University of Virginia Library

V.

Zulma's high spirit at the view
Of peril more undaunted grew,
And glowed 'mid sorrow's gathering gloom
Like angel faith above the tomb.
In danger's hour she stood alone,
'Mid fearful things the fearless one,
And, as her sunlight spirit burned
O'er the deep darkness of despair,
The trembling fears of all she turned
To hopes, and left them smiling there.
Her broad high brow the throne of thought,
And features into spirit wrought;
Her star-beam eye and face of light,
And moulded form that chained the sight,
And swan-like neck, and raven hair,
And swelling bosom, richly fair,
Which rose and sunk, like moonlight seas,
In its deep passion's ecstacies,
As if her mighty heart were swelling
In sun-waves for its heavenly dwelling;
All spake a spirit proud and high,
A wandering seraph of the sky,
And such was Zulma; sorrow's night
Might its dark shadows o'er her cast.
But the deep gloom her spirit's light
Changed into rose-beams as it past;
She had one aim, and none beside
Could bend her lofty lightning pride,
And, ere she drooped, she would have died.
Vemeira knew his daughter well,
And chained her spirit in a cell
Ere she could know the desolate
And hopeless woe of such a fate,
And 'twas to bless an elder child
He crushed that soul, so proud and wild.