XVIII. Hard words; harsh truth; a truth which many know. Enough. The faithful and the fairy pair, Who never found a single hour too slow, What was it made them thus exempt from care? Young innate feelings all have felt below Which perish in the rest, but in them were Inherent; what we mortals call romantic, And always envy, though we deem it frantic. XIX. This is in others a factitious state, An opium dream of too much youth and reading, No novels e'er had set their young hearts bleeding; So that there was no reason for their loves XX. They gazed upon the sunset; t' is an hour And twilight saw them link'd in passion's ties; Charm'd with each other, all things charm'd that brought The past still welcome as the present thought. XXI. I know not why, but in that hour to-night, XXII. That large black prophet eye seem'd to dilate As if their last day of a happy date With his broad, bright, and dropping orb were gone; Juan gazed on her as to ask his fate He felt a grief, but knowing cause for none, His glance inquired of hers for some excuse For feelings causeless, or at least abstruse.. XXIII. She turn'd to him, and smiled, but in that sort Which makes not others smile; then turn'd aside: Whatever feeling shook her, it seem'd short, And master'd by her wisdom or her pride; XXIV. Juan would question further, but she press'd His lip to hers, and silenced him with this, And then dismiss'd the omen from her breast, Defying augury with that fond kiss; And no doubt of all methods 't is the best: Some people prefer wine-'t is not amiss; I have tried both; so those who would a part take May choose between the headache and the heartache. XXV. One of the two, according to your choice, But which to choose, I really hardly know; For both sides I could many reasons show, And then decide, without great wrong to either, It were much better to have both than neither. XXVI. Juan and Haidee gazed upon each other With swimming looks of speechless tenderness, Which mix'd all feelings, friend, child, lover, brother, All that the best can mingle and express When two pure hearts are pour'd in one another, But almost sanctify the sweet excess By the immortal wish and power to bless. XXVII. Mix'd in each other's arms, and heart in heart XXVIII. They should have lived together deep in woods, Call'd social, haunts of hate, and vice, and care: XXIX. Now pillow'd cheek to cheek, in loving sleep, A gentle slumber, but it was not deep, For ever and anon a something shook Stirr'd with her dream as rose-leaves with the air; XXX. Or as the stirring of a deep clear stream Good to the soul which we no more can bind; XXXI. She dream'd of being alone on the sea-shore, Until she sobb'd for breath, and soon they were XXXII. Anon-she was released, and then she stray'd 'T was white and indistinct, nor stopp'd to meet Her glance nor grasp, for still she gazed and grasp'd, And ran, but it escaped her as she clasp'd. VOL. II. 14 |