No fruits, no flowers for sacrifice, of all As when before their God the patriarchs stood?-Look down! man brings thee, Heaven! his brother's guiltless blood! XLVIII. Hear its voice, hear!-a cry goes up to thee, From the stain'd sod; make thou thy judgment known On him, the shedder!-let his portion be The fear that walks at midnight-give the moan In the wind haunting him, a power to say, "Where is thy brother?"-and the stars a ray To search and shake his spirit, when alone, With the dread splendour of their burning eyes! -So shall earth own thy will-mercy, not sacrifice! XLIX. Sounds of triumphant praise !-the mass was sungVoices that die not might have pour'd such strains! Through Salem's towers might that proud chant have rung When the Most High, on Syria's palmy plains, Had quell'd her foes!-so full it swept, a sea Of loud waves jubilant, and rolling free! -Oft when the wind, as through resounding fanes, Hath fill'd the choral forests with its power, Some deep tone brings me back the music of that hour. L. It died away;-the incense-cloud was driven Parting in clouds from those that look'd their last, And sigh'd—“Farewell, thou sun!"-Eve glow'd and pass'd Night-midnight and the moon-came forth and shed Sleep, even as dew, on glen, wood, peopled spotSave one-a place of death-and there men slumber'd not. LI. 'Twas not within the city-(7) but in sight Of the snow-crown'd sierras, freely sweeping, With many an eagle's eyrie on the height, And hunter's cabin, by the torrent peeping Far off and vales between, and vineyards lay, With sound and gleam of waters on their way, And chestnut woods, that girt the happy sleeping In many a peasant-home!-the midnight sky Brought softly that rich world round those who came to die. LII. The darkly-glorious midnight sky of Spain, O bright Theresa! with thy lifted brow, And thy clasp'd hands, and dark eyes fill'd with prayer! And thee, sad Inez! bowing thy fair head, And mantling up thy face, all colourless with dread! LIII. And Alvar, Alvar!-I beheld thee too, Pale, steadfast, kingly; till thy clear glance fell On that young sister; then perturb'd it grew, And all thy labouring bosom seem'd to swell With painful tenderness. Why came I there, That troubled image of my friend to bear Thence, for my after-years?—a thing to dwell In my heart's core, and on the darkness rise, Disquieting my dreams with its bright mournful eyes? LIV. Why came I oh! the heart's deep mystery!- In man's last hour doth vain affection's gaze To the dimm'd eye-balls freezing as they glaze? hue. LV. The trampling of a steed!—a tall white steed, Rending his fiery way the crowds among A storm's way through a forest—came at speed, And a wild voice cried "Inez!" Swift she flung The mantle from her face, and gazed around, With a faint shriek at that familiar sound; And from his seat a breathless rider sprung, And dash'd off fiercely those who came to part, And rush'd to that pale girl, and clasp'd her to his heart. LVI. And for a moment all around gave way For thee and thine, this world were all too fair! How could we thence be wean'd to die without despair? LVII. But she as falls a willow from the storm, Its mother's breast beyond the lightning's reach to kill! LVIII. Brief rest! upon the turning billow's height, A strange, sweet moment of some heavenly strain, Floating between the savage gusts of night, That sweep the seas to foam! Soon dark again The hour-the scene-th' intensely present, rush'd Back on her spirit, and her large tears gush'd Like blood-drops from a victim; with swift rain Bathing the bosom where she lean'd that hour, As if her life would melt into th' o'erswelling shower. LIX. But he whose arm sustain'd her!-oh! I knew 'Twas vain, and yet he hoped!-he fondly strove Back from her faith her sinking soul to woo, As life might yet be hers!-A dream of love Which could not look upon so fair a thing, Remembering how like hope, like joy, like spring, Her smile was wont to glance, her step to move, And deem that men indeed, in very truth, Could mean the sting of death for her soft flowering youth! LX. He woo'd her back to life.-"Sweet Inez, live! |