The Works of Lord Byron Volume III Part 60

SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY.[287]

I.

She walks in Beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

II.

One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

III.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!

_June_ 12, 1814.

THE HARP THE MONARCH MINSTREL SWEPT.

I.

The Harp the Monarch Minstrel swept,[le]

The King of men, the loved of Heaven!

Which Music hallowed while she wept O'er tones her heart of hearts had given-- Redoubled be her tears, its chords are riven!

It softened men of iron mould, It gave them virtues not their own; No ear so dull, no soul so cold, That felt not--fired not to the tone, Till David's Lyre grew mightier than his Throne!

II.

It told the triumphs of our King,[lf]

It wafted glory to our G.o.d; It made our gladdened valleys ring, The cedars bow, the mountains nod; Its sound aspired to Heaven and there abode![288]

Since then, though heard on earth no more,[lg]

Devotion and her daughter Love Still bid the bursting spirit soar To sounds that seem as from above, In dreams that day's broad light can not remove.

IF THAT HIGH WORLD.

I.

If that high world,[289] which lies beyond Our own, surviving Love endears; If there the cherished heart be fond, The eye the same, except in tears-- How welcome those untrodden spheres!

How sweet this very hour to die!

To soar from earth and find all fears Lost in thy light--Eternity!

II.

It must be so: 'tis not for self That we so tremble on the brink; And striving to o'erleap the gulf, Yet cling to Being's severing link.[lh]

Oh! in that future let us think To hold each heart the heart that shares, With them the immortal waters drink, And soul in soul grow deathless theirs!

THE WILD GAZELLE.

I.

The wild gazelle on Judah's hills Exulting yet may bound, And drink from all the living rills That gush on holy ground; Its airy step and glorious eye[290]

May glance in tameless transport by:--

II.

A step as fleet, an eye more bright, Hath Judah witnessed there; And o'er her scenes of lost delight Inhabitants more fair.

The cedars wave on Lebanon, But Judah's statelier maids are gone!

III.

Than Israel's scattered race; For, taking root, it there remains In solitary grace: It cannot quit its place of birth, It will not live in other earth.

IV.

But we must wander witheringly, In other lands to die; And where our fathers' ashes be, Our own may never lie: Our temple hath not left a stone, And Mockery sits on Salem's throne.

OH! WEEP FOR THOSE.

I.

Oh! weep for those that wept by Babel's stream, Whose shrines are desolate, whose land a dream; Weep for the harp of Judah's broken sh.e.l.l; Mourn--where their G.o.d hath dwelt the G.o.dless dwell!

II.

And where shall Israel lave her bleeding feet?

And when shall Zion's songs again seem sweet?

And Judah's melody once more rejoice The hearts that leaped before its heavenly voice?

III.

Tribes of the wandering foot and weary breast, How shall ye flee away and be at rest!

The wild-dove hath her nest, the fox his cave, Mankind their country--Israel but the grave!

ON JORDAN'S BANKS.

I.

On Jordan's banks the Arab's camels stray, On Sion's hill the False One's votaries pray, The Baal-adorer bows on Sinai's steep-- Yet there--even there--Oh G.o.d! thy thunders sleep: