"But bright, and long, and beckoning years, "To rule, to shine, to smite, to save— XVIII. "The sun was sinking—still I lay "Chain'd to the chill and stiffening steed, "I thought to mingle there our clay; "And my dim eyes of death had need, "No hope arose of being freed: "I cast my last looks up the sky, "And there between me and the sun "I saw the expecting raven fly, "Who scarce would wait till both should die, "Ere his repast begun; "He flew, and perch'd, then flew once more, "And each time nearer than before; "I saw his wing through twilight flit, "And once so near me he alit "I could have smote, but lack'd the strength; "But the slight motion of my hand, "And feeble scratching of the sand, "The exerted throat's faint struggling noise, "Which scarcely could be call'd a voice, "Together scared him off at length.— "I know no more—my latest dream "Is something of a lovely star "Which fix'd my dull eyes from afar, "And went and came with wandering beam, "And of the cold, dull, swimming, dense "Sensation of recurring sense, "And then subsiding back to death, "And then again a little breath, "A little thrill, a short suspense, "An icy sickness curdling o'er 66 My heart, and sparks that cross'd my brain— "A gasp, a throb, a start of pain, "A sigh, and nothing more. XIX. "I woke Where was I?-Do I see "A human face look down on me? "And doth a roof above me close? "Do these limbs on a couch repose? "Is this a chamber where I lie? "And is it mortal yon bright eye, "That watches me with gentle glance? "I closed my own again once more, "As doubtful that the former trance "Could not as yet be o'er. "A slender girl, long-hair'd, and tall, "For ever and anon she threw "A prying, pitying glance on me "With her black eyes so wild and free: “I gazed, and gazed, until I knew "No vision it could be, "But that I lived, and was released "My heavy eyes at length unseal'd, "But fail'd-and she approach'd, and made "With lip and finger signs that said, "I must not strive as yet to break "The silence, till my strength should be 66 Enough to leave my accents free; "And then her hand on mine she laid, "And smooth'd the pillow for my head, "And stole along on tiptoe tread, "And gently oped the door, and spake "In whispers-ne'er was voice so sweet! "Even music follow'd her light feet; "But those she call'd were not awake, "And she went forth; but, ere she pass'd, "Another look on me she cast, "Another sign she made, to say, "That I had nought to fear, that all "Were near, at my command or call, "And she would not delay "Her due return:—while she was gone, 66 Methought I felt too much alone. XX. "She came with mother and with sire "What need of more?—I will not tire "With long recital of the rest, "Since I became the Cossack's guest: 66 66 They found me senseless on the plain 66 They bore me to the nearest hut They brought me into life again— "Me-one day o'er their realm to reign! "Thus the vain fool who strove to glut "His rage, refining on my pain, "Sent me forth to the wilderness, “Bound, naked, bleeding, and alone, "To pass the desert to a throne, "What mortal his own doom may guess?— "Let none despond, let none despair! "To-morrow the Borysthenes "May see our coursers graze at ease 66 Upon his Turkish bank,—and never "Had I such welcome for a river "As I shall yield when safely there. "Comrades, good night!"-The Hetman threw His length beneath the oak-tree shade, With leafy couch already made, A bed nor comfortless nor new To him, who took his rest whene'er The hour arrived, no matter where: His eyes the hastening slumbers steep. And if ye marvel Charles forgot To thank his tale, he wonder'd not, The king had been an hour asleep. |