LELIA. 69 



To him she prays that Lelia may riot die, 



And hope beams brightly in her step and eye. 



Hour after hour, her utmost skill she tasks 



With soothing voice of every pain she asks ; 



When others slept for even grief will sleep 



A wakeful watch alone does Aza keep. 



No hand but hers now Lelia wishes near, 



No voice but hers is grateful to her ear : 



Like a fond child, whose trembling tear-drops start, 



And tell the thousand fears which swell its heart, 



When the loved mother, on whose long-tried breast 



In holy calm its gentle head would rest 



When she is gone, no solace can be given ; 



She is its hope, its bliss, its very heaven. 



Thus Lelia feels if from her anxious sight 



Aza one moment glides throughout the night ; 



No other hand, the proffer'd aid can give, 



If Aza come not, Lelia cannot live ; 



No other voice has power to charm her pain, 



If others speak, she answers, to complain : 



And oh ! the comfort that the Christian gives, 



When first she dares to whisper, Lelia lives ! 



Nay, the proud Roman bless'd the humble slave, 



Nor did he chide when Flavia kisses gave ; 



The rush of love, with all its softening power, 



O'ercame his heart in that delightful hour ; 



And when he thanked his gods, the Christian care 



Was mingled in the heathen Stoic's prayer ; 



Her very faith he then forgot to blame, 



And to his children's join'd the Christian's name. 



Day after day the gentle Lelia lies, 

 Too weak, too languid from her couch to rise : 

 Aza the slave slept near the Roman maid, 

 And nightly at her side the Christian prayed. 

 Oft Lelia heard the murmur'd vow of love, 

 That Aza breathed to Christ in heaven above ; 

 And in her heart the noble maiden felt 

 A reverence for her faith when thus she knelt. 

 She wonders what can be the blessed power 

 That on the Christian's mind such grace can shower : 

 She sees that those who call on mighty Jove, 

 Betray no sign of pure and holy love. 

 The prayer is prayed, the vow is lightly given, 

 No farther trace than this they show of heaven. 

 But Aza in her life and actions shone 

 A purity, that comes from God alone. 

 She sought no shrine, no pillar'd temple's shade, : 

 Home was her altar, there her vows were paid. 

 Omens nor auguries the Christian seeks, 

 The voice of God in other language speaks : 

 Nor charms, nor spells, she wears within her vest, 

 The Christian's God was ever in her breast, 

 A God by thousand acts of love endear'd, 

 Not, like the Heathen's, to be cursed or fear'd : 2 

 This Lelia feels her Stoic's prayer is stay'd 

 When at her couch the humble slave-girl pray'd, 



