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Ranolf and Amohia

I

I.

Alas! that human Happiness should never
Like those fair-flowing snowy fringes be,
That down Mahana's geyser-terraced hill.
Grow into permanence as they distil;
In loveliness of marble mimicry
There, in the act of falling, fixed for ever!—
Alas! that Love's best transports may—
Like rills that dance and gleam and glance.
In loveliest forms of foam and spray
Down common cataracts every day—
So swiftly cease their sparkling play;
Though Love—the River's self—below
As deep or deeper still may flow!

The days rolled on—as dark or bright they will;
And found those lovers fondly loving still.
Could chance or change or circumstance destroy
Fair Amos fondness for her bright Sea-boy?
Hers was a love exhaustless as the Ocean;
Her heart unwearied—as his waves with motion—
With restless play of passionate devotion.
page 420 Her pure profound Affection could outpour
Its tender tributes from an endless store,
With lavish waste diminishing no more,
Than his with rolling snow-wreaths on the shore.
Enraptured in the presence of the Lord
And Idol of her young imagination,
Her Soul seemed always in the act to bless—
Her Spirit in a posture that adored;
Each look seemed love—each gesture a caress;
And every breath a yearning aspiration!
Though half the gems with which her Idol glowed
And won her worship, she herself bestowed—
Her heart was an unworked Golconda-mine,
Unconscious as 'twas careless, what a dower—
As a volcano might its scoria-shower—
It flung of diamond-fancies on the shrine
And round the Deity it made divine.
The knowledge-—courage—courtesy—whate'er
In mind or body might be found, of fair
Intelligent or brave in him she loved,
By her fresh bosom's fond illusive pride,
Were all sublimed, transfigured, glorified;
Beyond the reach of her and hers removed—
As are some landscapes' beauties you survey
With head downbent, and such new charms diffuse,
That woods and plains are in transcendant hues
Of tenderest richness floated far away.