G

Lewti; Or the Circassian's Love-Chant[1049:1]

[Vide ante, p. .]

(1)

[Add. MSS. 27,902.]

High o'er the silver rocks I roved
To forget the form I loved
In hopes fond fancy would be kind
And steal my Mary from my mind
T'was twilight and the lunar beam
Sailed slowly o'er Tamaha's stream
As down its sides the water strayed
Bright on a rock the moonbeam playe[d]
It shone, half-sheltered from the view
By pendent boughs of tressy yew
True, true to love but false to rest,
So fancy whispered to my breast,
So shines her forehead smooth and fair
Gleaming through her sable hair
I turned to heaven—but viewed on high
The languid lustre of her eye
[1050] The moons mild radiant edge I saw
Peeping a black-arched cloud below
Nor yet its faint and paly beam
Could tinge its skirt with yellow gleam
I saw the white waves o'er and o'er
Break against a curved shore
Now disappearing from the sight
Now twinkling regular and white
Her mouth, her smiling mouth can shew
As white and regular a row
Haste Haste, some God indulgent prove
And bear me, bear me to my love
Then might—for yet the sultry hour
Glows from the sun's oppressive power
Then might her bosom soft and white
Heave upon my swimming sight
As yon two swans together heave
Upon the gently-swelling wave
Haste—haste some God indulgent prove
And bear—oh bear me to my love.

(2)

[Add. MSS. 35,343.]

THE CIRCASSIAN'S LOVE-CHAUNT

Wild Indians

High o'er the rocks at night I rov'd
silver
To forget the form I lov'd.
Image of Lewti! from my mind
Cora
Depart! for Lewti is not kind!
Cora
Bright was the Moon: the Moon's bright beam
Speckled with many a moving shade,
Danc'd upon Tamaha's stream;
But brightlier on the Rock it play'd,
The Rock, half-shelter'd from my view
By pendent boughs of tressy Yew!
True to Love, but false to Rest,
My fancy whisper'd in my breast—
So shines my Lewti's forehead fair
Gleaming thro' her sable hair,
[1051] Image of Lewti! from my mind
Cora
Depart! for Lewti is not kind.
Cora

I saw a cloud of whitest hue;
Onward to the Moon it pass'd!
Still brighter and more bright it grew
With floating colours not a few,
Till it reach'd the Moon at last.

Lewti; Or the Circassian's Love-Chant

(3)

[Add. MSS. 35,343, f. 3 recto.]

High o'er the rocks at night I rov'd
To forget the form I lov'd.
Image of Lewti! from my mind
Depart: for Lewti is not kind.

Bright was the Moon: the Moon's bright bea[m]
Speckled with many a moving shade,
Danc'd upon Tamaha's stream;
But brightlier on the Rock it play'd,
The Rock, half-shelter'd from my view
By pendent boughs of tressy Yew!
True to Love, but false to Rest,
My fancy whisper'd in my breast—
So shines my Lewti's forehead fair
Gleaming thro' her sable hair!
Image of Lewti! from my mind
Depart—for Lewti is not kind.

I saw a Cloud of whitest hue—
Onward to the Moon it pass'd.
Still brighter and more bright it grew
With floating colours not a few,
Till it reach'd the Moon at last:
Then the Cloud was wholly bright
With a rich and amber light!
deep
And so with many a hope I seek,
And so with joy I find my Lewti:
And even so my pale wan cheek
Drinks in as deep a flush of Beauty
[1052] Image of Lewti! leave my mind
If Lewti never will be kind!

Away the little Cloud, away.
Away it goes—away so soon
alone
Alas! it has no power to stay:
It's hues are dim, it's hues are grey
Away it passes from the Moon.
And now tis whiter than before—
As white as my poor cheek will be,
When, Lewti! on my couch I lie
A dying Man for Love of thee!
Thou living Image
Image of Lewti in my mind,
Methinks thou lookest not kin unkind!