Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

The waters, that like diamonds shone, She moved in light of her own making. At length, as from that airy height

I gently lower'd my breathless flight,

The tremble of my wing all o'er

(For through each plume I felt the thrill) Startled her, as she reach'd the shore

Of that small lake-her mirror still-
Above whose brink she stood, like snow
When rosy with a sunset glow.
Never shall I forget those eyes!—
The shame, the innocent surprise
Of that bright face, when in the air,
Uplooking, she beheld me there.

It seem'd as if each thought, and look,
And motion, were that minute chain'd
Fast to the spot, such root she took,

And like a sunflower by a brook,

With face upturn'd-so still remained!

In pity to the wond'ring maid,

Though loath from such a vision turning, Downward I bent, beneath the shade

Of my spread wings to hide the burning Of glances, which-I well could feelFor me, for her, too warmly shone; But, ere I could again unseal My restless eyes, or even steal

One sidelong look, the maid was goneHid from me in the forest leaves,

Sudden as when, in all her charms
Of full-blown light, some cloud receives
The Moon into his dusky arms.

"Tis not in words to tell the power, The despotism that, from that hour, Passion held o'er me. Day and night

I sought around each neighboring spot; And, in the chase of this sweet light,

My task, and heaven, and all forgot;All, but the one, sole, haunting dream Of her I saw in that bright stream.

Nor was it long, ere by her side

I found myself, whole happy days, List'ning to words, whose music vied

With our own Eden's seraph lays, When seraph lays are warmed by love, But, wanting that, far, far above!And looking into eyes where, blue And beautiful, like skies seen through The sleeping wave, for me there shone A heaven, more worshipp'd than my own. Oh what, while I could hear and see Such words and looks, was heav'n to me?

Though gross the air on earth I drew,
'Twas blessed, while she breathed it too;
Though dark the flow'rs, though dim the sky
Love lent them light, while she was nigh.
Throughout creation I but knew
Two separate worlds-the one, that small,
Beloved, and consecrated spot

Where LEA was-the other, all

The dull, wide waste, where she was not!

But vain my suit, my madness vain;
Though gladly, from her eyes to gain
One earthly look, one stray desire,

I would have torn the wings, that hung
Furl'd at my back, and o'er the Fire
In GEHIM's pit their fragments flung;-
"Twas hopeless all-pure and unmoved
She stood, as lilies in the light

Of the hot noon but look more white;
And though she loved me, deeply loved,
'Twas not as man, as mortal-no,
Nothing of earth was in that glow-
She loved me but as one, of race
Angelic, from that radiant place
She saw so oft in dreams-that Heaven,

To which her prayers at morn were sent,
And on whose light she gazed at even,
Wishing for wings, that she might go
Out of this shadowy world below,

To that free, glorious element!

[blocks in formation]

It was a sorrow, calm as deep,

A mournfulness that could not weep,
So fill'd her heart was to the brink,

So fix'd and froz'n with grief, to think
That angel natures—that ev'n I,
Whose love she clung to, as the tie
Between her spirit and the sky-
Should fall thus headlong from the height
Of all that heav'n hath pure and bright!

That very night-my heart had grown
Impatient of its inward burning;
The term, too, of my stay was flown,
And the bright Watchers near the throne,
Already, if a meteor shone

Between them and this nether zone,

Thought 'twas their herald's wing returning. Oft did the potent spell-word, giv'n

To Envoys hither from the skies,
To be pronounced, when back to heav'n
It is their time or wish to rise,
Come to my lips that fatal day;

And once, too, was so nearly spoken,
That my spread plumage in the ray
And breeze of heav'n began to play;-

When my heart fail'd—the spell was broken-The word unfinish'd died away,

And my check'd plumes, ready to soar,

Fell slack and lifeless as before.
How could I leave a world which she,

Or lost or won, made all to me?

No matter where my wand'rings were,

So there she look'd, breathed, moved about

Woe, ruin, death, more sweet with her,
Than Paradise itself, without!

But, to return--that

very day

A feast was held, where, full of mirth, Came-crowding thick as flow'rs that play In summer winds-the young and gay

And beautiful of this bright earth. And she was there, and 'mid the young And beautiful stood first, alone; Though on her gentle brow still hung The shadow I that morn had thrownThe first, that ever shame or woe Had cast upon its vernal snow. My heart was unadden'd;—in the flush Of the wild revel I gave way To all that frantic mirth-that rush Of desp'rate gayety, which they, Who never felt how pain's excess Can break out thus, think happiness! Sad mimicry of mirth and life,

Whose flashes come but from the strife

Of inward passions-like the light Struck out by clashing swords in fight.

Then, too, that juice of earth, the bane
And blessing of man's heart and brain—
That draught of sorcery, which brings
Phantoms of fair, forbidden things-
Whose drops, like those of rainbows, smile
Upon the mists that circle man,
Bright'ning not only Earth, the while,

But grasping Heav'n, too, in their span !—
Then first the fatal wine-cup rain'd
Its dews of darkness through my lips,"
Casting whate'er of light remain'd

To my lost soul into eclipse;
And filling it with such wild dreams,

Such fantasies and wrong desires,
As, in the absence of heav'n's beams,

Haunt us for ever-like wild-fires
That walk this earth, when day retires.

Now hear the rest;-our banquet done,

I sought her in th' accustomed bow'r,
Where late we oft, when day was gone,
And the world hush'd, had met alone,

At the same silent, moonlight hour.
Her eyes, as usual, were upturn'd
To her loved star, whose lustre burn'd
Purer than ever on that night;

While she, in looking, grew more bright,
As though she borrow'd of its light.

There was a virtue in that scene,

A spell of holiness around,

Which, had my burning brain not been
Thus madden'd, would have held me bound,
As though I trod celestial ground.

Ev'n as it was, with soul all flame,

And lips that burn'd in their own sighs,
I stood to gaze, with awe and shame-
The memory of Eden came

Full o'er me when I saw those eyes;
And though too well each glance of mine
To the pale, shrinking maiden proved
How far, alas, from aught divine,
Aught worthy of so pure a shrine,

Was the wild love with which I loved,
Yet must she, too, have seen-oh yes,
"Tis soothing but to think she saw
The deep, true, soul-felt tenderness,
The homage of an Angel's awe
To her, a mortal, whom pure love
Then placed above him-far above-
And all that struggle to repress
A sinful spirit's mad excess,

Which work'd within me at that hour,
When, with a voice, where Passion shed
All the deep sadness of her power,
Her melancholy power-I said,
'Then be it so; if back to heaven
'I must unloved, unpitied fly,
'Without one blest memorial giv'n

To soothe me in that lonely sky; 'One look, like those the young and fond 'Give when they're parting-which would be, 'Ev'n in remembrance, far beyond

'All heav'n hath left of bliss for me!

'Oh, but to see that head recline

'A minute on this trembling arm, 'And those mild eyes look up to mine, 'Without a dread, a thought of harm! 'To meet, but once, the thrilling touch

Of lips too purely fond to fear me— 'Or, if that boon be all too much,

'Ev'n thus to bring their fragrance near me! 'Nay, shrink not so-a look-a word

'Give them but kindly and I fly; 'Already, see, my plumes have stirr'd,

And tremble for their home on high. Thus be our parting-cheek to cheek'One minute's lapse will be forgiv’n, 'And thou, the next, shalt hear me speak "The spell that plumes my wing for Heav'n!'

While thus I spoke, the fearful maid,
Of me, and of herself afraid,
Had shrinking stood, like flow'rs beneath
The scorching of the south-wind's breafn.
But when I named-alas, too well,

I now recall, though wilder'd then,—
Instantly, when I named the spell,

Her brow, her eyes uprose again, And, with an eagerness, that spoke The sudden light that o'er her broke, The spell, the spell!-oh, speak it now, 'And I will bless thee!' she exclaim'dUnknowing what I did, inflamed, And lost already, on her brow

I stamp'd one burning kiss, and named The mystic word, till then ne'er told To living creature of earth's mould! Scarce was it said, when, quick as thought, Her lips from mine, like echo, caught The holy sound-her hands and eyes Were instant lifted to the skies, And thrice to heav'n she spoke it out

With that triumphant look Faith wears,

When not a cloud of fear or doubt,
A vapor from this vale of tears,
Between her and her God appear!

That very moment her whole frame
All bright and glorified became,
And at her back I saw unclose
Two wings, magnificent as those

That sparkle around ALLA's Throne,
Whose plumes, as buoyantly she rose,

Above me, in the moonbeam shone With a pure light, which-from its hue, Unknown upon this earth-I knew Was light from Eden, glist'ning through! Most holy vision! ne'er before

Did aught so radiant-since the day
When EBLIS, in his downfall, bore

The third of the bright stars away—
Rise, in earth's beauty, to repair
That loss of light and glory there!

But did I tamely view her flight?

Did not I, too, proclaim out thrice
The pow'rful words that were, that night,—
Oh, ev'n for heaven too much delight!—

Again to bring us, eyes to eyes,
And soul to soul, in Paradise?

I did I spoke it o'er and o'er

I pray'd, I wept, but all in vain ; For me the spell had pow'r no more.

There seemed around me some dark chain Which still, as I essay'd to soar,

Baffled, alas, each wild endeavor: Dead lay my wings, as they have lain Since that sad hour, and will remainSo wills th' offended God-for ever!

It was to yonder star I traced
Her journey up th' illumined waste-
That isle in the blue firmament,
To which so oft her fancy went

In wishes and in dreams before,
And which was now-such, Purity,
Thy bless'd reward-ordain'd to be

Her home of light for evermore! Once or did I but fancy so?—

Ev'n in her flight to that fair sphere, 'Mid all her spirit's new-felt glow, A pitying look she turned below

On him who stood in darkness here; Him whom, perhaps, if vain regret Can dwell in heaven, she pities yet; And oft, when looking to this dim And distant world, remembers him

But soon that passing dream was gone;
Farther and farther off she shone,
Till lessen'd to a point, as small

As are those specks that yonder burn,Those vivid drops of light, that fall

The last from Day's exhausted urn. And when at length she merged, afar, hto her own immortal star, And when at length my straining sight Fad caught her wing's last fading ray, That minute from my soul the light

Of leav'n and love both passed away; And I forgot my home, my birth,

Profaned my spirit, sunk my brow, And revell in gross joys of earth,

Till I became what I am now!"

The Spirit bow'd his head in shame;

A shame, that of itself would tellWere there not evn those breaks of flame, Celestial, through his clouded frameHow grand the height from which he fell! That holy Shame, which ne'er forgets

Th' unblench'd renown it used to wear; Whose blush remains, when Virtue sets, To show her sunshine has been there.

Once only, while the tale he told,
Were his eyes lifted to behold
That happy, stainless star, where she
Dwelt in her bower of purity!
One minute did he look, and then-

As though he felt some deadly pain

From its sweet light through heart and brainShrunk back, and never look'd again.

Who was the Second Spirit? he

With the proud front and piercing glance-
Who seem'd, when viewing heaven's expanse,
As though his far-sent eye could see
On, on into th' Immensity

Behind the veils of that blue sky,
Where ALLA's grandest secrets lie?—
His wings, the while, though day was gone,
Flashing with many a various hue
Of light they from themselves alone,
Instinct with Eden's brightness, drew.
Twas RUBI-once among the prime
And flow'r of those bright creatures, named
Spirits of Knowledge," who o'er Time

And Space and Thought an empire claim'd,
Second alone to Him, whose light
Was, ev'n to theirs, as day to night;

"Twixt whom and them was distance far And wide as would the journey be To reach from any island star

The vague shores of Infinity!

"Twas RUBI, in whose mournful eye Slept the dim light of days gone by; Whose voice, though sweet, fell on the ear

Like echoes, in some silent place, When first awaked for many a year;

And when he smiled, if o'er his face
Smile ever shone, 'twas like the grace
Of moonlight rainbows, fair, but wan,
The sunny life, the glory gone.

Ev'n o'er his pride, though still the same,
A soft'ning shade from sorrow came;
And though at times his spirit knew
The kindlings of disdain and ire,
Short was the fitful glare they threw-
Like the last flashes, fierce but few,

Seen through some noble pile on fire!

Such was the Angel, who now broke

The silence that had come o'er all, When he, the Spirit that last spoke,

Closed the sad hist'ry of his fall; And, while a sacred lustre, flown

For many a day, relumed his cheekBeautiful, as in days of old; And not those eloquent lips alone

But every feature seem'd to speakThus his eventful story told:

SECOND ANGEL'S STORY

"You both remember well the day,

When unto Eden's new-made bow'rs, ALLA convoked the bright array

Of his supreme angelic pow'rs, To witness the one wonder yet,

Beyond man, angel, star, or sun, He must achieve, ere he could set His seal upon the world, as done To see that last perfection rise,

That crowning of creation's birth, When, mid the worship and surprise Of circling angels, Woman's eyes

First open'd upon heav'n and earth; And from their lids a thrill was sent, That through each living spirit went, Like first light through the firmament!

Can you forget how gradual stole The fresh-awaken'd breath of soul

Throughout her perfect form-which seem'd
To grow transparent, as there beam'd
That dawn of Mind within, and caught
New loveliness from each new thought?
Slow as o'er summer seas we trace

The progress of the noontide air,
Dimpling its bright and silent face
Each minute into some new grace,

And varying heav'n's reflections thereOr, like the light of evening, stealing

O'er some fair temple, which all day
Hath slept in shadow, slow revealing
Its several beauties, ray by ray,
Till it shines out, a thing to bless,
All full of light and loveliness.

Can you forget her blush, when round
Through Eden's lone, enchanted ground
She look'd, and saw, the sea-the skies-
And heard the rush of many a wing,
On high behests then vanishing;
And saw the last few angel eyes,
Still ling'ring-mine among the rest,-
Reluctant leaving scenes so blest?
From that miraculous hour, the fate
Of this new, glorious Being dwelt
For ever, with a spell-like weight,
Upon my spirit-early, late,

Whate'er I did, or dream'd, or felt,
The thought of what might yet befall
That matchless creature mix'd with all.-
Nor she alone, but her whole race
Through ages yet to come-whate'er
Of feminine, and fond, and fair,
Should spring from that pure mind and face,
All waked my soul's intensest care;
Their forms, souls, feelings, still to me
Creation's strangest mystery!

It was my doom-ev'n from the first,
When witnessing the primal burst
Of Nature's wonders, I saw rise
Those bright creations in the skies,-
Those worlds instinct with life and light,
Which man, remote, but sees by night,-
It was my doom still to be haunted

By some new wonder, some sublime
And matchless work, that, for the time
Held all my soul, enchain'd, enchanted,
And left me not a thought, a dream,
A word, but on that only theme!

The wish to know-that endless thirst, Which ev'n by quenching is awaked,

[blocks in formation]

Often-so much I loved to trace
The secrets of this starry race-
Have I at morn and evening run
Along the lines of radiance spun
Like webs, between them and the sun,
Untwisting all the tangled ties
Of light into their different dyes-
Then fleetly wing'd I off, in quest
Of those, the farthest, loneliest,
That watch, like winking sentinels,"
The void, beyond which Chaos dwells;
And there, with noiseless plume, pursued
Their track through that grand solitude,
Asking intently all and each

What soul within their radiance dwelt, And wishing their sweet light were speech That they might tell me all they felt.

Nay, oft, so passionate my chase
Of these resplendent heirs of space,
Oft did I follow-lest a ray

Should 'scape me in the farthest nightSome pilgrim Comet, on his way

To visit distant shrines of light, And well remember how I sung

Exultingly, when on my sight New worlds of stars, all fresh and young, As if just born of darkness, sprung!

Such was my pure ambition then,

My sinless transport, night and morn:

« ForrigeFortsæt »