"Such as our Turkish neighbourhood "Hath mingled with our Polish blood, "Dark as above us is the sky; 210 "But through it stole a tender light, "Like the first moonrise at midnight; "Large, dark, and swimming in the stream, "Which seem'd to melt to its own beam; 215 "All love, half languor, and half fire, "Like saints that at the stake expire, "And lift their raptured looks on high, "As though it were a joy to die, "A brow like a midsummer lake, 220 "Transparent with the sun therein, "When waves no murmur dare to make, "And heaven beholds her face within. "A cheek and lip-but why proceed? "I loved her then-I love her still; 225 "And such as I am, love indeed "In fierce extremes-in good and ill. "But still we love even in our rage, "And haunted to our very age "With the vain shadow of the past, 230 "As is Mazeppa to the last. VI. "We met—we gazed—I saw, and sigh'd, "She did not speak, and yet replied; "There are ten thousand tones and signs "We hear and see, but none defines "Involuntary sparks of thought, "Which strike from out the heart o'erwrought, "And form a strange intelligence, "Alike mysterious and intense, "Which link the burning chain that binds, Conveying, as the electric wire, "Without their will, young hearts and minds; "We know not how, the absorbing fire.- "I long'd, and was resolved to speak; "But on my lips they died again, "The accents tremulous and weak, "Until one hour.-There is a game, A frivolous and foolish play, 235 240 245 250 "Wherewith we while away the day; "It is-I have forgot the name 25.5 "And we to this, it seems, were set, "So near to hear, and oh! to see 260 "The being whom I loved the most."I watch'd her as a sentinel, 66 (May ours this dark night watch as well!) “ Until I saw, and thus it was, That she was pensive, nor perceived "Her occupation, nor was grieved "Nor glad to lose or gain; but still 66 Play'd on for hours, as if her will "Yet bound her to the place, though not "That hers might be the winning lot. 265 270 "Their eloquence was little worth, "Who listens once will listen twice; "Her heart, be sure, is not of ice, 280 "And one refusal no rebuff. VII. "I loved, and was beloved again— 285 "To you twould seem absurd as vain; "But all men are not born to reign, "Or o'er their passions, or as you "Thus o'er themselves and nations too. or rather was—a prince, "I am 290 "Except that hour, which doth recal 305 "Save nature's gift of youth and health. "We met in secret-doubly sweet, "Some say, they find it so to meet; 310 "I know not that—I would have given My life but to have call'd her mine "In the full view of earth and heaven; "For I did oft and long repine "That we could only meet by stealth. VIII. "For lovers there are many eyes, 315 "And such there were on us ;-the devil "On such occasions should be civil→→ "The devil!-I'm loth to do him wrong, "It might be some untoward saint, "Who would not be at rest too long, "But to his pious bile gave vent "But one fair night, some lurking spies "The Count was something more than wroth "I was unarm'd; but if in steel, "All cap-à-pie from head to heel, 320 325 "What 'gainst their numbers could I do?- 330 " "Twas near his castle, far away "From city or from succour near, "And almost on the break of day; "I did not think to see another, 66 My moments seem'd reduced to few; "And with one prayer to Mary Mother, "And, it may be, a saint or two, 335 |