1 1 Strange, awful words, and gleams have broken Oh! she hath fear'd her soul was given To some unhallow'd child of air, Some erring Spirit cast from heaven, And lost their heaven for woman's eyes. Had she beheld him pale as now : And those were dreams of troubled sleep, But sadden every waking scene, Like warning ghosts, that leave the spot. "How sweetly," said the trembling maid, So long had they in silence stood, "How sweetly does the moonbeam smile ; "Oft, in my fancy's wanderings, "Were wafted off to seas unknown The passing smile her cheek put on ; But when she mark'd how mournfully His eyes met hers, that smile was gone ; And, bursting into heartfelt tears, "Yes, yes," she cried, " my hourly fears, "My dreams have boded all too right— "We part-for ever part-to-night! "I knew, I knew it could not last ""Twas bright, 'twas heavenly, but 'tis past! "Oh! ever thus, from childhood's hour, "I've seen my fondest hopes decay; “ I never lov'd a tree or flower, "But 'twas the first to fade away. "I never nurs'd a dear gazelle, "To glad me with its soft black eye, "But when it came to know me well, "And love me, it was sure to die! "Now too-the joy most like divine "Of all I ever dreamt or knew, "To see thee, hear thee, call thee mine, "Oh misery! must I lose that too? "Yet go-on peril's brink we meet ; 66 "Those frightful rocks-that treacherous sea No, never come again-though sweet, Though heaven, it may be death to thee. "Farewell-and blessings on thy way, "And think thee safe, though far away, 66 "Than have thee near me, and in danger!" The youth exclaim'd-"thou little know'st Upon whose ear the signal word "Of strife and death is hourly breaking; "Who sleeps with head upon the sword "His fever'd hand must grasp in waking. Say on-thou fear'st not then, "And we may meet-oft meet again?" "Oh! look not so- -beneath the skies "If aught on earth could charm or force 66 My spirit from its destin'd course, "If aught could make this soul forget "The bond to which its seal is set, ""Twould be those eyes ;-they, only they, "Is fix'd-on this side of the tomb "We meet no more ;-why, why did Heaven Mingle two souls that earth has riven, "Has rent asunder wide as ours? 66 "O Arab maid, as soon the Powers "Of Light and Darkness may combine, "As I be link'd with thee or thine! "Thy Father 'Holy ALLA save "His grey head from that lightning glance! "Thou know'st him not-he loves the brave; "Nor lives there under heaven's expanse "One who would prize, would worship thee "And thy bold spirit, more than he. "Oft when, in childhood, I have play'd "With the bright falchion by his side, "I've heard him swear his lisping maid "In time should be a warrior's bride. "And still, whene'er at Haram hours "I take him cool sherbets and flowers, "He tells me, when in playful mood, "A hero shall my bridegroom be, "Since maids are best in battle woo'd, "And won with shouts of victory! Nay, turn not from me-thou alone. "Art form'd to make both hearts thy own. "Go-join his sacred ranks-thou know'st "The' unholy strife these Persians wage :--"Good Heaven, that frown !—even now thou glow'st "With more than mortal warrior's rage. "Haste to the camp by morning's light, "And when that sword is rais'd in fight, "Oh still remember, Love and I "Beneath its shadow trembling lie! "One victory o'er those Slaves of Fire, |