Herald Of The Times

POETRY.

'THE LOVER'S LEAP,
Suggested by a little traditionary legend of
the rocks bearing that name in the vicinity of
Newfort, R. I.
The stars overhead were blinking.
The fog-clouds were all out at sea,
Fair Cynthia's crescent was sinking
Down the hills'-side far o'er the lea.
The night-flower's fragrance was sailing
Over meadow, riv'let and glen,
The day-birds' voices were failing.
And Philomel warbled again.
Abroad o'er the fields were straying
Two lovers in love's silken chain,
Around them young hope was playing
Her delusive but sweetest strain.
When the maiden look'd up to heav'n,
Love beam'd from her star-lit eye,
Her soul to love's trance was giv'n,
She was plighted forever and aye.
The youth—canst thou fathom ocean.
Or measure infinite space?
Then how shall I the devotion
Inspir'd in his soul by that face.
Ah! we know that time is fleetest
When joy fills our cup to the brim,
That oft when morning is sweetest.
The skies are at ev'ning most dun.
E'en thus is this tale's sad ending,
Which with flowing tears I relate.
How hard the strife when contending
With the tempests of adverse fate!
Sweet reader, the surge is flying.
Still in foam as in years gone by.
Where a dark, deep chasm is lying.
Whose walls lift their tops to the sky.
This youth and maiden by toiling,
Had climb'd to their loftiest steep.
There leaning, yet half recoiling,
They gaz'd down the horrible deep.
Some earthquake had torn asunder
The rock, and an awful ravine
Yawn'd widely, where shapes of wonder
And phantoms of dread had been seen.
All sweet in her loveliness turning
Spoke the maiden, her lover was near,
Thou hast lov'd me while summer was burning,
Wilt thou love me when the green leaf is sear?
Thou hast lov'd while bright hopes were beaming
And gay joys danc'd their revels around.
Wilt thou love when tears are gleaming.
When youth's charms in life's winter are bound?
Then give me, my lover, a token,
I shall then surely prize thee the more
See'st thou where yon cliff hath been broken,
Dar'st thou from this crag to bound o'er?
Like some fiery meteor darting,
Or lightning's flash bursting in night,
As soul and substance were parting,
He shot from her agoniz'd sight
In vain did she strive to oppose
As he rush'd in headlong career;
'Twas late—he was gone' nor arose
One sound from that cavern of fear!
Oh! who shall describe the feelings
That distracted her bosom then:
The anguish, the wild upbraidings
To him who shall ne'er hear again!
She utter'd a shriek of despair
And convulsively sprang—but the spell
Was burst like a bubble in air.
And the films from her eye-lids fell
The beams of the morning were stealing
Forth in joy from the far eastern skies,
Each ray round her couch revealing
Gleams of home to her wondering eyes
Her own taper's rays were throwing
Their last beam o'er her parian brow,
Her cheek's sweetest bloom was glowing—
Where, where is her dark vision now?
Tis gone with the night shades fleeting
Tis vanish'd to pain her no more.
She soon met her kind lover's greeting,
Her heart beat as light as before.
E: D. M.