THE night was dark, the hollow winds
Rush’d through the falling leaves;
For autumn shed her yellow hue,
And ting’d the verdant trees.
Long had the dew-drops from the skies
Denied their nurt’ring pow’r;
The earth was parch’d–the forest dry–
And faded was each flow’r.
The rapid forming clouds proclaim’d
A storm approaching near;
The forked lightning darting quick,
Inspir’d the breast with fear!
The deep-ton’d thunder swift pursu’d
The elemental rays;
And scarce one second interven’d,
Between the sound and blaze!
Oh! ’twas a night–when guilty souls
Are struck with horror’s dread;
And innocence dare scarcely sleep
Secure upon its bed!
Ethelbert, on this dreary night,
Had wander’d long and far;
No house appear’d–to shelter him–
He saw no polar star:
Yet ‘midst the elemental shock,
His mind was still and calm;
Approving Conscience shed her light,
Her sweet, consoling balm!
“Great God!” he cried, “in thee I trust!
On thy support rely!
But if it is thy mighty will,
That this night I should die,
“Forgive the errors of my youth!
Pardon the faults I’ve done!
Sins of omission–oft I feel;
Yet crimes–thank thee!–I’ve none!
But if the creature thou hast form’d,
Might venture to implore;
Oh! let the lightning’s lucid glare
Spare her –whom I adore!
“If delegated angels guard
The virtuous and the wise ;
Then–then is my Louisa safe,
‘Midst those terrific skies!
“Yet timid is her spotless soul,
Though guilt she never knew;
Angels themselves–are not more pure ,
More perfect ,–or more true!
“Oh! should her form be now expos’d
To this tempestuous night,
Fear would destroy the lovely maid,
She’d sink–beneath affright!”
Thus spoke Ethelbert–whilst the blast
Howl’d horrid o’er his head;
At length, majestic rose the moon,
Her rays effulgent spread.
The tempest for some minutes ceas’d,
Whilst Cynthia’s silver ray
Became a guide–conducting him
Into the proper way.
He thought her light display’d a form
Extended near a tree;
“Great God!” he cried, “’tis sure my love!
“My angel! that I see.”
Like arrow from the bow discharg’d,
He flew with eager speed;
Appalling sight!–and sad to tell!
Louisa –’twas indeed!
Her pallid form was stretch’d beneath
The branches of an oak;
He caught her in his circling arms,
But ah! in vain he spoke.
“My life! my love! my soul’s delight!”
Alternate he exclaim’d;
But terror –or the hand of death ,
Silenc’d the lovely maid!
Fresh peals of thunder rent the air,
New flashes burst the skies;
Far from the tree–Ethelbert bore
His senseless–lifeless prize!
Scarce had he mov’d her to a spot
That seem’d to him more free
From danger–than he saw a blast
Shatter the fated tree!
Transports–beyond the pow’r of words
To paint, or to describe,
Then fill’d the breast of Ethelbert–
Louisa–was alive!
For, as he press’d her to his heart,
The maiden op’d her eyes;
But fearful was the sight she saw,
Joy–terror–and surprise
Restrain’d at first the pow’r of speech;
At length–“My God,” said she,
“How has existence been prolong’d?
How came I from the tree? “
“The God we serve,” Ethelbert said,
“An agent’s power conferr’d;
I saw thy danger–and I flew;
“But heav’n –thy life preserv’d.
“And ere we leave this fearful spot,
Let us, my love, in pray’r
Return Omnipotence our thanks,
For making thee –his care!”
Near to the blasted tree they drew,
And prostrate at his shrine,
Breath’d to their God a grateful pray’r,
An orison divine!
This done–Ethelbert once more press’d
The maiden to his heart;
“‘Tis heav’n ,” said he, “has join’d us now ,
And we will never part!”
“Yes heav’n, my friend, has surely join’d;
And virtues bright like thine,
Will be reflected , Ethelbert,
When I am wholly thine .
“To-morrow shall the priest unite
Our hands, our souls, and heart,
And never from my Ethelbert
Will I consent to part!”
And prostrate at his shrine,
Breath’d to their God a grateful pray’r
(Mary Hopkins Pilkington)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, God Poems, Life Poems, Night Poems, Light Poems, Mind Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Soul Poems, Nature Poems, Youth Poems, Sense & Perception PoemsBased on Keywords: discharg, orison, d-the, conferr, delegated, length-, d-to, silenc, deep-ton, ethelbert, then-then