Blest be Love to whom we owe,

All that's fair and bright below.

Song was cold and Painting dim

Till Song and Painting learned from him.

* * * * *

Soon as the scene had closed, a cheer

  Of gentle voices old and young

Rose from the groups that stood to hear

  This tale of yore so aptly sung;

And while some nymphs in haste to tell

The workers of that fairy spell

How crowned with praise their task had been

Stole in behind the curtained scene,

The rest in happy converse strayed—

  Talking that ancient love-tale o'er—

Some to the groves that skirt the glade,

  Some to the chapel by the shore,

To look what lights were on the sea.

And think of the absent silently.

But soon that summons known so well

  Thro' bower and hall in Eastern lands,

Whose sound more sure than gong or bell

  Lovers and slaves alike commands,—

  The clapping of young female hands,

Calls back the groups from rock and field

To see some new-formed scene revealed;—

And fleet and eager down the slopes

Of the green glades like antelopes

When in their thirst they hear the sound

Of distant rills, the light nymphs bound.

Far different now the scene—a waste

  Of Libyan sands, by moonlight's ray;

An ancient well, whereon were traced

  The warning words, for such as stray

  Unarmed there, "Drink and away!"[20]

While near it from the night-ray screened,

  And like his bells in husht repose,

A camel slept—young as if weaned

  When last the star Canopus rose.[21]

Such was the back-ground's silent scene;—

  While nearer lay fast slumbering too

In a rude tent with brow serene

  A youth whose cheeks of wayworn hue

And pilgrim-bonnet told the tale

That he had been to Mecca's Vale:

Haply in pleasant dreams, even now

  Thinking the long wished hour is come

  When o'er the well-known porch at home

His hand shall hang the aloe bough—

Trophy of his accomplished vow.[22]

But brief his dream—for now the call

  Of the camp-chiefs from rear to van,

  "Bind on your burdens,"[23] wakes up all

  The widely slumbering caravan;

And thus meanwhile to greet the ear

  Of the young pilgrim as he wakes,

The song of one who lingering near

  Had watched his slumber, cheerly breaks.