Meanwhile along the beach of the wide sea, 55 The dove-led pilgrim wander'd,--needful food, The Maenad's fruits from many a purple tree Flush'd for the vintage, gave; with musing mood, Lonely he strays till AEthra[9] sees again Her starry children smiling on the main. Around him then, curved grew the hollow creek; 56 Before, a ship lay still with lagging sail; A gilded serpent glitter'd from the beak, Along the keel encoil'd with lengthening trail; Black from a brazen staff, with outstretch'd wings Soar'd the dread Raven of the Runic kings. Here paused the Wanderer, for here flew the Dove 57 To the tall mast, and, murmuring, hover'd o'er; But on the deck no watch, no pilot move, Life-void the vessel as the lonely shore. Far on the sand-beach drawn, a boat he spied, And with strong hand he launch'd it on the tide. Gaining the bark, still not a human eye 58 Peers through the noiseless solitary shrouds; So, for the crew's return, all patiently He sate him down, and watch'd the phantom clouds Flit to and fro, where o'er the slopes afar Reign storm-girt Arcas,[10] and the Mother Star. Thus sleep stole o'er him, mercy-hallow'd sleep; 59 His own loved AEgle, lovelier than of old, Oh, lovelier far--shone from the azure deep-- And like the angel dying saints behold, Bent o'er his brow, and with ambrosial kiss Breathed on his soul her own pure spirit-bliss. "Never more grieve for me," the Vision said, 60 "Behold how beautiful thy bride is now! Who to yon Heaven from heathen Hades led Me, thine Immortal? Mourner, it was thou! Why shouldst thou mourn? In the empyreal clime We know no severance, for we own no time. "Both in the Past and Future circumfused, 61 We live in each;--all life's more happy hours Bloom back for us;--all prophet Fancy mused Fairest in days to come, alike are ours: With me not yet--I ever am with thee, Thy presence flows through my eternity. "Think thou hast bless'd the earth, and oped the heaven 62 To her baptized, reborn, through thy dear love,-- In the new buds that bloom for thee, be given The fragrance of the primal flower above! In Heaven we are not jealous!--But in aught That heals remembrance and revives the thought, "That makes the life more beautiful, we bind 63 Those who survive us in a closer chain; In all that glads we feel ourselves enshrined; In all that loves, our love but lives again." Anew she kiss'd his brow, and at her smile Night and Creation brighten'd! He the while,