_("J"aime a me figure.")_
[Bk. III. vii. and viii.]
I love to look, as evening fails, On vestals streaming in their veils, Within the fane past altar rails, Green palms in hand.
My darkest moods will always clear When I can fancy children near, With rosy lips a-laughing--dear, Light-dancing band!
Enchanting vision, too, displayed, That of a sweet and radiant maid, Who knows not why she is afraid,-- Love"s yet unseen!
Another--rarest "mong the rare-- To see the gaze of chosen fair Return prolonged and wistful stare Of eager een.
But--dream o"er all to stir my soul, And shine the brightest on the roll, Is when a land of tyrant"s toll By sword is rid.
I say not dagger--with the sword When Right enchampions the horde, All in broad day--so that the bard May sing the victor with the starred Bayard and Cid!
AN OLD-TIME LAY.
_("Jamais elle ne raille.")_
[Bk. III. xiii.]
Where your brood seven lie, Float in calm heavenly, Life pa.s.sing evenly, Waterfowl, waterfowl! often I dream For a rest Like your nest, Skirting the stream.
Shine the sun tearfully Ere the clouds clear fully, Still you skim cheerfully, Swallow, oh! swallow swift! often I sigh For a home Where you roam Nearing the sky!
Guileless of pondering; Swallow-eyes wandering; Seeking no fonder ring Than the rose-garland Love gives thee apart!
Grant me soon-- Blessed boon!
Home in thy heart!
JERSEY.
_("Jersey dort dans les flots.")_
[Bk. III. xiv., Oct. 8, 1854.]
Dear Jersey! jewel jubilant and green, "Midst surge that splits steel ships, but sings to thee!
Thou fav"rest Frenchmen, though from England seen, Oft tearful to that mistress "North Countree"; Returned the third time safely here to be, I bless my bold Gibraltar of the Free.
Yon lighthouse stands forth like a fervent friend, One who our tempest buffets back with zest, And with twin-steeple, eke our helmsman"s end, Forms arms that beckon us upon thy breast; Rose-posied pillow, crystallized with spray, Where pools pellucid mirror sunny ray.
A frigate fretting yonder smoothest sky, Like pauseless petrel poising o"er a wreck, Strikes bright athwart the dearly dazzled eye, Until it lessens to scarce certain speck, "Neath Venus, sparkling on the agate-sprinkled beach, For fisher"s sailing-signal, just and true, Until Aurora frights her from the view.
In summer, steamer-smoke spreads as thy veil, And mists in winter sudden screen thy sight, When at thy feet the galley-breakers wail And toss their tops high o"er the lofty flight Of horrid storm-worn steps with shark-like bite, That only ope to swallow up in spite.
L"ENVOY.
But penitent in calm, thou givest a balm, To many a man who"s felt thy rage, And many a sea-bird--thanks be heard!-- Thou shieldest--sea-bird--exiled bard and sage.
THEN, MOST, I SMILE.
_("Il est un peu tard.")_
[Bk. III. x.x.x., Oct. 30, 1854.]
Late it is to look so proud, Daisy queen! come is the gloom Of the winter-burdened cloud!-- "But, in winter, most I bloom!"
Star of even! sunk the sun!
Lost for e"er the ruddy line; And the earth is veiled in dun,-- "Nay, in darkness, best I shine!"
O, my soul! art "bove alarm, Quaffing thus the cup of gall-- Canst thou face the grave with calm?-- "Yes, the Christians smile at all."
THE EXILE"S DESIRE.
_("Si je pouvais voir, O patrie!")_
[Bk. III. x.x.xvii.]
Would I could see you, native land, Where lilacs and the almond stand Behind fields flowering to the strand-- But no!
Can I--oh, father, mother, crave Another final blessing save To rest my head upon your grave?-- But no!
In the one pit where ye repose, Would I could tell of France"s woes, My brethren, who fell facing foes-- But no!
Would I had--oh, my dove of light, After whose flight came ceaseless night, One plume to clasp so purely white.-- But no!
Far from ye all--oh, dead, bewailed!
The fog-bell deafens me empaled Upon this rock--I feel enjailed-- Though free.
Like one who watches at the gate Lest some shall "scape the doomed strait.
I watch! the tyrant, howe"er late, Must fall!