Come hither, come hither - by night and by day,
We linger in pleasures that never are gone;
Like the waves of the summer, as one dies away,
Another as sweet and as shining comes on.

And the Love that is o'er, in expiring, gives birth
To a new one as warm, as unequall'd in bliss;
And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth,

It is this, it is this.

Here maidens are sighing, and fragrant their sigh As the flower of the Amra just op'd by a bee; s And precious their tears as that rain from the sky," Which turns into pearls as it falls in the sea.

4" The Indian Syrinda or guitar." — Symes.

66

5 Delightful are the flowers of the Amra trees on the mountain-tops, while the murmuring bees pursue their voluptuous toil." -Song of Jayadeva.

6❝ The Nisan or drops of spring rain, which they believe to produce pearls if they fall into shells.”. Richardson.

Oh! think what the kiss and the smile must be worth, When the sigh and the tear are so perfect in bliss; And own if there be an Elysium on earth,

It is this, it is this.

Here sparkles the nectar that, hallow'd by love,

Could draw down those angels of old from their

sphere,

Who for wine of this earth' left the fountains above,

And forgot heaven's stars for the eyes we have here. And, bless'd with the odour our goblet gives forth, What Spirit the sweets of his Eden would miss ? For oh! if there be an Elysium on earth, It is this, it is this.

The Georgian's song was scarcely mute,

When the same measure, sound for sound,

Was caught up by another lute,

And so divinely breathed around,

That all stood hush'd and wondering,

And turn'd and look'd into the air,

7 For an account of the share which wine had in the fall of the angels, v. Mariti.

That new,

enchanted measure stole.

While now a voice, sweet as the note

Of the charm'd lute, was heard to float

Along its chords, and so entwine

Its sound with theirs, that none knew whether

The voice or lute was most divine,

So wond'rously they went together:

There's a bliss beyond all that the minstrel has told, When two, that are link'd in one heavenly tie,

With heart never changing and brow never cold, Love on through all ills, and love on till they die!

One hour of a passion so sacred is worth

Whole ages of heartless and wandering bliss;
And oh! if there be an Elysium on earth,
It is this, it is this.

8 The Angel of Music. v. note, p. 267.

'Twas not the air, 'twas not the words,
But that deep magic in the chords
And in the lips, that gave such power

As Music knew not till that hour.

At once a hundred voices said,

"It is the mask'd Arabian maid !" While SELIM, who had felt the strain Deepest of any, and had lain

Some minutes rapt, as in a trance,

After the fairy sounds were o'er,

Too inly touch'd for utterance,

Now motion'd with his hand for more:

Fly to the desert, fly with me,

Our Arab tents are rude for thee;

But oh! the choice what heart can doubt

Of tents with love, or thrones without?

Our rocks are rough, but smiling there
Th' acacia waves her yellow hair,
Lonely and sweet, nor lov'd the less
For flowering in a wilderness.

Our sands are bare, but down their slope

The silvery-footed antelope

As gracefully and gaily springs

As o'er the marble courts of Kings.

Then come

thy Arab maid will be

The lov'd and lone acacia-tree,

The antelope, whose feet shall bless
With their light sound thy loneliness.

Oh! there are looks and tones that dart
An instant sunshine through the heart,
As if the soul that minute caught

Some treasure it through life had sought;

As if the very lips and eyes
Predestin'd to have all our sighs,
And never be forgot again,
Sparkled and spoke before us then!

So came thy every glance and tone,
When first on me they breath'd and shone;
New, as if brought from other spheres,

Yet welcome as if lov'd for years!

I I