Virginalia ; or, songs of my summer nights :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Song that she sang was all written
In rubies that sparkled like wine,
Like the Morning Star burning, new litten
By the tablets of diamond divine.
Like some ravishing sound made from divers
Sweet instruments fluting in June,
From her soul flowed those musical rivers
Of Odin, called the rivers of Rune.
Then come to my bower, sweet Angel!
Love's Fountain of Life to unseal;
You shall live in this amber Evangel,
Sweet Ellen! the Pride of Mobile!
Sweet Ellen! dear Ellen! the Maid of Mobile!
My Mary, mavourneen, the Moon of Mobile!

On the rhythmical rounds of the rhyming
Of this Lyrical Ladder she rode,
Like an Angel that sings in his climbing
To the Gates of the City of God.
Like the Gods when they feed on the blisses
Of the undefiled glories above;
So my soul drank delight from the kisses
Of the lips of my beautiful love.
Then come to my bower, sweet Angel!
Love's fountain of life to unseal;

You shall live in this amber Evangel,
Sweet Ellen! the Pride of Mobile!
Sweet Ellen! dear Ellen! the Maid of Mobile!
My Mary, mavourneen, the Moon of Mobile!

Her soul sparkled bright through the azure
Of her violet eyes full of light,
Like young Venus, long absent from pleasure,
When Adonis first comes in her sight.
As the Angels clomb up, late at even,
From the Bethel of Jacob above;
So, the Angels of thought go to Heaven
On the rounds of the Ladder of Love.
Then come to my bower, sweet Angel!
Love's Fountain of Life to unseal;
You shall live in this amber Evangel,
Sweet Ellen the Pride of Mobile!
Sweet Ellen! dear Ellen! the Maid of Mobile!
My Mary, mavourneen, the Moon of Mobile!

Prester John never sent, out of duty,
From the City of Heaven, called Cansay,
Any maiden so rich in all beauty,
To the Lord of the Isles of Cathay.
Like the Moon in her soft silver azure,
Star-engirdled, sweet Queen of the Night!
So she stood in this Palace of Pleasure,
Circled round by the Swans of Delight.
Then come to my bower, sweet Angel!
Love's Fountain of Life to unseal;
You shall live in this amber Evangel,
Sweet Ellen! the Pride of Mobile!
Sweet Ellen! dear Ellen! the Maid of Mobile!
My Mary, mavourneen, the Moon of Mobile!

Tontine Hotel, New Haven, Conn., August 30, 1851.

“A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.”

—Solomon's Songs, IV, 12.

Cansay, or Kin-sal, which signifies the City of Heaven. It was the capital of Southern China, under the dynasty of the Song.

Ghenhis Khan, whose palace was built of pure gold, and ornamented with the finest of Jewels.