* ail 
_oifhe prosperous issues-when his.speech detail’d.... 4 
# How in the wreck, the conflict, and the toil, - . 
"Aa Historical Portrait. ~~ 
His speahing lances, and his honey’d tones, » . a: rm 
Temper'd to pa ETSY ie 
Captive alike. But it was soldier’s love, : 
That counts the joys of beauty with the spoils food 
By prosperous valour claim’d ;—a boon, not bond !— 5 
A braid of flowers, and not a stubborn chain 
To hold the heart in thraldom, Fancy-free, 
He rov’d from charm to charm ; and felt not yet 
The full-sped' shaft of that resistless bow - Dee 
That can subdue the mightiest ;—that through shield, — 
Gorget, and mail—or the still firmer fence puigesie 
Of adamantine pride, impenetrable a 
To other weapon,—wings its easy way, 
And leaves the barb infix’d, to rankle there—__. he 
A shaft of destiny! Heknew it not. _ ny eho 
Such wound immedicable he would have deem’d 
A legend for romance ; and in his cup, at a 
While the smiles mantled.of the nymph he pledg’d, hey 
He could see visions still of other forms ie Meas 
That might be pledg’d hereafter, . Round hishead 
Love play’d a meteor fire—ardent awhile _ ae ac 
And restless; but,it penetrated not _ eee aad 
The seats of vital function. But not such seg we 
Was now his destiny. The-hour was come 
When the divinity he sported with — - . 
The roseate Boy join’d with the stern-brow’d Fates; 
And in the founts—the overflowing founts eh 
Of bitterest retribution, bath’d those shafts, 
Bated till now with balm. In evil hour 
He saw'the fadeless beauty :—saw her such 
As strangereye must deem her —fresh in youth,— 
As one whom equal years might well inspire 
With equal passion :—saw with hope, and lov’d:— > ' 
Lov’d, and believ’d (what could he less ?) his love 4. 
Was not unanswer’d ! for her eye had joy 
To look upon him ; and her ear had joy 
To listen to him; and her hand to meet 
His hand’s°warm pressure. He was welcom’d ever. 
It seem’d there was no pleasure for her ‘hours Bids 
But to hold converse*with that dark-hair’d youth, Hi 
‘And hear his bold adventures :—~as the maid mai, bat 
Of Venice listen’d to the adventurous Moor,— 
But with less woo’d inquiry... With.a zest . 
That seem’d between intreaty and command. 
She drew his story from him—weal and woe Se 
And seem’d at every tug, of fate to thrill, : 
‘As with a self-boyne danger. But when came~ -); 
ISaOoracl= 
What he,call’d chance, but her-more pantial. thought. 
Deem’d the high. virtue of his soul, subdued v 
The danger, which in cogent circumstance woud 
Had seem’d like-thrice-sur’d fate,— then would she grasp) 
His hand with a convulsive eagerness, ee | 
And breathe deep thanks, and ask the tale agains). W 
Insatiate of the legend.:--which being.told, -.. ° a 
With eyes all swimming, and with preastvall sighs, .) U1 
She'd sob short,thanks, and;from jis presence tus <0: 
To vent some passien upt-to, be, controll’d, daxcd a ia RA 
Nor yet, observ’d, indulged. 
he 
mi 
is 
