The joy of danger, Glory's fiery bliss, Earth's smile, and Heaven's aspirings, all are His. To light his path, and then forgotten be; While man, the brilliant flame, ascends the sky, 66 My father, whose delight was still in war, Of abject slaves, whom conscious meanness bade 66 Say hast thou seen upon the boundless plain Our lovely wild steeds, guiltless of the rein? Light as the fawn the desert turf they spurn, Brave as the hero, for the fight they burn; With ears erect, they snuff the danger nigh, A moment stand, then to the battle fly, Their own wild battle, where, by barbarous steel Ungoaded, in untutor'd ranks they wheel! Blest children of the desert! Oh, how fair, How unconfined, how happy are ye there! "Oft have I woo'd the beauteous forms to stay, Where my tamed Tartar bore me on their way, On the rein'd slave they gazed with proud disdain, Then bounded to their native wilds again! "No more the castle's stillness might be borne; Madly I woo'd the chase; with hound and horn Drove the keen wolf, and savage boar, to bay, And rescued from the bear his trembling prey. Nature alone, alas! we conquer notUpon the throne, as in the lowly cot, Huntress, or shepherd maid upon the hill, Sovereign or slave, is woman, woman still, A feeble vine, whose tendrils sadly fade If the supporting elm deny its shade, One who her being's half must fondly win, Whose every joy is born-a lovely twin! Now somewhat in my side began to beat, Which had been painful, were it not so sweet; Methought some angel wafted me on high To starry palaces beyond the sky, Then would I, wearied, fold again my wings Amid those lovely but neglected things Of earth, 'mid which my happy childhood grew. Ye flowers of every scent and every hue! Thou hill of sunshine, and thou shady grove! I loved ye, as I ne'er had loved before-- The nightingale was singing clear and loud, But Death's cold kiss, and the warm kiss of Love, The blest ones!-Earth upon her funeral pile First came young Axel from his heaven-ward flight, "Now by my soul, I swear!-by Sweden's might !By the North's honour!-by those stars that shine Like bridal guests!-by earth and heaven! thou'rt mine! Oh that my soul were free this blessed hour With thee to live or die in peaceful bow'r! But ah! the pallid spectre of a vow With glance reproachful stands between us now. I feel, alas! its icy finger rest On the warm surface of my faithful breast. Fear not!-this hand, which dares not break, shall loose The bond abhorr'd; and when May's rosy dews Earth's icy fetters have alike untied, Till then, Axel, released, shall fly to claim his bride.- By duty urged, now Axel spurr'd his way Through the Czar's hostile armies; oft by day Lurking in woods; but, like the arrow's flight, Urging his fiery courser through the night Still guided by the Pole's unsetting star, How fares young Linda? Oft, in her lone halls, Till, to the widow'd heart, the maddening thought grove. "Dread, northern maid! the South's fierce rivalry: Earth may not hold us; thou or I must die!— Behind thy snow-clad hills, and frozen wave, I come to seek thee; and they shall not save.Peace, idle ravings! hence, chimeras wild! Left Axel not his native land a child? Since then a dweller in that camp's rude scene, Where timid love has still a stranger been?Sat falsehood e'er on brow so proudly high? Lurk'd treachery ever in that clear blue eye, Through whose pure depths his soul reflected lay, As the fresh silver fount transmits the day?— What then thy vow? Oh, does it bid thee break This faithful heart ?-Alas! in vain I wake These native echoes; far between us roll Hoarse dashing billows, restless as my soul: And the lone murmur of the widow'd dove Dies in the hollow whisperings of the He hears me not!-Oh, let me to him fly, And on his faithful bosom seek reply !— If woman's fragile form must danger shun, Let me but bear a sword-and I am none. Oft have I play'd with death in perils past; Oft, careless, staked my life upon a cast; Oft have I to my gallant courser grown, And still unerring has mine arrow flown.Sure 'tis a God inspires the blest design!Oh, Axel, Axel, thou again art mine!— Farewell, farewell, my father's hallow'd home, 'Tis but to bring thee peace and bliss I roam. Welcome, wild War! thy eagle wings expand, And bear a warrior-maid to Axel's land! But, gentler Night! thy veil in pity lend, To bear her safely to her bosom's friend." 'Twas said, 'twas done! in woman's soul of flame, To will and execute, are still the same! Who but a loving maiden e'er had dream'd Where the North's future Empress on her bay The sea with barks was studded-death they bore, Vengeance and flame, to Scandinavia's shoreSad mission for a heart to Sweden given ! Yet did the maid, by love and madness driven, Strive, vainly strive, amid the helm's dark plume, To veil her midnight tresses' kindred gloom; The all-unwonted cuirass rudely prest Th' indignant heavings of her snowy breast; O'er a soft shoulder Grecian art might frame, Strangely reposed the carbine's mouth of flame; While from that cestus Grecian lays record, (By love himself suspended,) hung the sword! A place she sought amid the hostile crewHer form disguised, this scornful comment drew: "Fond stripling! to the Swedish maids thy charms More fatal seem, than to the foe thine arms!" Reluctant granted, yet at length prevailed Her fond entreaty-and the vessels sailed!Bright glow'd the Scandinavian summer eve, When Sotaskär must once again receive Love's victim. Long tradition mark'd the place Where brave Hialmar lock'd in last embrace Fair Ingeborg-at Fame's resistless call The youth descended to dark Odin's hall; And still fond Fancy on the rock descried The hovering phantom of the widow'd bride. Now spread along the shores the wild alarm; Vain the loud Tocsin, and the call to armThe land's defenders lived not, or were far ; And feebly rose, in mockery of war, Old men and children, who the banners flung That long in mould'ring state had idly hung, O'er rusty weapons, kept the halls to grace With stern memorials of a mightier race. Yet fought they, as men fight when more than life Hangs on the issue. Desperate grew the strife, When, like war's fiery angel, Axel sprung Into their ranks, and cried, with loyal tongue, "God and King Charles !"-A thousand voices gave Back the proud shout; and like one mighty wave At once advancing, with impetuous shock They swept the hostile legions from the rock. The land was rescued, and the Russians fled; And Sweden's sole invaders-were the dead! 1826. As, like a sated raven, brooded Night O'er this still host, and the moon's glimmering light agony ! Once more upon Faintly she whisper'd, "Axel, fare thee well, And the long night's grey twilight bids us part. I came to Sweden to extort the vow, There, freed from all the clouds and mists of earth, Bright 'mid the stars shall shine thy stainless worth. Which thou must shed o'er my untimely bier; 2 B |