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THE BRIDE OF CORINTH.

325

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 '

III.

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.

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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,

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!"

6

VII.

6

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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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 hopes of love

my youthful bloom

her stern decree

Hath destined to a living tomb!

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