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THE BRIDE OF CORINTH.

I.

TO CORINTH a young stranger came

From ATHENS

- though himself unknown,

Relying on his father's name;
Nor hospitable ties alone
Secured him a Corinthian friend;
For, plighted by his father's vows,
He longed to see his plighted spouse,
And hence his journey's aim and end.

II.

But will the stranger welcome be?
Or must her love be dearly bought?
Alas! a Heathen still is he,

And they the Christian faith are taught !
And when new forms of faith arise,
How soon love's tender blossom dies,

Without a sigh, without a thought!

The house in midnight silence lies,
Father and daughters, all at rest!
Sleep only shuns the mother's eyes
She rises to receive the guest

She leads him to a chamber bright, And wine and bread before him laid;

She bows, and wishes him "Good night!"

IV.

He thought not of the wine and bread,

He only felt a wish for rest

At once he flung him on the bed

His weary limbs scarce feel repose,
When, hush the chamber doors unclose,
And in there steals a timid guest.

V.

He wakes and by the lamp's faint light,
Behold a maiden tall and fair!

Her veil is white her robes are white-
Black is the band that twines her hair
'Tis black, but streaked with lines of gold
She screams, and shudders to behold
The stranger youth reclining there,
And, lifting her white arm in air,

THE BRIDE OF CORINTH.

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VI.

Exclaims, "Then am I nothing here!
Guests come and go, and none tells me !
Dark is my chamber, lone and drear,
And here to come is infamy.
To wander here is scaith and shame,
Sleep on, young stranger, quietly,
And I will vanish as I came!"

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VII.

Stay,' cries the youth, stay, maiden dear.
As lightly from the couch springs he,

CERES and BACCHUS, lo! are here,

And Love, sweet maid, hath come with thee. Ah! thou art pale with idle fear,

The Gods are good, and blest are we !'—

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Away

VIII.

young man

-stand far away,

What pleasure is, I feel not now

Joy hath for ever fled from me,

Scared by a mother's gloomy vow;

She feared to die, my youthful bloom

My hopes of love

her stern decree

Hath destined to a living tomb !

IX.

"Our ancient Gods no longer deign

In this dull mansion to reside
But one in heaven, whom we in vain
Would seek to see, and one, who died,
Are worshipped with sad rites severe;
No offering falls of lamb or steer,
But human victims suffer here!"

X.

He ponders, with a trembling heart,
Each word that falls upon his ear,

And art thou then ah sure thou art

My plighted spouse, that meets me here?

Be mine, my love, our father's vow

Hath blessed our loves be mine even now!'

XI.

"Have they not told thee then," she cried,
"That I thy consort may not be
My sister is thy destined bride;
But in her arms, ah! think of me,
Who in my cell will think of thee,
Who pine and die with love of thee,

The cold earth soon my woes will hide!"