Calm is the wave-heav'n's brilliant lights Time was when, on such lovely nights, And ask no happier joy than seeing And the fresh, buoyant sense of Being, Which bounds in youth's yet careless breast, Itself a star, not borrowing light, But in its own glad essence bright. And ask, and wondering guess what means The battle-cry at this dead hour Ah! she could tell you-she, who leans Unheeded there, pale, sunk, aghast, With brow against the dew-cold mast ;- Lies bleeding in that murderous strife. But see-what moves upon the height? Its melancholy radiance sent; Tall, shadowy, like a Spirit of Fire Shrin'd in its own grand element ! ""Tis he!"-the shuddering maid exclaims, — But, while she speaks, he's seen no more; High burst in air the funeral flames, And IRAN's hopes and hers are o'er! One wild, heart-broken shriek she gave; And, gazing, sunk into the wave, – Deep, deep, where never care or pain Shall reach her innocent heart again! Farewell-farewell to thee, ARABY's daughter! Oh! fair as the sea-flower close to thee growing, How light was thy heart till Love's witchery came, Like the wind of the south* o'er a summer lute blowing, And hush'd all its music, and wither'd its frame! But long, upon ARABY's green sunny highlands, Shall maids and their lovers remember the doom *This wind (the Samoor) so softens the strings of lutes, that they can never be tuned while it lasts."-Stephen's Persia. Of her, who lies sleeping among the Pearl Islands, With nought but the sea-star* to light up her tomb. And still, when the merry date-season is burning †, And calls to the palm-groves the young and the old, The happiest there, from their pastime returning The young village-maid, when with flowers she dresses Her dark flowing hair for some festival day, Will think of thy fate till, neglecting her tresses, She mournfully turns from the mirror away. Nor shall IRAN, beloved of her Hero! forget thee— Though tyrants watch over her tears as they start, * "One of the greatest curiosities found in the Persian Gulf is a fish which the English call Star-fish. It is circular, and at night very luminous, resembling the full moon surrounded by rays.' Mirza Abu Taleb. For a description of the merriment of the date-time, of their work, their dances, and their return home from the palmgroves at the end of autumn with the fruits, see Kempfer, Amanitat. Exot. Close, close by the side of that Hero she'll set thee, Embalm'd in the innermost shrine of her heart. Farewell-be it ours to embellish thy pillow With every thing beauteous that grows in the deep; Each flower of the rock and each gem of the billow Shall sweeten thy bed and illumine thy sleep. Around thee shall glisten the loveliest amber chamber We, Peris of Ocean, by moonlight have slept. We'll dive where the gardens of coral lie darkling, And gather their gold to strew over thy bed. * Some naturalists have imagined that amber is a concretion of the tears of birds. See Trevoux, Chambers. "The bay Kieselarke, which is otherwise called the Golden Bay, the sand whereof shines as fire.". Struy. |