Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/168

164 That flame burnt like Cain's offering, in vain—

Then like him, a strange madness seized my heart—

And then I felt a brand upon my brow,

Which I did deem the curse of angry Heaven

For violated vows. And then I bowed

My soul in bitterness of tears, and mourned.

But when again I lifted up my brow,

Azlea was in my sight; and from that hour

I have not known another joy in life,

But the dark, bitter joy of unblest love—

By Heaven unsanctioned, and unreturned on earth!

But even by Heaven rejected, I am still

Only as other men; and like them I

Might love an earthly love and yet be blest,

Had I not found thee so unreachable—

So strangely passionless and coldly pure.

Azlea. Thy dreadful glances, and thy wilder words,

Freeze the warm life-tide in my very heart;

Oh, leave me, Hermon, while my senses last!

Her. Ha, ha! thy senses fail thee, do they? This

Will be delight, to bear thee in my arms,

And chafe thy pearly brow, and woo the tint

Back to thy pearly cheek, with many a kiss

Upon thy lips of coral—ah, thou fliest!

Azlea. Away! away! Oh, Virgin Mary, save me!

Protect me, Heaven—oh, save me—he is mad!

Her. Azlea—once more, wilt thou be mine?

Azlea. God, I can not say it!

Her. Then thou shalt never say it to another;

The sea shall fold thee in its cold embrace,

And thou shalt nestle in its deep, dark bosom.