THALABA IN THE TENT OF MOATH. Grow in Oneiza's loom. How often, with a memory-mingled joy Or fix'd it on the glowing oven's side "Tis the cool evening hour: Sheathes its young fruit, yet green. The old man's solemn voice Intones the holy book. What if beneath no lamp-illumined dome, Its marble walls bedeck'd with flourish'd truth, Azure and gold adornment? Sinks the word With deeper influence from the Imam's voice Where in the day of congregation crowds Perform the duty-task? Their Father is their Priest, The Stars of Heaven their point of prayer, And the blue Firmament The glorious Temple, where they feel The present Deity. Yet through the purple glow of eve Shines dimly the white moon. The slacken'd bow, the quiver, the long lance, Rest on the pillar of the tent. Knitting light palm-leaves for her brother's brow, The dark-eyed damsel sits; The old man tranquilly Up his curl'd pipe inhales The tranquillising herb. So listen they the reed of Thalaba, While his skill'd fingers modulate The low, sweet, soothing, melancholy tones. Or if he strung the pearls of poesy, Singing with agitated face And eloquent arms, and sobs that reach the heart, A tale of love and woe; Then, if the brightening moon that lit his face, In darkness favour'd hers, Oh! even with such a look, as fables say, The Mother Ostrich fixes on her egg, Till that intense affection Kindle its light of life, Even in such deep and breathless tenderness So motionless, with such an ardent gaze, She wipes away the swelling tears That dim his image there. She call'd him Brother; was it sister-love For which the silver rings, Round her smooth ankles and her tawny arms, Shone daily brighten'd? for a brother's eye As when she trimm'd the lamp, And through the veins and delicate skin The light shone rosy? that the darken'd lids Gave yet a softer lustre to her eye? That with such pride she trick'd Her glossy tresses, and on holy-day Wreath'd the red flower-crown round Their waves of glossy jet? How happily the days Of Thalaba went by! Years of his youth, how rapidly ye fled! SUNLIGHT ON THE OCEAN. SUNLIGHT ON THE OCEAN. To Bardsey was the Lord of Ocean bound; There was not, on that day, a speck to stain The azure heaven; the blessed Sun alone In unapproachable divinity Career'd, rejoicing in his fields of light. A summer feeling; even the insect swarms The solitary primrose on the bank Seem'd now as though it had no cause to mourn Smiled in that joyful sunshine, they partook CAROLINE BOWLES (MRS. SOUTHEY). SUNDAY EVENING. I SAT last Sunday evening, Such hours to me are holy, The Sun had shone bright all day- The fields and lanes were swarming With holy-day folks in their best, By the seventh day's peace and rest. I heard the light-hearted laugh, I saw them go merrily by, And to me the sight was sweet. SUNDAY EVENING. There's a sacred soothing sweetness. Methinks, though I knew not the day, The steer and the steed in their pastures That this day their labours should cease. The lark's vesper song is more thrilling The sun sets in lovelier light— The grass, the green leaves, and the flowers So I sat last Sunday evening With that quiet gladness of spirit I watched the departing glory, Till its last red streak grew pale, And Earth and Heaven were woven In Twilight's dusky veil. |