“I was taught early, and well,” replied the other, as his frame trembled slightly under the touch of his companion. “And as for my speech—truth is always the most forcible. My external frame may appear light and boyish; but size is no safe guide for the judgment. The ostrich never leaves the earth along which it glides; but the eagle pierces the unfathomable depths of air with an untiring wing, and floats with eye undimmed within the scorching rays of the eternal sun.”
“Zabra, your nature is superior to the garb you wear,” said the elder, as he kindly took the hand and gazed into the face of his more youthful associate. “I cannot allow you to be thus. You must put away the page, and endeavour to be the friend of Oriel Porphyry.”
“By whatever title Oriel Porphyry can most love Zabra, that title Zabra would most desire to be,” replied the other.
“Then be it so,” said his companion. “From henceforth you shall be my associate—my friend—my brother. Any thing in the ship that can extend your enjoyments shall be at your disposal, and you may command the services of every living creature it contains. We will be together as often as possible, and the greatest delight you can create, or I can indulge in, will be for us to discourse of her in whose affection I exist; that when I hear the magic music of your voice, and meet the deep intelligence of your gaze, the resemblance may make me imagine that the blissful times have again returned, when beneath the shadows of the welcome trees we sat together till the noonday hours ran on unnoticed to the twilight, and the twilight deepened into evening, and still our hands were clasped with the same gentle pressure with which they first met, and still our eyes looked into each other with the same unspeakable meaning that was first created in their mutual glances.”
Perhaps Oriel Porphyry would have said more, but at that moment his companion withdrew his hand, and with looks full of an empassioned tenderness, as he struck an accompaniment of harmonious chords, he sang the following words:—
“Sound, oh Harp! some sweet and cheerful lay,
Soft as the breath of eve o’er mountain springs,
Awhile the spirit of a brighter day
Mingles its voice with thy rejoicing strings.
With thy rejoicing strings, oh Soul of Song!
Bind the fond air with spells rained free and fast;
And as thy thrilling echoes roll along,
We’ll raise again the Raptures of the Past!
“Sound, oh Harp! such harmony as dies
Within the warm and rosy atmosphere,
When gentle whispers, and delicious sighs,
Send a delighting welcome to the ear.
A welcome to the ear, oh Voice Divine!
Which long as life, and kind as hope, shall last;
That with the wealth of an exhaustless mine
Stores in our hearts the Treasures of the Past!
“Sound, oh Harp! thy music once again,
For now while I intrusive cares destroy,
An impulse stirs within the heart and brain,
Strong with the power of everlasting joy.
Of everlasting joy, Prophetic Sound!
(A bliss that cannot in the grave be cast;)
For as thy trembling murmurs swell around,
Still we embrace the Blessings of the Past.”
When the song concluded their hearts seemed filled with a mutual sympathy which neither could express; and Master Porphyry throwing his arm round the young musician, and bringing Zabra’s arm round his own waist, drew him to another part of the vessel without either exchanging a word. In this attitude, the youthful pair would have formed an admirable study for a painter. The tall and manly form of the merchant’s son, his clear complexion and noble countenance creating a perfect contrast to the symmetrical, yet delicate, figure of his companion, and the soft voluptuous character of his more dark but not less beautiful features.
While these proceedings were going on, a scene of a very different description was being acted in a low, dark, narrow cabin in a secluded part of the ship. By the light of a small lamp that swung from the roof, the diminutive form of Log the captain’s clerk, with his little conceited physiognomy, might be observed perched upon a high stool engaged in writing, while the more burly figure, but not more prepossessing countenance, of Scrumpydike, lay extended on some packages near his feet.