Page:Felicia Hemans in The Amulet 1826.pdf/4



That weigh'd their dark fringe down, to sit and watch The crimson deepening o'er his cheek's repose, As at a red flower's heart: and where a fount Lay, like a twilight star, midst palmy shades, Making its banks green gems along the wild, There too she linger'd, from the diamond wave Drawing clear water for his rosy lips, And softly parting clusters of jet curls To bathe his brow. At last the Fane was reach'd, The earth's One Sanctuary; and rapture hush'd Her bosom, as before her, thro' the day It rose, a mountain of white marble, steep'd In light like floating gold.—But when that hour Waned to the farewell moment, when the boy Lifted, through rainbow-gleaming tears, his eye Beseechingly to hers, and, half in fear, Turn'd from the white-rob'd priest, and round her arm Clung e'en as ivy clings; the deep spring-tide Of nature then swell'd high; and o'er her child Bending, her soul brake forth, in mingled sounds Of weeping and sad song.—"Alas!" she cried,

"Alas, my boy! thy gentle grasp is on me, The bright tears quiver in thy pleading eyes,    And now fond thoughts arise, And silver cords again to earth have won me, And like a vine thou claspest my full heart—     How shall I hence depart?—