A Legend of the Lily.
Abroad, June moon was brightly beaming
In the depths of heaven’s blue,
While the asphodels were bending
With the clinging beads of dew,
When the silver rays in silence,
Glinting thro’ the swaying trees,
Saw a modest flower turning
To a roving, balmy breeze.—
Heard the zephyr softly whisper:
“Ah! my Lily, charming, sweet—
Sure the god of love has led us
In this bowery place to meet;
Richest odors I will bring you
From the islands of the sea;
Aye, your beauty has enchained me—
Will you give your heart to me?”
With a touch exquisite, subtile,
Then he turned to his, her face;
In her blush of deeper crimson,
That she faltered, he could trace.
“I have sought you—will you trust me?
Faithful as the stars I’ll be—
With your fragrant breathings, answer,
Will you give your love to me?”
Frail the flower, tranced enraptured
By the lover’s soft caress,
To his tender wooing answered,
With impulsive rashness,—“yes.”
Then, exultant, zephyr gloried
In the treasure he had won—
Deftly stole her sparkling jewels,
Sharing with the rising sun.
Brushed the spangles from her tresses
With his playful finger tips,
Bolder grew with his caresses—
Gathering sweetness from her lips;
Robbed her beauty of the freshness
That was hers in early morn—
Left her ’neath the sun of noonday,
Burning like the gaze of scorn.
Drooping as in heat of censure
Evening found her in the dust,
Lifted her with tearful pity
From the blight of trampled trust;
But the tender flush of loving
From her face was blanched and gone,
Yet a beauty, born of trial,
Met the radiant glow of dawn.
Now for her the moon is shining
With a calm and holy light;
Dew-like gems of rarest beauty
Sparkles on her brow at night;
With her white face turned toward heaven
In her vestal robe she stands,
As a priestess, at an altar,
Lifting consecrated hands.
Chastest forms of beauty round her—
Stars that gem the vaulted blue
Join with her in silent warning,—
“Let thy love be pure and true—
Trusting e’en the black-browed storm-cloud,
With its leaping lightning-blaze,
Rather than the rover’s whisper,
Neath the moon’s enchanting gaze.”