Amidst them he remark'd a lovelier mien
Than e'er his thoughts had shaped, or eyes had seen; The throng detain'd her till he rein'd his steed, And, ere the beauty pass'd, had time to read The motto and the arms her carriage bore. Led by that clue, he left not England's shore Till he had known her; and to know her well Prolong'd, exalted, bound, enchantment's spell; For with affections warm, intense, refined, 'She mix'd such calm and holy strength of mind, That, like Heaven's image in the smiling brook, Celestial peace was pictured in her look. Hers was the brow, in trials unperplex'd, That cheer'd the sad, and tranquillized the vex'd; She studied not the meanest to eclipse,
And yet the wisest listen'd to her lips;
She sang not, knew not Music's magic skill,
But yet her voice had tones that sway'd the will.
He sought-he won her-and resolved to make
His future home in England for her sake.
Yet, ere they wedded, matters of concern To CESAR'S Court commanded his return, A season's space, and on his Alpine way, He reach'd those bowers, that rang with joy that day: The boy was half beside himself, the sire, All frankness, honor, and Helvetian fire, Of speedy parting would not hear him speak; And tears bedew'd and brighten'd JULIA's cheek. Thus, loath to wound their hospitable pride, A month he promised with them to abide ; As blithe he trod the mountain-sward as they, And felt his joy make ev❜n the young more gay. How jocund was their breakfast-parlor fann'd By yon blue water's breath,-their walks how bland! Fair JULIA seem'd her brother's soften'd spriteA gem reflecting Nature's purest light,— And with her graceful wit there was inwrought A wildly sweet unworldliness of thought,
That almost child-like to his kindness drew,
And twin with UDOLPH in his friendsl ip grew.
But did his thoughts to love one moment range!—
No! he who had loved CONSTANCE could not change!
Besides, till grief betray'd her undesign'd,
Th' unlikely thought could scarcely reach his mind,
That eyes so young on years like his should beam
Unwoo'd devotion back for pure esteem.
True she sang to his very soul, and brought
Those trains before him of luxuriant thought,
Which only Music's Heaven-born art can bring,
To sweep across the mind with angel wing.
Once, as he smiled amidst that waking trance,
She paused o'ercome: he thought it might be chance,
And, when his first suspicions dimly stole,
Rebuked them back like phantoms from his soul.
But when he saw his caution gave her pain,
And kindness brought suspense's rack again,
Faith, honor, friendship, bound him to unmask
Truths which her timid fondness fear'd to ask.
And yet with gracefully ingenuous power
Her spirit met th' explanatory hour;-
Ev'n conscious beauty brighten'd in her eyes,
That told she knew their love no vulgar prize;
And pride, like that of one more woman-grown,
Enlarged her mien, enrich'd her voice's tone.
"Twas then she struck the keys, and music made
That mock'd all skill her hand had e'er display'd:
Inspired and warbling, rapt from things around,
She look'd the very Muse of magic sound,
Painting in sound the forms of joy and wo,
Until the mind's eye saw them melt and glow.
Her closing strain composed and calm she play'd,
And sang no words to give its pathos aid;
But grief seem'd lingering in its lengthen'd swell,
And like so many tears the trickling touches fell.
Of CONSTANCE then she heard THEODRIC speak,
And steadfast smoothness still possess'd her cheek.
But when he told her how he oft had plann'd
Of old a journey to their mountain-land,
That might have brought him hither years before,
'Ah! then,' she cried, you knew not England's shoro;
And, had you come,-and wherefore did you not "
'Yes,' he replied, it would have changed our lot!'
Then burst her tears through pride's restraining bands,
Aud with her handkerchief, and both her hands,
She hid her voice and wept.-Contrition stung
THEODRIC for the tears his words had wrung.
But no,' she cried,' unsay not what you've said,
Nor grudge one prop on which my pride is stay'd;
To think I could have merited your faith
Shall be my solace even unto death!'-
'JULIA,' THEODRIC said, with purposed look
Of firmness, my reply deserved rebuke;
But by your pure and sacred peace of mind,
And by the dignity of womankind,
Swear that when I am gone you'll do your best
To chase this dream of fondness from your breast.'
Th' abrupt appeal electrified her thought;-
She'look'd to Heav'n as if its aid she sought,
Dried hastily the tear-drops from her cheek,
And signified the vow she could not speak.
Ere long he communed with her mother mild:
'Alas!' she said, 'I warn'd-conjured my child,
And grieved for this affection from the first,
But like fatality it has been nursed;
For when her fill'd eyes on your picture fix'd,
And when your name in all she spoke was mix'd,
"Twas hard to chide an over-grateful mind!
Then each attempt a likelier choice to find
Made only fresh-rejected suitors grieve,
And UDOLPH's pride-perhaps her own-believe
That, could she meet, she might enchant ev'n you.
You came.-I augur'd the event, 'tis true,
But how was UDOLPH's mother to exclude
The guest that claim'd our boundless gratitude?
And that unconscious you had cast a spell
On JULIA's peace, my pride refused to tell:
Yet in my child's illusion I have seen,
Believe me well, how blameless you have been
Nor can it cancel, howsoe'er it end,
Our debt of friendship to our boy's best friend.'
At night he parted with the aged pair;
At early morn rose JULIA to prepare
The last repast her hands for him should make⚫
And UDOLPH to convoy him o'er the lake.
The parting was to her such bitter grief,
That of her own accord she made it brief;
But, lingering at her window, long survey'd
His boat's last glimpses melting into shade.
THEODRIC Sped to Austria, and achieved
His journey's object. Much was he relieved
When UDOLPH's letters told that JULIA's mind
Had borne his loss firm, tranquil, and resign'd.
He took the Rhenish route to England, high
Elate with hopes, fulfill'd their ecstasy,
And interchanged with CONSTANCE's own breath
The sweet eternal vows that bound their faith.
To paint that being to a grovelling mind
Were like portraying pictures to the blind.
'Twas needful ev'n infectiously to feel
Her temper's fond and firm and gladsome zeal,
To share existence with her, and to gain
Sparks from her love's electrifying chain
Of that pure pride, which, lessening to her breast
Life's ills, gave all its joys a treble zest,
Before the mind completely understood
That mighty truth-how happy are the good!
Ev'n when her light forsook him, it bequeath'd
Ennobling sorrow; and her memory breathed
A sweetness that survived her living days,
As odorous scents outlast the censer's blaze.
Or, if a trouble dimm'd their golden joy,
"Twas outward dross, and not infused alloy :
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