Here am I once more,

At the window of my room ;

The light upon the floor,

From the setting moon.

Never will my eyes,

Seek their proper rest;

Sleep for ever flies,

Tho' the pillow's pressed.

Until, gazing upon the heaven,

I pray that He, whose throne is there, In kindness and mercy given,

Grant my humble prayer.

A prayer for blessings meet,
On her who gave me birth;
A mother, gentle and sweet,
The dearest mother on earth.

Oh, were it not for her,

Long since this guilty hand,
Impelled to vengeance drear,
Had deluged all the land.

This hand had sought for blood,
Nor paused in the pursuit,
Till swelled one crimson flood,

Mine lastly added to it.

Blood had been poured forth

In a stream, as dark and wide As the breakers of the north,

'Midst the Baltic's foaming tide.

Whose? His who stole my love!
What am I once more mad?
"Merciful Father above,

Pardon a soul so bad."

"A soul so blind to the way,
To yield and wrong to forgive;
Yet unto Thee I pray,

Pardon and let him live."

I can forgive them both,

I have seen Eva's face;

Why should I still feel loth,

To banish shame and disgrace?

Perhaps I was the fool

To fancy that she loved;

Perchance, I but follow the rule,

That the heart of youth must be proved.

Let me forget that day,

And a soul will rise in me ;

A soul that now will pray,

Eva, to live for thee.

The dawn,

XIX.

Bursting fair and clear,

At morn,

Like a glad new year.

Creeping,

Shadows over hill and dale;

Sleeping,

Dreaming o'er some ancient tale.

Darting,

The lark into the azure sky,

Parting

The air with mellow harmony.

Calling

Sleepers from their slumbers.

Falling

Sounds in gentle numbers.

After

The long night's rest done,

Laughter

Crowns the day just begun.

XX.

Is my heart once more entrapped,

Or my soul with pleasant mockeries wrapped?

Strolling round that garden,

By gentle Eva's side;

The thought has crossed my mind,
To win her for my bride;

But, then, what should I do with a wife,
Who have with women a ceaseless strife?

When by Nelly's guile

I was so deceived;
Was it strange if I

Dread revenge conceived?

I vowed henceforth to hate them all,
And find delight in their constant fall.

When at the altar side
Stood all I held so dear,
Another by the bride,

What worse could I fear?

I vowed from thence revenge to seek,
On womankind that wrath to wreak.

E

Then I fled the haunts
Of pleasure and of joy,
Shut myself up with grief,

But found me still a boy ;

Then I return to the haunts of men,
Perhaps to be deceived again.

Whatever be the chance,

I could almost stand
Any blow, that came

From Eva's lily hand.

I will bury the hate, forget the grief,
Pleasure shall give my mind relief.

'Tis better far to love,

And constant still to prove,
Although your feelings be

Deceived, betrayed by love;

Than to lead a life of selfish care,

Or the sting of revenge in your bosom bear.

I fear my heart will risk once more
The path that brought such pain before.