And here MOHAMMED, born for love and guile, With rapid step, yet pleas'd and lingering eye, Did the youth pass these pictur'd stories by, And hasten'd to a casement, where the light Of the calm moon came in, and freshly bright The fields without were seen, sleeping as still As if no life remain'd in breeze or rill. Here paus'd he, while the music, now less near, Breath'd with a holier language on his ear, As though the distance, and that heavenly ray Through which the sounds came floating, took All that had been too earthly in the lay. Oh! could he listen to such sounds, unmov'd, And by that light – nor dream of her he lov'd? Dream on, unconscious boy! while yet thou may'st; 'Tis the last bliss thy soul shall ever taste. away } 7 The particulars of Mahomet's amour with Mary, the Coptic girl, in justification of which he added a new chapter to the Koran, may be found in Gagnier's Notes upon Abulfeda, p. 151. Clasp yet awhile her image to thy heart, Ere all the light, that made it dear, depart. Think of her smiles as when thou saws't them last, Pure as they weep, if angels weep, in heaven! The song is hush'd, the laughing nymphs are flown, And he is left, musing of bliss, alone; Alone? no, not alone that heavy sigh, That sob of grief, which broke from some one nigh- With gems and wreaths, such as the others wore, But in that deep-blue, melancholy dress, 8 Of friends or kindred, dead or far away;- He left her, when, with heart too full to speak, He took away her last warm tears upon his cheek. A strange emotion stirs within him, more Than mere compassion ever wak'd before; — r Her veil falls off — her faint hands clasp his knees — "Tis she herself!-'tis ZELICA he sees! But, ah, so pale, so chang'd-none but a lover Stood for some moments mute, and doubtingly 8" Deep blue is their mourning colour."-Hanway. Ere he could think she was indeed his own, Own darling maid, whom he so long had known Who, ev'n when grief was heaviest when loth He left her for the wars - in that worst hour "Look up, my ZELICA one moment show "Those gentle eyes to me, that I may know "Thy life, thy loveliness is not all gone, "But there, at least, shines as it ever shone. "Come, look upon thy AZIм-one dear glance, "Like those of old, were heav'n! whatever chance "Hath brought thee here, oh! 'twas a blessed one! they move that kiss hath "There 66 run my sweet lids "Like the first shoot of life through every vein, "And now I clasp her, mine, all mine again 9 The sorrowful nyctanthes, which begins to spread its rich odour after sun-set. "Oh the delight-now, in this very hour, "When had the whole rich world been in my power, "I should have singled out thee, only thee, "From the whole world's collected treasury "To have thee here to hang thus fondly o'er My own best, 'purest ZELICA once more !”— 66 It was indeed the touch of those lov'd lips - Quick, restless, wild, but mournfully serene; So near his heart, had consolation in it; And thus to wake in his belov'd caress Took from her soul one half its wretchedness. |