A minute's pause suspends all hearts and eyes- In this blank stillness, checks the troops awhile.- The well-known Silver Veil-""Tis He, 'tis He, MOKANNA, and alone!" they shout around; Young AZIM from his steed springs to the ground"Mine, Holy Caliph mine," he cries, "the task To crush yon daring wretch-'tis all I ask." Eager he darts to meet the demon foe, "I meant not, AZIM," soothingly she said, As on his trembling arm she lean'd her head, And, looking in his face, saw anguish there Beyond all wounds the quivering flesh can bear— "I meant not thou shouldst have the pain of this: "Though death, with thee thus tasted, is a bliss : Thou wouldst not rob me of, didst thou but know How oft I've pray'd to God I might die so! "But the Fiend's venom was too scant and slow ; "To linger on were maddening-and I thought If once that Veil-nay, look not on it-caught The eyes of your fierce soldiery, I should be "Struck by a thousand death-darts instantly. But this is sweeter-oh! believe me, yes— I would not change this sad, but dear caress, This death within thy arms I would not give "For the most smiling life the happiest live! "All, that stood dark and drear before the eye "Of my stray'd soul, is passing swiftly by; A light comes o'er me from those looks of love, Like the first dawn of mercy from above; "And if thy lips but tell me I'm forgiven, Angels will echo the blest words in Heaven! But live, my AZIM ;-oh! to call thee mine "Thus once again! my AZIM-dream divine! 66 Live, if thou ever lov'dst me, if to meet Thy ZELICA hereafter would be sweet, "Oh, live to pray for her to bend the knee 'Morning and night before that Deity, "To whom pure lips and hearts without a stain, 66 As thine are, AZIM, never breath'd in vain,— "And pray that He may pardon her,―may take "Compassion on her soul for thy dear sake, "And, nought remembering but her love to thee, "Make her all thine, all His, eternally! 66 Go to those happy fields where first we twin'd Our youthful hearts together-every wind "That meets thee there, fresh from the well-known flowers, 66 "Back to thy soul, and mayst thou feel again 66 For thy poor ZELICA as thou didst then. "So shall thy orisons, like dew that flies "To Heaven upon the morning's sunshine, rise 'With all love's earliest ardour to the skies! "And should they-but, alas, my senses fail"Oh for one minute-should thy prayers prevail If pardon'd souls may, from that World of Bliss, Reveal their joy to those they love in this"I'll come to thee-in some sweet dream-and tell— "Oh Heaven-I die-dear love! farewell, farewell." Time fleeted-years on years had pass'd away, By that lone grave, morning and night in prayer, A gleam of rapture on his eye and cheek, When night o'er all the rest hangs chill and dim. |