"As bright as this invites us not to roam: "Thou know'st it is not peril that I fear, "I only tremble when thou art not here; "Then not for mine, but that far dearer life, "Which flies from love and languishes for strife"How strange that heart, to me so tender still, "Should war with nature and its better will!"

"Yea, strange indeed that heart hath long been

changed;

400.

"Worm-like 'twas trampled-adder-like avenged, "Without one hope on earth beyond thy love, "And scarce a glimpse of mercy from above, "Yet the same feeling which thou dost condemn, "My very love to thee is hate to them, "So closely mingling here, that disentwined, "I cease to love thee when I love mankind: "Yet dread not this the proof of all the past "Assures the future that my love will last;

"But Oh, Medora! nerve thy gentler heart, 410

-

"This hour again

This hour we part,

we part."

but not for long

my heart foreboded this:

"Thus ever fade my fairy dreams of bliss. it cannot be this hour away!

"This hour

"Yon bark hath hardly anchored in the bay:

"IIer consort still is absent, and her crew "Have need of rest before they toil anew; "My love! thou mock'st my weackness; and would'st steel

"My breast before the time when it must feel; "But trifle now no more with my distress, 420 "Such mirth hath less of play than bitterness. "Be silent, Conrad dearest! come and share "The feast these hands delighted to prepare; "Light toil! to cuoll and dress thy frugal fare! "See, I have plucked the fruit that promissed best, "And where not sure, perplexed, but pleased, I guessed

430

"At such as seemed the fairest: thrice the hill "My steps have wound to try the coolest rill; "Yes! thy Sherbet to-night will sweetly flow, "See how it sparkles in its vase of snow! "The grapes' gay juice thy bosom never cheers; "Thou more than Moslem when the cup appears: "Think not I mean to chide for I rejoice "What others deem a penance is thy choice. "But come, the board is spread; our silver lamp "Is trimmed, and heeds not the Siroceo's damp: "Then shall my handmaids while the time along, "And join with me the dance, or wake the song; "Or my guitar, which still thou lov'st to hear,

"Shall soothe or lull-or, should it vex thine ear 440 "We'll turn the tale, by Ariosto told,

"Of fair Olympia loved and left of old. 1

"Why

thou wert worse than he who broke

his vow

"To that lost damsel, shouldst thou leave me now, “Or even that traitor chief — I've seen thee smile, "When the clear sky showed Ariadne's Isle,

"Which I have pointed from these cliffs the while: "And thus, half sportive half in fear, I said, "Lest Time should raise that doubt to more than dread,

"Thus Conrad, too, will quit me for the main : 450 "And he deceived me for he came again!"

again - and oft again

my love!

"If there be life below, and hope above,

but now,

"He will return the moments bring "The time of parting with redoubled wing:

"The why the where-what boots it now to tell? "Since all must end in that wild word farewell!

"Yet would I fain did time allow

"Fear not

disclose

these are no formidable foes;

"And here shall watch a more than wonted

guard,

VOL. III

C

460

"For sudden siege and long defence prepared:

"Nor be thou lonely — though thy lord's away,

--

“Our matrons and thy handmaids with thee stay; "And this thy comfort-that, when next we meet, "Security shall make repose more sweet;

"List!-'tis the bugle - Juan shrilly blew

"One kiss

-one more - another — Oh! Adien!”

He dared not raise to his that deep-blue eye, 470
Which downcast drooped in tearless agony.
Her long fair hair lay floating o'er his arms,
In all the wildness of dishevelled charms;
Scarce beat that bosom where his image dwelt
So full that feeling seemed almost unfelt!
Hark peals the thunder of the signal-gun!
It told 'twas sunset and he cursed that sun.
Again again - that form he madly pressed,
Which mutely clasped, imploringly caressed!
And tottering to the couch his bride he bore, 480
One moment gazed as if to gaze no more;

Felt that for him earth held but her alone,

Kissed her cold forehead turned

-

is Conrad

gone?

XV.

"And is he gone?" - on sudden solitude How oft that fearful question will intrude? "Twas but an instant past and here he stood! without the portal's porch she

"And now"

rushed,

And then at length her tears in freedom gushed; Big-bright and fast, unknown to her they fell; But still her lips refused to send

"Farewell!" 49c

O'er every feature of that still, pale face,
Had sorrow fixed what time can ne'er erase!
The tender blue of that large loving eye
Grew frozen with its gaze on vacancy,

Till-Oh, how far! it caught a glimpse of him, And then it flowed and phrenzied seemed to

swim

Convulsed and quick-then gently raised to heaven;