Page:Landon in Literary Gazette 1822.pdf/24



Of such wild sweetness that it almost seemed The breath of flowers made audible.—They told, In long departed days, when every grove Was filled with beautiful imaginings And visioned creations, that a Nymph Once pined with unrequited love, and sighed Away her sad existence. I could think She left her last tone softly giving soul To the sad of that lonely lyre; Or else, perchance, the spirit of some Bard, Whose life in life was music, wander'd o'er The chords which once with him held sympathy, Like him neglected, but sweet breathing still! - - - - Why dwell I on these memories? Alas, The heart loves lingering o'er the shadows left By joys departed.—'Twas one summer night, And our brief hour had pass'd; I know not why, But my soul felt disquieted within me, And the next evening, when I sought the grove, I had a strange foreboding sadness—none Were there to welcome me, no silvery trace Of fairy footsteps was upon the grass: I waited long and anxiously—none came— I wandered on; it was not in the hope To meet my ; but it was sweet To look upon the stars, and think that they Had witnessed our love. At once a sound Of music slowly rose, a sad low chant Of maiden voices, and a faint light streamed From out the windows of a chapel near; I knew it well—'twas the shrine sacred to Her patron saint, and had said, If ever I might claim her as my bride Before the face of heaven, that altar should Be where our vows were given. I entered in, And heard a sound of weeping, and saw shapes Bent down in anguish: in the midst a bier Was covered o'er with flowers—sad offerings made The dead, in vain — and one lay sleeping there, Whose face was veiled;—I could not speak nor ask, My heart was wild with fear,—I lifted up The long white veil,—I looked on the pale cheek Of my so worshipped !L. E. L.