Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 018.djvu/454

Scarce draw my breath; while there her wavy bosom
So like a woman's heaved, that wonder whisper'd me,
"Oh! have not spirits hearts like women's too?"
And long, and eagerly, and fierily
I gazed, and love grew in me; while that fear
Which ices boldest hearts in fleshless presences
Could not allay this feverish frenzy, which
Is thus part of me ever. Long, oh! long
I fed on that sweet vision; soon—too soon
It rose,—but still her open eye was settled,
And still her step was silky silent, and
Her mouth still deadly mute; and through the door
Past she. The supernatural strength, which braced me
Through that strange interview, was loosen'd. Dim
Wax'd my weak, reeling, and o'erstrained eyes;
I shiver'd, and I sicken'd, and I sank
Swooning upon the floor;—and when I rose,
The dappled east was ripening with red morn.—
Hast thou not heard enough? is not my tale
Long enough—horrible enough to thee, my brother?
Who seest Reginald de Reine a slave
To this most hopeless, awful, unearthly passion,
Which beats within my bosom—feel how strongly,
Which burns beneath my temples—feel how fiercely,
Till at the last, nor is that last long hence,
It must wear out and eat away the clay
Which cases soul and intellect. Then I
Shall become like to thee, sweet—sweet—sweet spirit,
And like as poor polluted man can be;
And find thee out, and be with thee, and lie
In the Eden of thy love. Why—why not now?—
Oh, did I call thee fiend? or think thee aught
Save angel? I am mad, and thou'lt forgive me.
When, when shall I come to join thee?
Rob.Brother, brother,
This is some dream. Ye slept; ye dreamt ye woke;
But woke not truly till ye dreamt ye swoon'd.
What further?
Reg.Further, Robert? why this further.
Wake from that dream I never shall. Whosoe'er
And whencesoe'er that spirit that enthrals me—
My being is bound to hers eternally—
The living to the dead it may be, but
Bound notwithstanding; bound—till both be dead,
Or rather living both. Oh! for that death,
When I shall be re-born! When will it come?
Rob. Brother, go watch again another night.
Wake in right earnest; sleep through all to-day;
Take opium that ye may so, if 'tis needful;
But, watch and wake to-night; and pray to Christ
To ward both waking fallacies and wild dreams.
Then if this spirit show herself again—
On the third night together we will watch;
And—if to my yet unwon sight it come—
We will address it, Reginald, and learn
The purpose of its walking.
Reg.Robert, Robert,
Thou balmest my sore soul. Then I shall see her—
See her again. To-morrow may take thought
For what concerneth it; but this—this night
Is at the worst mine own.
Rob.Stay, Reginald!