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Whose trains went trooping through the skyHeard not the chanting cherubs' song,

The seraphs' sacred anthem swell,
But one voice small 'mid all the throng,
And that voice came from Ariel!
Quick from her shade embrownéd grove
She rose, and spread her wings so fair,
And sweeping with the thoughts of love,
Rushed star-like through the air!—
Her golden locks, which late had hung
Around her like a streaming fount,

Were loosely now behind her flung,
Like sunset light from western mount.
She paused no instant to behold

Created thing in heaven above,
But shot between the globes of gold,
A wingéd dart of Love.

And still the sad voice "Llama!" cried,
And nearer yet she heard its tones;
To right nor left she turned, but hied
Fast through the rainbow zones.
Behold, the sought-for goal is won!
And Ariel she sees,

And came descending to her own,

Like sunshine through the trees !—

But Ariel was yet alone

Amid this fairy paradise,

And with his bright blue orbs up thrown,

He filled the woodland with his sighs— "Llama! Llama! oh, my love!

Llama, whom I most adore!"
"Llama," whispered all the grove,
And "Llama," echoed back the shore.
A sudden came a rush of wings,
A gentle rustle as of silk,
A form aside the sunlight flings,

A form descending, white as milk.
Oh! not the poet's wildest trance,
Nor painter sees in Fancy's spell,
A vision of such radiance

As lighted now by Ariel:

Her form was as a statue white,

Which stands within the moon's full blaze,

Encircled in a robe of light,

As golden as the noontide's rays,

This Splendor wore such shining wings

That earth like dazzling hues doth lack, For seemed it where each pinion springs A rainbow shining at her back!

Her hair was like a golden flame

Tossed by the gale when winds are high! And light and darkness cannot name The day and night within her eye. Upon her clear white cheek a blush

With warm, transparent beauty glows, As if the summer roses flush,

Were lifted up through winter's snows!

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Her swelling bosom's coral tips

Were like camelias in the bud!

And full and moist her shell-like lips
Glowed with her rich vermilion blood-

Her arms around his form she flung,
And to his cheek her lips she pressed,
His neck her locks of gold o'erhung,
As she reclined upon his breast.
Upon their velvet mossy bed

They rested, 'neath the giant oak,
Their smiles expressed all that they said,
Their eyes alone it was that spoke—
The deep extatic thrill of bliss,

All earth's beatitude above,

Joy's magical electric kiss,

The nameless rapture known as Love!

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Behold! now streaming through the air

A legion spirits swift repair,

From every sphere,

Afar and near:

From realms of fire-realms of ice

Haste to the Peri's paradise!

From their subterranean homes

Troops of graceful, gentle gnomes,
Salamanders on the wing,

Hither flock, and coming, sing.
Tall white angels through the clouds
Congregate in smiling crowds.

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