Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

XXIX.

EXCHANGE OF LOVE-LETTERS

WE met and gazed into each other's eyes,
When from the violet brinks our spirits rose,

And leaning over kissed with thrilling throes,
That broke along the air in sobbing sighs.
Entranced they wept-exchanged betrothal letters,
Then downward to their silent prisons fled,
And by the lamp of Hope these letters read,
And felt the happier for Love's fatal fetters :-
But Hate below, and envious Saint above,
Between them placed a gulf impassable;

Yet, on the opposing shores they stood for all,
Sending love-missives by heaven's carrier-dove;
And, flinging kisses over to each other,

All glowing from the fires warm hearts can never smother.

XXX.

MUTE COURTSHIP.

O, HAD these fancied shores the gift of speech-
Could they recount the countless vows they heard,
Winging the air like Paradisian-bird-

Had they the power of Love, Faith, Hope, to preach,
They'd tell a sadder tale of love and madness
Than ever the Bosphorus mermaids told

Of lofty Hero and Leander bold.

They'd tell how on these banks we paced in sadness, And mutely, by the pale moon, wooed like fairies,

The while, convulsed with Love's delicious spasm,

Our hands stretched forth and clasped across the chasm, Holding us vis-à-vis, like statuaries,

Until Death, passing by on his white steed,

Drew up, and struck the one down like a helpless reed.

26

ADALINA'S REVERY

[FROM THE ITALIAN.]

"TIs eve-and by this stream I stand
And think, departed one, of thee,
When first thou here didst take my hand,
And breathe thy holy vows to me;
When first the flood-gates of thy heart
Were lifted, and thy love in gushes
Came down, as vernal fountains dart

Upon my soul suffused with blushes ;"Twas underneath this willow's boughAnd it is here!—but where art thou?

Twelve years ago this July night,

When all the guardian saints above Were gazing through the gates of light

To see our souls dissolve in love

[graphic]
« FöregåendeFortsätt »