The various grapes, some like the stone Pale on the fading twilight's cheek ; As yet by summer suns unseen. And where the soft grass spreads, just meet And where the chesnut's trunk seems made She sat down by the cypress tree, And dale, wood, heath, before her lay; It came at last, the gallant train, And hound, hawk, horseman, swept the plain. There rode the leader of the band, His hooded falcon on his hand; Which held the broidered rein beside, Curbing his foam-white courser's pride; And carelessly on one side flung The drooping heron feathers hung Of the light cap, while the soft air And parted them enough to show The forehead's height of mountain snow. A lover's step is on the wind;- To the young bard, when tones that weep The painter and the sculptor share The small hands on the throbbing breast. A temple made so pure, so fair, To leave his wreck and ruin there! "CHRISTINE, my own CHRISTINE;"—she felt The words upon her flushed cheek melt: Surely some cloud is on their light ;— And then she heard of his recall From green woods to his father's hall. Tell me not RAYMOND will recall He took a gold chain from his neck,- And threw it round her-" See how slight Yet try, CHRISTINE, and all in vain,— And even as all changed around, The change in his own heart was found; Who soonest won a lady's ear With soft words, wandering amid many, "Tis ever thus ;-alas! there clings The curse of change to earthly things ;- A cloud steals over April skies,— Tides turn their course, stars fall, winds range, Which ran beside the cypress tree, Where their glad meetings wont to be. Fond thoughts, and gentle prayers that strove And then there came a wish to die Who was next day, by RAYMOND's side, Gazed with the crowd on that gay scene. |