XII. "Whom the gods love die young," was said of yore, [1] And many deaths do they escape by this: The death of friends, and that which slays even more- XIII. Haidee and Juan thought not of the dead. The heavens, and earth, and air, seem'd made for them : They found no fault with Time, save that he fled : They saw not in themselves aught to condemn : Each was the other's mirror, and but read Joy sparkling in their dark eyes like a gem, And knew such brightness was but the reflection Of their exchanging glances of affection. XIV. The gentle pressure, and the thrilling touch, As but to lovers a true sense affords; Sweet playful phrases which would seem absurd XV. All these were theirs, for they were children still, XVI. Moons changing had roll'd on, and changeless found By the mere senses, and that which destroys XVII. Oh beautiful! and rare as beautiful! But theirs was love in which the mind delights To lose itself, when the old work grows dull, And we are sick of its back sounds and sights, Intrigues, adventures of the common school, Its petty passions, marriages, and flights, Where Hymen's torch but brands one strumpet more, Whose husband only knows her not a wh-re. XVIII. Hard words; harsh truth; a truth which many know. Young innate feelings all have felt below Which perish in the rest, but in them were Inherent: what we mortals call romantic, XIX. This is in others a factitious state, An opium dream of too much youth and reading, But was in them their nature or their fate: No novels e'er had set their young hearts bleeding, So that there was no reason for their loves XX. They gazed upon the sunset; 'tis an hour For it had made them what they were: the power And twilight saw them link'd in passion's ties ; XXI. I know not why, but in that hour to-night, XXII, That large black prophet eye seem'd to dilate As if their last day of a happy date With his broad, bright, and dropping orb were gone; Juan gazed on her as to ask his fate He felt a grief, but knowing cause for none, His glance inquired of hers for some excuse For feelings causeless, or at least abstruse XXIII. She turn'd to him, and smiled, but in that sort XXIV. Juan would question further, but she press'd And no doubt of all methods 'tis the best: XXV. One of the two, according to your choice, But which to choose, I really hardly know; For both sides I could many reasons show, And then decide, without great wrong to either, It were much better to have both than neither. XXVI. Juan and Haidee gazed upon each other With swimming looks of speechless tenderness, Which mix'd all feelings, friend, child, lover, brother, All that the best can mingle and express When two pure hearts are pour'd in one another, And love too much, and yet cannot love less; But almost sanctify the sweet excess By the immortal wish and power to bless. XXVII. Mix'd in each other's arms and heart in heart, Why did they not then die?—they had lived too long, Should an hour come to bid them breathe apart; Years could but bring them cruel things or wrong, The world was not for them, nor the world's art For being passionate as Sappho's song; Love was born with them, in them, so intense, It was their very spirit-not a sense. XXVIII. They should have lived together deep in woods, Call'd social, where all vice and hatred are; XXIX. Now pillow'd cheek to cheek, in loving sleep, A gentle slumber, but it was not deep, Juan, and shuddering o'er his frame would creep; Stirr'd with her dream as rose-leaves with the air XXX. Or as the stirring of a deep clear stream Good to the soul which we no more can bind; XXXI. She dream'd of being alone on the sea-shore, Until she sobb'd for breath, and soon they were |