LYRICAL AND DRAMATIC. 169
THE EVE OF LOVE.
HE sun from the black of the sky is unveiléd,
The rain and the clouds are dispersed to the
sea,
He strides through the heaven, a knight brightly
mailéd ;
The earth is rejoiced and the fountains are free,
Leaping, cascades of new song.
Music and myrtle are bound in the forehead
Golden of dawn’s herald strong ;
The sea basks below in the atmosphere torrid,
Waiting and waiting a lover.
All men despise her: a woman once found
Joy in the kisses whereby she was drowned,
Love in her death to discover.
I, in the pzan of earth, air, and ocean,
Join and laugh loud for the love of my heart;
Throbs the loud air with my throes of emotion ;
Love hath prevailed with the adamant dart
Poisoned, a tooth of a snake ;
They shall grow in my breast and divide me with
longing
Dead and asleep and awake.