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 Aencs Vale 
 
 William Brodie. 
 
 WASHINGTON : 
 
 IP H I IL IP <Sc SOLOMONS. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 
 1861. 
 

 ^:> 
 
 Entered, according to the act of Congress, in the year 1861, by 
 
 WILLIAM BRODIE, 
 
 in the Clerk's office of the District Court for the District of Columbia. 
 
 Baker & Godwin, Printers, 
 
 Printing-House Square, N. Y. 
 
ARNCTS VALE. 
 
 In Arno's Vale, beneath the mid-day sun, 
 The scarcely opened foliage of the trees 
 Shone out as smaragdite of tend'rest green, 
 And flowers, amidst the verdure of the fields, 
 Enamelled all the sward ; bright crocuses 
 And tender lilies, sweetly scented, bloomed 
 Around ; the wooing pigeon also made 
 The woodland glades resonant of his low ; 
 And in the sky the lark poured out his song. 
 
ARNO'S VALE 
 
 'Twas Spring, and Nature had just awaked her 
 From the long slumber of the Winter months, 
 And greeted with a smile returning life. 
 
 Deep in the forest, near an aged oak 
 
 Whose gnarled branches stretched out far overhead, 
 
 Sat Jeannie, on a slope of mossy green ; 
 
 Keclining on his elbow at her feet, 
 
 And lost in contemplation, Wilfred lay. 
 
 Silent, he scanned her face in rapt repose, 
 
 And scarcely breathed, fearing to break the dream 
 
 Of pleasure and of hope he then enjoyed;— 
 
 Yet ever and anon his wandering looks 
 
 Would seek his JeanmVs eyes of heavenly blue, 
 
 And try to read within their depths her love, 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 Of which as yet he scarcely felt assured ; 
 
 And every change of countenance he marked, 
 
 Searching out, sedulous, her inmost thoughts ; 
 
 For though he saw the kindness of her smiles, 
 
 He doubted, — prone as lovers ever are 
 
 To doubts, suspicion, and to jealousy, — 
 
 If all her heart were his and his alone ; — 
 
 Nor, though he might have known her love was his 
 
 Had he but marked how when she saw him come 
 
 Her face was lighted up with silent joy, 
 
 Dared on the die to risk his hope, and ask 
 
 An answer from her truthful, loving lips. 
 
 His had been a wa}'ward mood of life ; — 
 
 Though young, he'd wandered o'er the earth in quest 
 
b ARNO'S YALE. 
 
 Of Fame. Had often touched the wished-for prize 
 
 On touching, found it worthless ; — and, wrathful, 
 
 Mocked at his life, and held all good to be 
 
 But the creation of men's brains overwrought, — 
 
 A thing without substance, non-existing : 
 
 Nor found he any pleasure in his lite 
 
 Till Fortune, in a kindly mood oue day, 
 
 Did him to knowledge of his Jeannie bring. 
 
 Then from his eyes the scales of unbelief 
 
 Fell suddenly, and the frozen current 
 
 Of his heart's blood no longer stagnated, 
 
 But with new life inspired, coursed in his veins 
 
 With all the wild excess of streams in Spring, 
 
 When, from the iron bands of Winter loosed, 
 
 Their headlong torrents, madly rushing, bear 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 All harriers down that do obstruct their paths. 
 He loved ; and love had given life new charms. 
 To him before unknown. He dreamt of her, — 
 Thought of his JeanmVs love all the day long, 
 And loving her, he loved all he saw, 
 Believed in human goodness and in truth ; — 
 AYas glad ; — in fact was quite a changed man. 
 
 Thus the} T sat loving on the slope of grass, 
 And o'er sweet Arno's Vale they smiling looked, 
 Wrapt in an eestasy of joy and hope ; 
 Yet with some secret fear their joy was mixed, 
 For he who bears about with him his wealth, 
 And carries all his treasure where he goes, 
 Fears thieves in every brake and every hedge, 
 
8 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 And trembles lest some mischance befall him 
 On the way. 
 
 Then Wilfred rose, and speaking 
 In a caressing, gentle voice, he said : — 
 " Charm of my life, sweet flower from Eden culled, 
 " Ere Paradise was lost,- — my Jeannie dear, — 
 " Now first I think I know thou lovest me, 
 " And how can I repay this thy great love 
 " To me unworthy ? How ever make me 
 " In deserts thy equal ? I who never 
 " Up to this time have slightest pleasure found 
 " In anything that men do value most ! 
 " I who regarded life as a dark vale 
 " Bedewed with human tears, and bearing grief 
 " As its sole crop ; and I did deem that grief 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 " Was wedded so to all estates of life, 
 
 " That sorrow followed ever on oar steps 
 
 " From the first moment when the puling babe 
 
 " Wept for his mother's breast, until, worn out 
 
 " And sinking to his grave an aged man, 
 
 u He did bemoan his affections wasted, 
 
 " And all his aspirations after good, 
 
 " Nipt in the bud and chilled. But now I see 
 
 " That I had judged amiss,— that woman's love, 
 
 " When purely won, is the great prize of life. 
 
 " To thee I owe this, — my greatest knowledge ; 
 
 " And when I look on thy dear face, my love, 
 
 " I feel fresh life instilled into my veins. 
 
 " For thee alone on earth I live, sweet child, — 
 
 " Reality of all my boyhood's dreams. — 
 
10 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 " Yes, I do love thee, girl, with the strong love 
 
 " That in my heart has been for years pent up, 
 
 " And now bursts forth with all the vehemence 
 
 " It has acquired by time." He paused, and looke< 
 
 At Jeannie, then in his arms clasping her 
 
 He kissed the glistening tear away that stood 
 
 In her bright eye, and, to her kneeling, said : — 
 
 " Dear love, to thee myself I will devote, 
 
 " And all my life shall to embellish thine 
 
 " Be spent ; and it shall be my fondest task 
 
 " To make thee happy, and thy life one dream 
 
 " Of bliss, and I will teach thee all I know 
 
 " That is of worth, and guide thy steps from that 
 
 " Which, by experience, I have learnt to be 
 
ARNO'S VALE . 11 
 
 " Fruitless and bad ; and thou shalt be to me 
 
 " The one and only pleasure of my life. 
 
 " Blest be the hour when first I learnt thy love ! 
 
 " And thou dost love me, — and hast given to me 
 
 u Thy heart of hearts % Speak but one word to say 
 
 " That I do own that most priceless treasure ; 
 
 " Speak, though thy trembling lips may dread to tell 
 
 " What I so fain would hear, and whisper Yes !" 
 
 Then rising from one knee he seized her hands, 
 
 And, peering in her lace, bent all his strength 
 
 To keep th' impatience of his nature down, 
 
 Until the mantling blushes crimsoned o'er 
 
 His Jeannie's face, and, with a sob, her head 
 
 Fell on his shoulder, and a whispered " Yes " 
 
 Stole from her lips. 
 
12 ARNO'S VALE 
 
 The sun was in the West, — 
 The heavy-laden bee, returning, hummed 
 As, on his homeward way, to rest he sped, — 
 The cooing dove sang gently to his mate, 
 To soothe her cares of new maternity, — 
 The primroses and cowslips drooped their heads, 
 And, as they closed them for the night's repose, 
 Sent out their grateful incense of the day, 
 And perfumed all the balmy evening's air. 
 No zephyr even stirred a single leaf ; 
 The purple mountain-tops were tipped with gold, 
 Reflecting back the setting sun's bright rays ; 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 13 
 
 The valleys, all in sombre shadow wrapt, 
 Seemed new, and fresh fantastic forms to take, 
 As the declining day cast shades around. 
 
 Locked arm in arm Wilfred and Jeaunie went 
 
 On their way home, happy ; and, as they walked, 
 
 Spoke in soft whispers of their future plans ; 
 
 How they would live from the gay world apart, 
 
 And spend their lives in some secluded spot, 
 
 Where they might watch in love the bursting Spring, 
 
 And trace, through all its varied course, the year ; 
 
 And when by chance they lifted up their eyes, 
 
 The glories of the view struck both with awe, 
 
 And, turning round to look upon the scene, 
 
 Their eyes met, and in that one glance they saw 
 
14 ARNO'SVALE. 
 
 Into eacli other's souls, and read the thoughts 
 
 Of pure and holy love that dwelt therein ; 
 
 Then, as if by some hidden force impelled, 
 
 Their too-full hearts welled out into their eyes 
 
 In tears of joy ; and, pressing to his breast 
 
 His not unwilling bride, Wilfred broke forth :— 
 
 " How fair and comely is this world of ours, 
 
 " Which I did scorn before I better knew 
 
 " To prize it, and to take pleasure in 
 
 " Its many beauties, which thou, dear love, 
 
 " By thy bright qualities, hast taught me now 
 
 " To value as I ought. Oh ! lovely spouse, 
 
 " My failing utterance doth bid me stop 
 
 " From telling thee the charms which o'er my life 
 
 " Thy love has cast ; and for interpreter 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 15 
 
 " Of what I feel and fain would say, 
 
 " Must trust to the self-teaching of thy heart 
 
 " To read my thoughts aright ! But look around — 
 
 " How suited to our loves is this sweet spot ! v 
 
 Wilfred and Jeannie had their troth exchanged, 
 
 And, ere the night had past, Jeannie's father, 
 
 Pleased at her choice, had given his consent ; 
 
 And thus in courtship passed the months of Spring, 
 
 Until the Summer time had come. 
 
16 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 Far up fair Arno's Vale there stands a Church 
 Of high antiquity. Its heavy porch, 
 With woodbine and Avith roses overgrown, 
 Is suited well to match the rustic taste 
 In which the house of worship has been built. 
 Large spreading trees o'ershadow the grave-yard, 
 Full of old tombstones, roughly hewn and cut, 
 And here and there a sculptured monument, 
 Of ancient date, looks proudly down on them. 
 All 'round the lofty mountain ranges rise, 
 Closing the valley in. A rustling brook, 
 Near to the Church, brawls in its rocky bed, 
 
ARNO'SVALE. 17 
 
 And dashes o'er a small cascade into 
 A dark-green pool beneath— the loved resort 
 Of all the tinny tribe, who, free from fear 
 Of man, disport them in the crystal flood. 
 And in the belfry's ivy-covered height 
 Flocks of small birds build their frail nests, 
 Rearing in full security their young. 
 
 Down from the Church the road, hedged in with May 
 
 And poplar trees, close by the stream does lead, 
 
 And, following all its tortuous course, 
 
 Winds through the vale, until an ancient bridge 
 
 Bears it across a steep and narrow way 
 
 To the rude country inn, with swinging sign, 
 
 The usher of the village and its pride. 
 
18 ARNO'S VALE 
 
 Hard by the bridge a cottage stood, embowered 
 
 In roses and in blooming jessamine, 
 
 Which o'er its front had crept until you scarce 
 
 Could see the windows through their foliage thick. 
 
 Its garden, small, well stocked with flowers, stretched out 
 
 In sunny slope, down to the silv'ry stream, 
 
 Bearing the promise of a heavy crop 
 
 To come, — for then the Summer was still young. 
 
 From out its open casement laughter rang : 
 
 'Twas Jeannie's wedding-day ! and, dressed in white, 
 
 More beauteous than the budding rose in Spring, 
 
 She waited, with an anxious, throbbing heart, 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 19 
 
 The distant ringing of the marriage-bell, 
 
 To call her to the Church ; and all the friends 
 
 Of her young school-girl days stood 'round, in white, 
 
 A group of blooming maidens. In the hall 
 
 Her aged father sat, well pleased to know 
 
 His daughter happy, and yet feeling sad 
 
 That all those smiles he had so fondly loved — 
 
 Those winning ways and gentle sweetnesses 
 
 That ever in past times his Jeannie made 
 
 The stay and comfort of his waning years — 
 
 Were now to fly forever from his hearth, 
 
 And that another was to claim as his 
 
 The child his widowed heart had cherished ; 
 
 And as he mused, the tears coursed down his cheeks. 
 
 Still he was proud that he who'd gained her love 
 
20 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 Was no unworthy match, but one who stood 
 Foremost among his fellows — a soldier 
 Of bright promise. 
 
 Whilst thus alone he sat 
 His daughter came, radiant with smiles of joy, 
 To kiss him, and to say that now it was 
 Full time they left, and went then to the Church, 
 As all the company before had gone, 
 And waited for their coming there ; that she 
 Was ready. But, as she spoke, her father's 
 Look of deep sorrow touched her, and her heart, 
 Before so gay, felt heavy when she thought 
 Qf all his tender love in bygone years ; 
 And kneeling down she took his hand in hers, 
 Then pressed it to her lips and said : " Father, 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 21 
 
 " That I have ever loved with all the love 
 
 " Of my young girl's fond heart, and still do love 
 
 "And cherish, think not that, although I wed 
 
 " The man who has my woman's love entire, 
 
 " I ever can forget thee, father kind." 
 
 And on his knees she hid her face, and w^ept 
 
 In heavy grief; but he, soothing her, said: 
 
 u Arise, my child. That we should sorrow much 
 
 f To part, is right ; yet that it must be so 
 
 u I've felt since first I saw thy form assume 
 
 l The grace of womanhood ; and I, my child, 
 
 u Do know full well thy heart's affections kind ; 
 
 " For as no mother's fostering care thou knew'st, 
 
 u My rough wit has, by tending thee, been brought 
 
 "To woman's softness. Go, and my blessing 
 
22 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 "Shall accompany thee in all thy ways. 
 " Arise : I do resign my treasure,— yes, 
 a My all, — to better keeping than my own." 
 
 To the old Church then hand in hand they went, 
 Where Wilfred waited for them at the porch, 
 And, leading Jeannie to the altar up, 
 He plighted to her there his faith, as she 
 To him, with perfect confidence and hope, 
 In full assurance of their mutual love. 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 23 
 
 JeaiiDie had been married to her Wilfred, 
 
 And three short years of happiness had spent 
 
 With him, blest in her love with two SAveet babes, 
 
 When through the land there was the cry of war, 
 
 And England's stalwart sons went forth to fight. 
 
 Then Wilfred rose, and unto Jeannie said, 
 
 That as a soldier he must join himself 
 
 To those who for their country's cause now went 
 
 To battle on a distant savage shore ; 
 
 And to his words she gave a ready ear ; 
 
 For, though she loved him better than her life, 
 
 She would have rather seen him die than hear 
 
24 ARNO'S VALE, 
 
 Men lightly of his honor speak, 
 
 Or say of him that she did love, that he, 
 
 Lost in uxorious pleasures, had forgot, 
 
 In the soft lap of luxury, to wield 
 
 His sword, or guide, as in days past, his men 
 
 To victory. Then on his neck her head 
 
 She leaned, and, weeping, told him of her love, 
 
 But said that she would willingly give up 
 
 Her life to add more honor to his name, 
 
 Which was the cherished guerdon of her heart. 
 
 And then she told him how, when he was gone, 
 
 She'd to her father's house go back, until 
 
 He came again to bless her with his love. 
 
 And he was proud of her devotion true, 
 
 As she of him, admiring her with all 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 25 
 
 The fondness lie had ever felt since first 
 
 He gained her simple heart in Arno's Vale. 
 
 " Best of women, kindest of wives," he said, 
 
 " When first I knew thee I did doubt if thou 
 
 " Couldst e'er have won me from my wayward self, 
 
 " And oft I doubted, as I saw thy smile, 
 
 " Lest 'neath its seeming kindness falseness lurked ; 
 
 " And then thou taughtest me, by simple love 
 
 " And self-denying sacrifice, a truth 
 
 " That I in vain had sought for in the world, — 
 
 " Searching the topmost branches for the fruit 
 
 " Which in the middle branch is found the best, — 
 
 " That to be loved, a man must love in truth. 
 
 " But thou hast taught me more than this,— that love 
 
 " Can sacrifice itself ;. and with thy love, 
 
26 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 " As witli a talisman, secure I go ; 
 
 " And though to leave thee is my greatest grief, 
 
 " Thy words have consolation yielded me, 
 
 " For, if I fall, I know that I shall live 
 
 " With thee embalmed in thy sweet memory." 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 27 
 
 The sky with angry clouds was overcast, 
 
 And down in torrents poured the pelting rain ; 
 
 The yellow stream rushed wildly past the house ; 
 
 And the low moaning winds made symphony 
 
 With the loud thunder rumbling far away 
 
 In the lone hills. The drooping cattle sought 
 
 Beneath the leafless trees a shelter slight ; 
 
 The weary traveller, bedrenched, looked round, 
 
 Hoping to find some hospitable roof 
 
 To shield him from the fury of the storm. 
 
 The shades of night had just begun to cast 
 
 Their heavy mantle dark o^er all the vale. 
 
28 ARNO'S VALE 
 
 Close by a blazing fire sat Jeannie, sad ; 
 A careless infant gambolled at her feet ; 
 Another, younger still, played on her knees, 
 And as he tried her notice to attract 
 A passing smile lit up her countenance, 
 Then o'er her face the look of sorrow crept 
 Again ; and as her father saw her so 
 He sighed, but spake no word, for he was sad 
 As well as she ; and when he read the news 
 Of battles won he often feared for her, 
 Lest in the lists of wounded of those fights 
 The name of Wilfred should appear. This day 
 
ARXO'S VALE. 29 
 
 His fears had proved too just, and he did dread 
 
 That Jeannie now a widow near him sat. 
 
 'Twas in the time when on the Black Sea shores 
 
 War bitter raged between the Czar and those 
 
 Who fought for right against the right of force ; 
 
 And in the pages of the day there was 
 
 The tale of a great fight by Inkermann, 
 
 In which a handful of brave men had fought 
 
 And conquered all the legions of the North, 
 
 Doing there deeds of bravery beyond 
 
 Whate'er by ancient poets has been sung. 
 
 The first gray light of morning glimmering shone 
 Through the thick mist that lay upon the earth, 
 When on the sentry's ear there broke the sound 
 
30 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 As of the measured tramp of armed men 
 And the dull rumbling of artillery 
 Advancing to the spot on which he stood. 
 But though he heard, he could discern nothing, 
 For all around him hung a heavy fog. 
 Then suddenly the vapour rolled away, 
 And in the valley at his feet he saw 
 The dark-grey columns of the enemy 
 In densest masses close together packed, 
 And scarce could give the signal of attack 
 Before they rushed to seize the post he held. 
 And then the struggle dire for life began 
 Between 'the Russian and the British troops; — 
 For on that morning England almost lost 
 The glory of her name ; but every man 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 31 
 
 Felt that lie fought the battle of his age, 
 And rather had resolved to die than yield. 
 Then came relief, and France helped England's sons 
 To win the day. 
 
 Wilfred fought in it, — 
 Had bravely borne the onset, and, wounded, 
 Lay uncared for in a vile, wretched hut, 
 Where the foul reeking odours of the sick 
 And the low groans of dying men made death 
 More sad. But the remembrance of his home, 
 And the kind, gentle love that there he knew 
 Awaited him, gave life such charms that he 
 O'ercame his sorrows, and, with death struggling, 
 Brought in his need such force of love to help 
 As saved his life. And then a woman blest 
 
32 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 Nursed him, and staunched with care his Weeding wounds 
 She was one of that band of women brave 
 Who left their families and hearths to tend 
 The sick, — women that every age must praise 
 For all that they endured in that sad time, 
 When war and plague made havoc in the ranks 
 Of Britain's troops, and brave men quailed to see 
 The flower of England's chivalry struck low. 
 
 How oft had Wilfred in his lonely tent, 
 When the dread bugle-horn called all to arms, 
 Remembered his love, and thought of Jeaunie 
 Far away, — and of those sweet faces young, 
 That in his happier days had been his joy. 
 And when roused up from a deep sleep to fight 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 33 
 
 For life and honour in the valley dark 
 
 Of Inkermann, he grieved to think that he 
 
 Might never see his Jeannie dear again : — 
 
 He yet recalled to mind her noble love ; 
 
 And he knew Avell that she who loved him would 
 
 Far rather that unblemished his fair name 
 
 To her he left, than even that he should 
 
 Return unscathed, dishonoured, to his home ; 
 
 For women love in men great bravery, 
 
 As men in women modesty most prize. 
 
 And as he thought of her and of her love 
 
 His soul was steeled to deeds of bravery, 
 
 And fearless down the mountains side he charged. 
 
 Yet death he feared not, for he oft had seen 
 
 Men die, — some on the held of battle, some 
 
34 ARNO'SVALE. 
 
 On the bed of sickness stretched, and some 
 
 Of lingering wounds and festering, cankered sores, 
 
 Had looked on corpses newly slain, and seen 
 
 The last sad smile of love around the lips 
 
 To play, as if in the dread hour of death 
 
 The sweet remembrances of by-gone days 
 
 Rose up to charm away all pain and grief, 
 
 And left imprinted on the breathless clay 
 
 The stamp of sweet tranquility alone. 
 
 The day before the fight of Inkermann 
 He had received from her a letter long, 
 In which she told him of her household cares, 
 And that she felt so lone without his love 
 To comfort her ; and how the Winter nights, 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 35 
 
 Dreary with howling winds and drizzling sleet, 
 
 Impressed her sadly as she looked upon 
 
 Her blazing fire, and thought of him away, 
 
 And suffering in the cold Crimean wastes ; 
 
 And then she ended thus in loving strain : — 
 
 " Dearest husband, thou dost know as well as I 
 
 " How my poor foolish heart repines to be 
 
 " Thus left alone, and I need scarcely say 
 
 " That it does ever yearn for thee, because 
 
 " Thou know'st full well my love ; but yet I feel 
 
 " Thine honour as mine own, which I would keep 
 
 " Untarnished from a single speck of blame ; 
 
 " And though my heart does bleed to think that thou 
 
 " Must from me absent be for some time yet, 
 
 " I still do wish that thou shouldst win the praise 
 
 6 
 
36 
 
 ARNO' S VALE. 
 
 " Of men ; and then I dream of thy return, 
 ' And, dreaming, press my baby to my breast, 
 ' And sigh to have thee at my side that I 
 " Might lavish on thee all the love that burns 
 ' Withiu my woman's heart for thee, — a love 
 " Bej^ond the mother's for her sucking child." 
 And as he read this letter from his wife 
 He felt that all that he could do to add 
 Fresh lustre to his name would fall far short 
 Of the deservings of his wife ; and when, 
 After the battle past, he wounded lay, 
 And thought at length the hour of death was come. 
 He dreamt of Jeannie and her love, happy 
 That if he died he died for love of her 
 Who first had given her love entire to him. 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 37 
 
 Wilfred was better, and at Scutari, 
 
 An in valid, — one among many sick, — 
 
 Yet he could wander with slight help along 
 
 The cliffs, and feast his eyes on the bright view 
 
 Of the fair Princes' Isles, that seem to be, 
 
 Gems of the azure deep, and turn his gaze 
 
 To Stamboul's thousand minarets and domes, 
 
 And look upon the virgin's tower ; and oft 
 
 At dusk he'd sit upon the battlement 
 
 To hear the tales of ancient times as they 
 
 Were told to him by one well versed in 
 
 The lore of all that coast, Avhilst on his ear 
 
38 ARNO'S VALE, 
 
 "Would break in sad and solemn symphony 
 The Muezzin at dusk, or later still 
 The boatman's chant, as, coming cheerful 
 From his daily work, he sang rude music 
 To the plashing of his oar. 
 
 Eight in the centre of the stream where meet 
 The waters of the Bosphorus and those 
 That flow along the Golden Horn, and where 
 The sea of Marmora does take its rise, 
 There stands upon a solitary rock 
 A tower, washed by the waves on every side,- 
 And story says that in that tower a maid 
 Of royal lineage, in days long past, 
 Was kept a prisoner because she loved, 
 
ARNO' S VALE. 
 
 And that she there did pine away her life 
 In thinking of her love, nor feared t' avow 
 The passion of her heart, although she knew 
 That he she loved could never see her more, 
 But had been forced to fly V escape the wrath 
 Of her fierce father ; — and the poets sing 
 That he, true to his plighted troth, did die 
 Fighting a rebel in the rebels' camp, 
 Nor ever let his fancy swerve from her 
 That he had sworn to love in youthful days ; — 
 And that when he did die, a pigeon, white 
 As is the driven snow on Ida's Mount, 
 Flew to the tower, aud, perching on the breast 
 Of the poor prisoner, there fluttered out 
 His life in love upon her bosom fair. 
 
40 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 And Wilfred saw the feast of Ramazan, 
 
 When all the Moslems fast the day, but make 
 
 At night a high carousal, lighting up 
 
 The darkness with bright lamps, when every mosqu 
 
 Within the wide extended Paynim rule 
 
 Has its tall minarets with lanterns hung ; — 
 
 And Stamboul sparkles with its myriad lights 
 
 Like a bright fairy scene reflected in 
 
 The placid waters of the Golden Horn, 
 
 And tells its beauties thus twice o'er, as if 
 
 It were a city by enchantment raised. 
 
 And then the Friday after Bairani came. 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 41 
 
 The Golden Horn with gay caiques was full, 
 And Stamboul sent her motley crowd to spend 
 Their day at Europe's famous waters sweet. 
 The ships were clad in all their best, bedecked 
 With flags. And fair Circassian beauties there 
 Were seen, let out from the Hareem to taste 
 For once the pleasures of this human life 
 Beneath the guardianship of swarthy men, 
 And sat in joyous circles on the grass, 
 Dressed out in Ferejees of gaudy silk, 
 Watching the dance of gipsy girls as they 
 Glided around and bent their supple forms 
 In cadence to their native music wild. 
 And near them sat in solemn groups the men, 
 Smoking in gravity their long chiboukes, 
 
42 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 Or quaffing coffee out of slender cups. 
 
 Whilst Arab horses of the purest breed, 
 
 Richly caparisoned in cloth of gold, 
 
 Impatient pawed the ground and, snorting, neighed, 
 
 Angry that thus inactive they were kept. 
 
 And there were families besides, of Greeks, 
 
 Who, with a motley group of men from all 
 
 The regions of the earth assembled there, 
 
 Had come in search of pleasure or of gain. 
 
 Then Wilfred was ordered home, — had passed alom 
 
 The Hellespont, and in Besika Bay 
 
 At anchor waited for some other sick 
 
 That from Abydos were to join them there ; 
 
 And, as at eve he paced the deck, he saw 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 The gorgeous sunset of the East bathe all 
 
 The sea in such a flood of liedit that in 
 
 A mass of living fire its bosom seemed, 
 
 As the long waves upheaved its surface smooth, — 
 
 To be one lake of liquid, molten gold ; 
 
 And in the clouds, as if suspended there, 
 
 Mount Athos, sacred over all the East, 
 
 Appeared a leaden-colored cone against 
 
 The brightness of the western sky opposed ; 
 
 And Tenedos, and Mitylene, and all 
 
 The neighbouring isles and coasts embedded lay, 
 
 Like amethysts of purest hue in the 
 
 Bright waters of the flaming deep immersed. 
 
 And when, at dawn, he rose to cast a last, 
 
 Long, loving glance upon Troy's plain, he then 
 
 7 
 
44 ARNO'SVALE. 
 
 First knew how truthful was that ancient bard 
 Who sung in blindness of those scenes that now 
 Before him lay,— and all his soul was fired, 
 When o'er the waters came a barque, to see 
 How in each ripple of their flashing oars 
 The rosy tint of early dawn shone forth. 
 
 Three weeks had past, and Albion's cliffs appear, 
 And every heart in the vast ship beats quick 
 To think that it is near its home once more. 
 What music is there in that magic word, 
 That thrills through every bosom when it hears 
 The sacred name of Home ! a name endeared 
 By every tie that makes life worth a care ! 
 Who, that has ever felt a mother's love, 
 
ARNO'S VALE. 45 
 
 Can e'er forget the gentle sympathy 
 
 And tender self-devotion of her kind 
 
 Affection pure ? But dearer still the love 
 
 Of woman when she gives herself to him 
 
 Who wins her heart. And Wilfred knew that he 
 
 Was waited for by one that would have given 
 
 Her life's blood willingly to smooth away 
 
 One wrinkle from his brow, — she loved him so. 
 
 And, as to England's shores he neared, he felt 
 
 As if he would have flown, if he but could, 
 
 To Jeannie, on her bosom there to rest 
 
 From all the sorrows that he had passed through 
 
 Since, eighteen months before, he left his home. 
 
 And as he thought of her the ship to him 
 
 Seemed in her course to lag ; and he was sad 
 
46 ARNO'S VALE. 
 
 When night fell on them ere that they had reachec 
 
 The port, although the thousand lights along 
 
 The busy coast might well have told him that 
 
 They were awaited with impatience there. 
 
 And as he looked upon the silent deep 
 
 A boat from out the darkness stole to where 
 
 They were, and hailed the ship. His heart beat quick,- 
 
 He knew not why, — yet by the lantern's light 
 
 He saw a female figure in the boat. 
 
 One look — he knew 'twas she. He felt as if 
 
 His life in a short moment's compass was 
 
 Lived o'er again, and all the past forgot. 
 
 He rushed to meet his Jeannie ; — she was there ! — 
 
 And, to his bosom pressing her, he kissed 
 
 Her anxious cares away, and thanked high heaven 
 
ARNO'SVALE. 47 
 
 That now he was once more near her who was 
 To him the only treasure of his life. 
 And then they went to Arno's Vale again, 
 To part no more. 
 
I dreamt of thee in the still of the night ; 
 
 I thought that thou, my love, Avert nigh ; 
 
 And I dreamt that I walked in the pale moonlight 
 
 A rustling streamlet by. 
 
 Then I dreamt that I clasped thee to my heart, 
 
 And thou never said'st me nay; 
 
 So we sat us down on a mossy part 
 
 Of the bank, close by the way. 
 
A SERENADE. 49 
 
 And I told thee, love, of my passion strong ; 
 Thou smiledst so kindly on me ; 
 When I waked from my dream, and it was long 
 From the breaking of the day. 
 
 Then I rose up straight from my troubled sleep 
 
 And I wandered out in the night, 
 
 Sadly straying to where, through the darkness deep, 
 
 Thy night-lamp shone out bright ; 
 
 And I worshiped that light that told me where 
 
 My soul's own treasure slept. 
 
 But, alas ! though I knew my love was there, 
 
 In my heavy grief I wept ; 
 
 For I could not tell thee I stood below, 
 
 Nor call thee, love, down to me, 
 
50 A SERENADE. 
 
 And sad, bitter tears from my heart did flow 
 That I could not speak to thee. 
 
 My life, love, is ebbing fast every day, 
 
 And a chill comes over my heart 
 
 Whenever from thee I'm forced away, — 
 
 It is so sad to part. 
 
 But thou, love, must charm my life back again, 
 
 And those rosy lips must kiss 
 
 Away from my heart its dull, heavy pain, 
 
 And my sorrow change to bliss ; 
 
 For my passion must find response in thine, 
 
 And thy heart, too, must burn for me 
 
 With the scorching flame that is wasting mine, 
 
 My own dearest love, for thee ! 
 
JUST PUBLISHED, 
 
 P H I L P'S 
 
 WASHINGTON" DESCRIBED: 
 
 CONTAINING A COMPLETE 
 
 HAND-BOOK FOR THE TOURIST: 
 
 With Many Valuable Notices, Historical, Topographical, and Scientific, of the 
 
 SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. 
 Hound in Cloth, with a Map and Fine Illustrations. Price, One Dollar. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 I. — Geography and Natural History : Comprising the Topography, Geology, Hydrography, 
 Zoology, Ornithology, Ichthyology, Reptilia, Entomology, Conchology, Botany, Climatology, 
 Health, and Progress of Population. 
 
 II. — History. — A complete view of the location of the Seat of Government; its early history; 
 a history of the City of Washington, and a carefully prepared statement of facts con- 
 nected with the Capture of the Federal Metropolis by the British. 
 
 III.— Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Departments of the Government : 
 Embracing an elaborate description of the various Pcblic Buildings, with beautiful illus- 
 trations ; a history of the Departments; a statement of their respective duties; and many 
 objects of public interest confided to their keeping. This Chapter will be found to contain 
 the most complete Guide-Book ever published to The Capitol and Congress, The Exec- 
 utive Mansion, The Departments of State, War, Navy, Treasury, Interior (including 
 the Patent Office and various other Bureaus), The General Post-Office, National Ob- 
 servatory, Coast Survey, Navy Yard ; Military, Blind, and Insane Asylums, The Arsenal, 
 Smithsonian Institution, &c, &c, &c. 
 
 IV.— The City of Washington.— This Chanter traces the history of the City; describes the 
 Public Buildings and important Associations ; gives a full Directory to the Lodges of F. 
 and A. Masons and I. O. Odd Fellows ; points out the prominent objects of interest and 
 places of resort; and describes the best private collections of paintings to which accesa 
 may be obtained, with many other valuable items. 
 
 V. — Georgetown. — A description and history of this sister city to Washington is furnished. 
 
 VI. — The Etiquette of Official Intercourse.— The information in this portion of the volume 
 is of the highest value and has received the sanction of the first circles of society. 
 
 VII. — Places of Interest in the Vicinity. — Alexandria, Fort Washington, Mount Vernon, 
 The Little Falls, The Great Falls, and Bladensburgh, are described. 
 
 VIII.— Miscellaneous. — Under this heading there will be found the results of long experience 
 and much research upon many points interesting to every American and Foreigner. 
 
 STUDIES OE THE EARTH: 
 
 %\\ €ssag on tin figure una Surface — Jlibisions of the dartjj; 
 
 Its Geological and Meteorological Phenomena, and its Astronomical Element*. 
 By SAMUEL ELLIOTT COUES. 
 
 Price, $2 50. 
 
 PHILP & SOLOMONS, 
 
 Metropolitan Bookstore, 
 
 Sole Agents for Lawrence's Celebrated Stationery, Metropolitan Mills, &c, &c 
 882 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington. 
 
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