And then, her voice-oh, who could doubt
That 'twould for ever thus breathe out
A music, like the harmony

Of the tun'd orbs, too sweet to die!
While in her lip's awakening touch
There thrill'd a life ambrosial---such
As mantles in the fruit steep'd through
With Eden's most delicious dew---
Till I could almost think, though known
And lov'd as human, they had grown
By bliss, celestial as my own!

But 'tis not, 'tis not for the wrong,
The guilty, to be happy long;

And she, too, now, had sunk within
The shadow of her tempter's sin---
Shadow of death, whose withering frown
Kills whatsoe'er it lights upon---
Too deep for ev'n her soul to shun
The desolation it brings down!

Listen, and if a tear there be
Left in your hearts, weep it for me.

"Twas on the evening of a day,
Which we in love had dream'd away;
In that same garden, where, beneath
The silent earth, stripp'd of my wreath,

And furling up those wings, whose light
For mortal gaze were else too bright,
I first had stood before her sight;
And found myself---oh, ecstacy,

Which ev'n in pain I ne'er forget---
Worshipp'd as only God should be,
And lov'd as never man was yet!
In that same garden we were now,
Thoughtfully side by side reclining,
Her eyes turn'd upward, and her brow
With its own silent fancies shining.
It was an evening bright and still

As ever blush'd on wave or bower, Smiling from heaven, as if nought ill Could happen in so sweet an hour. Yet, I remember, both grew sad

In looking at that light---evʼn she, Of heart so fresh, and brow so glad, Felt the mute hour's solemnity, And thought she saw, in that repose, The death-hour not alone of light, But of this whole fair world---the close Of all things beautiful and bright--The last, grand sun-set, in whose ray Nature herself died calm away!

At length, as if some thought, awaking Suddenly, sprung within her breast---`

Like a young bird, when day-light breaking
Startles him from his dreamy nest---

She turn'd upon me her dark eyes,
Dilated into that full shape

They took, in joy, reproach, surprise,
As if to let more soul escape,
And, playfully as on my head

Her white hand rested, smil'd and said :

"I had, last night, a dream of thee, "Resembling those divine ones, given, "Like preludes to sweet minstrelsy, "Before thou cam'st, thyself, from heaven.

"The same rich wreath was on thy brow, "Dazzling as if of star-light made; "And these wings, lying darkly now, "Like meteors round thee flash'd and play'd.

"All bright as in those happy dreams "Thou stood'st, a creature to adore "No less than love, breathing out beams. "As flowers do fragrance, at each pore!

"Sudden I felt thee draw me near

"To thy pure heart, where, fondly plac'd,

"I seem'd within the atmosphere

"Of that exhaling light embrac'd ; 'And, as thou held'st me there, the flame "Pass'd from thy heavenly soul to mine, "Till---oh, too blissful---I became, "Like thee, all spirit, all divine.

"Say, why did dream so bright come o'er

me,

"If, now I wake, 'tis faded, gone? "When will my Cherub shine before `me "Thus radiant, as in heaven he shone?

“When shall I, waking, be allow'd

"To gaze upon those perfect charms, "And hold thee thus, without a cloud, "A chill of earth, within

my arms?

"Oh what a pride to say---this, this

"Is my own Angel---all divine, "And pure, and dazzling as he is,

"And fresh from heaven, he's mine, he's mine!

"Think'st thou, were LILIS in thy place, "A creature of yon lofty skies, "She would have hid one single grace, "One glory from her lover's eyes?

"No, no-then if thou lov'st like me,
"Shine out, young Spirit, in the blaze
"Of thy most proud divinity,

"Nor think thou'lt wound this mortal

gaze.

"Too long have I look'd doating on "Those ardent eyes, intense ev'n thus-"Too near the stars themselves have gone "To fear aught grand or luminous.

"Then doubt me not---oh, who can say "But that this dream may yet come true, "And my blest spirit drink thy ray "Till it becomes all heavenly too?

"Let me this once but feel the flame "Of those spread wings, the very pride "Will change my nature, and this frame "By the mere touch be deified!"

Thus spoke the maid, as one, not us'd
To be by man or God refus'd---
As one, who felt her influence o'er

All creatures, whatsoe'r they were,
And, though to heaven she could not soar,

At least would bring down heaven to her!