him may live, like him may die!


s: That dazzled, when spontaneous actions--


s: And shorn of all their first attractions.


s: "Good Lord, your Highness can't go there--


s: "Bless me, your Highness can't do that."


s: "The taste was bad, the price was high--


s: "But, as for great or brave, far from it."


s: For realms more worthy to enthrone him?--


s: They round him placed a guard of watchmen,


s: Turned up with yellow--chiefly Scotchmen;


s: Like those in Longwood's prison grounds,


s: For fear the Conqueror should break bounds.


s: As erst in Shakespeare's sovereign hour,


s: The blushless blues, who, day and night,


s: Like duns in doorways, take their stand,


s: Tho' still the western clouds are bright;


s: These lines allude to a curious lamp, which has for its device a


s: To her, whose pity watched, for ever nigh;


s: Oh! could he see the proud, the happy ray,


s: This relic lights up on her generous eye,


s: A friendship all his kingdoms could not buy.


s: Last night, as lonely o'er my fire I sat,


s: Thinking of cues, starts, exits, and--all that,


s: And wondering much what little knavish sprite


s: Had put it first in women's heads to write:--


s: Sudden I saw--as in some witching dream--


s: A bright-blue glory round my book-case beam,


s: From whose quick-opening folds of azure light


s: Out flew a tiny form, as small and bright


s: As Puck the Fairy, when he pops his head,


s: "Bless me!" I starting cried "what imp are you?"--


s: "A small he-devil, Ma'am--my name BAS BLEU--


s: "A bookish sprite, much given to routs and reading;


s: "'Tis I who teach your spinsters of good breeding,


s: "The reigning taste in chemistry and caps,


s: "The last new bounds of tuckers and of maps,


s: "And when the waltz has twirled her giddy brain


s: I viewed him, as he spoke--his hose were blue,


s: His wings--the covers of the last Review--


s: And tinselled gayly o'er, for evening wear,


s: Till the next quarter brings a new-fledged pair.


s: "Inspired by me--(pursued this waggish Fairy)--


s: "That best of wives and Sapphos, Lady Mary,


s: "Makes her own splay-foot epigrams and shoes.


s: "For me the eyes of young Camilla shine,


s: "And mingle Love's blue brilliances with mine;


s: "For me she sits apart, from coxcombs shrinking,


s: "Looks wise--the pretty soul!--and _thinks_ she's thinking.


s: "Lectures on Memory, and assures her friends,


s: "''Pon honor!--(_mimics_)--nothing can surpass the plan


s: "''Pon honor, he improved _my_ memory greatly.'"


s: Here curtsying low, I asked the blue-legged sprite,


s: What share he had in this our play to-night.


s: 'Nay, there--(he cried)--there I am guiltless quite--


s: "What! choose a heroine from that Gothic time


s: "When no one waltzed and none but monks could rhyme;


s: "When lovely woman, all unschooled and wild,


s: "Blushed without art, and without culture smiled--


s: "Simple as flowers, while yet unclassed they shone,


s: "Ere Science called their brilliant world her own,


s: "Ranged the wild, rosy things in learned orders,


s: "And filled with Greek the garden's blushing borders!--


s: "To-morrow evening, when the lights burn blue,


s: And _has_ the sprite been here! No--jests apart--


s: Howe'er man rules in science and in art,


s: The sphere of woman's glories is the heart.


s: And, if our Muse have sketched with pencil true


s: The wife--the mother--firm, yet gentle too--


s: Whose soul, wrapt up in ties itself hath spun,


s: Trembles, if touched in the remotest one;


s: Who loves--yet dares even Love himself disown,


s: When Honor's broken shaft supports his throne:


s: If such our Ina, she may scorn the evils,


s: Dire as they are, of Critics and--Blue Devils.


s: They both were husht, the voice, the chords,--


s: Gone, like the thoughts that once were ours,


s: Thoughts bright, we know, as summer flowers,


s: From which had breathed, as from a shrine


s: Thro' memory's realm had winged in quest


s: _"S'elle estoit belle et de taille élégante,


s: Porter du cueur le secret tesmoignage_."


s: Per piacermi allo specchio qui m'adorno;


s: Dal suo ammiraglio, e siede tutto il giorno_.


s: 'Twas eve's soft hour, and bright, above.


s: "With flowerets culled from glens and groves,


s: Like clouds still flusht with daylight gleams


s: The same bright nymphs were gliding round;


s: While thou, the Queen of all, wert there--


s: The dream then changed--in halls of state,


s: While, ranged around, the wise, the great,


s: Thy voice, like music, cheered the Free,


s: Nor reign such queens on thrones alone--


s: Tho' Love's own flowerets wreath the chain,


s: And bring, if thou canst, the dreams that then


s: But play me the well-known air once more,


s: For thoughts of youth still haunt its strain


s: But, still the same loved notes prolong,


s: Far as the sight can reach, beneath as clear


s: And blue a heaven as ever blest this sphere,


s: Gardens and pillared streets and porphyry domes


s: And high-built temples, fit to be the homes


s: Outlasts all time, above the waters tower!


s: Then, too, the scenes of pomp and joy that make


s: Where all that Love, Religion, Commerce gives


s: Of life and motion, ever moves and lives,


s: Here, up in the steps of temples, from the wave


s: Ascending, in procession slow and grave,


s: Priests in white garments go, with sacred wands


s: And silver cymbals gleaming in their hands:


s: While there, rich barks--fresh from those sunny tracts


s: Far off, beyond the sounding cataracts--


s: Glide with their precious lading to the sea,


s: Plumes of bright birds, rhinoceros' ivory,


s: Gems from the isle of Meroë, and those grains


s: Of gold, washed down by Abyssinian rains.


s: Shadowy and cool, some pilgrims on their way


s: Of lotos flowers that close above their heads,


s: Push their light barks, and hid as in a bower


s: Sing, talk, or sleep away the sultry hour,


s: While haply, not far off, beneath a bank


s: Is played in the cool current by a train


s: Of laughing nymphs, lovely as she whose chain


s: Around two conquerors of the world was cast;


s: But, for a third too feeble, broke at last.


s: She mingled a draught divine and said.--


s: Though frail and fallen and lost thou be,


s: And Memory, too, with her dreams shall come,


s: When heaven was still the spirit's home,


s: "Blest time! ere England's nymphs and swains,


s: That she, the nymph now nestling there--


s: But oh! the light, the unhoped-for light,


s: Tho'--hark!--the clocks but strike eleven,


s: (Like England's self, these spendthrift days)


s: Sparkled o'er London's spires and towers,


s: Mid the smoked groves of Grosvenor Square--


s: With which he slides from their embrace.


s: (When looked for long, at last they came,)


s: From the young spinster, just come _out_,


s: Sets dancing thus, and calls "the World."


s: Where fruits shall tempt and wines entice,


s: When, 'neath the flush of evening's sky,


s: The west-end "world" for mirth let loose,


s: Thro' Grosvenor Gate to speed their course,


s: Soon as thro' Grosvenor's lordly square--


s: Her fingers roved thro' that bright hair,


s: Dislodged some curl from her white brow,


s: Meanwhile--what strain is that which floats


s: Thro' the small boudoir near--like notes


s: That point towards which when ladies rise,


s: Came with this youthful voice communing;


s: Was our young nymph's still younger sister--


s: "Not all that breathes from Bishop's lyre,


s: "That Barnett dreams, or Cooke conceives,


s: "Can match for sweetness, strength, or fire,


s: 'Our homage for the _Manches d'Évêque_."


s: Bring forth the robe whose hue of heaven


s: Array thee, love, array thee, love, etc.


s: And hearts, where'er thy footsteps move,


s: The gaudy clouds, like courtiers, crept--


s: Shone out the high-born knights and dames


s: As tho' they'd robbed both birds and bowers--


s: As fortune-_hunters_ formed their train.


s: The first fair face that lured to error.


s: "Where is she," ask'st thou?--watch all looks


s: Like sun-flowers by the sides of brooks,


s: Steals as she thinks, thro' heaven _incog_.,


s: Hath our young heroine veiled her light;--


s: For see, she walks the earth, Love's own.


s: Which means the Soul (tho' few would think it),


s: But hark! some song hath caught her ears--


s: And, lo, how pleased, as tho' she'd ne'er


s: And half the audience drunk with nectar.


s: Some mortals there may be, so wise, or so fine,


s: As in evenings like this no enjoyment to see;


s: But, as I'm not particular--wit, love, and wine,


s: Are for one night's amusement sufficient for me.


s: Nay--humble and strange as my tastes may appear--


s: If driven to the worst, I could manage, thank Heaven,


s: To put up with eyes such as beam round me here,


s: And such wine as we're sipping, six days out of seven.


s: So pledge me a bumper--your sages profound


s: May be blest, if they will, on their own patent plan:


s: But as we are _not_ sages, why--send the cup round--


s: We must only be happy the best way we can.


s: A reward by some king was once offered, we're told,


s: To whoe'er could invent a new bliss for mankind;


s: But talk of _new_ pleasures!--give me but the old,


s: And I'll leave your inventors all new ones they find.


s: Or should I, in quest of fresh realms of bliss,


s: Set sail in the pinnace of Fancy some day,


s: Let the rich rosy sea I embark on be this,


s: And such eyes as we've here be the stars of my way!


s: In the mean time, a bumper--your Angels, on high,


s: May have pleasures unknown to life's limited span;


s: But, as we are _not_ Angels, why--let the flask fly--


s: We must be happy _all_ ways that we can.


s: For heavenlier things than e'er will be.


s: On the fair groups that, round and round,


s: Work on the sight their dazzling spells,


s: Till nymphs that looked at noonday plain,


s: With knights and dames who, calm reclined,


s: So bright was still that tranquil river,


s: With the last shaft from Daylight's quiver,


s: Of their oar's cadence, sung this lay:--


s: Like pleasant thoughts that o'er the mind


s: When, wooed by whispering groves in vain,


s: Thou'lt leave those banks, thy shaded home,


s: And thou, sweet Youth, too soon wilt pass


s: Where, 'neath a pendent wreath of lights,


s: And reigns supreme o'er slides and capers;--


s: When all flocked round them, glad to stare


s: Some thought them perfect, to their tastes;


s: While of that doubtful genus, "dressy men,"


s: The male was thought a first-rate specimen.


s: 'Mong reasoning things to them should fall--


s: To high-built heads and tight-laced hearts


s: And frown, 'twas plain--had just fallen out;


s: And all their little thoughts, of course.


s: And, should the charmer's head hold out,


s: Still round and round thro' life we'll go.


s: Thus round and round thro' life we'll go.


s: These gay things, born but to quadrille,


s: While thus the fiddle's spell, _within_,


s: Lamps of all hues, from walks and bowers,


s: Broke on the eye, like kindling flowers,


s: Lamps, with young flowers beside them bedded,


s: That shrunk from such warm neighborhood,


s: And sung to them these mournful words:--


s: Bring hither, bring thy lute, while day is dying--


s: Here will I lay me and list to thy song;


s: Should tones of other days mix with its sighing,


s: Tones of a light heart, now banisht so long,


s: Sing on thou mournful lute--day is fast going,


s: Soon will its light from thy chords die away;


s: One little gleam in the west is still glowing,


s: When that hath vanisht, farewell to thy lay.


s: She would have paused, entranced, to hear,


s: And, listening both with ear and thought,


s: These sounds upon the night breeze caught--


s: Tho' the quick, transient blush that burned


s: Who'll buy?--'tis Folly's shop, who'll buy?--


s: We've lots of playthings, too, for sages.


s: That fullest seems when nothing's in it;


s: To be knocked down the following minute.


s: Who'll buy?--'tis Folly's shop, who'll buy?


s: While, for their heirs, we've _quick_silver,


s: That, fast as they can wish, will caper.


s: But, whatsoe'er the whims that seize you,


s: To Knavery's shop next door we'll send you.


s: That show themselves, like grains of gold


s: Legs, wings, and drumsticks, all to flight.


s: But say, while light these songs resound,


s: What means that buzz of whispering round,


s: While o'er her leans a tall young Dervise,


s: Learning by heart the Marriage Service,)


s: Her friends, the Gods, must wait awhile.


s: Enchanters, house-maids, Turks, Hindoos,)


s: Have heard, approved, and blest the tie;


s: Even dearest friends must bid good night.


s: So, farewell, scene of mirth and masking,


s: The name given to those large sleeves that hang loosely.


s: "And the mainsail flowing, full and free--


s: "And our hearts to you, young Zean Maids!


s: "And our hearts to you, young Zean Maids!"


s: Oh, speed their way,--the chosen flower,


s: From their dark deck--watching the flame


s: With thoughts, that, but for manly shame,


s: When, blest by heaven, the Cross shall sweep


s: And your brave warriors, hastening back,


s: Here bloomed the laurel-rose, whose wreath


s: And here those bramble-flowers, that breathe


s: Shine like a Nereid's hair, when spread,


s: Scatters their fruit throughout the world!


s: That saw their farewell tears that night:


s: O'er their young brows, when they looked round


s: And danced till morn outshone the stars!


s: With laugh that told the lightened heart,


s: Soon did they find this thoughtless play


s: That many a nymph tho' pleased the while,


s: While all the rest stood round her, mute,


s: Which still,--like sparkles of Greek Fire,


s: But tears fell o'er each tangled thread;


s: Thinking, with lips that moved in prayer,


s: That _they_ too were Love's worshippers.


s: Where fays have danced their merry round--


s: Weeping for thee, my love, thro' the long day,


s: Weeping for thee, my love, thro' the long night--


s: Naught left but Memory whose dreary tread


s: Sounds thro' this ruined heart, where all lies dead--


s: That's linked with feelings, once our own--


s: From a low bank of flowers, looked round


s: The heart of youth 'twixt smiles and tears!


s: "When slow at first, then circling fast,


s: "Thro' the light air they seemed to flit


s: Some called aloud "the Fountain Dance!"--


s: Whose step was air-like and whose glance


s: "The Dance of Greece, while Greece was free--


s: "That Dance, where neither flutes nor lyres,


s: Then, springing towards a grove that spread


s: Plucked off a lance-like twig, and said,


s: And now they stept, with measured tread,


s: Struck lance to lance and sword to shield:


s: Who smiling watched their children's play--


s: Such were the sounds to which the warrior boy


s: Danced in those happy days when Greece was free;


s: When Sparta's youth, even in the hour of joy,


s: Thus trained their steps to war and victory.


s: Thus did thy sons, oh Greece, one glorious night,


s: Dance by a moon like this, till o'er the sea


s: That morning dawned by whose immortal light


s: Half sadness, watched their mimic fight--


s: "Fond maids! who thus with War can jest--


s: "Pleased with the shade that helmet flings,


s: "Hath tracked the fortunes of the brave--


s: From hearts that feel but fear to praise,


s: Thro' feeling than thro' weakness erred,


s: The attentive ear, this strain was heard:--


s: But, no--the nymphs knew well the tone--


s: Ah! where are they, who heard, in former hours,


s: The voice of Song in these neglected bowers?


s: The youth who told his pain in such sweet tone


s: That all who heard him wisht his pain their own--


s: And she who while he sung sat listening by


s: And thought to strains like these 'twere sweet to die--


s: 'Tis thus in future hours some bard will say


s: Of her who hears and him who sings this lay--


s: Their hearts had formed so many a dream.


s: Nor sought their boats till morning shone.


s: So soft thro' evening's air had breathed


s: Paused when they reached this fairy shore,


s: Of those young maids who've met to fleet


s: Than when they last adorned these bowers;


s: Crowded with the light of Victory's smiles


s: Could trace the warrior's parting track,


s: Where first they held their evening play


s: Look down from heaven on lovelier scene.


s: Now shot their long and dart-like skiffs.


s: These sea-hawks in their course shall meet,


s: Where these young island nymphs are met!


s: When waves rose high or clouds were dark,


s: 'Twas there, around that rock-built shrine


s: For mark, where smooth the herbage lies,


s: With silken folds thro' which bright eyes


s: Watching what next may shine from thence,


s: In half-caught gleams now burst to view.


s: Of the newly gathered flowers, o'er which


s: The wreath was formed; the maiden raised


s: Like light had reached his soul, he caught


s: Thus hailed the bright dream passing there,


s: To watch her while she wreathed the flowers.


s: The youth was skilled in Painting's art,


s: And sketched the rays that light the brook;


s: "This, this," he cried, "is all my prayer,


s: His prayer as soon as breathed was heard;


s: Till Song and Painting learned from him.


s: How crowned with praise their task had been


s: Some to the groves that skirt the glade,


s: Calls back the groups from rock and field


s: To see some new-formed scene revealed;--


s: When in their thirst they hear the sound


s: Of distant rills, the light nymphs bound.


s: While near it from the night-ray screened,


s: Such was the back-ground's silent scene;--


s: Had watched his slumber, cheerly breaks.


s: The spell-bound audience from that spot;


s: The abode of nymphs--her countless rills


s: Follow each change that wakes the strings


s: Till, weary at last, in slumber's chain,


s: Of the Saint's Bock will shoot its prow.


s: A red-sailed pinnace towards them glide,


s: Sudden they slacked their sail and song,


s: On the light surge, these tidings told:--


s: News that would cloud even Freedom's ray


s: Their tale thus told and heard with pain,


s: Throughout all time with leaves unshed--


s: The patriot's hope, the tyrant's dread--


s: Where hearts like thine have broke or bled,


s: 'Mong those who lingered listening there,--


s: As breath of night could towards them bear


s: Where they might rest, in converse sweet,


s: 'Mong tiny stars that round her gleamed,


s: With cheeks that had regained their power


s: And play of smiles,--and each bright eye


s: Back to the scene such smiles should grace


s: These wandering nymphs their path retrace,


s: That child--but, silence! lend thine ear,


s: And thus in song the tale thou'lt hear:--


s: Her flute he praised in terms extatic,--


s: The nymph found breath to shake and thrill;


s: Love changed his plan, with warmth exclaiming,


s: And much that flute the flatterer blaming,


s: The nymph looked down, beheld her features


s: And started, shocked--for, ah, ye creatures!


s: And while yet filled with breath melodious,


s: 'Twas heard in plaintive tone repeating,


s: Twixt flash and flash, as still more bright


s: As her young thoughts would have it come.


s: Which flowers can speak when aptly wove,


s: Welcome sweet bird, thro' the sunny air winging,


s: Swift hast thou come o'er the far-shining sea,


s: Like Seba's dove on thy snowy neck bringing


s: Love's written vows from my lover to me.


s: Oh, in thy absence what hours did I number!--


s: Saying oft, "Idle bird, how could he rest?"


s: But thou art come at last, take now thy slumber,


s: And lull thee in dreams of all thou lov'st best.


s: Yet dost thou droop--even now while I utter


s: Love's happy welcome, thy pulse dies away;


s: Cheer thee, my bird--were it life's ebbing flutter.


s: This fondling bosom should woo it to stay,


s: But no--thou'rt dying--thy last task is over--


s: Farewell, sweet martyr to Love and to me!


s: The smiles thou hast wakened by news from my lover,


s: Will now all be turned into weeping for thee.


s: While thus this scene of song (their last


s: And while the flask went round thus sung:--


s: What see they there? a bright blue light


s: While marvelling thus they stood, a maid


s: The assembled throng, rushed towards the sea.


s: The ill-omened thought which crost him then,


s: That once those hands should lose their hold,


s: March! nor heed those arms that hold thee,


s: Even then ere loath their hands could part


s: That, soon as the fierce fight was o'er,


s: "By day," he cried, "thou'lt know my bark;


s: Oh the blest hour when those who've been


s: With blades from victory scarce yet cold,


s: And wounds that home's sweet breath will heal.


s: "Ere morn," said he,--and while he spoke


s: Turned to the east, where clear and pale


s: "We'll greet on yonder wave their sail!"


s: "'Tis the Vine! 'tis the Vine!" said the cup-loving boy


s: As he saw it spring bright from the earth,


s: And called the young Genii of Wit, Love, and Joy,


s: The fruit was full grown, like a ruby it flamed


s: Till the sunbeam that kist it looked pale;


s: "'Tis the Vine! 'tis the Vine!" every Spirit exclaimed


s: "Hail, hail to the Wine-tree, all hail!"


s: First, fleet as a bird to the summons Wit flew,


s: While a light on the vine-leaves there broke


s: In flashes so quick and so brilliant all knew


s: T'was the light from his lips as he spoke.


s: "Bright tree! let thy nectar but cheer me," he cried,


s: "'Tis the Vine! 'tis the Vine!" hills and valleys reply,


s: Next Love as he leaned o'er the plant to admire


s: From his rosy mouth sent such a breath of desire,


s: Oh! never did flower of the earth, sea, or sky,


s: "'Tis the Vine! 'tis the Vine!" all re-echo the cry,


s: Last, Joy, without whom even Love and Wit die,


s: Came to crown the bright hour with his ray;


s: And scarce had that mirth-waking tree met his eye,


s: When a laugh spoke what Joy could not say;--


s: A laugh of the heart which was echoed around


s: "T is the Vine! 'tis the Vine!" laughing myriads resound,


s: "Hail, hail to the Wine-tree, all hail!"


s: "_Nerium Oleander_. In Cyprus it retains its ancient name,


s: The sword was the weapon chiefly used in this dance.


s: An ancient city of Zea, the walls of which were of marble. Its


s: The whole of this scene was suggested by Pliny's account of the


s: artist Pausias and his mistress Glycera, _Lib_. 35 c. 40.


s: This form of notice to the caravans to prepare for marching was


s: The name which the Greeks give to the Virgin Mary.


s: Comes clustering round like roadside grapes


s: From all whose charms I just have flown;


s: Back to those groves and gardens bright,


s: Down the green slope its lengthened shade,


s: But hence such thoughts!--nor let me grieve


s: Thou'lt gravely smile at--_why_ I'm here


s: Tho' thro' my life's short, sunny dream,


s: Like a light leaf down pleasure's stream,


s: Sad thoughts--I knew not whence or why--


s: Were these strange darkenings of my mind--


s: Those lips I prest, the hands I caught--


s: Myself--the crowd that mirth had brought


s: Full as the world is brimmed with bliss,


s: _Itself_ the realm where Pleasure dwelt.


s: "There could to earth some power be brought,


s: "Some charm with their own essence fraught


s: "That burn and roam throughout all time!"


s: While thoughts like these absorbed my mind,


s: "You'll find the Eternal Life you seek."


s: Till from all sides such splendors broke,


s: E'er conned, believed, or reverenced less


s: Which is to live--ah, hope too bright!--


s: That shine out thus, when we're at rest;--


s: Even as the stars themselves whose light


s: And 'twas the words--thou'lt hear and smile--


s: The words that phantom seemed to speak--


s: "You'll find the Eternal Life you seek"--


s: Nor eye hath reached--oh, blessed thought!--


s: Thou talk'st of the wild dream that sends


s: 'Tis true, alas--the mysteries and the lore


s: I came to study on this, wondrous shore.


s: The strange, wild joys that fill my days and nights.


s: Instead of dark, dull oracles that speak


s: From subterranean temples, those _I_ seek


s: Come from the breathing shrines where Beauty lives,


s: And Love, her priest, the soft responses gives.


s: At Coptos held, I hail her when she lights


s: Her first young crescent on the holy stream--


s: When wandering youths and maidens watch her beam


s: And number o'er the nights she hath to run,


s: Ere she again embrace her bridegroom sun.


s: While o'er some mystic leaf that dimly lends


s: A clew into past times the student bends,


s: And by its glimmering guidance learns to tread


s: Back thro' the shadowy knowledge of the dead--


s: Lies in deciphering some new loved-one's name--


s: Some gentle missive hinting time and place,


s: In language soft as Memphian reed can trace.


s: And where--oh where's the heart that could withstand


s: The unnumbered witcheries of this sun-born land,


s: Where first young Pleasure's banner was unfurled


s: And Love hath temples ancient as the world!


s: Where mystery like the veil by Beauty worn


s: Hides but to win and shades but to adorn;


s: Making joy holy;--where the bower and tomb


s: Stand side by side and Pleasure learns from Death


s: The instant value of each moment's breath.


s: Couldst thou but see how like a poet's dream


s: This lovely land now looks!--the glorious stream


s: That late between its banks was seen to glide


s: 'Mong shrines and marble cities on each side


s: Hath now sent forth its waters, and o'er plain


s: Rising with outstretched limbs hath grandly spread.


s: While far as sight can reach beneath as clear


s: And blue a heaven as ever blest our sphere,


s: Gardens and pillared streets and porphyry domes


s: And high-built temples fit to be the homes


s: Outlasts all time above the waters tower!


s: Then, too, the scenes of pomp and joy that make


s: Where all that Love, Religion, Commerce gives


s: Of life and motion ever moves and lives.


s: Here, up the steps of temples from the wave


s: Priests in white garments go, with sacred wands


s: And silver cymbals gleaming in their hands;


s: While there, rich barks--fresh from those sunny tracts


s: Glide with their precious lading to the sea,


s: Plumes of bright birds, rhinoceros ivory,


s: Gems from the Isle of Meroe, and those grains


s: Of gold washed down by Abyssinian rains.


s: Shadowy and cool some pilgrims on their way


s: Of lotus flowers that close above their heads


s: Push their light barks, and there as in a bower,


s: Sing, talk, or sleep away the sultry hour;


s: Oft dipping in the Nile, when faint with heat,


s: That leaf from which its waters drink most sweet.--


s: Is played in the cool current by a train


s: Of laughing nymphs, lovely as she, whose chain


s: Around two conquerors of the world was cast,


s: But, for a third too feeble, broke at last.


s: For oh! believe not them who dare to brand


s: As poor in charms the women of this land.


s: Tho' darkened by that sun whose spirit flows


s: 'Tis but the embrowning of the fruit that tells


s: How rich within the soul of ripeness dwells--


s: The hue their own dark sanctuaries wear,


s: Announcing heaven in half-caught glimpses there.


s: And never yet did tell-tale looks set free


s: The secret of young hearts more tenderly.


s: Such eyes!--long, shadowy, with that languid fall


s: Of the fringed lids which may be seen in all


s: Who live beneath the sun's too ardent rays--


s: Lending such looks as on their marriage days


s: Young maids cast down before a bridegroom's gaze!


s: Then for their grace--mark but the nymph-like shapes


s: Of the young village girls, when carrying grapes


s: From green Anthylla or light urns of flowers--


s: Not our own Sculpture in her happiest hours


s: E'er imaged forth even at the touch of him


s: Whose touch was life, more luxury of limb!


s: Then, canst thou wonder if mid scenes like these


s: All lore but Love's, all secrets but that best


s: In heaven or earth, the art of being blest!


s: Yet are there times--tho' brief I own their stay,


s: Like summer-clouds that shine themselves away--


s: Moments of gloom, when even these pleasures pall


s: That garden dream--that promise of a power,


s: Oh, were there such!--to lengthen out life's hour,


s: And chiefly o'er my spirit did this thought


s: Come on that evening--bright as ever brought


s: Light's golden farewell to the world--when first


s: Twixt earth and heaven, the watch-towers of Time,


s: From whose lone summit when his reign hath past


s: From earth for ever he will look his last!


s: There hung a calm and solemn sunshine round


s: In the still air that circled them which stole


s: I thought what myriads of the wise and brave


s: Since earth first saw these wonders--and I said


s: "Hath Man no loftier hope than this which dooms


s: "But _'tis_ not so--earth, heaven, all nature shows


s: "He _may_ become immortal--_may_ unclose


s: "The wings within him wrapt, and proudly rise


s: "Redeemed from earth, a creature of the skies!


s: "And who can say, among the written spells


s: "From Hermes' hand that in these shrines and cells


s: "Have from the Flood lay hid there may not be


s: "Some amulet whose spell can keep life's fire


s: "'Tis known that on the Emerald Table, hid


s: "The Thrice-Great did himself engrave of old


s: "The chymic mystery that gives endless gold.


s: "And why may not this mightier secret dwell


s: "Within the same dark chambers? who can tell


s: "But that those kings who by the written skill


s: "Of the Emerald Table called forth gold at will


s: "And quarries upon quarries heapt and hurled,


s: "To build them domes that might outstand the world--


s: "Who knows, but that the heavenlier art which shares


s: "The life of Gods with man was also theirs--


s: "That they themselves, triumphant o'er the power


s: "Of fate and death, are living at this hour;


s: "And these, the giant homes they still possess.


s: "Within whose depths hid from the world above


s: "Even now they wander with the few they love,


s: "Unknown on earth which hath nor dawn nor night!


s: "Else, why those deathless structures? why the grand


s: "And hidden halls that undermine this land?


s: "Why else hath none of earth e'er dared to go


s: "Thro' the dark windings of that realm below,


s: "Nor aught from heaven itself except the God


s: "Of Silence thro' those endless labyrinths trod?"


s: Thus did I dream--wild, wandering dreams, I own,


s: Or in that pause 'twixt joy and joy I be,


s: Like a ship husht between two waves at sea.


s: Then do these spirit whisperings like the sound


s: Of the Dark Future come appalling round;


s: Nor can I break the trance that holds me then,


s: Till high o'er Pleasure's surge I mount again!


s: Even now for new adventure, new delight,


s: My heart is on the wing;--this very night,


s: From Memphis' gardens to the eastern shore


s: Sends up its annual rite to her whose beams


s: Bring the sweet time of night-flowers and dreams;


s: The nymph who dips her urn in silent lakes


s: And turns to silvery dew each drop it takes;--


s: Oh! not our Dian of the North who chains


s: In vestal ice the current of young veins,


s: But she who haunts the gay Bubastian grove


s: And owns she sees from her bright heaven above,


s: Nothing on earth to match that heaven but Love.


s: Think then what bliss will be abroad to-night!--


s: Besides those sparkling nymphs who meet the sight


s: And all the hidden loveliness that lies,--


s: Shut up as are the beams of sleeping eyes


s: Within these twilight shrines--tonight shall be


s: Let loose like birds for this festivity!


s: And mark, 'tis nigh; already the sun bids


s: While their great shadows stretching from the light


s: Look like the first colossal steps of Night


s: The distant hills of porphyry with their shade.


s: Gay, gilded flags on every housetop gleam:


s: While, hark!--from all the temples a rich swell


s: Of music to the Moon--farewell--farewell.


s: Should e'er have given such beauty birth!--


s: Where crowds stood waiting for her light.


s: And well might they who viewed the scene


s: Round a small shrine on which was placed


s: That bird whose plumes of black and white


s: Rich source gave birth to both--there came


s: Whom my eyes looked for thronged the way.


s: Of faces, lights--the o'erwhelming cloud


s: Nor moved, nor breathed, but when I caught


s: Till my heart's throbbing turned to pain,


s: And my strained eyesight lost its power,


s: The lifeless, ranged like sacred things,


s: There. Silence, thoughtful God, who loves


s: Of priests within their shrines at prayer


s: 'Twas toward this place of death--in mood


s: Made up of thoughts, half bright, half dark--


s: Unconscious turned my light-winged bark.


s: 'Twould touch the heavens, rose over all;


s: And temples round where naught was heard


s: To those gay sounds that still came o'er,


s: Cold, dead, and blackening mid the gloom


s: From that dark death-place, at the thought,


s: While past me, thro' the moonlight, sailed.


s: From woman's voice, from woman's glance,


s: More near to earth my high-flown thought--


s: 'Twixt peak and base--and, with a prayer


s: With wanderings onward, backward, round,


s: And forth the creature springs to light,


s: That lately stood before me, brightening


s: With naught to guard her but her charms.


s: From my parched lips, too parched to move,


s: Earth's silent covering, Youth and Death


s: Should then have met those thoughtful eyes,


s: From which I watched her heavenward face,


s: Oft fancying, thro' the boughs that o'er


s: Starting to earth--still pure and bright,


s: Than in that strange, dim cell at night.


s: Sauntering thro' this death-peopled place,


s: Who would have thought that he who roved


s: To the least breath that round it sighs--


s: This withering world, which from the first


s: Or bright, or dark--thou'lt know it all.


s: Necropolis, or the City of the Dead, to the south of Memphis.


s: Rejoice, my friend, rejoice;--the youthful Chief


s: Of that light Sect which mocks at all belief,


s: And gay and godless makes the present hour


s: Its only heaven, is now within our power.


s: Smooth, impious school!--not all the weapons aimed,


s: At priestly creeds, since first a creed was framed,


s: E'er struck so deep as that sly dart they wield,


s: The Bacchant's pointed spear in laughing flowers concealed.


s: And oh, 'twere victory to this heart, as sweet


s: As any _thou _canst boast--even when the feet


s: Of thy proud war-steed wade thro' Christian blood,


s: To wrap this scoffer in Faith's blinding hood,


s: And bring him tamed and prostrate to implore


s: What!--do these sages think, to _them_ alone


s: The key of this world's happiness is known?


s: That none but they who make such proud parade


s: Of Pleasure's smiling favors win the maid,


s: No niche in her dark fanes for Love to grace?


s: Fools!--did they know how keen the zest that's given


s: To earthly joy when seasoned well with heaven;


s: Of Pleasure's laughing features, half seen thro',


s: And how the Priest set aptly within reach


s: Of two rich worlds, traffics for bliss with each,


s: Would they not, Decius--thou, whom the ancient tie


s: 'Twixt Sword and Altar makes our best ally--


s: Would they not change their creed, their craft, for ours?