TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAIC SONG,

“ Μπενω μες 'τσ' περιβόλι
Ωραιότατη Χάηδή,” &c.

THE SONG FROM WHICH THIS IS TAKEN IS A GREAT FAVOURITE WITH THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ATHENS, OF ALL CLASSES. THEIR MANNER OF SINGING IT IS BY VERSES IN ROTATION, THE WHOLE NUMBER PRESENT JOINING IN THE CHORUS. I HAVE HEARD IT FREQUENTLY AT OUR "Xopo" IN THE WINTER OF 1810-11. THE AIR IS PLAINTIVE AND PRETTY.

I.

I ENTER thy garden of roses,
Beloved and fair Haidée,
Each morning where Flora reposes,
For surely I see her in thee.
Oh, Lovely! thus low I implore thee,
Receive this fond truth from my tongue,
Which utters its song to adore thee,

Yet trembles for what it has sung;
As the branch, at the bidding of Nature,
Adds fragrance and fruit to the tree,
Through her eyes, through her every feature,
Shines the soul of the young Haidée.

II.

But the loveliest garden grows hateful
When Love has abandon'd the bowers;
Bring me hemlock — since mine is ungrateful.
That herb is more fragrant than flowers.
The poison, when pour'd from the chalice,
Will deeply imbitter the bowl;

But when drunk to escape from thy malice,
The draught shall be sweet to my soul.

Too cruel! in vain I implore thee

My heart from these horrors to save:
Will naught to my bosom restore thee?
Then open the gates of the grave.

III.

As the chief who to combat advances

Secure of his conquest before,

Thus thou, with those eyes for thy lances,

Hast pierced through my heart to its core.

Ah, tell me, my soul! must I perish

By pangs which a smile would dispel?

Would the hope, which thou once bad'st me cherish,
For torture repay me too well?

Now sad is the garden of roses,
Beloved but false Haidée !

There Flora all wither'd reposes,

And mourns o'er thine absence with me.

WRITTEN BENEATH A PICTURE.

I.

DEAR object of defeated care!

Though not of Love and thee bereft, To reconcile me with despair

Thine image and my tears are left.

II.

'T is said with Sorrow Time can cope ;
But this I feel can ne'er be true:
For by the death-blow of my Hope
My Memory immortal grew.

ON PARTING.

I.

THE kiss, dear maid! thy lip has left,
Shall never part from mine,
Till happier hours restore the gift
Untainted back to thine.

II.

Thy parting glance, which fondly beams,
An equal love may see:

The tear that from thine eyelid streams
Can weep no change in me.

III.

I ask no pledge to make me blest
In gazing when alone;

Nor one memorial for a breast,

Whose thoughts are all thine own.

WITHOUT a stone to mark the spot,
And say, what truth might well have said
By all, save one, perchance forgot,
Ah, wherefore art thou lowly laid?
By many a shore and many a sea
Divided, yet beloved in vain ;
The past, the future fled to thee

That softly said, "We part in peace," Had taught my bosom how to brook, With fainter sighs, thy soul's release. And didst thou not, since Death for thee Prepared a light and pangless dart, Once long for him thou ne'er shalt see, Who held, and holds thee in his heart? Oh! who like him had watch'd thee here? Or sadly mark'd thy glazing eye, In that dread hour ere death appear, When silent sorrow fears to sigh, Till all was past? But when no more 'T was thine to reck of human woe, Affection's heart-drops, gushing o'er, Had flow'd as fast —as now they flow. Shall they not flow, when many a day In these, to me, deserted towers, Ere call'd but for a time away,

Affection's mingling tears were ours?

Ours too the glance none saw beside;
The smile none else might understand;
The whisper'd thought of hearts allied,
The pressure of the thrilling hand;
The kiss, so guiltless and refined

That Love each warmer wish forbore;
Those eyes proclaim'd so pure a mind,
Even passion blush'd to plead for more.
The tone, that taught me to rejoice,
When prone, unlike thee to repine;
The song, celestial from thy voice,

But sweet to me from none but thine;
The pledge we wore I wear it still,
But where is thine? — ah, where art thou?
Oft have I borne the weight of ill,

But never bent beneath till now!
Well hast thou left in life's best bloom
The cup of woe for me to drain,
If rest alone be in the tomb,

I would not wish thee here again;
But if in worlds more blest than this
Thy virtues seek a fitter sphere,
Impart some portion of thy bliss,

To wean me from mine anguish here.
Teach me - too early taught by thee!
To bear, forgiving and forgiven
On earth thy love was such to me;

It fain would form my hope in heaven!

STANZAS.

I.

AWAY, away, ye notes of woe :

Be silent, thou once soothing strain,
Or I must flee from hence, for, oh!

I dare not trust those sounds again.
To me they speak of brighter days-
But lull the chords, for now, alas!
I must not think, I may not gaze
On what I am on what I was.