The world is all before me; I but ask Of Nature that with which she will comply It is but in her summer's sun to bask, To mingle with the quiet of her sky, To see her gentle face without a mask, And never gaze on it with apathy. She was my early friend, and now shall be My sister till I look again on thee. I can reduce all feelings but this one, And that I would not;—for at length I see Such scenes as those wherein my life be Not thankless,- for within the crowded sum Of struggles, happiness at times would steal; And for the present, I would not benumb My feelings farther. - Nor shall I conceal That with all this I still can look around, And worship Nature with a thought profound. 120 For thee, my own sweet sister, in thy heart I know myself secure, as thou in mine; We were and are-I am, even as thou art— Beings who ne'er each other can resign; It is the same, together or apart, From life's commencement to its slow decline We are entwined - let death come slow or fast, The tie which bound the first endures the last! 'SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY' SHE walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; One shade the more, one ray the less, And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, A heart whose love is innocent! 'OH! SNATCH'D AWAY IN BEAUTY'S BLOOM' OH! snatch'd away in beauty's bloom, On thee shall press no ponderous tomb; But on thy turf shall roses rear 10 Their leaves, the earliest of the year; And the wild cypress wave in tender gloom: Eternal, boundless, undecay'd, A thought unseen, but seeing all, Before Creation peopled earth, Its eye shall roll through chaos back; And where the furthest heaven had birth, The spirit trace its rising track. And where the future mars or makes, Above or Love, Hope, Hate, or Fear, An age shall fleet like earthly year, ΤΟ 20 O'er all, through all, its thought shall fly; A nameless and eternal thing, 30 VISION OF BELSHAZZAR THE King was on his throne, The godless Heathen's wine! In that same hour and hall, And traced them like a wand. The monarch saw, and shook, And bade no more rejoice; All bloodless wax'd his look, And tremulous his voice. 'Let the men of lore appear, The wisest of the earth, And expound the words of fear, Which mar our royal mirth.' Chaldea's seers are good, But here they have no skill; Are wise and deep in lore; A captive in the land, A stranger and a youth, 'Belshazzar's grave is made, The Persian on his throne!' And the Nubian awaiting the sire's award. 'Haroun when all the crowd that wait Are pass'd beyond the outer gate (Woe to the head whose eye beheld My child Zuleika's face unveil'd!), Hence, lead my daughter from her tower; Her fate is fix'd this very hour: 'Pacha! to hear is to obey.' No more must slave to despot say 40 First lowly rendering reverence meet; And downcast look'd, and gently spake, Still standing at the Pacha's feet: For son of Moslem must expire, Ere dare to sit before his sire! 50 81 'Son of a slave,' the Pacha said, From unbelieving mother bred, Vain were a father's hope to see Aught that beseems a man in thee. Thou, when thine arm should bend the bow, And hurl the dart, and curb the steed, Thou, Greek in soul if not in creed, Must pore where babbling waters flow, And watch unfolding roses blow. Would that yon orb, whose matin glow Thy listless eyes so much admire, Would lend thee something of his fire! Thou, who wouldst see this battlement By Christian cannon piecemeal rent; Nay, tamely view old Stambol's wall Before the dogs of Moscow fall, Nor strike one stroke for life and death Go let thy less than woman's hand 100 But, Haroun ! to my daughter speed: And hark of thine own head take heed If thus Zuleika oft takes wing V No sound from Selim's lip was heard, At least that met old Giaffir's ear, But every frown and every word Pierced keener than a Christian sword. 'Son of a slave! - reproach'd with fear! Those gibes had cost another dear. ΔΙΟ |