The+River+and+the+Maiden

By George Henry Boker
 * The River and the Maiden **

From the sunset flows the river, Melting all its waves in one; Not a ripple, not a quiver, On the flaming water, ever Poured from the descending sun.

Seeming like a pathway lately Radiant with an angel’s tread; And yon vessel, moving stately, Is the heavenly one sedately Walking with his wings outspread.

What a quiet! Through the branches, Silently the orioles skip; Not again the fish-hawk launches, Silently his plumes he stanches, Silently the sedges drip.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Other sights, and loud commotion, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Fill this tranquil stream by day; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">With a solemn swaying motion, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wave-worn ships forsake the ocean, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Bound from countries leagues away;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Odorous with their eastern spices, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Rich with gems of the Brazils, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Persian silks of quaint devices, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Nameless things of wondrous prices, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Luscious wines from Spanish hills;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Furs from the shy ermine riven, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Ingots of Peruvian mould, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Where the deadly tropic Levin <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Crashes from the blazing heaven, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Piercing earth with veins of gold.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">But amid the sacred quiet <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Of this gentle evening-time, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Toil and sin have ceased their riot; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">One might judge the awful fiat <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Were removed from Adam’s crime.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Holiest eve, thy light discloses <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Holiest things; for through the shades <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Mark I where my love reposes, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Sitting there, amid the roses, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Like a queen amid her maids.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Through the foliage, green and golden, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Round her head the sunbeams dart, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Haloing her like some saint olden; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">And a chapel calm is holden <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In the stillness of her heart.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Distant, yet I guess her singing; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Haply, some poor lay of mine, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Loud with drum and trumpet ringing, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Or of shameless goblets swinging <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In the tumult of the wine.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Wicked ballad! All unsuited <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">To the genial season’s calm, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Harsh, discordant, sin-polluted;-- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Yet by her sweet voice transmuted <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Almost to a vesper psalm.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">See, her steps are hither bending; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">This, our trysting-place, she seeks: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">All her wealth is with her wending, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In the lights and shadows blending <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Round the dimples of her cheeks;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In the eyes that melt at sorrow, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In the wisdom without wiles, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In the faith that will not borrow <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">From to-day fear of to-morrow, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In a countless store of smiles;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In the heart that cannot flutter <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">For a breath of flattery, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In the mouth that cannot utter <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Halting lie or envious mutter— <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">In her simple love for me.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Crowd yon river with your barges— <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">All the navies of the main— <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Till the loaded tide enlarges, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Till it bursts its wonted marges, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Deluging the pleasant plain;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Freight them with the precious plunder <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Of the lands beyond the sea— <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Pearls that make the diver wonder, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">All the virgin silver under <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">The great hills of Potosi;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">All the real and fabled riches <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Of the haughty Persian Khan, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">All the gold that so bewitches, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">All the gorgeous broidered stitches <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Of the girls of Hindostan;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">All the furs, the wines, the treasures, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Were they at my bidding laid, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Ten times doubled in their measures, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Ten times doubled in their pleasures, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">I would rather have the maid!

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