Chapter 2

As when the Moon, emerging from a cloud, Sheds on the dreary earth her gracious light, A smile comes o'er the frowning brow of Night, Who hastens to withdraw her sable shroud; And then the lurking shadows' dark-robed crowd, Pursued with glitt'ring shafts, is put to flight; And, robed in silv'ry raiment, soft and bright The humblest flower as a Queen seems proud;

So when thou com'st to me in Beauty's bloom, And on thy face soft Pity's graces shine, Thou can'st dispel the heavy shades of gloom From my sad heart, which ceases then to pine; And Hope and Joy their quenched beams relume And gild the universe with light divine.

XII

ETERNAL JOY

Truth is but as the eye of God doth see; And Love is truth, and Love hath made thee mine. What though on earth our lives may not combine, Love makes us one for all Eternity! God gives us to each other, bids us be Each other's soul's fulfilment, makes Love shine Upon our souls as His own light divine. An effluence of His own deity.

Why ask for more? Our union is above All earthly unions, ours those heights serene Where Love alone is Heav'n and Heav'n is Love-- Where never comes the world's harsh breath between Hope's fruits and flow'rs. Ah, why then earthward move, Where pure and perfect bliss hath never been?

XIII

CONSTANCY

Ah, Love, I know that to my love thou art, And must be, in this life, a dream,--a name! But be it joy or grief, or praise or blame, I give thee all the worship of my heart. 'Tis not for Love to bid life's cares depart; Love wings the soul for Heaven whence it came. Such love from Petrarch's soul did Laura claim, And Beatrice to Dante did impart.

To thee I turn,--be thou or near or far, And whether on my love thou frown or smile,-- As, in mid-ocean, to some fairy isle Palm-crowned; as, in the heav'ns, to eve's bright star Whose pure white fire allures the vision, while Myriads of paler lights unnoticed are!

XIV

CALM AFTER STORM

Thou hast but seen what but mine eyes have shown-- Mine eyes that gazing on thee picture Heaven; Thou hast but heard what but my voice hath given-- My voice that takes from thine a calmer tone. Ah! couldst thou know all that my heart hath known, While with Despair's dark phantoms it hath striven-- From faith to doubt, from joy to sorrow driven, Till rescued and redeemed by Love alone,--

Thou wouldst not marvel were my cloudless brow O'er-clouded, were my aspect less serene! Love smiles on Death, unveils his mystery Of joy and grief, and Love bids me avow This truth, with chastened heart and tranquil mien,-- 'Less pure Love's bliss if less Love's agony.'

XV

THE STAR OF LOVE

Time's cycle rolls--once more I hail the day On which propitious Heaven sent to Earth, Disguised in thy fair form, in mortal birth, The Star of Love, whose pure celestial ray Glides through the spirit's gloom and lights the way To bliss! I hail thy coming 'midst the dearth Of the soul's aspirations, when the worth Of hearts like thine had ceased men's hearts to sway.

I greet thee, Love, and with thee scale the height, That cloudless height where winged spirits rest: Where the deep yearnings of the mortal breast, From mortal bin set free, reveal to sight That living Presence, that Eternal Light In which enwrapt the eager soul is blest.

XVI

IMPRISONED MUSIC

Oh, had I but the poet's voice to sing, Then would the music prisoned in my heart (Panting in vain its message to impart) Hover around thee, Love, on trembling wing, To tell thee of the soft-eyed hopes that cling To Love's white feet, the doubts and fears that start And pierce his bosom with a poisoned dart,-- The smiles that soothe, the cold hard looks that sting!

But 'tis not mine, the soaring joy of Song: I strive to voice my soul, but strive in vain. Though passion thrills, and eager fancies throng, Deckt in the varying hues of joy and pain, Yet the weak voice--as weak as Love is strong-- Dies murm'ring on Love's throbbing heart again.

XVII

LOVE'S MESSAGE

We will not take Love's name; that little word, By lips too oft profaned, we will not use. From Nature's best and loveliest we will choose Fit symbols for Love's message; like a bird,-- Whose warbled love-notes by its mate are heard In greenwood glade,--shalt thou in strains profuse The prisoned music of thy heart unloose, While my heart's love is by sweet flow'rs averred.

Then take, O take these fresh-awakened flowers, The symbols of my love, and keep them near, Where they may feel thy breath and touch thy hand; Then sing thy songs to me,--in silver showers Pour forth, thine eager soul, and I shall hear; Ah, thus will Love Love's message Understand!

XVIII

ECSTASY

The Nightingale upon the Rose's breast Warbling her tale of life-long sorrow lies, Till in love's trancèd ecstasy her eyes Close and her throbbing heart is set at rest; For, to the yielding flow'r her bosom prest, Death steals upon her in the sweet disguise Of crownèd love and brings what life denies,-- mingling of the souls,--Love's eager quest!

Thus let my heart against thy heart repose, Sigh forth its life in one delicious sigh, Then drink new life from out thy balmy breath; Thus in love's languor let our eyelids close, And let our blended souls enchanted lie, And dream of joy beyond the gates of death.

XIX

THE DREAM

Was it a dream, when, through the spirit's gloom, I saw the yearning face of Beauty shine-- Soft in its human aspect, though divine, Pleading for human love, though armed with doom? And was it but a dream, that faint perfume, Blent of loose tress and soft lips joined to mine, Those fair white arms that did my neck entwine, That neck's sweet warmth, that smooth cheek's floral bloom?

Ah! was it true, or was it but a dream Of bliss that scarce to mortal hearts is given? Ah! was it thou, Belovèd, or some bright Phantom of thee that made thy presence seem, Rich with the warmth of Life, the light of Heaven, To hover o'er the realms where both unite?

XX

ETHEREAL BEAUTY

Nay, it was thou, when the fair Evening Star Leaned on the purple bosom of the West; 'Twas thou, when o'er the far hills' frowning crest Fell the soft beams of Cynthia's silv'ry car: Thyself--than stars and moonbeams fairer far-- A vision in ethereal beauty drest! But, when thy head drooped flow'r-like on my breast, Then did no word our souls' communion mar:

Love spake to love without a sign or glance, And heart to heart its inmost depth revealed In the deep thrilling silence of that trance, Till earth, and earthly being ceased to be, And our blent souls at that high altar kneeled Whence Love doth gaze upon Eternity!

XXI

A CROWN OF THORNS

There was a crown of thorns upon the head Of Love, when he across my threshold came. I knew the sign and did not ask his name, But took him to my heart, although he said, 'The soul's dumb agonies, the tears unshed That sear the heart, th' injustice and the blame Of the harsh world,--God wills that I should claim Through these immortal Life when Hope is dead.'

I took him to my heart and clasped him close. E'en though his thorns did make my bosom bleed. Then from the very core of pain arose A joy that seemed to be the utmost need Of my worn soul! Love whispered, '_This_ the meed Of hearts that keep their faith amidst Love's woes.'

XXII

TWO HEARTS IN ONE

Two hearts made one by Love that cannot die Whatever life may bring, shall never part; In life they're one, and e'en in death one heart! Are we not such, Belovèd, thou and I? Ah, then, why mourn that 'neath another sky, Far from these longing arms and eyes thou art? I clasp thee still, and lo! thy lips impart New life to me as in the days gone by.

I feel thy heart in mine,--our hopes and fears, Like music's wedded notes, together flow; Our sighs the same, the same our smiles and tears,-- The selfsame bliss is ours, the selfsame woe. For Love no weary leagues, no ling'ring years-- Two hearts in one nor time nor distance know.

XXIII

YEARNING

The night is sweet: thy breath is in the air, I feel it on my face; thy tender eyes Look love upon me from yon starry skies! They bring to me, those glancing moonbeams fair, The shine and ripple of thy silken hair. And in the silent whispers and the sighs That from the throbbing heart of Nature rise, I hear thee, feel thee,--own thy presence there.

Ah, fond deceit!--too soon the heart, unblest, Unsated, turns from these illusive charms Back to the haunting dream of heav'n once known: It pines for those soft eyes, that throbbing breast, Those sweet life-giving lips, those circling arms-- The breath, the touch, the warmth of Beauty flown.

XXIV

LOVE'S GIFT

I'm far from thee, yet oft our spirits meet: We share the longings of each other's breast, And all our joys and sorrows are confest As though our lips did love's fond tale repeat. Ah! then thine eyes send forth, mine eyes to greet, Glances in which thy whole soul is exprest, Then, like some song-bird flutt'ring in its nest, I hear thy heart in pulsing cadence beat.

I know its music and I know its thought; My heart to it th' unuttered words supplies; I listen to the thrilling melody Until my soul its subtle tone hath caught. And then I take it as Love's gift,--it lies Imprisoned in my own weak poesy!

EPILOGUE

From out the golden dawn of vanished years She glides into my dreams, a form divine Of light and love, to soothe the thoughts that pine For what has been, to stem the tide of tears That inward flows upon the heart and sears Its inmost core. Her countenance benign, Where Love and Pity's chastened graces shine, Reflects the hallowed light of other spheres.

Then to my anguished soul, with care outworn, Comes, like a strain on aerial wings upborne, This message from her soul:--'_Bid sorrow cease; Love dies not;--'tis th' immortal life above. And chastened souls, that win eternal peace Through earthly suff'ring, know that Heaven is Love_!'