My love! thou mock'st my weakness; and would'st 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: "The feast these hands delighted to prepare― 66 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! 420 "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 430 "We'll turn the tale, by Ariosto told, “ Of fair Olympia lov'd and left of old.' "Why-thou wert worse than he who broke his vow "To that lost damsel, shouldst thou leave me now; 440 "Or even that traitor chief-I've seen thee smile, "When the clear sky showed Ariadue'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 deceiv'd me-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 450 "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 prepar'd: "Nor be thou lonely-though thy lord's away, 66 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, 460 470 XV. "And is he gone?"-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— We promise-hope-believe-there breathes despair. 480 490 500 But turn'd with sickening soul within the gate "It is no dream-and I am desolate!" XVI. From crag to crag descending-swiftly sped Forced on his eye what he would not survey— His lone, but lovely dwelling on the steep, That hailed him first when homeward from the deep: Whose ray of beauty reach'd him from afar, On her he must not gaze, he must not think, The clang of tumult vibrate on his ears, 510 520 |