A cloud was hanging o'er the western mountains: Before its blue and moveless depth were flying Grey mists poured forth from the unresting fountains Of darkness in the North :-the day was dying :Sudden, the sun shone forth, its beams were lying Like boiling gold on Ocean, strange to see, And on the shattered vapours, which defying The power of light in vain, tossed restlessly In the red Heaven, like wrecks in a tempestuous sea. It was a stream of living beams, whose bank Of liquid light, which then did end and fade- I stood beside her, but she saw me not— That led her there, united and shot forth From her far eyes, a light of deep revealing, All but her dearest self from my regard concealing. Her lips were parted, and the measured breath From her whole frame, an atmosphere which quite Arrayed her in its beams, tremulous and soft and bright. She would have clasped me to her glowing frame; Those warm and odorous lips might soon have shed On mine the fragrance and the invisible flame Which now the cold winds stole ;-she would have laid Upon my languid heart her dearest head; I might have heard her voice, tender and sweet; Her eyes mingling with mine, might soon have fed My soul with their own joy.-One moment yet I gazed-we parted then, never again to meet ! Revolt of Islam, Canto xi. TO F. G. HER voice did quiver as we parted, Yet knew I not that heart was broken Heeding not the words then spoken. Misery O Misery, This world is all too wide for thee. FIORDISPINA. THE season was the childhood of sweet June, Never to be developed. Joy to thee, For thou the wonders of the depth canst know Sparkling beneath the heaven which embowers They were two cousins, almost like to twins, Nature had rased their love-which could not be And so they grew together like two flowers Upon one stem, which the same beams and showers Which the same hand will gather—the same clime Within whose bosom and whose brain now glow He faints, dissolved into a sea of love; But thou art Love itself-ruling the motion Had not brought forth this morn-your wedding-day. TO NIGHT. SWIFTLY walk over the western wave, Out of the misty eastern cave, Wrap thy form in a mantle grey, Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day; Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land, When I arose and saw the dawn, When light rode high, and the dew was gone, And noon lay heavy on flower and tree, And the weary Day turned to his rest, I sighed for thee. Thy brother Death came, and cried, Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed, Murmured like a noon-tide bee, Shall I nestle near thy side? Wouldst thou me ?—And I replied, Death will come when thou art dead, Sleep will come when thou art fled; 1821. A BRIDAL SONG. THE golden gates of Sleep unbar Where Strength and Beauty met together, Kindle their image like a star In a sea of glassy weather. Night, with all thy stars look down, Darkness, weep thy holiest dew,- Let eyes not see their own delight ;- |