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64  MARIA A. BROOKS.

"For mom's light bell, this changeful amethyst;
A sapphire for the violet's tender blue;
Large opals, for the queen-rose zephyr-kist;
And here are emeralds of every hue,
For folded bud and leaflet, dropp'd with dew.

"And here's a diamond, cull'd from Indian mine,
To gift a haughty queen! it might not be;
I knew a worthier brow, sister divine,
And brought the gem; for well I deem, for thee

"The 'arch-chrymic sun' in earth's dark bosom wrought
To prison thus a ray, that when dull night
Frowns o'er her realms, and nature's all seems nought,
She whom he grieves to leave may still behold his light."

SARDIUS IN HIS PAVILLION WIH ALTHEETOR.

(FROM THE SAME.)

BENEATH that dome, reclined the youthful king,
Upon a silver crouch; and soothed to mood
As free and soft as perfumes from the wing
Of bird, that shook the jasmines as it woo'd;

Its fitful song the mingling murmur meeting
Of marble founts of many a fair device;
A bees that banquet, from the sun retreating,
In every full, deep flower, that crowns his paradise.

While gemmy diadem thrown down beside,
And garment, at the neck plucked open, proved
His unconstraint, and scorn of regal pride,
When thus apart retired, he sat with those he loved.

One careless arm around the boy was flung,
Not undeserving of that free caress;
But warm and true, and of a heart and tongue,
To heighten bliss, or mitigate distress.

MARIA A. BROOKS.  65

Quick to perceive, in him no freedom rude
Reproved full confidence; friendship, the meat
His soul had starved without, with gratitude
Was ta'en; and her rich wine crown'd high the banque sweet.

ZÓPHIËL'S LAMENT OVER ALTHEËTOR.

(FROM THE SAME.)

AND thus, at length his plaintive lip express'd
The mitigated pang; 't is sometimes so
When grief meets genius in the mortal breast,
And words, most deeply sweet, betray subsided woe.

"Thou'rt gone, Altheëtor; of thu gentle breath
Guiltless am I, but bear the penalty!
Oh! is there one to whom thine earthly death
Can cause the sorrow it has caused to me?

"Cold, cold, and hush'd, is that fond, faithful breast;
Oh! of the breath of God too much was there!
It swell'd, aspired, it could not be compress'd—
But gain'd a bliss fair nature could not bear.

"Oh! good and true beyond thy mortal birth!
What high-soul'd angel help'd in forming thee?
Haply thou wert what I had been, if earth 
Had been the element composing me.

"Banish'd from heaven so long, what there transpires,
This weary exiled ear may rarely meet.
But it is whisper'd that the unquell'd desires
Another spirit for each forfeit seat,

"Left vacant by our fall.  That spirit placed
In mortal form, must every trial bear,
'Midst all that can pollute; and, if defaced
But by one stain, it may not enter there.
6*  E