Asleep! let me then, O hapless one,

To my bosom press thee once for all;

A law unjust and terrible

Thee and me to sorrow dooms.

While the years have not yet chased

The guiltless joy of thy days,

Sleep, my darling; let no bitter griefs

Mar thy childhood's quiet life!"

But lo, behind the woods, near by,

The moon brings a hut to light.

Forlorn, pale, trembling

To the doors she came nigh;

She stooped, and gently laid down

The babe on the strange threshold.

In terror away she turned her eyes

And disappeared in the darkness of the night.

THE CLOUD.

O last cloud of the scattered storm,

Alone thou sailest along the azure clear;

Alone thou bringest the darkness of shadow;

Alone thou marrest the joy of the day.

Thou but recently hadst encircled the sky,

When sternly the lightning was winding about thee.

Thou gavest forth mysterious thunder,

Thou hast watered with rain the parched earth.

Enough; hie thyself. Thy time hath passed.

The earth is refreshed, and the storm hath fled,

And the breeze, fondling the leaves of the trees,

Forth chases thee from the quieted heavens.

THE ANGEL.

At the gates of Eden a tender Angel

With drooping head was shining;

A demon gloomy and rebellious

Over the abyss of hell was flying.