The Arctic Queen | Page 6

men

Who roam the prisons of our underworld,
Pray, how can we
distinguish? Would'st thou search?
Thou hast the liberty. We will not
lay
The slightest new obstruction in thy way;
And this is mercy
which we did not deem
We should extend towards an enemy.
We
do not comprehend that strange excess
Of passion which hath made
thee venture here.
But love, at least, is harmless. Go thy ways."
The
innocent maidens, gathered round their Queen,
Looked on with
interest, as the southern girl
Turned with a mute and trembling lip,
away.
TULA, who on KOLONA's shoulder leaned,
Sprang towards
her, reaching forth a friendly hand,
Whispering,--"Stay, beautiful, and
sup with us;
Our servant spirits have already spread
The Feast of
Borealis in the field,"
But, OLIVE shook her head, denying smiles

Deep in her wistful eyes, and went her way.
Court being ended, from her regal throne
OENE descended, passed
the glowing steps,
And, like a star that walks the path of heaven

With a long train of light, she and her maids
Glided in lustrous beauty
down the way,
And gathered to the Feast.
Above the field,
Hedged round with lillies growing tall and fair,

The North-Lights clustered in a coronal,
And each held forth a lamp,
in the still air,
Of purple, blue or green, crimson or rose,
Whose
flickering splendors, like soft rainbows, fell
Upon the table, spread
with fruits heaped high
On plates of delicate, transparent shells;

While many a dainty, gathered from the sea

Made more profuse the
viands.

When round the board
The guests had circled, e'er one ruby drop
Of
liquid passed their lips, or food was touched,
The Virgins of the
Court, in voices flowing,
Did sing this song in honor of the Feast,

While with a silent and a magical grace,
The North-Lights danced,
and waved their flaming lamps:
Lueladar!
O mighty Star!
The flying meteors backward glance
On thee to gaze,
And bright auroras softly dance
In mutest praise;
And, to and fro,
With motion slow
Wave the lamps whence colors flow.
From every chrystal spire
Flames forth thy silver fire;
And glimmering wave, and rugged tower,
And valley snow, and island flower,
And the smooth ice, spread near and far
Thy mirrors are, Lueladar!

Lueladar!
Supremest Star!
The moon goes down beneath the world--
She lives to die!
The banners of the stars are furled,
The comets fly;
The red sun shines,
And still declines,
And after him the darkness pines;
But thou art e'er the same--
No