Page:The Poetical Works of William Motherwell, 1849.djvu/151

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67

Zara.

"A silvery veil of pure moonlight
Is glancing o'er the quiet water,
And oh! 'tis beautiful and bright
As the soft smile of Selim's daughter.

"Sleep, moonlight! sleep upon the wave,
And hush to rest each rising billow,
Then dwell within the mountain cave,
Where this fond breast is Zara's pillow.

"Shine on, thou blessed moon! brighter still,
Oh, shine thus ever night and morrow;
For day-break mantling o'er the hill,
But wakes my love to fear and sorrow."

'Twas thus the Spanish youth beguiled
The rising fears of Selim's daughter;
And on their loves the pale moon smiled,
Unweeting of the morrow's slaughter.