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"And thou, the next, shalt hear me speak "The spell that plumes my wing for heaven!"

While thus I spoke, the fearful maid
Of me and of herself afraid,

Had shrinking stood, like flowers beneath
The scorching of the south-wind's breath;
But when I nam'd-alas, too well,

I now recall, though wilder'd then,Instantly, when I nam'd 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'd Unknowing what I did, inflam'd,

And lost already, on her brow

I stamp'd one burning kiss, and nam'd The mystic word, till then ne'er told To living creatures 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

Were instant lifted to the skies,

eyes

And thrice to heaven she spoke it out

With that triumphant look Faith wears, When not a cloud of fear or doubt,

A vapour from this vale of tears,
Between her and her God appears!
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 round the' Eternal Throne,
Whose plumes, as buoyantly she rose
Above me, in the moon-beam shone
With a pure light, which--from its hue,
Unknown upon this earth--I knew
Was light from Eden, glistening through!
Most holy vision! ne'er before

Did aught so radiant--since the day
When Lucifer, in falling, 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 1, too, proclaim out thrice The powerful 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 power no more, There seem'd around me some dark chain, Which still, as I essay'd to soar,

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

It was to yonder star I trac'd
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 blest reward---ordained 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 turn❜d 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 merg'd, afar, Into her own immortal star,

And when at length my straining sight Had caught her wing's last fading ray, That minute from my soul the light

Of heaven and love both pass'd away; And I forgot my home, my birth, Profan'd my spirit, sunk my brow, And revell'd in the joys of earth, Till I became--what I am now!"

The spirit bow'd his head in shame :
A shame, that of itself would tell
Were there not ev'n those breaks of flame,
Celestial, through his clouded frame,
How grand the height from which he fell;
That holy Shame, which ne'er forgets
What clear renown it us'd 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 brain

Shrunk 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 the' Immensity

Behind the veils of that blue sky,
Where God's sublimest 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;
A breathing forth of beams at will,

Of living beams, which, though no more They kept their early lustre, still

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