Yusuf and Zuleikha (Excerpt 1)

The ravens of the night were hushed, The bird of dawn began his lay, The rosebud, newly awakened, blushed To feel the touch of springing day, And bade the roses round unveil, Roused by the warbling nightingale. The jasmine stood all bathed in dew; Wet were the violet's lids of blue. Zuleika, fairer than the flowers, Lay tranced---for 'twas not sleep that stole Her senses, through the night's still hours, And raised new visions to her soul. The heart unfettered, free to rove, Turned toward the idol of her love. No---'twas not sleep, 'twas motionless, Unbroken thought, repressed in vain; The shadow of the day's distress, A frenzy of remembered pain. But, 'midst those pangs, what rapture still; The same dear form is ever there; Those eyes the rays of Eden fill And odors of the blest distill From every curl of that bright hair! His smiles!---such smiles as houris wear When from their caves of pearl they come, And bid the true believer share The pleasures of their sacred home. See, on his shoulder shines a star That glows and dazzles as he moves: She feels its influence afar, She gazes, worships, hopes---and loves!