THE ALCAYDE OF MOLINA.

135

Say not my voice is magic-thy pleasure is to hear
The bursting of the carbine, and shivering of the spear.
Well, follow thou thy choice--to the battle-field away,
To thy triumphs and thy trophies, since I am less than they.
Thrust thy arm into thy buckler, gird on thy crooked brand,
And call upon thy trusty squire to bring thy spears in hand.
Lead forth thy band to skirmish, by mountain and by mead,
On thy dappled Moorish barb, or thy fleeter border steed.
Go, waste the Christian hamlets, and sweep away their flocks,
From Almazan's broad meadows to Siguënza's rocks.
Leave Zelinda altogether, whom thou leavest oft and long,
And in the life thou lovest forget whom thou dost wrong.
These eyes shall not recall thee, though they meet no more
thine own,

Though they weep that thou art absent, and that I am all alone."

She ceased, and turning from him her flushed and angry

cheek,

Shut the door of her balcony before the Moor could speak.

FROM THE SPANISH OF VILLEGAS:

Το

'Tis sweet, in the green Spring,

gaze upon the wakening fields around;
Birds in the thicket sing,

Winds whisper, waters prattle from the ground;
A thousand odours rise,

Breathed up from blossoms of a thousand dies.

Shadowy, and close, and cool,

The pine and poplar keep their quiet nook;
For ever fresh and full,

Shines, at their feet, the thirst-inviting brook;
And the soft herbage seems

Spread for a place of banquets and of dreams.

Thou, who alone art fair,

And whom alone I love, art far

Unless thy smile be there,

away.

It makes me sad to see the earth so gay;

I care not if the train

Of leaves, and flowers, and zephyrs go again.

THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED.

(FROM THE SPANISH OF LUIS PONCE de leon.)

REGION of life and light!

Land of the good whose earthly toils are o'er!
Nor frost nor heat may blight

Thy vernal beauty, fertile shore,
Yielding thy blessed fruits for evermore !

There, without crook or sling,

Walks the good shepherd; blossoms white and red Round his meek temples cling;

And, to sweet pastures led,

His own loved flock beneath his eye is fed.

He guides, and near him they
Follow delighted, for he makes them go
Where dwells eternal May,

And heavenly roses blow,
Deathless, and gathered but again to grow.

He leads them to the height

Named of the infinite and long-sought Good,
And fountains of delight;

138

THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED.

And where his feet have stood

Springs up, along the way, their tender food.

And when, in the mid skies,

The climbing sun has reached his highest bound,
Reposing as he lies,

With all his flock around,

He witches the still air with numerous sound.

From his sweet lute flow forth
Immortal harmonies, of power to still

All passions born of earth,

And draw the ardent will

Its destiny of goodness to fulfil.

Might but a little part,

A wandering breath of that high melody,
Descend into my heart,

And change it till it be

Transformed and swallowed up, oh love! in thee.

Ah! then my soul should know,
Beloved! where thou liest at noon of day,

And from this place of wo

Released, should take its way

To mingle with thy flock and never stray.

MARY MAGDALEN.

(FROM THE SPANISH OF BARTOLOME LEONARDO DE ARGENSOLA.)

BLESSED, yet sinful one, and broken-hearted!
The crowd are pointing at the thing forlorn,
In wonder and in scorn!

Thou weepest days of innocence departed;
Thou weepest, and thy tears have power to move
The Lord to pity and love.

The greatest of thy follies is forgiven,

Even for the least of all the tears that shine

On that pale cheek of thine.

Thou didst kneel down, to Him who came from heaven,
Evil and ignorant, and thou shalt rise
Holy, and pure, and wise.

It is not much that to the fragrant blossom
The ragged brier should change; the bitter fir

Distil Arabian myrrh;

Nor that, upon the wintry desert's bosom,

The harvest should rise plenteous, and the swain

Bear home the abundant grain.