The Forest Sanctuary, and Other Poems/Moorish Bridal Song

by Felicia Hemans

For other versions of this work, see Moorish Bridal Song.

MOORISH BRIDAL SONG.

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It is a custom among the Moors, that a female who dies unmarried is clothed for interment in wedding apparel, and the bridal song is sung over her remains before they are borne from her home.
See the Narrative of a Ten Years' Residence in Tripoli, by the sister-in-law of Mr. Tully.

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The citron groves their fruit and flowers were strewing
Around a Moorish palace, while the sigh
Of low sweet summer-winds, the branches wooing,
With music through their shadowy bowers went by;
Music and voices, from the marble halls,

Through the leaves gleaming, and the fountain-falls.

A song of joy, a bridal song came swelling,
To blend with fragrance in those southern shades,
And told of feasts within the stately dwelling,
Bright lamps, and dancing steps, and gem-crown'd maids;
And thus it flow'd;—yet something in the lay

Belong'd to sadness, as it died away.

"The bride comes forth! her tears no more are falling
To leave the chamber of her infant years;
Kind voices from a distant home are calling;
She comes like day-spring—she hath done with tears;
Now must her dark eye shine on other flowers,

Her soft smile gladden other hearts than ours!

—Pour the rich odours round!

"We haste! the chosen and the lovely bringing;
Love still goes with her from her place of birth;
Deep silent joy within her soul is springing,
Though in her glance the light no more is mirth!
Her beauty leaves us in its rosy years;

Her sisters weep—but she hath done with tears!

—Now may the timbrel sound!"

Know'st thou for whom they sang the bridal numbers?
—One, whose rich tresses were to wave no more!
One, whose pale cheek soft winds, nor gentle slumbers,
Nor Love's own sigh, to rose-tints might restore!
Her graceful ringlets o'er a bier were spread.—

—Weep for the young, the beautiful,—the dead!"