I.O’er the hills, as from her bower a bride Comes brightened—blushing with the shame-faced pride Of love that now consummated supplies All her full heart can wish, and to the eyes Dear are the flowers then, in their green haunts spied, Glist ning with dew: pleasant at noon the side Of shadowy mountains ridging to the skies: At eve ’tis sweet to hear the breeze advance Through the responding forest dense and tall; And sweeter in the moonlight is the dance And natural music of the waterfall: And yet we feel not the full charm of all, Till love be near us with his magic glance.
II.Commotion at my heart—this dreamy chase Of possible joys that glow like stars in space? Now feel I even to all things reconciled, As all were one in spirit. Rudely up-piled Brown hills grow beautiful; a novel grace Exalts the moorland’s once unmeaning face; The river that, like a pure mind beguiled, Grows purer for its errors, and the trees That fringe its margin with a dusky shade, Seem robed in fairy wonder; and are these Exalted thus because with me surveyed By one sweet sould whom well they seem to please Here at my side—an almost stranger maid?
III.The eyes of my sweet friend, and now serene And chastely shadowy in their maiden mien; Or dream-power, sparkling like a brilliant star Fills all their blue depths, taking me afar To where, in the rich past, through song is seen Some sovereign beauty, knighthood’s mystic queen, Pluming with love the iron brows of war! Bright eyes before, with subtle lightning glance Have kindled all my being into one Wild tumult; but a charm thus to enhance My heart’s love-loyalty till now had none! And can this witchery be the work of chance? I know not—I but know my rest is gone.
IV.Unspoken; nor dares even my pen to write How my pent spirit pineth day and night For one fair love with whom I might be blest! And ever with vague jealousies possessed The more I languish, feeling these may so Oppress affection that for very woe She longs at last to die deep buried in my breast! O for a beaker of the wine of love, Or a deep draught of the Lethèan wave! The power a mutual passion to emove, Or that repose which sealeth up the grave! Yet these my bonds are blameless; one more wise Had dreamt away his freedom, dreaming of her eyes.
V.And straight it gathers from the gloom, to make My soul its mirror; which (as some still lake Holds pictured in its depths the face of heaven) Through the hushed night retains it: when ’tis given To take a warmer presence and incline A glowing cheek burning with love to mine, Saying—“The heart for which thou long hast stiven With looks so fancy-pale, I grant thee now; And if for ruth, yet more for love’s sweet sake, My lips shall seal this promise on thy brow. ” Thus blest in sleep—oh! Who would care to wake, When the cold real from his belief must shake Such vows, like blossoms from a shattered bough?
VI.The live confession came, like rich perfume From crimson petals bursting into bloom! And still my heart at the remembrance skips Like a young lion, and my tongue too trips As drunk with joy! While very object seen In life’s diurnal round wears in its mien A clear assurance that no doubts eclipse. And if the common things of nature now Are like old faces flushed with new delight, Much more the consciousness of that rich vow Deepens the beauteous, and refines the bright, While throned I seem on love’s divinest height —Mid all the glories glowing round its brow.
VII.Of early summer, when the vital air Breathes as ’twere God’s own breath, and blossoms rare Fill many a bush, or nestle in between The heapy folds of nature’s mantle green, As they were happier for the joint joy there Of birds and bees;—so genial, and so fair And rich in pleasure, is my life’s sole queen. My spirit in the sunshine of her grace Glows with intenser being, and my veins Fill as with nectar! In your pride of place Ye mighty, boast! Ye rich, heap gold space! I envy nor your grandeur nor your gains, Thus gazing at the heaven of her face!
VIII.Of heaven are burning in the clear expanse, My love is, and her eyes like star-depths glance Lustrous with glowing thoughts and pure desires, And that mysterious pathos which inspires All moods divine in mortal passion’s trance— All that its earthly music doth enhance As with the rapture of seraphic lyres! I gaze upon her till the atmosphere Sweetens intensely, and to my charmed sight All fair associated forms appear Swimming in joy, as swim yon orbs in light— And all sweet sounds, though common, to mine ear Chime up like silver-winged dreams in flight.
IX.From this the scene that saw our bud of love Bloom into rosehood. The blue heavens above— These hills and valleys, with each rocky dell, Echo’s dim hold,—shall these retain no spell Of foregone passion? Shall they speak no tale Of grief they shrouded in this shaded vale? Shall they of all our joy the story tell? To-morrow—and the sun shall climb yon hill Bright as before; all winged things shall wake To song as glad as if we listened still; The stream as mirthfully its wild way make. But I, pursuing fortune’s wandering star, Shall see and hear them not—from thee and them afar.
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