A sweet, low voice, in starry nights, Its tones come winding up those heights, And he must listen till the stars grow dim, The song that gentle voice doth sing to him. O, it is sad that aught so mild Should bind the soul with bands of fear; That strains to soothe a little child, The man should dread to hear! But sin hath broke the world's sweet peace-unstrung The harmonious chords to which the angels sung. In thick, dark nights he'd take his seat Below and hear it break With savage roar, then pause and gather strength, But thou no more shalt haunt the beach, Nor go the round of all that reach, Nor feebly sit thee down, Watching the swaying weeds :—another day, And thou❜lt have gone far hence that dreadful way. To night the charmed number 's told. "Twice have I come for thee," it said. "Once more, and none shall thee behold. Come! live one, to the dead !" So hears his soul, and fears the coming night; Again he sits within that room; All day he leans at that still board; Or speak a friendly word. Weaken'd with fear, lone, haunted by remorse, Poor, shatter'd wretch, there waits he that pale horse. Not long he'll wait. Where now are gone Peak, citadel, and tower, that stood Beautiful, while the west sun shone, And bathed them in his flood Of airy glory?-Sudden darkness fell; The darkness, like a dome of stone, Ceils up the heavens.-'Tis hush as death- How hard Lee draws his breath! He shudders as he feels the working Power. Arouse thee, Lee! up! man thee for thine hour !— 'Tis close at hand: for there, once more, Twice thus she hither came : But now she rolls a naked hulk, and throws A wasting light; then, settling, down she goes. And where she sank, up slowly came And there he stands! His pale sides flame. He treads the waters as a solid floor : He's moving on. Lee waits him at the door. They've met." I know thou com'st for me," "I know that I must go with thee— Take me not to the dead. It was not I alone that did the deed!" Dreadful the eye of that still, spectral steed! 66 Lee cannot turn. There is a force In that fixed eye, which holds him fast. How still they stand !-that man and horse. -Thine hour is almost past." "O, spare me," cries the wretch, "thou fearful one!" "My time is full-I must not go alone." "I'm weak and faint. O, let me stay!" Nay, murderer, rest nor stay for thee!" The horse and man are on their way; He bears him to the sea. Hark! how the spectre breathes through this still night! See, from his nostrils streams a deathly light! He's on the beach; but stops not there, Holds him by fearful spell; he cannot leap. It lights the sea around their track- Gone! gone! and none to save! They're seen no more; the night has shut them in. The earth has wash'd away its stain. From the far south and north. The climbing moon plays on the rippling sea. IMMORTALITY. Is this thy prison-house, thy grave, then, Love? And with our frames do perish all our loves? |