Fond girl! nor fiend nor angel he,
Who woos thy young simplicity;
But one of earth's impassion'd sons,
As warm in love, as fierce in ire
As the best heart whose current runs
Full of the Day-God's living fire!

But quench'd to-night that ardour seems, And pale his cheek, and sunk his brow; Never before, but in her dreams,

Had she beheld him pale as now:

And those were dreams of troubled sleep,
From which 'twas joy to wake and weep;
Visions, that will not be forgot,

But sadden every waking scene,

Like warning ghosts, that leave the spot
All wither'd where they once have been !

"How sweetly," said the trembling maid,
Of her own gentle voice afraid,
So long had they in silence stood,
Looking upon that tranquil flood-

"How sweetly does the moonbeam smile

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To-night upon yon leafy isle !

"Oft, in my fancy's wanderings,

"I've wish'd that little isle had wings, "And we, within its fairy bowers,

"Were wafted off to seas unknown,

"Where not a pulse should beat but ours, "And we might live, love, die alone!

"Far from the cruel and the cold,

"Where the bright eyes of angels only "Should come around us, to behold

"A paradise so pure and lonely! "Would this be world enough for thee?" Playful she turn'd, that he might see

The passing smile her cheek put on; But when she mark'd how mournfully

His eyes met hers, that smile was gone; And, bursting into heart-felt tears,

"Yes, yes," she cried, "my hourly fears,

"My dreams have boded all too right –

"We part for ever part

to-night!

"I knew, I knew it could not last

""Twas bright, 'twas heavenly, but 'tis past!

"Oh! ever thus, from childhood's hour,

"I've seen my fondest hopes decay; "I never lov'd a tree or flower,

"But 'twas the first to fade away. "I never nurs❜d a dear gazelle,

"To glad me with its soft black eye, "But when it came to know me well,

"And love me, it was sure to die!

"Now too

the joy most like divine

"Of all I ever dreamt or knew,

"To see thee, hear thee, call thee mine,

"Oh misery! must I lose that too?

"Yet go

on peril's brink we meet;

"Those frightful rocks that treacherous sea

"No, never come again - though sweet,

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Though heaven, it may be death to thee.

"Farewel and blessings on
and blessings on thy way,

"Where'er thou go'st, beloved stranger! "Better to sit and watch that ray,

"And think thee safe, though far away,

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"Than have thee near me, and in danger!"

Danger! oh, tempt me not to boast -"

The youth exclaim'd" thou little know'st

"What he can brave, who, born and nurst "In Danger's paths, has dar'd her worst!

Upon whose ear the signal-word

"Of strife and death is hourly breaking; "Who sleeps with head upon the sword "His fever'd hand must grasp in waking!

"I now fear nothing but those eyes,

"If aught on earth could charm or force

My spirit from its destin❜d course,

"If aught could make this soul forget

"The bond to which its seal is set,

"Has rent asunder wide as ours?
"Oh, Arab maid! as soon the Powers
"Of Light and Darkness may combine,

"As I be link'd with thee or thine!

"His grey head from that lightning glance! "Thou know'st him not he loves the brave;

"Nor lives there under heaven's expanse "One who would prize, would worship thee, "And thy bold spirit, more than he. "Oft when, in childhood, I have play'd

"With the bright falchion by his side, "I've heard him swear his lisping maid

"In time should be a warrior's bride. "And still, whene'er, at Haram hours, "I take him cool sherbets and flowers, "He tells me, when in playful mood, "A hero shall my bridegroom be,

"Since maids are best in battle woo'd, "And won with shouts of victory!

"Nay, turn not from me thou alone

"Art form'd to make both hearts thy own.