AGAINST white Buda’s walls, a vine Doth its white branches fondly twine: O, no! it was no vine-tree there; It was a fond, a faithful pair, Bound each to each in earliest vow— And, O! they must be severed now! And these their farewell words:—“We part— Break from my bosom—break—my heart! Go to a garden—go, and see, Some rose-branch blushing on the tree; And from that branch a rose-flower tear, Then place it on thy bosom bare; And as its leavelets fade and pine, So fades my sinking heart in thine.” And thus the other spoke: “My love! A few short paces backward move, And to the verdant forest go; There’s a fresh water-fount below; And in the fount a marble stone, Which a gold cup reposes on; And in the cup a ball of snow— Love! take that ball of snow to rest Upon thine heart within thy breast. And as it melts unnoticed there, So melts my heart in thine, my dear!” THE VIOLET. How captivating is to me, Sweet flower! thine own young modesty! Though did I pluck thee from thy stem, There’s none would wear thy purple gem. I thought, perchance, that Ali Bey— But he is proud and lofty—nay! He would not prize thee—would not wear A flower so feeble though so fair: His turban for its decorations Had full blown roses and carnations. SMILIA. {116} SWEET Smilia-flowers did Smilia pull, Her sleevelets and her bosom full; By the cool stream she gather’d them, And twined her many a diadem— A diadem of flowery-wreaths;— One round her brows its fragrance breathes; One to her bosom-friend she throws; The other where the streamlet flows She flings, and says in gentlest tone— “Swim on, thou odorous wreath! swim on, Swim to my Juris’ home, and there O whisper in his mother’s ear: ‘Say, wilt thou not thy Juris wed?— Then give him not a widow’s bed; But some sweet maiden, young and fair.’” HARVEST SONG. TAKE hold of your reeds, youths and maidens! and see Who the kissers and kiss’d of the reapers shall be. Take hold of your reeds, till the secret be told, If the old shall kiss young, and the young shall kiss old. Take hold of your reeds, youths and maidens! and see What fortune and chance to the drawers decree: And if any refuse, may God smite them—may they Be cursed by Paraskev, the saint of to-day! Now loosen your hands—now loosen, and see Who the kissers and kiss’d of the reapers shall be. {117} MAIDEN’S PRAYER. BEAUTY’S maiden thus invoked the Heavens: “Send me down a whirlwind! let it scatter Yonder stony tower—its halls lay open! Let me look on Gertshich Manoīlo. If the otter on his knee is playing— If the falcon sits upon his shoulder— If the rose is blooming on his kalpak.” {118}