330 "This common courage which with brutes we share, "But thus to urge them whence they cannot fly. Hope, power, and life, upon a single cast? XIV. Thus with himself communion held he, till 1. "Deep in my soul that tender secret dwells, 335 340 345 850 Then trembles into silence as before. 2. "There, in its centre, a sepulchral lamp 3. $55 "Remember me---Oh! pass not thou my grave Without one thought whose relics there recline : The only pang my bosom dare not brave, 66 Must be to find forgetfulness in thine. 4. My fondest---faintest---latest---accents hear: Grief for the dead not Virtue can reprove; Then give me all I ever ask'd---a tear, The first---last---sole reward of so much love!" He pass'd the portal---cross'd the corridore, 46 My own Medora! sure thy song is sad-" "In Conrad's absence wouldst thou have it glad? "Without thine ear to listen to my lay, 360 365 "Still must my song my thoughts, my soul betray: 370 "Still must each accent to my bosom suit, “My heart unhush'd---although my lips were mute! "Oh! many a night on this lone couch reclined, My dreaming fear with storms hath wing'd the wind, VOL. II. "And deem'd the breath that faintly fann'd thy sail "The murmuring prelude of the ruder gale; 375 "Though soft, it seem'd the low prophetic dirge, “That mourn'd thee floating on the savage surge: "Still would I rise to rouse the beacon fire, "Lest spies less true should let the blaze expire; 380 “And many a restless hour outwatch'd each star, "And morning came---and still thou wert afar. "Oh! how the chill blast on my bosom blew, "And day broke dreary on my troubled view, "And still I gazed and gazed---and not a prow "Was granted to my tears---my truth---my vow! "At length---'twas noon---I hail'd and blest the mast "That met my sight---it near'd---Alas! it past! "Another came-- 385 ---Oh God! 'twas thine at last!,395 "Would that those days were over! wilt thou ne'er, 66 My Conrad! learn the joys of peace to share? "Sure thou hast more than wealth, and many a home "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; 395 399 "Yea, strange indeed-that heart hath long been " changed; Worm-like 'twas trampled-adder-like avenged, "Without one hope on earth beyond thy love, "This hour we part!—my heart foreboded this: "Have need of rest before they toil anew; 405 410 415 My love! thou mock'st my weakness; and would'st " steel 420 "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, 425 “And were 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; 430 "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 435 "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 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, 445 "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-f -for-he came again!" "Again-again-and oft again-my love! 455 |