IV.

STANZA S.

Composed October 11th 1809, during the night, in a thunder- storm; when the guides had lost the road to Zitza, near the range of mountains formerly called Pindus, in Albania.

1.

CHILL and mirk is the nightly blast,

Where Pindus' mountains rise,

And angry clouds are pouring fast
The vengeance of the skies.

2.

Our guides are gone, our hope is lost,

And lightnings, as they play,

But show where rocks our path have crost,

Or gilt the torrent's spray.

3.

Is yon a cot I saw, though low?
When lightning broke the gloom
How welcome were its shade!

'Tis but a Turkish tomb.

ah, no!

4.

Through sounds of foaming waterfalls,
I hear a voice exclaim

My way-worn countryman, who calls
On distant England's name.

The mountain-peasants to descend,
And lead us where they dwell.

6.

Oh! who in such a night will dare

To tempt the wilderness?

And who 'mid thunder peals can hear
Our signal of distress?

7.

And who that heard our shouts would rise

To try the dubious road?

Nor rather deem from nightly cries

That outlaws were abroad.

8.

Clouds burst, skies flash, oh, dreadful hour! More fiercely pours the storm!

Yet here one thought has still the power

To keep my bosom warm.

While wand'ring through each broken path,

O'er brake and craggy brow;

While elements exhaust their wrath,

Sweet Florence, where art thou?

10.

Not on the sea, not on the sea,
Thy bark hath long been gone:
Oh, may the storm that pours on me,
Bow down my head alone!

11.

Full swiftly blew the swift Siroc,
When last I pressed thy lip;

And long ere now, with foaming shock,
Impelled thy gallant ship.

12.

Now thou art safe; nay, long ere now

Hast trod the shore of Spain;

'Twere hard if ought so fair as thou Should linger on the main.

13.

And since I now remember thee
In darkness and in dread,
As in those hours of revelry
Which mirth and music sped;

14.

Do thou amidst the fair white walls,

If Cadiz yet be free,

At times from out her latticed halls

Look o'er the dark blue sea;

15.

Then think upon Calypso's isles,
Endeared by days gone by;
To others give a thousand smiles,
To me a single sigh.

16.

And when the admiring circle mark
The paleness of thy face,

A half formed tear, a transient spark
Of melancholy grace,

17.

Again thou'lt smile, and blushing shun
Some coxcomb's raillery;

Nor own for once thou thought'st of one,

Who ever thinks on thee.

18.

Though smile and sigh alike are vain,

When severed hearts repine,

My spirit flies o'er mount and main,
And mourns in search of thine.