IX.

I thought that it was fancy, and I listened in my bed, And then did something speak to me -I know not what was said;

For great delight and shuddering took hold of all my

mind,

And up the valley came again the music on the wind.

X.

But you were sleeping; and I said, "It's not for them: it's mine."

And if it comes three times, I thought, I take it for a

sign.

And once again it came, and close beside the window

bars,

Then seemed to go right up to Heaven and die among

the stars.

XI.

So now I think my time is near. I trust it is. I know The blessed music went that way my soul will have

to go.

And for myself, indeed, I care not if I go to-day,

But, Effie, you must comfort her when I am past away.

XII.

And say to Robin a kind word, and tell him not to fret; There's many worthier than I would make him happy

yet.

If I had lived-I cannot tell- I might have been his

wife;

But all these things have ceased to be, with my desire of life.

XIII.

O look! the sun begins to rise, the heavens are in a

glow;

He shines upon a hundred fields, and all of them I know. And there I move no longer now, and there his light may shine

Wild flowers in the valley for other hands than mine.

XIV.

O sweet and strange it seems to me, that ere this day is

done

The voice that now is speaking may be beyond the sun-
Forever and forever with those just souls and true
And what is life, that we should moan? why make we

such ado?

XV.

Forever and forever, all in a blessed home

And there to wait a little while till you and Effie

come

To lie within the light of God, as I lie upon your

And the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary

are at rest.

THE LOTOS-EATERS.

I.

"COURAGE!" he said, and pointed toward the land; "This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon." In the afternoon they came unto a land,

In which it seemed always afternoon.

All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream.
Full-faced above the valley stood the moon;
And like a downward smoke, the slender stream
Along the cliff to fall and pause and fall did seem.

II.

A land of streams! some, like a downward smoke, Slow-dropping veils of thinnest lawn, did go;

And some through wavering lights and shadows broke, Rolling a slumbrous sheet of foam below.

They saw the gleaming river seaward flow

From the inner land: far off, three mountain-tops,

Three silent pinnacles of aged snow,

Stood sunset-flushed: and, dewed with showery drops, Up-clomb the shadowy pine above the woven copse.

III.

The charmed sunset lingered low adown

In the red West: through mountain clefts the dale
Was seen far inland, and the yellow down
Bordered with palm, and many a winding vale
And meadow, set with slender galingale;

A land where all things always seemed the same!
And round about the keel with faces pale,
Dark faces pale against that rosy flame,

The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came.

IV.

Branches they bore of that enchanted stem,
Laden with flower and fruit, whereof they gave
To each, but whoso did receive of them,
And taste, to him the gushing of the wave
Far, far away did seem to mourn and rave
On alien shores; and if his fellow spake,
His voice was thin, as voices from the grave;
And deep-asleep he seemed, yet all awake,

And music in his ears his beating heart did make.