The Arctic Queen | Page 6

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 flickering of thy flame--
No sinking down in time to rise
Doth change thy splendor in the skies:
For this we worship thee, afar,
Most glorious Star, Lueladar!

Lueladar!
Eternal Star!
Look with thy bright and burning eye
Upon our feast!
Thy silver robes flow o'er the sky