The In-Gathering Cimon and Pero: A Chain of Sonnets: Sebastopol etc. By John A. Heraud |
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| II. | II. |
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 | The In-Gathering |  |
II.
In Venice there is a custom old,
That Men and Maids betrothed each year,
To wed upon St. Mary's eve,
Should write their names in a Book of Gold,
Should at a public rite appear,
Should dowry from the State receive,
And hold a Marriage festival,
With pomp and ceremoniäl.
That Men and Maids betrothed each year,
To wed upon St. Mary's eve,
Should write their names in a Book of Gold,
Should at a public rite appear,
Should dowry from the State receive,
And hold a Marriage festival,
With pomp and ceremoniäl.
In proud procession to the shrine,
By Hymen rendered more divine,
Twice six patrician Brides are led:
The Doge himself is at their head.
Follow on that richer band,
Each with the Arcella in her hand,
And worthy of a worthier fate,
The poorer Daughters of the State,
In simpler guise, with humbler mien;
And, these among, may now be seen
A Maiden fair—the fairest there;
With brow and cheeks so pale and clear,
No princely forehead polishèd
With more of white and less of red;
Fair as the new-created light,
That most immaculate pure white,
While the roseate mixtures in her cheek
The lily's innocence but o'erstreak.
And then her lips so rich of hue
Seemed bathed in twilight and in dew,
So sweet the smile on them that slept.
Apart, and slightly open kept,
A pearly gateway they disclose
Into a palace-court of rose,
That led into a honey-bower,
Where lived the Heart—a fragrant power,
That sent from out its living cells
Into her eyes (those oracles,)
Sweet glances and poetic spells;
Gleaming like Pity's through a tear,
And softened by that crystal sphere.
By Hymen rendered more divine,
Twice six patrician Brides are led:
The Doge himself is at their head.
Follow on that richer band,
Each with the Arcella in her hand,
And worthy of a worthier fate,
The poorer Daughters of the State,
176
And, these among, may now be seen
A Maiden fair—the fairest there;
With brow and cheeks so pale and clear,
No princely forehead polishèd
With more of white and less of red;
Fair as the new-created light,
That most immaculate pure white,
While the roseate mixtures in her cheek
The lily's innocence but o'erstreak.
And then her lips so rich of hue
Seemed bathed in twilight and in dew,
So sweet the smile on them that slept.
Apart, and slightly open kept,
A pearly gateway they disclose
Into a palace-court of rose,
That led into a honey-bower,
Where lived the Heart—a fragrant power,
That sent from out its living cells
Into her eyes (those oracles,)
Sweet glances and poetic spells;
Gleaming like Pity's through a tear,
And softened by that crystal sphere.
The Maiden's name you fain would know?—
Pia Da Berre; Even so,
'Twas written in the Golden Book,
With his by whom she was beloved.
—This day last year, as it behoved,
Young Andrea dé Capelli took
Her hand in his, while witnessing
The bridal rites, and placed a ring
Upon her finger tenderly;
A pledge that, on this day and year,
Even at the festival now here,
Both at the Altar would appear,
And wed each other faithfully.
Pia Da Berre; Even so,
'Twas written in the Golden Book,
With his by whom she was beloved.
—This day last year, as it behoved,
Young Andrea dé Capelli took
Her hand in his, while witnessing
The bridal rites, and placed a ring
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A pledge that, on this day and year,
Even at the festival now here,
Both at the Altar would appear,
And wed each other faithfully.
And what was he? An Artizan,
Whom toil but made the more a man;
An honest earnest soul sincere,
An independent spirit true,
Whose mind was as a mirror clear,
And from the world no shadow knew,
Undimmed, unclouded, and reflecting
All images without dissecting—
A large pure mind, and full of light,
By Heaven itself informed aright;
A conscience open like the ocean,
And constant in its healthful motion,
Moved by the Spirit-love within,
Like the Celestial Hyaline.
Whom toil but made the more a man;
An honest earnest soul sincere,
An independent spirit true,
Whose mind was as a mirror clear,
And from the world no shadow knew,
Undimmed, unclouded, and reflecting
All images without dissecting—
A large pure mind, and full of light,
By Heaven itself informed aright;
A conscience open like the ocean,
And constant in its healthful motion,
Moved by the Spirit-love within,
Like the Celestial Hyaline.
Upon the isle, Olivolo;
Two by two, in mute array,
Veiled and crowned, their solemn way,
A gorgeous group, the Brides move on:
With them also—the Brides'-maids go;
All, like Graces, on them tending,
And to St. Mary's Church are wending,
Upon the isle, Olivolo.
Not unobserved by Ali Bey—
Lo, now they enter the Portico,
And after them the crowds have gone,
Upon the isle, Olivolo.
Anon, before the Altar they stood;
Gazed on by a great multitude.—
Two by two, in mute array,
Veiled and crowned, their solemn way,
A gorgeous group, the Brides move on:
With them also—the Brides'-maids go;
All, like Graces, on them tending,
And to St. Mary's Church are wending,
Upon the isle, Olivolo.
Not unobserved by Ali Bey—
Lo, now they enter the Portico,
And after them the crowds have gone,
Upon the isle, Olivolo.
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Gazed on by a great multitude.—
Then Ali Bey by Allah swore—
“Ha! while they list the Mass,” said he,
“Prepare our needful craft may we,
And altogether ready be,
To make our vengeance swift and sure,
When they return by that Portico—
Ho! for the isle, Olivolo!”
“Ha! while they list the Mass,” said he,
“Prepare our needful craft may we,
And altogether ready be,
To make our vengeance swift and sure,
When they return by that Portico—
Ho! for the isle, Olivolo!”
So Ali Bey put out to sea,
Proud on his pirate deck stood he—
And to the wind his pennon spread,
A signal to those outlaws brave,
Who swept the Adriatic wave
And by his rule had long been led.
Forthwith from corner and from creek,
Came galley and galliot erst concealed;
Their wrongs on Venice now to wreak:
The Hour of Vengeance is revealed!
Proud on his pirate deck stood he—
And to the wind his pennon spread,
A signal to those outlaws brave,
Who swept the Adriatic wave
And by his rule had long been led.
Forthwith from corner and from creek,
Came galley and galliot erst concealed;
Their wrongs on Venice now to wreak:
The Hour of Vengeance is revealed!
| The In-Gathering | |