XLII.

Alas! and life hath moments when a glance (If thought to sudden watchfulness be stirr'd,) A flush-a fading of the cheek perchance, A word-less, less-the cadence of a word, Lets in our gaze the mind's dim veil beneath, Thence to bring haply knowledge fraught with death! -Even thus, what never from thy lip was heard Broke on my soul.-I knew that in thy sight I stood howe'er beloved-a recreant from the light!

XLIII.

Thy sad sweet hymn, at eve, the seas along,-
-Oh! the deep soul it breathed!-the love, the woe,
The fervor, pour'd in that full gush of song,

As it went floating through the fiery glow

Of the rich sunset !-bringing thoughts of Spain,
With all her vesper-voices, o'er the main,
Which seem'd responsive in its murmuring flow.

"Ave sanctissima!"-how oft that lay

Hath melted from my heart the martyr-strength away!

Ave, sanctissima!

'Tis night-fall on the sea;
Ora pro nobis!

Our souls rise to thee!

Watch us, while shadows lie

O'er the dim water spread;

Hear the heart's lonely sigh,
-Thine, too, hath bled!

Thou that hast look'd on death, Aid us when death is near ! Whisper of Heaven to faith; Sweet mother, hear!

Ora pro nobis !

The wave must rock our sleep,

Ora, mater, ora!

Thou star of the deep!

XLIV.

"Ora pro nobis, mater!"-What a spell Was in those notes, with day's last glory dying On the flush'd waters!—seem'd they not to swell From the far dust, wherein my sires were lying With crucifix and sword?-Oh! yet how clear Comes their reproachful sweetness to mine ear! “Ora ! ”—with all the purple waves replying, All my youth's visions rising in the strain— -And I had thought it much to bear the rack and chain!

XLV.

Torture!-the sorrow of affection's eye,
Fixing its meekness on the spirit's core,
Deeper, and teaching more of agony,
May pierce than many swords!—and this I bore
With a mute pang. Since I had vainly striven
From its free springs to pour the truth of heaven
Into thy trembling soul, my Leonor!

Silence rose up where hearts no hope could share :

-Alas! for those that love, and may not blend in prayer!

XLVI.

We could not pray together 'midst the deep,

Which, like a floor of sapphire, round us lay,
Through days of splendour, nights too bright for sleep,
Soft, solemn, holy! We were on our way

Unto the mighty Cordillera-land,

With men whom tales of that world's golden strand Had lured to leave their vines.-Oh! who shall say What thoughts rose in us, when the tropic sky Touch'd all its molten seas with sunset's alchemy?

XLVII.

Thoughts no more mingled!-Then came night-th’

intense

Dark blue-the burning stars!—I saw thee shine

Once more, in thy serene magnificence,

O Southern Cross! 16 as when thy radiant sign
First drew my gaze of youth.-No, not as then;
I had been stricken by the darts of men

Since those fresh days, and now thy light divine
Look'd on mine anguish, while within me strove
The still small voice against the might of suffering love.

XLVIII.

But thou, the clear, the glorious! thou wert pouring
Brilliance and joy upon the crystal wave,
While she that met thy ray with eyes adoring,
Stood in the lengthening shadow of the grave e!
-Alas! I watch'd her dark religious glance,

As it still sought thee through the heaven's expanse,
Bright Cross!-and knew not that I watch'd what gave
But passing lustre-shrouded soon to be-

A soft light found no more-no more on earth or sea!

XLIX.

I knew not all-yet something of unrest
Sat on my heart. Wake, ocean-wind! I said;
Waft us to land, in leafy freshness drest,

Where through rich clouds of foliage o'er her head,
Sweet day may steal, and rills unseen go by,
Like singing voices, and the green earth lie

Starry with flowers, beneath her graceful tread!
-But the calm bound us 'midst the glassy main;

Ne'er was her step to bend earth's living flowers again.