Of flowers, where he had laid his head,
And down upon the fragrant sod

Kneels,198 with his forehead to the south,
Lisping th' eternal name of God

From Purity's own cherub mouth,
And looking, while his hands and eyes
Are lifted to the glowing skies,
Like a stray babe of Paradise,
Just lighted on that flowery plain,
And seeking for its home again.
Oh! 't was a sight — that heaven
A scene, which might have well beguiled
Even haughty EBLIS of a sigh
For glories lost and peace gone by!

- that child

And how felt he, the wretched Man
Reclining there — while memory ran
O'er many a year of guilt and strife,
Flew o'er the dark flood of his life,
Nor found one sunny resting-place,

Nor brought him back one branch of grace.
"There was a time," he said, in mild,
Heart-humbled tones "thou blessed child!
"When, young and haply pure as thou,
"I looked and prayed like thee - but now
He hung his head — each nobler aim,

And hope, and feeling, which had slept From boyhood's hour, that instant came Fresh o'er him, and he wept- - he wept!

Blest tears of soul-felt penitence!
In whose benign, redeeming flow
Is felt the first, the only sense

Of guiltless joy that guilt can know.

"There's a drop," said the PERI," that down from the moon

"Falls through the withering airs of June
"Upon EGYPT's land,194 of so healing a power,
"So balmy a virtue, that e'en in the hour
"That drop descends, contagion dies,
"And health reanimates earth and skies!
"Oh, is it not thus, thou man of sin,

"The precious tears of repentance fall? "Though foul thy fiery plagues within,

"One heavenly drop hath dispelled them all!"

And now

behold him kneeling there

By the child's side, in humble prayer,
While the same sunbeam shines upon
The guilty and the guiltless one,

And hymns of joy proclaim through heaven
The triumph of a Soul Forgiven!

'T was when the golden orb had set,

While on their knees they lingered yet,
There fell a light more lovely far
Than ever came from sun or star,
Upon the tear that, warm and meek,
Dewed that repentant sinner's cheek.
To mortal eye this light might seem

A northern flash or meteor beam
But well th' enraptured PERI knew
'T was a bright smile the Angel threw
From heaven's gate, to hail that tear
Her harbinger of glory near!

"Joy, joy forever! my task is done -
"The Gates are passed, and heaven is won!
"Oh! am I not happy? I am, I am

"To thee, sweet Eden! how dark and sad "Are the diamond turrets of SHADUKIAM, 195 "And the fragrant bowers of AMBERABAD! "Farewell, ye odors of earth, that die "Passing away like a lover's sigh; "My feast is now of the Tooba Tree," "Whose scent is the breath of Eternity! "Farewell, ye vanishing flowers, that shone

196

"In my fairy wreath, so bright and brief;"Oh! what are the brightest that e'er have blown "To the lote-tree, springing by ALLA's throne,197

66

"Whose flowers have a soul in every leaf?

Joy, joy forever! my task is done

"The Gates are passed, and heaven is won!"