The tremble of my wings all o'er snow (For through each plume I felt the thrill) It seem'd as if each thought, and look, In pity to the wondering maid, Though loth from such a vision turning, Downward I bent beneath the shade Of my spread wings to hide the burning Of glances, which, I well could feel, For me, for her, too warmly shone; But, ere I could again unsea! My restless eyes, or even steal One side-long look, the maid was gone; Hid from me in the forest leaves, Of full-blown light, some cloud receives The Moon into his dusky arms. 'Tis not in words to tell the power, The despotism that, from that hour, Passion held o'er me-day and night. I sought around each neighbouring spot, And, in the chase of this sweet light, My task, and heaven, and all forgot, All, but the one, sole, haunting dream Of her I saw in that bright stream. Nor was it long, ere by her side I found myself, whole happy days, Listening to words, whose music vied With our own Eden's seraph lays, When seraph lays are warm'd by love, But, wanting that, far, far above! And looking into eyes where, blue And beautiful, like skies seen through The sleeping wave, for me there shone..> A heaven, more worshipp'd than my own. Oh what, while I could hear and see Such words and looks was heaven to me? Though gross the air on earth I drew "Twas blessed, while she breath'd it too; Though dark the flowers, though dim the sky, Love lent them light while she was nigh. Throughout creation I but knew Two separate worlds-the one that small, Beloved, and consecrated spot Where LEA was-the other, all The dull, wide waste, where she was not. But vain my suit, my madness vain ; Of the hot noon but look more white; Angelic, from that radiant place Wishing for wings that she might go To that free, glorious element! Well I remember by her side When,-turning to the star, whose head Alone, as all such bright things are; "My sole employ to pray and shine "To light my censer at the sun, "And fling its fire towards the shrine "Of Him in heaven, the Eternal One !" So innocent the maid, so free From mortal taint in soul and frame, Whom 'twas my crime-my destinyTo love, aye, burn for, with a flame, To which earth's wildest fires are tame. Had you but seen her look, when first From my mad lips the' avowal burst; Not angry-no-the feeling had No touch of anger, but most sad It was a sorrow, calm as deep, Whose love she clung to, as the tie The sin, of all, most sure to blight Is soonest lost, extinguish'd in! That, though but frail and human, she Should meet her, in my fall from light, Of the salt tide of sin, and sink! That very night-my heart had grown. The term, too, of my stay was flown, Between them and this nether zone, |