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My love! thou mock'st my weakness; and wouldst

steel

My breast before the time when it must feel; "But trifle now no more with my distress,

"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 cull and dress thy frugal fare! "See, I have pluck'd the fruit that promised best, "And where not sure, perplex'd, but pleased, I guess'd "At such as seem'd 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 trimm'd, and heeds not the Sirocco'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, "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 show'd 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; "And he deceived me-f -for-he came again!"

"Again-again-and oft again-my love! "If there be life below, and hope above, "He will return-but now, 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-disclose"Fear not these are no formidable foes; "And here shall watch a more than wonted guard, "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! Adieu!"

She rose-she sprung-she clung to his embrace,
Till his heart heaved beneath her hidden face.
He dared not raise to his that deep-blue eye,
Which downcast droop'd in tearless agony.
Her long fair hair lay floating o'er his arms,
In all the wildness of dishevell'd charms;
Scarce beat that bosom where his image dwelt
So full-that feeling seem'd 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 press'd,
Which mutely clasp'd, imploringly caress'd!
And tottering to the couch his bride he bore,
One moment gazed-as if to gaze no more;
Felt that for him earth held but her alone,
Kiss'd her cold forehead-turn'd-is Conrad gone?

gone?"

XV.

"And is he -on sudden solitude How oft that fearful question will intrude! ""Twas but an instant past—and here he stood! "And now"-without the portal's porch she rush'd, And then at length her tears in freedom gush'd; Big-bright-and fast, unknown to her they fell; But still her lips refused to send-" Farewell!" For in that word—that fatal word-howe'er

We promise-hope-believe-there breathes despair.

THE WHITE SAIL SET SHE DARED NOT LOOK AGAIN.
BT TUNEL WITH SICKENING SOUL WITHIN THE GATE__
"IT IS NO DREAM AND I AM DESO. ATE!"