Page:Hemans in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 32 1832.pdf/8



Thy face Is all at once spread over with a calm More beautiful than sleep, or mirth or joy! I am no more disconsolate,

Morn once again! Morn in the lone dim cell, The cavern of the prisoner's fever-dream, And morn on all the green rejoicing hills, And the bright waters round the prisoner's home, Far, far away! Now wakes the early bird That in the lime's transparent foliage sings, Close to my cottage-lattice—he awakes, To stir the young leaves with his gushing soul, And to call forth rich answer of delight From voices buried in a thousand trees, Through the dim starry hours. Now doth the Lake Darken and flash in rapid interchange Unto the matin breeze; and the blue mist Rolls, like a furling banner, from the brows Of the forth-gleaming hills, and woods, that rise As if new-born. Bright world! and I am here! And thou, oh! thou, th' awakening thought of whom Was more than dayspring, dearer than the sun, Herbert! the very glance of whose clear eye, Made my soul melt away to one pure fount Of living, bounding gladness!—where art thou? My friend! my only, and my blessed Love! Herbert, my soul's companion! [, a Spanish Priest, enters. Daughter, hail! I bring thee tidings. Heaven will aid my soul Calmly to meet whate'er thy lips announce. Nay, lift a song of thanksgiving to Heaven, And bow thy knee down for deliverance won! Hast thou not pray’d for life? And wouldst thou not Once more be free? Have I not pray'd for life? I, that am so beloved! that love again With such a heart of tendrils? Heaven thou know'st The gushings of my prayer! And would I not Once more be free? I, that have been a child Of breezy hills, a playmate of the fawn In ancient woodlands from mine infancy! A watcher of the clouds and of the stars, Beneath the adoring silence of the night; And a glad wanderer with the happy streams, Whose laughter fills the mountains! Oh! to hear Their blessed sounds again! Rejoice, rejoice! Our Queen hath pity, maiden, on thy youth; She wills not thou shouldst perish.—I am come To loose thy bonds. And shall I see his face,