And glassy seas, and myrtle strands

The hallowed shrine of Peace and Love. The guards are dozing round the wall, Nor lamp nor step is in the hall,

And at this late and lonely hour

One waning light reveals the tower;
And there, her rosary completed,

Lord UGo's only child is seated.

Her untuned harp and jewels nigh,

A web of rich embroidery,

And flowers that breathe around the room

From golden vases sweet perfume.

She weeps not, but her restless eye

Betrays her deep anxiety;

Now lost in thoughtful mood she sits

Now hurrried o'er the carpet flits

Then by the lattice bends her ear

"A step ?-Tis he!" O God! her fear

If UGO should her lover spy,

This night-this night, they both must die!

Her slight frame like the aspen shook,

And Reason half her throne forsook;

With terror pale-with joyance drunk,

Reeling, upon the couch she sunk.

III.

'TIS past! LEON is in her room

A stately youth in manhood's bloom,
With cloak of black and hood of blue,
And hair and eye of sablest hue;

And by his side a sabre gleaming,

And from his eye his high soul beaming,
Lighting his lofty olive brow

Paling with apprehension now

"Be calm! sweet FLORENCE, do not fear;
The wall is scaled, and I am here,"
He said, half drawing from its sheath
His blade, "Thy champion until death;
Nor have I breath nor time to waste-
Nay, Prudence bids me be in haste;
A few words only would I say,
Which I could trust none to convey-
Words far too pure-too sacred-dear,

For other ears than thine to hear-
Wilt thou be mine ?-for ever mine ?-
Speak, fairest; Angels hover near,
From thy sweet lips love's pledge divine
To waft unto a holier sphere.

Oh! is the smile in that bright eye,

That cheek's soft blush my blessed reply !—

Now I am happy! come what will,

Life hath for me nor storm nor ill.

IV.

"I know the grudge and lasting ire, Thy father bears my haughty sire; The danger of a secret union

Ay, e'en if known, this brief communion;

That if discovered, UGo's wroth

And hate may fatal prove to both :

But, dearest, this shall part us neverDeath-only death-our destinies shall sever!

"To-morrow morn before the dawn

Awakes the lark upon the lawn,

My ship will sail for Sicily,

Where two months absent I must be,

Ere I return to Italy,

And, lovely FLORENCE, back to thee.

Twice thirty days just from this night,

Prepare thee for a speedy flight;
When bells proclaim the vesper hour,

Be near the Tiber, in the bower,

Where, by the stars and pale moonlight,

Before we've met, on many a night ;

And ready there my bark shall be,
To bear us swiftly o'er the sea

To some bright land afar to dwell

Till then, sweet maiden, fare thee well."

"Must-must we part ?"-the pallid maid Raised her dark eyes and trembling said, "Oh! I would rather die to-night,

Than thou should'st leave one hour my sight.

I fear the guilt-I feel the woe,

To love thee 'gainst my father's will;

He bids me swear it to forego

I swear, and doubly love thee still.
He bids me wrench thee from my heart,
But in that act would life depart.
With thee to live-and love-and die,
Whether beneath our native sky,
Or in some wild, forsaken land-
In cave, or isle, on desert strand,
Is all I wish, is all I hope,
Whate'er the ills with which we cope.
This morn, before the holy Mother,
My sire betrothed me to another,

And if this meeting he divine,

Loved Leon! I shall ne'er be thine

He will not sleep till I be wed

To Leonardo-or am dead.

Oh! must thou go? Will the dark sea,

Dear LEON! give thee back to me ?—
I know not why—I fear no more,
LEON, thou'lt see Italia's shore."

"O FLORENCE! fairest! speak not thus--

The

grave alone can sever us;

My journey shall be brief, and then

I will not part from thee again,

Nor now in soul: as o'er his track

The Hadji's spirit stealeth back

To worship still at Mecca's shrine,
Or faithful Jew's to Palestine;
So, wandering o'er the dark blue sea,
My spirit will return to thee.

When thou art singing in the grove,
When thou dost tune thy harp to love,

Then hovering nigh my soul shall be,
To catch the heavenly melody;

When evening shade the green earth dims,
When slumber sweet enchains thy limbs,
It will be here to guard thy form,

And save thee, loveliest one, from harm."