It was a fairy isle, Where summer's golden smile Shines on forever unchangingly, O'er its glittering vine-clad hills, Green valleys and cold limpid rills, And the encircling emerald sea. Oh! there are spirits that dwell In every wizard dell-- Sweet forms that haunt each grottoed fount, Each fragrant vale and sunlit mount, And voices that whisper at even-tide, On the silver sands by the lone sea side. There came a youth to the shore alone, His step was light--his air was free, And his glittering eye flashed joyously-- He knelt him down on the printless sand, And in the hollow of his hand, Dipped the clear waves, and o'er a stone, A curious greyish stone, that stood Just on the margin of the flood, He sprinkled the drops, and half-sung, half-spoke, In a low faint tone, that scarcely broke The hush that hung round that wild shore, The waters were silently creeping o'er-- "Stars are weeping O'er the waves, Winds are sleeping In their caves-- 'Tis the hour, Then come to me, By love's power I conjure thee-- Quickly come Unto me, From thy coral home Under the sea." "Beautiful spirit, Hear my call-- Ocean! bear it To her hall Where she twines Her yellow hair By light that shines From diamonds there! Bid her come Unto me, From her coral home Under the sea." * * * * * "Does she wait to deck With gems her hair? Tell her I nothing reck Of jewels rare, Other than those eyes So wildly bright-- They dim the starred skies With their purer light. Ocean Spirit come-- Oh! come to me, From thy coral home Beneath the sea." He paused, and silent stood In listening attitude-- His head bent forward, and his eye Gazing with fixed intensity; A low sad tone Came o'er the wave Like the wind's faint moan In a hollow cave, Throughout the echoing archways sighing, Then in mysterious whispers dying-- And all was calm and still again, So still--the place might seem to be The grave of sound.--Oh! mournfully From the noiseless sands the youth turned then, And slowly upward from the shore His step retraced, with a heavy heart, And dimming eye, as those who part With something much loved and cherished of yore.