He did not guess-as they paused to hear, How music's dying tone Came mournfully to the distant ear, With a magic all its own— That the archer god, to thrall his soul, Disguised that evening, like my Whole, XVI. THE Indian lover burst From his lone cot by night;- Oh! who shall quench the light? The Indian left the shore; He heard the night wind sing, And curs'd the tardy oar, And wish'd that he could soar, The blast came cold and damp, But, all the voyage through, I lent my lingering lamp He paddled his canoe. XVII. WHEN Ralph by holy hands was tied Sir Thrifty too drove home his bride, That day, my First, with jovial sound. And drunk was all the country round Oh, why should Hymen ever blight Or why should women have a tongue, "You blackguard !" cries the rural wench, "Til both their Lords my Second try, Sir Thrifty hath the means to die, 4 XVIII. A TEMPLAR kneel'd at a friar's knee; As ever laid lip to a convent can, Or called for a contribution; As ever read, at midnight hour, Confessional in lady's bower, Ordain'd for a peasant the penance whip, Or spoke for a noble's venial slip A venal absolution. "Oh, Father! in the dim twilight "I rent my victim's coat of green; I pierced his neck with my dagger keen; I grasp'd him, Father, all the while "Though he was rich, and very old, I did not touch a grain of gold, 66 But the blood I drank from the bubbling vein My son my son! for this thou hast done The merry monk did say; 'Though thine eye be bright, and thine heart be light, Hot spirits shall haunt thee all the night, Blue devils all the day." The thunders of the Church were ended, XIX. Row on, row on!-The First may light My shallop o'er the wave to-night; The lustre of her silent smile; Row on, row on!-The Second is high |