The eye of Zillah as it glanced around
Fell on the slanderer once, and rested there
A moment; like a dagger did it pierce,
And struck into his soul a cureless wound.
Conscience! thou God within us! not in the hour
Of triumph dost thou spare the guilty wretch,
Not in the hour of infamy and death
Forsake the virtuous!—
They draw near the stake—
They bring the torch!—hold, hold your erring hands!
Yet quench the rising flames!—O God, protect,
They reach the suffering maid!—O God, protect
The innocent one! They rose, they spread, they raged;—
The breath of God went forth; the ascending fire
Beneath its influence bent, and all its flames,
In one long lightning-flash concentrating,
Darted and blasted Hamuel—him alone!
Hark what a fearful scream the multitude
Pour forth!—and yet more miracles! the stake
Branches and buds, and spreading its green leaves,
Embowers and canopies the innocent maid
Who there stands glorified; and roses, then
First seen on earth since Paradise was lost,
Profusely blossom round her, white and red,
In all their rich variety of hues;
And fragrance such as our first parents breathed
In Eden, she inhales, vouchsafed to her
A presage sure of Paradise regained.
THE BRIDAL OF MALAHIDE.
BY GERALD GRIFFIN.
The joy-bells are ringing in gay Malahide,
The fresh wind is singing along the seaside;
The maids are assembling with garlands of flowers,
And the harp-strings are trembling in all the glad bowers
Swell, swell the gay measure! roll trumpet and drum!
'Mid greetings of pleasure in splendour they come!
The chancel is ready, the portal stands wide,
For the lord and the lady, the bridegroom and bride.
What years, ere the latter, of earthly delight,
The future shall scatter o'er them in its flight!
What blissful caresses shall fortune bestow,
Ere those dark-flowing tresses fall white as the snow!
Before the high altar young Maud stands arrayed:
With accents that falter her promise is made—
From father and mother for ever to part,
For him and no other to treasure her heart.
The words are repeated, the bridal is done,
The rite is completed—the two, they are one;
The vow, it is spoken all pure from the heart,
That must not be broken till life shall depart.