"Out of its heart must perish too! Cling to these yet cool lips, and share One kiss the maiden gives, one last, Sleep," said the P'ERI, as softly she stole The farewell sigh of that vanishing soul, As true as e'er warm'd a woman's breast "Sleep on, in visions of odour rest, "In balmier airs than ever yet stirr'd "The' enchanted pile of that lonely bird, "Who sings at the last his own death-lay,183 “And in music and perfume dies away!" Thus saying, from her lips she spread Unearthly breathings through the place, And shook her sparkling wreath, and shed Such lustre o'er each paly face, That like two lovely saints they seem'd, From their dim graves, in odour sleeping; While that benevolent PERI beam'd Like their good angel, calmly keeping Watch o'er them till their souls would waken. But morn is blushing in the sky; Again the PERI soars above, High throbb'd her heart, with hope elate, Smil'd as she gave that offering in ; And she already hears the trees Of Eden, with their crystal bells Ringing in that ambrosial breeze That from the throne of ALLA swells; And she can see the starry bowls That lie around that lucid lake, Upon whose banks admitted Souls Their first sweet draught of glory take 184 But, ah even PERIS' hopes are vain Again the Fates forbade, again The' immortal barrier clos'd-"Not yet," The Angel said as, with regret, He shut from her that glimpse of glory"True was the maiden, and her story, "Written in light o'er ALLA's head, By seraph eyes shall long be read. "But, PERI, see-the crystal bar "Of Eden moves not-holier far "Than even this sigh the boon must be "That opes the Gates of Heaven for thee." Now, upon SYRIA's land of roses 185 Softly the light of Eve reposes, And, like a glory, the broad sun Hangs over sainted LEBANON; Whose head in wintry grandeur towers, To one, who look'd from upper air The life, the sparkling from below! As they were all alive with light; Of pigeons, settling on the rocks, With their rich restless wings, that gleam U Variously in the crimson beam Of the warm West,-as if inlaid With brilliants from the mine, or made The' unclouded skies of PERISTAN. Banqueting through the flowery vales; And, JORDAN, those sweet banks of thine, And woods, so full of nightingales. 189 190 But nought can charm the luckless PERI; Yet haply there may lie conceal'd Beneath those Chambers of the Sun, Some amulet of gems anneal'd In upper fires, some tablet seal'd With the great name of SOLOMON, |