: 790

„And of the cold, dull, swimming, denso
„Sensation of recurring sensc,
„And then subsiding back to death;
,,And then again a little breath,
„A little thrill, a short suspense,

„An icy sickness curdling o'er
„My heart, and sparks that cross'd my brain
„A gasp, a throb, a start of pain,

„A sigh, and nothing more.

XIX.

I wokeرو

800

I

Where was I ? Do I see „A human face look down on me? „And doth a roof above me close ? „Do these limbs on a couch repose ? „Is this a chamber where I lie?' „And is it mortal yon bright eye, „That watches me with gentle glance ?

„I closed my own again once more, „As doubtful that the former trance

„Could not as yet be o'er. „A slender girl, long-hair'd, and tall,

,,Sate watching by the cottage wall;
,,The sparkle of her eye I caught,
,Even with my first return of thought;
„For ever and anon she threw

810 - 9A prying, pitying glance on me

„With her black eyes so wild and free: „I gazed, and gazed, until I knew

„No vision it could be, ,,But that I lived, and was released ,,From adding to the vulture's feast : „And when the Cossack maid beheld „My heavy eyes at length unseald, ,,She smiled — and I essay'd to speak,

But fail'd-and she approach'd, and made 820 „With lip and finger signs that said, 9.I must not strive as yet to break „The silence, till my strength should be „Enough to leave my accents free; „And then her hand on mine she laid, „And smooth'd the pillow for my head, „And stole along on tiptoe tread,

,,And gently oped the door, and spake

830

„In whispers ne'er was voice so sweet! „Even music follow'd her light feet; –

,,But those she call'd were not awake; „And she went forth; but, ere she pass'd, „Another look on me she cast,

„Another sign she made, to say, „That I had nought to fear, that all

at my command or call, And she would not delay „Her due return: while she was gone, „Methought I felt too much alone.

„Were near,

XX.

840

,,She came with mother and with sire
„What need of more? I will not tire
,,With long recital of the rest,
„Since I became the Cossacks' guest:
„They found me senseless on the plain

„They bore me to the nearest hut „They brought me into life again Me

one day o'er their realm to reign! „Thus the vain fool who strove to glut

„His rage, refining on my pain;
„Sent me forth to the wilderness,

850 „Bound, naked, bleeding, and alone, ',To pass the desert to a throne,

„What mortal his own doom may guess ?

„Let none despond, let none despair! „To-morrow the Borysthenes „May see our coursers graze at ease „Upon his Turkish bank, and never „Had I such welcome for a river

„As I shall yield when safely there. „Comrades, good night!" - The Hetman threw

His length beneath the oak-tree shade, 861

With leafy couch already made,
A bed nor comfortless nor new
To him, who took his rest whene'er
The hour arrived, no matter where :

His eyes the hastening slumbers steep.
And if ye marvel Charles forgot
To thank his tale, he wonder'd not,

The king had been an hour asleep.

O D E. O D