One dearest pair of eyes I love! 
  Entranced my heart beneath their spell—­
Clearer than clearest ray they are,
  But where they are—­I will not tell!

Through silk of wondrous lashes soft,
  Their burning beams are flashing bright,
Upon my knees, a slave I kneel—­
  Before those miracles of light.

The storm is growing in my soul,
  Tempest of pain and happiness—­
I love one dearest pair of eyes,
  But whose they are—­I’ll not confess!

GIPSY SONG.

A GIPSY SONG

Pile of embers in the darkness,
  Sparks expire as they fly—­
Night conceals us from the passing,
  On the bridge we’ll say good-by!

At the parting, shawl of crimson
  Cross my shoulders thou shalt lace,
At an end the days swift passing,
  Met within this shaded place.

In the morning, with first splendour,
  All my life compelled to rove—­
I shall leave with other gipsies
  Seeking happiness and love.

How does fate foretell my future? 
  Who, to-morrow by my side,
O’er my heart will loose with kisses
  Knots by thy dear hand fast tied?

Flash of embers in the darkness,
  Sparks expire as they fly—­
Night conceals us from the passing,
  On the bridge we’ll kiss good-by!

POLONSKY.

AT LAST

No word,—­not e’en a sigh, my darling! 
  Together now the silence keeping;
In truth as o’er some grave stone leaning
  The silent willows low are weeping,
And drooping o’er it so are reading—­
  I read in thy tired heart at last,
That days of happiness existed,
  And that this happiness is past.

PLESTCHEEFF.

BY AN OPEN WINDOW

So sultry is the hour I throw the casement wide,
  Fall on my knees beside it in the gloom,
And cowering before me lies the balmy night,
  Wafted aloft the breath of lilac bloom. 
The nightingale her plaint from a near thicket sobs,
  I listen to the singer, share the woe—­
With a longing for my home within me waking,
  The home I looked on last so long ago! 
And the nightingales of home with their familiar song! 
  And lilacs in my childhood gardens fair! 
How the languors of the night possess my being,
  Restoring my lost youth on perfumed air!

THE GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINE.

WITH THE GREATNESS OF GOD

With the greatness of God all my heart is on fire! 
  Such a beauty to earth does He lend—­
He created eternity for our desire,
  To our torment has given an end.

NADSON.

THE POET