And listen'd to her breathing, if it chanced To wake into a slumberous tenderness; Which when he heard, that minute did he bless, And over the hush'd carpet, silent, stept, And 'tween the curtains peep'd, where, lo!-how fast she slept. XXIX. Then by the bed-side, where the faded moon A table, and, half anguish'd, threw thereon XXX. And still she slept an azure-lidded sleep, XXXI. These delicates he heap'd with glowing hand Filling the chilly room with perfume light.— "And now, my love, my seraph fair, awake! "Thou art my heaven, and I thine eremite : "Open thine eyes, for meek St. Agnes' sake, "Or I shall drowse beside thee, so my soul doth ache." XXXII. Thus whispering, his warm, unnerved arm The lustrous salvers in the moonlight gleam; XXXIII. Awakening up, he took her hollow lute,- Upon his knees he sank, pale as smooth-sculptured stone. XXXIV. Her eyes were open, but she still beheld, Now wide awake, the vision of her sleep: There was a painful change, that nigh expell'd At which fair Madeline began to weep, And moan forth witless words with many a sigh; Who knelt, with joined hands and piteous eye, Fearing to move or speak, she look'd so dreamingly. XXXV. "Ah, Porphyro!" said she, "but even now "And those sad eyes were spiritual and clear: "Those looks immortal, those complainings dear! "Oh leave me not in this eternal woe, "For if thou diest, my Love, I know not where to go." XXXVI. Beyond a mortal man impassion'd far Solution sweet: meantime the frost-wind blows XXXVII. 'Tis dark: quick pattereth the flaw-blown sleet: "This is no dream, my bride, my Madeline!" 'Tis dark the iced gusts still rave and beat: "No dream, alas! alas! and woe is mine! "Porphyro will leave me here to fade and pine."Cruel! what traitor could thee hither bring? "I curse not, for my heart is lost in thine, "Though thou forsakest a deceived thing;"A dove forlorn and lost with sick unpruned wing." " XXXVIII. My Madeline! sweet dreamer! lovely bride! "Say, may I be for aye thy vassal blest? "Thy beauty's shield, heart-shap'd and vermeil dy'd? "Ah, silver shrine, here will I take my rest "After so many hours of toil and quest, "A famish'd pilgrim,-sav'd by miracle. Though I have found, I will not rob thy nest "Saving of thy sweet self; if thou think'st well "To trust, fair Madeline, to no rude infidel. XXXIX. "Hark! 'tis an elfin-storm from faery land, "For o'er the southern moors I have a home for thee." XL. She hurried at his words, beset with fears, For there were sleeping dragons all around, A chain-droop'd lamp was flickering by each door; And the long carpets rose along the gusty floor. XLI. They glide, like phantoms, into the wide hall; Who knelt, with joined hands and piteous eye, Fearing to move or speak, she look'd so dreamingly. XXXV. "Ah, Porphyro!" said she, "but even now "Thy voice was at sweet tremble in mine ear, "Made tuneable with every sweetest vow; "And those sad eyes were spiritual and clear: "How chang'd thou art! how pallid, chill, and drear! "Give me that voice again, my Porphyro, "Those looks immortal, those complainings dear! "Oh leave me not in this eternal woe, "For if thou diest, my Love, I know not where to go." XXXVI. Beyond a mortal man impassion'd far Seen mid the sapphire heaven's deep repose; Solution sweet: meantime the frost-wind blows XXXVII. 'Tis dark: quick pattereth the flaw-blown sleet: "This is no dream, my bride, my Madeline!" 'Tis dark the iced gusts still rave and beat: "No dream, alas! alas! and woe is mine! "Porphyro will leave me here to fade and pine."Cruel! what traitor could thee hither bring? "I curse not, for my heart is lost in thine, "Though thou forsakest a deceived thing;— "A dove forlorn and lost with sick unpruned wing." |