XIV. And I lie so composedly That you fancy me dead; With her love at my breast, XV. But my heart it is brighter For it sparkles with Annie It glows with the light Of the love of my AnnieWith the thought of the light Of the eyes of my Annie. BRIDAL BALLAD. I. THE ring is on my hand, And the wreath is on my brow; Satins and jewels grand Are all at my command, And I am happy now. II. And my lord he loves me well; But, when first he breathed his vow, I felt my bosom swell, For the words rang as a knell, And the voice seemed his who fell In the battle down the dell, And who is happy now. III. But he spoke to reassure me, IV. And thus the words were spoken, And this the plighted vow; And though my faith be broken, And though my heart be broken, Behold the golden token That proves me happy now. V. Would God I could awaken! For I dream I know not how, And my soul is sorely shaken Lest an evil step be taken,Lest the dead who is forsaken May not be happy now. IN heaven a spirit doth dwell "Whose heart-strings are a lute;" None sing so wildly well As the angel Israfel; And the giddy stars (so legends tell), Ceasing their hymns, attend the spell Of his voice, all mute. *"And the angel Israfel, whose heart-strings are a lute, and who has the sweetest voice of all God's creatures."-Koran. Tottering above II. In her highest noon, The enamoured Moon Blushes with love; While, to listen, the red levin (With the rapid Pleiades even, Which were seven) Pauses in heaven. III. And they say (the starry choir And the other listening things) That Israfeli's fire Is owing to that lyre By which he sits and sings, The trembling living wire Of those unusual strings. IV. But the skies that angel trod, Where deep thoughts are a dutyWhere Love's a grown-up god— Where the houri glances are Imbued with all the beauty Which we worship in a star. |