Yet, ere it reach the plain below, Breaks into floods, that part forever. O you, that have the charge of Love, As in the Fields of Bliss above He sits, with flowerets fettered round; Loose not a tie that round him clings, Nor ever let him use his wings; For even an hour, a minute's flight Will rob the plumes of half their light. Like that celestial bird, whose nest Is found beneath far Eastern skies, Whose wings, though radiant when at rest, Lose all their glory when he flies! -- 10 20 30 SYRIA FROM PARADISE AND THE PERI Now, upon Syria's land of roses, To one who looked from upper air Of the warm west, - as if inlaid With brilliants from the mine, or made The unclouded skies of Peristan. And then the mingling sounds that come, Banqueting through the flowery vales; And, Jordan, those sweet banks of thine, And woods, so full of nightingales! THE FIRE-WORSHIPPERS FROM LALLA ROOKH "How sweetly," said the trembling maid, Of her own gentle voice afraid, So long had they in silence stood, Looking upon that tranquil flood "How sweetly does the moonbeam smile To-night upon yon leafy isle! Oft, in my fancy's wanderings, I've wish'd that little isle had wings, Were wafted off to seas unknown, Where not a pulse would beat but ours, And we might live, love, die alone! Far from the cruel and the cold, Where the bright eyes of angels only ΙΟ 20 29 ΙΟ And 'twixt their shafts you saw the water bright, Which through the tops glimmered with showering light 261 So now you stood to think what odours best And then turned off into a shadier walk, 270 Through which the distant palace now and then And all about, the birds kept leafy house, Clearly was felt, or down the leaves laughed And formed of both, the loveliest portion lay, - fig, and almond trees, Cherry and pine, with some few cypresses; Down by whose roots, descending darkly still, 300 (You saw it not, but heard) there gushed a rill, Whose low sweet talking seemed as if it said, Something eternal to that happy shade. The ground within was lawn, with fruits and flowers Heaped towards the centre, half of citron bowers; Lurked a rare summer house, a lovely sight Small, marble, well-proportioned, creamy white, Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) But cheerly still; and said, "I pray thee, then, 9 De Lorge's love o'erheard the King, a beauteous lively dame, With smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which always seemed the same; She thought, the Count, my lover, is brave as brave can be; He surely would do wondrous things to show his love of me; Stolen sweets are always sweeter; When to bed the world are bobbing, 8 12 |