bade to taste. Soon as Aurora's fires
"Remov'd the shades of night, and Phoebus' rays
"From the moist earth the dew exhal'd, they meet
"As 'custom'd at the wall: lamenting deep,
"As wont in murmuring whispers: bold they plan,
"Their guards evading in the silent night,
"To pass the outer gates. Then, when escap'd
"From home, to leave the city's dangerous shade;
"But lest, in wandering o'er the spacious plains
"They miss to meet, at Ninus' sacred tomb
"They fix their assignation,--hid conceal'd
"Beneath th' umbrageous leaves. There grew a tree,
"Close bordering on a cooling fountain's brink;
"A stately mulberry;--snow-white fruit hung thick
"On every branch. The plot pleas'd well the pair.

"And now slow seems the car of Sol to sink;
"Slow from the ocean seems the night to rise;
"Till Thisbe, cautious, by the darkness veil'd,
"Soft turns the hinges, and her guards beguiles.
"Her features veil'd, the tomb she reaches,--sits
"Beneath th' appointed tree: love makes her bold.
"Lo! comes a lioness,--her jaws besmear'd
"With gory foam, fresh from the slaughter'd herd,
"Deep in th' adjoining fount her thirst to slake.
"Far off the Babylonian maid beheld
"By Luna's rays the horrid foe,--quick fled
"With trembling feet, and gain'd a darksome cave:
"Flying, she dropp'd, and left her robe behind.

"Now had the savage beast her drought allay'd,
"And backward to the forest roaming, found
"The veiling robe;--its tender texture rent,
"And smear'd the spoil with bloody jaws. The youth
"(With later fortune his strict watch escap'd)
"Spy'd the plain footsteps of a monster huge
"Deep in the sand indented!--O'er his face
"Pale terror spread: but when the robe he saw,
"With blood besmear'd, and mangled; loud he cry'd,--
"One night shall close two lovers' eyes in death!
"She most deserving of a longer date.
"Mine is the fault alone. Dear luckless maid!
"I have destroy'd thee;--I, who bade thee keep
"Nocturnal meetings in this dangerous place,
"And came not first to shield thy steps from harm.
"Ye lions, wheresoe'er within those caves
"Ye lurk! haste hither,--tear me limb from limb!
"Fierce ravaging devour, and make my tomb
"Your horrid entrails. But for death to wish
"A coward's turn may serve. The robe he takes,
"Once Thisbe's, and beneath th' appointed tree
"Bearing it, bath'd in tears; with ardent lips
"Oft fondly kissing,