Julia Alpinula With The Captive of Stamboul and Other Poems. By J. H. Wiffen |
 |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. | XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
|
|
 | Julia Alpinula |  |
XVIII.
Morn on the mountains! O, how sweetTo catch the first, romantic flow
Of rays that, beautiful and fleet,
Come down to light this world of woe!
When the morn's whitest, earliest flush
Flew from the morrow's gates of pearl,
Rose Julia; if she saw the blush
Of skies, and heard the cataract hurl
37
It was with sorrow's ear and eye;
That deep misanthrophy of will,
Serene, but gloomy; stern, though still;
Which recks not of sweet sound or sight,
But turns to darkness all delight.
A melancholy figure came
To her high couch as still she slept,
It bore a maiden's faded frame,
It bore the face of one who wept.
By the dim crescent on her crown,
Loose, glistening hair, and purple gown,
The bow and sandals dripping dew,
Her Goddess of the Shades she knew;
Who stood her midnight bed before
With finger beckoning evermore;
Thrice sighed; presaged a deed of dread;
Then fast, with face averted, fled.
Julia awoke: a darkening veil
That instant neared her planet pale;
The next, that orb so beautiful,
Was billowy vapour, grey and dull.
And well from that transfiguring sign
Could she her future doom divine,
But heavenly spirits never slight
Devoted prayer and pious rite,
38
The temple of the Triune maid,
With orison and holy hymn,
Whilst morn on Jura yet was dim.
| Julia Alpinula | |