Books, for his volume heretofore was Man, O'er the dark gallery, where his fathers frowned "that must not "The sound of words less earthly than his own. 140 "Yes, they who chose might smile, but some had seen "They searce knew what, but more than should have been. "Why gazed he so upon the ghastly head "Which hands profane had gathered from the dead, "That still beside his opened volume lay, "As if to startle all save him away? "Why slept he not when others were at rest? "Why heard no music, and received no guest? "All was not well they deemed but where the wrong? "Some knew perchance but 'twere a tale too long; 150 "And such besides were too discreetly wise, "To more than hint their knowledge in surmise; The stars are studding, each with imaged beam: So calm, the waters scarcely seem to stray, Reflecting far and fairy-like from high The immortal lights that life along the sky: 160 Its banks are fringed with many a goodly tree, And flowers the fairest that may feast the bee; Such in her chaplet infant Dian wove, And Innocence would offer to her love. These deck the shore; the waves their channel make In windings bright and mazy like the snake. All was so still, so soft in earth and air, You scarce would start to meet a spirit there; 170 So Lara deemed, nor longer there he stood, Unfelt unsparing but a night like this, A night of beauty, mocked such breast as his. 180 XI. He turned within his solitary hall, And his high shadow shot along the wall; Through the dim lattice o'er the floor of stone; Like life, but not like mortal life, to view; XII. 200 'Twas midnight - all was slumber; the lone light Dimmed in the lamp, as loth to break the night. Hark! there be murmurs heard in Lara's hall A long, loud shriek and silence did they hear That frantic echo burst the sleeping ear? They heard and and rose, tremulously brave Rush where the sound invoked their aid to save; They come with half-lit tapers in their hands, And snatched in startled haste unbelted brands. 210 XIII. Gold as the marble where his length was laid, Pale as the beam that o'er bis features played,` Was Lara stretched; his half drawn sabre near, Dropped it should seem in more than nature's fear; died, Some imprecation of despairing pride, His eye was almost sealed, but not forsook, 220 They raise him bear him; hush! he breathes, he speaks, The swarthy blush recolours in his cheeks, And such they were, and meant to meet an ear |