Page:Hemans in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 25 1829.pdf/3



A long war disturb’d your mind,— Here your perfect peace is sign'd: 'Tis now full tide 'twixt night and day, End your moan and come away. .—Duchess of Malfy.

There were faint sounds of weeping;—fear and gloom, And midnight vigil in a stately room Of Chatillon's old halls:—rich odours there Fill'd the proud chamber as with Indian air, And soft light fell, from lamps of silver thrown, On jewels that with rainbow-lustre shone Over a gorgeous couch: there emeralds gleam'd, And deeper crimson from the ruby stream'd Than in the heart-leaf of the rose is set, Hiding from sunshine:—Many a carkanet Starry with diamonds, many a burning chain Of the red gold, shed forth a radiance vain: And sad, and strange, the canopy beneath, Whose shadowy curtain, round a bed of death, Hung drooping solemnly:—for there one lay, Passing from all earth's glories fast away, Amidst those queenly treasures:—They had been Gifts of her Lord, from far-off Paynim lands, And for his sake, upon their orient sheen, She had gaz'd fondly, and, with faint, cold hands, Had pressed to her languid heart once more, Melting in child-like tears:—But this was o’er,