 | Eonchs of ruby. A Gift of Love |  |
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THE LUSIAD.
“Si je te perds, je suis perdue.”—
From a Cameo.
From a Cameo.
I.
On the banks of Talapoosa,Long time ago,
Where it mingles with the Coosa,
Southward to flow—
Dwelt the Maid I love, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago—
Bringing Heaven to earth, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! who now can know
How I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
II.
Like the black wings of the RavenIn the sun's glow,
On her neck, from morn till even,
Whiter than snow,
Like fresh lilies born in Heaven—
Flowed her locks low—
(For they never had been shaven—)
Long time ago.
Ah! who now can know
How I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
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III.
Like the blue-eyed Morning-GloryWhen it doth blow
At the skies to tell the story
Of the sun's glow
In the East when it is hoary—
(Gladdening to know—)
Were her blue eyes—ever sorry
Is my soul now!
For, ah! who can know
How I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
IV.
Pure as when the Virgin MaryFirst came to know
That her heart was born to carry
Christ here below—
Who was neither sad nor merry—
Lucy looked now—
(Like the North Star not to vary—)
Long time ago.
Ah! who now can know
How I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
V.
Like the plaintive voice, in Summer,Of the Dove, low,
When her melting heart doth murmur
Accents of wo
For the mate that is torn from her—
(Golden in flow—)
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Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! who now can know
How I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
VI.
Like the young Fawn in the Valley,Seeking the Doe,
On the banks of Oostanalla,
Gone with her Roe—
Came she down the Emerald Alley,
Warbling words low,
Singing when she talked, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! who now can know
How I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
VII.
Like two roses ever blowing,Hued as they blow,
Were her bright cheeks ever glowing
In her soul's glow—
As if Heaven were now bestowing
All she did know
Of herself on my sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! who now can know
How I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
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VIII.
In the sweet time that was floral,With her lips so—
She this Eonch of sweet Coral
Loudly did blow.
Now Heaven's never-fading laurel
Crowneth her brow,
Where she went to dwell, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! soon you will know
Why I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
IX.
In the May-Moon, when I sought herFreely to know,
From the acromatic water,
Ruby-tinct, low,
Did this Dian, Heaven's sweet Daughter,
Bring to me now
This sweet Eonch, which I taught her
Loudly to blow.
Ah! now you can know
Why I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
X.
I was then her Triton truly,Truly as now—
This sweet Eonch, then so newly
Found here below
In the stream that flowed on coolly,
Freely to blow,
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All I did know
Of the charms of my sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
In words white as snow
Flowed the soul of my sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
XI.
In the mild month of October,As we did go
Through the Fields of Cooly Rauber,
No one can know,
But the great Archangel Auber,
What songs did flow—
(Bringing Heaven to earth to robe her
In light like snow—)
From the lips of my sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! now you can know
Why I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
XII.
Like the young bud of the Tulip,Half hid in snow,
Just disparting of its blue lip—
Looked her eyes now,
When I kissed the nectared julep
From her lips so—
Blushing with my bashful Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! who now can know
How I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
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XIII.
Then from out the East low looming,Earthward, but slow,
A dark thunder-cloud came booming,
Loud as the flow
Of ten thousand oceans spooming,
Breaking below
Over mighty rocks, entombing
People in wo!
Ah! who now can know
How I feared for my sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
XIV.
Then the lightning fell in flashes,Laying her low!
Burning up her robes to ashes—
Leaving me so!
While her soul stood there as fresh as
The new-fallen snow—
A white Dove from out the meshes
Of the world's wo—
Ready made for Heaven, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! who now can know
How I prayed for my sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
XV.
Round her form of beauty glowing,Glorified so,
Angel-robes of light were flowing,
Whiter than snow,
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Unto me now—
Heaven's own joys on her bestowing—
On me—deep wo!
Ah! now you can know
Why I mourned for my sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
XVI.
Then from out the depths of Heaven,Glorious in glow,
By an Angel's hand down-driven—
(Horses of snow—)
A bright Chariot left the levin,
Coming below—
Bearing back to God sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! now you can know
Why I mourned for my sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
XVII.
On the banks of Talapoosa,Free from all wo,
Where it mingles with the Coosa,
Southward to flow—
Rests my beautiful sweet Lucy
In her grave low!
Taking Heaven from earth, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! now you can know
Why I mourned for my sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
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XVIII.
Weeping willows bend above her,Where she lies low!
As if each one were her lover
Burthened with wo!
Guardian Angels sent to hover
Over her now,
As if striving to discover
What none can know
But the one that loved sweet Lucy,
Lucy, long time ago.
Ah! now you can know
How I loved the Maid, sweet Lucy!
Lucy, long time ago.
| Eonchs of ruby. A Gift of Love | |