The Venetian Marriage

The western sun's expiring ray To VENICE gave a milder day; Till by degrees the ling'ring light Hung trembling on the verge of night. CAMILLA then, with fearful soul, To th' Adriatic margin stole, Where in a bark, at Love's command, PLACENTIO took his faithful stand, Possessing now his future bride, He bade the bark securely glide, Which far unlike that gally show'd That down the silver Cydnus row'd, Beneath whose purple sails were seen, Proud Ostentiation's gaudy Queen, Who sure of conquest, vain of mind, All languishingly lay reclined! Here Beauty undefil'd by art, Whose bosom own'd a tender heart, Beneath the sails from home remov'd, And trusted to the man she lov'd.

A soothing calmness lull'd the deep, And hush'd each wavy surge to sleep: The air along the sultry day, Scorch'd by the summer's fervent ray, Was freshen'd by a recent show'r, While Silence solemniz'd the hour.

The still solemnity impress'd With awful thoughts CAMILLA'S breast, For now by prompting Love impell'd, Now by Timidity witheld, The words which to pronounce she tried, Recoil'd, and unaccented died. PLACENTO too alike subdued, They sail'd along in silent mood, And stillness reign'd from shore to shore, Unbroke—but by the dashing oar.

At length the fair dissolv'd the charm— 'Ah, wonder not I feel alarm! 'Confiding in thy love I came, 'And risk'd for thee my virgin fame: 'Ah tell me to what place we sail, 'For in my bosom fears prevail: 'Yet answer not this idle fear, 'Where'er thou art bright Honour's there'.

'The plan I form, the youth replied 'To Innocence is close allied 'And fearful of thy virgin fame 'As of her babe the tender dame. 'These waves that wander to the sea 'Wash in their pilgrimage a tree, 'Which spreads its lowly branches wide, 'And dips them in the passing tide: 'There, in a shed compos'd of reeds, 'An aged hermit tells his beads: 'He, gen'rous sage, will join our hands 'In wedlock's unremitting bands. 'Then to VALCLUSA we'll repair, 'Where LAURA's soul informs the air: 'Where PETRARCH's spirit hovers round, 'The guardian of the sacred ground, Forbidding still that fiend of art, 'That shrewd perverter of the heart, 'The snake, Inconstancy, to rove 'Within the paradise of Love.

'As when chill Winter quits the land, 'The snow-drop does her leaves expand, 'So may chill fears your breast release, 'Till gently it expands to peace, 'Mild as these twilight breezes blow, 'Soft as the waves on which we flow.'

'Ye walls where first I drew the air, 'Return'd (assur'd) the beauteous fair; 'Ye turrets which but dimly seen 'Encrease the terrour of the scene! 'Ye stately tow'rs! and rising spires! 'From you CAMILLA now retires.

'Thou tomb whose pious urn contains 'My sacred parents' cold remains: 'Ye partners of my tender years, 'Whom youthful sympathy endears: 'Ye joys that crown my native coast, 'Well for PLACENTIO all are lost.

She ceas'd—and on her pensive soul Agian an awful musing stole, Such as the twilight scene excites, Such as the feeling heart delights; For as the coy nocturnal flow'r No more its sweets at eve witholds, So the meek heart at th' evening hour Its sensibility unfolds.

See now they reach the sacred cell Where Wisdom, Peace, and Virtue dwell: There, bent beneath the weight of age, They find prepar'd th' expecting sage. He hail'd them in a friendly tone, And bade them call his cell their own: Where rose an altar form'd of moss, Crown'd with a simple wooden cross! There too a taper, mildly bright, Supplied a pompous glare of light: No holy relick rich-enchas'd This humble low-roof'd temple grac'd. But flow'rets from the neighb'ring wood, The unambitious altar strew'd: For incense they exhal'd perfume, For ornament they gave their bloom. The hermit spoke—'Hail virtuous pair, May sorrow now your bosom spare: 'Tho' youth be yours, yet well I know 'You've tasted deep of human woe! 'Control, and art, and baseness join'd, 'To cancel what your hearts design'd: 'But now Misfortune's reign is o'er, 'And Pleasure opens all her store.'

See now the youthful pair unite, To meet the hymeneal rite: Pronouncing as they lowly bow, Warm from the heart, the hallow'd vow: At length the hermit joins their hands In willing and unvenal bands, Unspotted bands! which mutual Love, And Confidence and Virtue wove.