Ev'n now thou seest the flashing spray, Like her to whom, at dead of night, She flung him down her long black hair, Than wings the youth who, fleet and bold, Now climbs the rocks to HINDA's bower. The rock-goats of ARABIA clamber,† And now is in the maiden's chamber. She loves - but knows not whom she loves, Nor what his race, nor whence he came; * In one of the books of the Shâh Nâmeh, when Zal (a celebrated hero of Persia, remarkable for his white hair,) comes to the terrace of his mistress Rodahver at night, she lets down her long tresses to assist him in his ascent ;he, however, manages it in a less romantic way, by fixing his crook in a projecting beam. See Champion's FERDOSI. "On the lofty hills of Arabia Petræa are rock-goats."-NIEBUHR Like one who meets, in Indian groves, Some beauteous bird without a name, As fair as this, while singing over And thought some spirit of the air This fancy ne'er hath left her mind: And though, when terror's swoon had past, Yet often since, when he hath spoke Strange, awful words, — and gleams have broken From his dark eyes, too bright to bear, Oh! she hath fear'd her soul was given To some unhallow'd child of air, Some erring Spirit cast from heaven, *"Canun, espèce de psaltérion, avec des cordes de boyaux; les dames en touchent dans le serrail, avec des écailles armées de points de cooc."-TODËRINL, translated by De Cournand. Like those angelic youths of old, Who burn'd for maids of mortal mould, And lost their heaven for woman's eyes. But quench'd to-night that ardour seems, And pale his cheek, and sunk his brow; Never before, but in her dreams, Had she beheld him pale as now: And those were dreams of troubled sleep, From which 'twas joy to wake and weep; Visions, that will not be forgot, But sadden every waking scene, Like warning ghosts, that leave the spot All wither'd where they once have been. "How sweetly," said the trembling maid, Of her own gentle voice afraid, So long had they in silence stood, "How sweetly does the moon-beam smile "To-night upon yon leafy isle! "Oft, in my fancy's wanderings, "I've wish'd that little isle had wings, "And we, within its fairy bowers, "Were wafted off to seas unknown, "Where not a pulse should beat but ours, "And we might live, love, die alone! "Far from the cruel and the cold, "Where the bright eyes of angels only "Should come around us, to behold "A paradise so pure and lonely. "Would this be world enough for thee?"— Playful she turn'd, that he might see The passing smile her cheek put on; But when she mark'd how mournfully His eye met hers, that smile was gone, And bursting into heart-felt 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 loved a tree or flower, “But 'twas the first to fade away. "I never nursed 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; "Those frightful rocks that treacherous sea — though sweet, 66 'No, never come again 66 'Though heaven, it may be death to thee. "Farewell and blessings on thy way, "Where'er thou go'st, beloved stranger! "Better to sit and watch that ray, "And think thee safe, though far away, 66 "Danger!· oh, tempt me not to boast—” The youth exclaim'd "thou little know'st "What he can brave, who, born and nurst "Of strife and death is hourly breaking; "I now fear nothing but those eyes. "My spirit from its destin'd course, "If aught could make this soul forget "Could melt that sacred seal away! |