“Though sunny the Lake of cool CASHMERE, “With its plane-tree Isle reflected clear,[159] “And sweetly the founts of that Valley fall; “Though bright are the waters of SING-SU-HAY, “And the golden floods that thitherward stray,[160] “Yet—oh, ’tis only the Blest can say “How the waters of Heaven outshine them all! “Go, wing thy flight from star to star, “From world to luminous world, as far “As the universe spreads its flaming wall: “Take all the pleasures of all the spheres, “And multiply each through endless years, “One minute of Heaven is worth them all!” The glorious Angel, who was keeping The gates of Light, beheld her weeping; And, as he nearer drew and listen’d To her sad song, a tear-drop glisten’d Within his eyelids, like the spray From Eden’s fountain, when it lies On the blue flower, which—Bramins say— Blooms nowhere but in Paradise.[161] “Nymph of a fair but erring line!” Gently he said—“One hope is thine. “’Tis written in the Book of Fate, “_The Peri yet may be forgiven_ “_Who brings to this Eternal gate_ “_The Gift that is most dear to Heaven!_ “Go, seek it, and redeem thy sin— “’Tis sweet to let the Pardon’d in.” Rapidly as comets run To the’ embraces of the Sun;— Fleeter than the starry brands Flung at night from angel hands,[162] At those dark and daring sprites Who would climb the’ empyreal heights, Down the blue vault the PERI flies, And, lighted earthward by a glance That just then broke from morning’s eyes, Hung hovering o’er our world’s expanse. But whither shall the Spirit go To find this gift for Heaven?—“I know “The wealth,” she cries, “of every urn, “In which unnumber’d rubies burn, “Beneath the pillars of CHILMINAR;[163] “I know where the Isles of Perfume are, “Many a fathom down in the sea, “To the south of sun-bright ARABY;[164] “I know, too, where the Genii hid “The jewell’d cup of their King JAMSHID,[165] “With Life’s elixir sparkling high— “But gifts like these are not for the sky. “Where was there ever a gem that shone “Like the steps of ALLA’S wonderful Throne? “And the Drops of Life—oh! what would they be “In the boundless Deep of Eternity?”