544 ANNUAL UEGISTEU, 1817. 



POETRY. 



PARADISE AND THE PERI. 



From Moore's " Lai la Rookh,'" an Oriental Romance. 



ONE morn a Peri at the gate 

 Of Eden stood disconsolate ; 

 And as slie listen'd to the Springs 



Of Life Avitliin, like music flowing, 

 And caught the light upon lier wings 



Through the half-open portal glowing. 

 She wept to think her recreant race 

 Should e'er have lost that glorious place ' 



" How happ}/' exclaim'd this child of air, 

 " Are the holy Spirits who wander there, 



" Mid ilowers that never shall fade or fall ! 

 " Thougli mine are the gardens of earth and sea, 

 " And the stars tlieniselves have flowers for me, 



" One blossom of Heaven out-blooms them all ! 



" Though sunny the Lake of cool Cashmere, 

 " W'ith its plane-tree Isle reflected clear, 



" And sweetly the founts of that Valley fall ; 

 " Though bright are the waters of Sing-su-iiay, 

 " And the golden floods, that thitherward stray, 

 " Yet — oh 'tis only the Blest can say 



" How the wateis of Heaven outshine them all ! 



" Go, wing thy llight fjom star to star, 

 " Prom world to luuiinoiis world, as far 



" As the universe spreads it flaming wall; 

 " Take all the pleasures of all the spheres, 

 " And multiply each through endless years, 



" One minute of Heaven is worth them all !" 



The 



