None are all evil - XII. quickening round his heart, One softer feeling would not yet depart; Yet 'gainst that passion vainly still he strove, Yes, it was love unchangeable unchanged, Felt but for one from whom he never ranged; 290 Though fairest captives daily met his eye, He shunned, nor sought, but coldly passed them by; Which nor defeated hope, nor baffled wile, Could render sullen were she near to smilo, 3co Which still would meet with joy, with calmness part, On him but not the passion, nor its power, Which only proved, all other virtues gone, Not guilt itself could quench this loveliest one! 310 XIII. He paused a moment till his hastening men Passed the first winding downward to the glen. "Strange tidings! many a peril have I past, "Nor know I why this next appears the last! "Yet so my heart forebodes, but must not fear. "Nor shall my followers find me falter here. "Tis rash to meet, but surer death to wait "Till here they hunt us to undoubted fate; "And, if my plan but hold, and Fortune smile, "We'll furnish mourners for our funeral-pile. 320 "Morn ne'er awoke them with such brilliant beams "As kindle high to-night (but blow, thou breeze!) "To warm these slow avengers of the seas. "Now to Medora Oh! my sinking heart, "Long may her own be lighter than thou art! "Yet was I brave mean boast where all are brave! "Ev'n insects sting for aught they seek to save. "This common courage which with brutes we share, "That owes its deadliest efforts to despair, 330 "Small merit claims - but 'twas my nobler hope "To teach my few with numbers still to cope; "Long have I led them "No medium now not to vainly bleed: we perish or succced! "So let it be it irks not me to die; "But thus to urge them whence they cannot fly. "My lot hath long had little of my care, "But chafes my pride thus baffled in the snare: "Is this my skill? my craft? to set at last "Hope, power, and life upon a single cast? 340 "Oh, Fate! accuse thy folly, not thy fate → "She may redeem thee still XIV. nor yet too late." Thus with himself communion held he, till 1. 350 "Deep in my soul that tender secret dwells, 2. "There, in its centre, a sepulchral lamp Burns the slow flame, eternal but unseen; Wich not the darkness of despair can damp, "Remember me 3. Oh! pass not thou my grave Without one thought whose relics there recline: The only pang my bosom dare not brave, Must be to find forgetfulness in thine. 360 Grief for the dead not Virtue can reprove; Then give me all I ever asked - a tear, The first-last sole reward of so much love!" He passed the portal crossed the corridore, And reached the chamber as the strain gave o'er: "My own Medora! sure thy song is sad "In Conrad's absence wouldst thou have it glad? "Without thine ear to listen to my lay, "Still must my song my thoughts, my soul betray: 380 "Still must each accent to my bosom suit, "My heart unhushed - although my lips were mute! "Oh! many a night on this lone couch reclined, "My dreaming fear with storms hath winged the wind, And deemed the breath that faintly fanned thy sail "The murmuring prelude of the ruder gale; "Though soft, it seemed the low prophetic dirge, "That mourned thee floating on the savage surge: "Still would I rise to rouse the beacon fire, "Lest spies less true should let the blaze expire; 380 "And many a restless hour outwatched each star, "And morning came and still thou wert afar. "Oh! how the chill blast on my bosom blew, "And day broke dreary on my troubled view, "And still I gazed and gazed and not a prow "Was granted to my tears -- truth my my vow! "At length 'twas noon I hailed and blest the mast "Another came — Oh God! 'twas thine at last! "Would that those days were over! wilt thou ne'er, 390 "My Conrad! learn tho joys of peace to share? "Sure thou hast more than wealth; and many a home |