"I died a Queen. The Roman soldier found Me lying dead, my crown about my brows, A name for ever!-lying robed and crown'd, Worthy a Roman spouse." Her warbling voice, a lyre of widest range Struck by all passion, did fall down and glance From tone to tone, and glided thro' all change Of liveliest utterance. When she made pause I knew not for delight; Because with sudden motion from the ground She raised her piercing orbs, and fill'd with light The interval of sound. Still with their fires Love tipt his keenest darts; Slowly my sense undazzled. Then I heard A noise of some one coming thro' the lawn, "The torrent brooks of hallow'd Israel From craggy hollows pouring, late and soon, Sound all night long, in falling thro' the dell, Far-heard beneath the moon. "The balmy moon of blessed Israel Floods all the deep-blue gloom with beams divine: All night the splinter'd crags that wall the dell With spires of silver shine." As one that museth where broad sunshine laves Of sound on roof and floor Within, and anthem sung, is charm'd and tied To where he stands,-so stood I, when that flow Of music left the lips of her that died To save her father's vow; The daughter of the warrior Gileadite, A maiden pure; as when she went along From Mizpeh's tower'd gate with welcome light, With timbrel and with song. My words leapt forth: "Heaven heads the count of crimes With that wild oath." She render'd answer high: "Not so, nor once alone; a thousand times I would be born and die. Single I grew, like some green plant, whose root Creeps to the garden water-pipes beneath, Feeding the flower; but ere my flower to fruit Changed, I was ripe for death. "My God, my land, my father-these did move Me from my bliss of life, that Nature gave, Lower'd softly with a threefold cord of love Down to a silent grave. "And I went mourning, 'No fair Hebrew boy Shall smile away my maiden blame among The Hebrew mothers '-emptied of all joy, Leaving the dance and song, "Leaving the olive-gardens far below, Leaving the promise of my bridal bower, The valleys of grape-loaded vines that glow Beneath the battled tower. "The light white cloud swam over us. Anon We heard the lion roaring from his den We saw the large white stars rise one by one, Or, from the darken'd glen, "Saw God divide the night with flying flame, 66 ; When the next moon was roll'd into the sky, Strength came to me that equall'd my desire. How beautiful a thing it was to die For God and for my sire! It comforts me in this one thought to dwell, That I subdued me to my father's will; Because the kiss he gave me, ere I fell, Sweetens the spirit still. "Moreover it is written that my race Hew'd Ammon, hip and thigh, from Aroer On Arnon unto Minneth." Here her face Glow'd, as I look'd at her. She lock'd her lips: she left me where I stood: Glory to God," she sang, and past afar, Thridding the sombre boskage of the wood, Toward the morning-star. Losing her carol I stood pensively, As one that from a casement leans his head, When midnight bells cease ringing suddenly, And the old year is dead. "Alas! alas! a low voice, full of care, Murmur'd beside me : " Turn and look on me: I am that Rosamond, whom men call fair, If what I was I be. "Would I had been some maiden coarse and poor! O me, that I should ever see the light! Those dragon eyes of anger'd Eleanor She ceased in tears, fallen from hope and trust: To whom the Egyptian: "O, you tamely died! You should have clung to Fulvia's waist, and thrust The dagger thro' her side." With that sharp sound the white dawn's creeping beams, Of folded sleep. The captain of my dreams Morn broaden'd on the borders of the dark, Or her, who knew that Love can vanquish Death, No memory labours longer from the deep Gold-mines of thought to lift the hidden ore That glimpses, moving up, than I from sleep Each little sound and sight. With what dull pain Compass'd, how eagerly I sought to strike Into that wondrous track of dreams again! M |