On either side her tranced form Forth streaming from a braid of pearl: The slumbrous light is rich and warm, And moves not on the rounded curl. The silk star-broider'd coverlid Unto her limbs itself doth mould Languidly ever; and, amid Her full black ringlets downward roll'd, Glows forth each softly-shadow'd arm With bracelets of the diamond bright: Her constant beauty doth inform Stillness with love, and day with light. She sleeps her breathings are not heard In palace chambers far apart. The fragrant tresses are not stirr'd That lie upon her charmed heart. She sleeps on either hand upswells The gold-fringed pillow lightly prest : She sleeps, nor dreams, but ever dwells A perfect form in perfect rest. THE ARRIVAL. ALL precious things, discover'd late, And draws the veil from hidden worth. He travels far from other skies His mantle glitters on the rocks— A fairy Prince, with joyful eyes, And lighter-footed than the fox. The bodies and the bones of those 66 They perish'd in their daring deeds." This proverb flashes thro' his head, "The many fail: the one succeeds." He comes, scarce knowing what he seeks : He breaks the hedge: he enters there : The colour flies into his cheeks: He trusts to light on something fair; For all his life the charm did talk More close and close his footsteps wind; 66 He stoops-to kiss her-on his knee. 'Love, if thy tresses be so dark, How dark those hidden eyes must be ! ' THE REVIVAL. A TOUCH, a kiss! the charm was snapt. A breeze thro' all the garden swept, The hedge broke in, the banner blew, The parrot scream'd, the peacock squall'd, The maid and page renew'd their strife, The palace bang'd, and buzz'd and clackt, And all the long-pent stream of life Dash'd downward in a cataract. And last of all the king awoke, And yawn'd, and rubb'd his face, and spoke, How say you ? we have slept, my lords. My beard has grown into my lap." The barons swore, with many words, 'Twas but an after-dinner's nap. "Pardy," return'd the king, "but still My lord, and shall we pass the bill In courteous words return'd reply: And, smiling, put the question by. THE DEPARTURE. AND on her lover's arm she leant, And round her waist she felt it fold, In that new world which is the old : “I'd sleep another hundred years, O love, for such another kiss; "O wake for ever, love," she hears, "O love, 'twas such as this and this." And o'er them many a sliding star, "O eyes long laid in happy sleep! 66 "O happy sleep, that lightly fled!"' "O happy kiss, that woke thy sleep! “O love, thy kiss would wake the dead!' |