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Treasures； such as never eye Of the earth has looked upon； Gold
and pearls of many a dye； There in rich profusion shone。
And a voice came to my ear； Saying； in a stern； cold tone； Such as
chills the heart with fear； 〃Seize and make the prize thine own。〃
Then across a clouded wild； Lone and drear and desolate； Where no
cheerful cottage smiled； I pursued the steps of fate。
Ever bearing in my breast； Thoughts almost to madness wrought；
Ever； ever seeking rest； Never finding what I Sought
Till I gave my wanderings o'er； By a black and icy stream； Deep I
plunged and knew no more： Father； read me now my dream。
The old man bowed his head； And pressed his thin hand to his
withered brow； As if he struggled with some rising thought Which should
have kept its place in memory's urn Till he had cast the shadow from his
soul； Which for a while had bound it in a spell Born of the bygone years；
then thus he spoke：
Now listen； boy； and I will show to thee The import of thy vision；I
will tell Thee what its scenes and shapes of mystery Foreshadow of the
future；for full well I know the wizard lore； whose witchery Binds e'en
the time to come in its wild spell！ And from approaching years a
knowledge wrings Of what they bear upon their viewless wings。
Along life's weary way of pain and care； From earliest infancy to
eldest age； Forms； viewless as the soft…breathed summer air； Attend
man's footsteps in his pilgrimage； And if his destiny be dark or fair； If
Pleasure gilds； or Sorrow blots the page Whereon is traced his history； still
his ear Will ever catch their warning voices near。
And theythose guardian ones； who； while thy sleep Hung o'er thee
like a curtain； came around And fanned thee till thy slumber grew more
deep； Flung o'er thy rest； so perfect and profound； A dream whose
mem'ry thou sbouldst ever keep Bound to thy spirit； for altho' it wound；
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Thy young heart now； perchance； in after years； 'Twill save thee much
of toil； and many tears。
It was a dream of life： of boyhood's strong And soul…consuming
yearnings after love！ His eager search to find； amid the throng； Some
heart to give him thought for thoughtto move And mingle with his own；
as twines the song From Beauty's lyre and lips！ to know and prove The
dearest joy to care…cursed mortals given； The one with least of earth； and
most of heaven
Of manhood's ceaseless strivings after fame； The veriest phantom
of all phantasies For which he wields the sword； or lights the flame
Whose red glare mocks a nation's agonies； Or by his star…outwatching
taper； plies His pen or pencil； to gainwhat？ a name； A passing sound
an echoa mere breath； Which he； vain fool； dreams mightier than death！
And of a later period； when the soul Forsakes its high resolves and
wild desires； When stern Ambition can no more control； And Love has
shrouded o'er its smothered fires； When Expectation ceases to console；
And Hope； the last kind comforter； expires； And Avarice； monster of the
gilded vest； Creeps in and occupies the vacant breast。
And then the last sad scene： The sick heart； sore And fainting from
its woundsthe palsied limb The brow whose death…sweat peeps from
every pore The eye with its long； weary watch grown dim The
withered； wan cheek； that shall bloom no more The last dregs
dripping slowly from the brim Of life's drained cup；behind all gloom；
before A deep； dark gulfwe plunge； and all is o'er！
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ACLE AT THE GRAYE OF
NERO。
It is a circumstance connected with the history of Nero； that every
spring and summer； for many years after his death； fresh and beautiful
flowers were nightly scattered upon his grave by some unknown hand。
Tradition relates that it was done by a young maiden of Corinth；
named Acle； whom Nero had brought to Rome from her native city；
whither he had gone in the disguise of an artist； to contend in the Nemean；
Isthinian； and Floral games； celebrated there； and whence he returned
conqueror in the Palaestra； the chariot race； and the song； bearing with him；
like Jason of old； a second Medea； divine in form and feature as the first；
and who like her had left father； friends； and country； to follow a stranger。
Even the worse than savage barbarity of this sanguinary tyrant； had not
cut him off from all human affection； and those flowers were doubtless the
tribute of that young girl's holy and enduring love！
Whose name is on yon lettered stone？ whose ashes rest beneath？ That
thus you come with flowers to deck the mournful home of death； And
thouwhy darkens so thy brow with grief's untimely gloom？ Thou art
fitter for a bride than for a watcher by the tomb！
〃It is the name of one whose deeds made men grow pale with fear；
And Nero's； stranger； is the dust that lies sepulchred here； That name may
be a word of harsh and boding sound to thee； But oh！ it has a more than
mortal melody for me！
〃And I；my heart has grown to age in girlhood's fleeting years； And
has one only taskto bathe its buried love in tears； The all of life that yet
remains to me is but its breath； Then tell me； is it meet that I should seek
the bridal wreath？〃
But maiden； he of whom yon speak was of a savage mood； That took
its joy alone in scenes； of carnage； tears and blood； His dark； wild spirit
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bore the stain of crime's most loathsome hue； And love is for the high of
soulthe gentle and the true。
〃The voice that taught an abject world to tremble at its words； To me
was mild and musical； and mellow as a bird's A bird'sthat couched
among the green； broad branches of the date； Tells； in its silvery songs； its
gushing gladness to its mate。
〃I saw him first beside the sea； near to ray father's home； When like an
ocean deity he bounded from the foam； Ev'n then a glory seemed to
breathe around him as he trod； And my haughty soul was bowed； as in the
presence of a God。
I knew not； till my heart was his； the darkness of his own； Nor
dreamed that he who knelt to me was master of a throne！ And when the
fearful knowledge came； its coming was in vain； I had forsaken all for
him； and would do so again。〃
Is love the offspring of the will？ or is it； like a flower； So frail that it
may fade and be forgotten in an hour？ No； no！ it springs unbidden where
the heart's deep fountains play； And cherished by their hallowed dew； it
cannot pass away！
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THE VENETIAN GIRL'S
EVENING SONG。
Unmoor the skiff；unmoor the skiff； The night wind's sigh is on
the air； And o'er the highest Alpine cliff； The pale moon rises； broad
and clear。 The murmuring waves are tranquil now； And on their breast
each twinkling star With which Night gems her dusky brow； Flings its
mild radiance from afar。
Put off upon the deep blue sea； And leave the banquet and the ball；
For solitude； when shared with thee； Is dearer than the carnival。 And in
my heart are thoughts of love； Such thoughts as lips should only
breathe； When the bright stars keep watch above； And the calm waters
sleep beneath！
The tale I have for thee； perchance； May to thine eye anew impart
The long…lost gladness of its glance； And soothe the sorrows of thy
heart； Come； I wil