Turning the corner of some reverend pile,
Some school or hospital of old renown,

Though haply none were coming, none were near,
"Hasten or slacken." But at length Night fled;
And with her fled, scattering, the sons of Pleasure.
Star after star shot by, or, meteor-like,

Crossed me and vanished lost at once among
Those hundred isles that tower majestically,
That rise abruptly from the water-mark,

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Not with rough crag, but marble, and the work
Of noblest architects. I lingered still;
Nor sought my threshold," till the hour was come
And past, when, flitting home in the gray light,
The young BIANCA found her father's door, as
That door so often with a trembling hand,
So often then so lately left ajar,
Shut; and, all terror, all perplexity,
Now by her lover urged, now by her love,
Fled o'er the waters to return no more.

THE BRIDES OF VENICE.96

It was St. Mary's Eve, and all poured forth
For some great festival. The fisher came
From his green islet, bringing o'er the waves
His wife and little one; the husbandman
From the firm land, with many a friar and
And village-maiden, her first flight from home,
Crowding the common ferry. All arrived;
And in his straw the prisoner turned to hear,
So great the stir in VENICE. Old and young

nun,

Thronged her three hundred bridges; the grave Turk,
Turbaned, long-vested, and the cozening Jew
In yellow hat and threadbare gabardine,
Hurrying along. For, as the custom was,
The noblest sons and daughters of the state,
Whose names are written in the Book of Gold,
Were on that day to solemnize their nuptials.

At noon a distant murmur, through the crowd
Rising and rolling on, proclaimed them near;
And never from their earliest hour was seen
Such splendor or such beauty." Two and two
(The richest tapestry unrolled before them),
First came the brides; each in her virgin-veil,
Nor unattended by her bridal maids,
The two that, step by step, behind her bore
The small but precious caskets that contained
The dowry and the presents. On she moved
In the sweet seriousness of virgin-youth;
Her eyes cast down, and holding in her hand
A fan, that gently waved, of ostrich-plumes.
Her veil, transparent as the gossamer,
Fell from beneath a starry diadem;
And on her dazzling neck a jewel shone,
Ruby or diamond or dark amethyst;

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A jewelled chain, in many a winding wreath,
Wreathing her gold brocade.

Before the church,

That venerable structure now no more

On the sea-brink, another train they met,
No strangers, nor unlooked for ere they came,
Brothers to some, still dearer to the rest;
Each in his hand bearing his cap and plume,

And, as he walked, with modest dignity
Folding his scarlet mantle. At the gate
They join; and slowly up the bannered aisle
Led by the choir, with due solemnity

Range round the altar. In his vestments there
The Patriarch stands; and, while the anthem flows,
Who can look on unmoved the dream of years
Just now fulfilling! Here a mother weeps,
Rejoicing in her daughter. There a son
Blesses the day that is to make her his;
While she shines forth through all her ornament,
Her beauty heightened by her hopes and fears.

At length the rite is ending. All fall down,
All of all ranks; and, stretching out his hands,
Apostle-like, the holy man proceeds

To give the blessing — not a stir, a breath;
When, hark! a din of voices from without,
And shrieks and groans and outcries as in battle!
And, lo! the door is burst, the curtain rent,
And armed ruffians, robbers from the deep,
Savage, uncouth, led on by BARBERIGO
And his six brothers in their coats of steel,
Are standing on the threshold! Statue-like
A while they gaze on the fallen multitude,
Each with his sabre up, in act to strike;
Then, as at once recovering from the spell,
Rush forward to the altar, and as soon
Are gone again—amid no clash of arms
Bearing away the maidens and the treasures.

Where are they now?-ploughing the distant waves,

Their sails outspread and given to the wind,

They on their decks triumphant. On they speed,

Steering for ISTRIA; their accursed barks
(Well are they known 100 the galliot and the galley)
Freighted, alas! with all that life endears!
The richest argosies were poor to them!

Now hadst thou seen along that crowded shore
The matrons running wild, their festal dress
A strange and moving contrast to their grief;
And through the city, wander where thou wouldst,
The men half armed and arming every where
As roused from slumber by the stirring trump;
One with a shield, one with a casque and spear;
One with an axe severing in two the chain
Of some old pinnace. Not a raft, a plank,
But on that day was drifting. In an hour
Half VENICE was afloat. But long before,
Frantic with grief and scorning all control,
The youths were gone in a light brigantine,
Lying at anchor near the arsenal;

Each having sworn, and by the holy rood,
To slay or to be slain.

And from the tower

The watchman gives the signal. In the east

A ship is seen, and making for the port;

Her flag St. Mark's. And now she turns the point, Over the waters like a sea-bird flying!

Ha! 't is the same, 't is theirs! from stern to prow Green with victorious wreaths, she comes to bring All that was lost.

Coasting, with narrow search,

FRIULI like a tiger in his spring,

They had surprised the corsairs where they lay 101

Sharing the spoil in blind security

And casting lots - had slain them, one and all,
All to the last, and flung them far and wide
Into the sea, their proper element;

Him first, as first in rank, whose name so long
Had hushed the babes of VENICE, and who yet,
Breathing a little, in his look retained

The fierceness of his soul.102

Thus were the brides

Lost and recovered; and what now remained

But to give thanks? Twelve breast-plates and twelve crowns,

By the young victors to their patron-saint
Vowed in the field, inestimable gifts

Flaming with gems and gold, were in due time

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Laid at his feet; and ever to preserve

The memory of a day so full of change,
From joy to grief, from grief to joy again,
Through many an age, as oft as it came round,
'T was held religiously. The Doge resigned
His crimson for pure ermine, visiting
At earliest dawn St. Mary's silver shrine;
And through the city, in a stately barge
Of gold, were borne with songs and symphonies
Twelve ladies
104
and noble.1
young
Clad they were
In bridal white with bridal ornaments,
Each in her glittering veil; and on the deck,
As on a burnished throne, they glided by;

No window or balcóny but adorned
With hangings of rich texture, not a roof

But covered with beholders, and the air

Vocal with joy. Onward they went, their oars
Moving in concert with the harmony,