The winter beams which out of Heaven slanted Fell through the window-panes, disrobed of

cold,

Upon its leaves and flowers; the star which panted

In evening for the Day, whose car has rolled Over the horizon's wave, with looks of light Smiled on it from the threshold of the night.

IX.

The mitigated influences of air

And light revived the plant, and from it grew Strong leaves and tendrils, and its flowers fair, Full as a cup with the vine's burning dew, O'erflow'd with golden colours; an atmosphere Of vital warmth infolded it anew,

And every impulse sent to every part
The unbeheld pulsations of its heart.

X.

Well might the plant grow beautiful and strong, Even if the air and sun had smiled not

on it;

For one wept o'er it all the winter long Tears pure as Heaven's rain, which fell upon it

Hour after hour; for sounds of softest song

Mixed with the stringèd melodies that won it To leave the gentle lips on which it slept, Had loosed the heart of him who sat and wept.

XI.

Had loosed his heart, and shook the leaves and flowers

On which he wept, the while the savage

storm

Waked by the darkest of December's hours

Was raving round the chamber hushed and

HE left me at the silent time
When the moon had ceased to

climb

The azure path of Heaven's steep,

And like an albatross asleep,

Balanced on her wings of light,
Hovered in the purple night,
Ere she sought her ocean nest
In the chambers of the West.
She left me, and I stayed alone
Thinking over every tone
Which, though silent to the ear,

The enchanted heart could hear,

Like notes which die when born, but still
Haunt the echoes of the hill;

And feeling ever-oh, too much! -
The soft vibration of her touch,

As if her gentle hand, even now,
Lightly trembled on my brow;
And thus, although she absent were,
Memory gave me all of her

That even Fancy dares to claim :-
Her presence had made weak and tame
All passions, and I lived alone
In the time which is our own;
The past and future were forgot,
As they had been, and would be, not.
But soon, the guardian angel gone,
The dæmon reassumed his throne
In my faint heart. I dare not speak
My thoughts, but thus disturbed and
weak

I sat and saw the vessels glide
Over the ocean bright and wide,
Like spirit-winged chariots sent
O'er some serenest element.
For ministrations strange and far ;
As if to some Elysian star

Sailed for drink to medicine
Such sweet and bitter pain as mine.
And the wind that winged their flight
From the land came fresh and light,
And the scent of winged flowers,
And the coolness of the hours

Of dew, and sweet warmth left by day,
Were scattered o'er the twinkling bay.
And the fisher with his lamp

And spear about the low rocks damp
Crept, and struck the fish which came
To worship the delusive flame.

Too happy they, whose pleasure sought
Extinguishes all sense and thought
Of the regret that pleasure leaves,
Destroying life alone, not peace !

O