"Still, ere thou dost condemn me, pause; 1060 "Had she been false to more than one. "As filed the troop to where they fell! 1065 1070 1075 "He died too in the battle broil, 1080 "A time that heeds nor pain nor toil; "Though pierced like Pard by hunters' steel, "He felt not half that now I feel. "I search'd, but vainly search'd, to find "The workings of a wounded mind; "Each feature of that sullen corse "Betray'd his rage, but no remorse. “Oh, what had Vengeance given to trace "Despair upon his dying face! "The late repentance of that hour, "When Penitence hath lost her power 1090 1095 "The cold in clime are cold in blood, "Their love can scarce deserve the name; 1100 "But mine was like the lava flood "That boils in Etna's breast of flame. "I cannot prate in puling strain "Of ladye-love, and beauty's chain: "If changing cheek, and scorching vein, 1105 "Betoken love-that love was mine, 1110 "And shown by many a bitter sign. " 'Tis true, I could not whine nor sigh, "I knew but to obtain or die. "I die-but first I have possess'd, "And come what may, I have been blest. 1115 "Shall I the doom I sought upbraid? "I grieve, but not, my holy guide! "For him who dies, but her who died: 1120 "She sleeps beneath the wandering wave— "Ah! had she but an earthly grave, “This breaking heart and throbbing head "Should seek and share her narrow bed. "She was a form of life and light, 1125 "That, seen, became a part of sight; "And rose, where'er I turn'd mine eye, "The Morning-star of Memory! 1130 "Yes, Love indeed is light from heaven; "To lift from earth our low desire. "Devotion wafts the mind above, "But Heaven itself descends in love; "A feeling from the Godhead caught, 1135 "To wean from self each sordid thought; "A Ray of him who form'd the whole; "A Glory circling round the soul! 1140 “I grant my love imperfect, all "That mortals by the name miscall; "Then deem it evil, what thou wilt; "But say, oh say, hers was not guilt! "She was my life's unerring light: 1145 "That quench'd, what beam shall break my night? "Oh! would it shone to lead me still, "Although to death or deadliest ill! "Why marvel ye, if they who lose "This present joy, this future hope, 1150 "No more with sorrow meekly cope; "In phrensy then their fate accuse: "In madness do those fearful deeds "That seem to add but guilt to wo? "Alas! the breast that inly bleeds 1155 "Hath nought to dread from outward blow : "Who falls from all he knows of bliss, "Cares little into what abyss. "Fierce as the gloomy vulture's now "To thee, old man, my deeds "I read abhorrence on thy brow, appear: "And this too was I born to bear! “ "Tis true, that, like that bird of prey, "With havock have I mark'd my way: "But this was taught me by the dove, "To die-and know no second love. "This lesson yet hath man to learn, Taught by the thing he dares to spurn: "The bird that sings within the brake, 1160 1165 "The swan that swims upon the lake, “One mate, and one alone, will take. "And let the fool still prone to range, "And sneer on all who cannot change, "Partake his jest with boasting boys; "I envy not his varied joys, "But deem such feeble, heartless man, 1170 1175 "Such shame at least was never mine"Leila! each thought was only thine! "My good, my guilt, my weal, my wo, "My hope on high-my all below. 1180 "Earth holds no other like to thee, "Or, if it doth, in vain for me: 1185 "For worlds I dare not view the dame ""Tis all too late-thou wert, thou art "The cherish'd madness of my heart! 1190 "And she was lost-and yet I breathed, "Alike all time, abhorr'd all place, 66 'Shuddering I shrunk from Nature's face, 1195 |