And she thought that her words were all wasted in air: But a shepherd—just watching his sheepfold, was there; And he flew, and with sedges he bound all the sheaves; And he made her an arbor of haslewood leaves; And he ran to the spring, and he brought the sweet water; And he look’d on the face of Beauty’s young daughter, And he said, “Lovely maiden, thy promise I claim;” But the cheeks of the maiden were cover’d with shame, And she said to the shepherd, while blushing—“Not so! Go back to thy sheepfold—thou wanderer, go! For if thou didst bind the loose sheaves, thou hast left Thy sheep in the stubble, to wander bereft; And if from the fountain the water thou beared’st, Its freshness and coolness thou equally shared’st; And if thou hast reared up an arbor of shade, For thyself as for me its refreshment was made.” IMPRECATIONS. THROUGH the long night a falcon cried, “Awake, awake thee! youth! anon Thy maiden will become a bride: She puts her marriage garments on. Awake! awake thee, youth! and send A marriage blessing to thy friend.” “What! shall I be a marriage guest? And shall I bid the maid be blest? Hear then my marriage blessing, hear! No son her barren womb shall bear: May every bit of bread she breaks Bring with it wretchedness and woe,— For every drop her thirst that slakes May tears of bitter anguish flow!” SECRETS DIVULGED. Two lovers kiss each other in the meadows; They think that no one sees the fond betrayal, But the green meadows see them, and are faithless; To the white flocks incontinent they say all; And the white flocks proclaim it to the shepherd, The shepherd to a high-road traveller brings it; He to a sailor on the restless ocean tells it, The sailor to his spice-ship thoughtless sings it; The spice-ship whispers it upon the waters, The waters rush to tell the maiden’s mother. And thus impassioned spoke the lovely maiden— “Meadows! of spring-days never see another! Flocks! may the cruel ravenous wolves destroy ye. Thee, shepherd! may the cruel Moslem slaughter. Wanderer! may oft thy slippery footsteps stumble. Thee, sailor! may the ocean billows smother. Ship! may a fire unquenchable consume thee; And sink into the earth, thou treacherous water!” WISHES. O THAT I were a little stream, That I might flow to him—to him! How should I dance with joy, when knowing To whom my sparkling wave was flowing! Beneath his window would I glide, And linger there till morning-tide; When first he rouses him to dress In comely garb his manliness,— Then should he weak, or thirsty be, O he might stoop to drink of me! Or baring there his bosom, lave That bosom in my rippling wave. O what a bliss, if I could bear The cooling power of quiet there! LOVER ASLEEP.