University of Virginia Library

Thought-swift the flight of Spirits: ere midway
'Twixt noon and evening had the sun declined;
And while, all gentleness and purest love,
Reuben and Rachel in the garden still,
Softly discoursing, walked,—sound, rarely heard
Within that quiet Paradise, arose,
And their sweet talk suspended. Dim, and deep,—
Uncertain where,—like thunder far away,—
That first strange moan. On Reuben Rachel looked,
Hastily stopping; and her finger raised,
His speech to stay. Together then they stood,
Silently listening. More distinct came soon
The noise,—still deep and gentle, but more loud:
And well, at length, they knew the roll of wheels,
And tramp of horses, urging rapidly.
Full fronting them, nor distant, was the gate:
And thitherward, still standing motionless,
Their eyes both turned, in quiet wonderment,
To see what might pass by. Great marvel, then,
Fell on them when, before that very gate,
Paused suddenly a chariot, bright with gold,
By four majestic horses drawn, like night
For blackness, and whose snorting shook the air.
Lightly as springs the seamew from a cliff,
So from the chariot airily leaped then,
One who, for splendor, might a king have been;
And, after him,—more daintily and slow,
Yet featly as a bird, from some low branch
Dropping to earth,—what seemed a woman's form,
But might angelic be; so exquisite
In its fine gracefulness; and such the beams
That from the countenance breathed: on his raised hand,
Her rosy palm, with gentlest touch, she placed,
And floated to the ground. Right toward the gate
Then moved they; and their cheerful voices rose,
Like two sweet instruments,—two melodies
Wreathing in one rich harmony. Amazed,
The Hebrew lovers looked: but, when she saw
That kingly-seeming youth, with his own hand,
The gate thrust open; and that angel shape
Glide through,—her dainty fingers on his arm
Tenderly resting, as, with graceful step,
Together they advanced,—then hastily,
Yet with perfection of sweet dignity,
That beauteous pair to meet, Rachel went on;
And, drawing nigh them, paused; her delicate arms
Beneath her bosom crossed, and bowed the head;
Then rose, intent to speak. But that fair youth,
With motion light as air, on-stepping quick,
Prevented her; and, lowly bending, thus.