Part 20 (2/2)
The earth is all as lovely here, The sky as bright and fair, And flowers of every hue and shade Perfu sea lies at my feet, So clear, it seems a lake, And tiny waves, with snowy crest, Alone the silence break; And yet I weep from day to day For that loved home, now far away!
I almost wish 'twere not so like My loved Italian land, Its southern flowers, its gorgeous skies, Blue sea, and golden sand
For while I gaze, a whispering voice Steals sadly through ain
And I must weep, from day to day For that loved home, now far away!
I close my eyes, and fancy paints So vividly and clear, Each lovely spot, each well-known sound
Toto evening prayer; While the cheerful song of the Gondolier, Floats through the balmy air
And thus I dream till dawn of day, Of that fair home, now far away!
And yet the chain which binds me hero Is dearer far to lorious sea
For his dear love, I left them all, And while that love is mine, If dreary wastes were now ht, from day to day, Tells of my home, now far away!
But if his love should ever fade, Like twilight o'er this shore, And whisper'd words of tenderness, Now mine, be heard nomeet his eye; I'd leave him ere he form'd the wish, And leave him but to die; For I would seek, ere close of day, Death, in that home now far away
As she ceased, a tap was heard at the door; and she, bidding whoever ithout to enter, a young girl appeared, and closing the door, approached her She wore the red e plaits behind, full trousers, and a silk waistcoat, reaching to the knees Her age ht have been about fourteen, and she was very pretty, with black, flashi+ng eyes, and a figure rather full than slight, and soht, and a countenance to which health and spirits gave an animated expression, which would have e
She seated herself on a cushi+on at the feet of the young lady with an affectionate faue of modern Greece--
”Oh, do continue those sweet strains, lady Though they made me sad, I cahten the grief of yours by sharing it with you”
”Thanks, h she spoke Ro herself ”I value your love the more that I possess that of no other”
”Your sweet temper and your sweet voice have won you irl ”My young brother would die for you, I know, and randfather, Vlacco, has his heart softened towards you, I am sure”
”Does Vlacco feel pity for me? Then would he, do you think, allow us to wander forth to explore this rocky island? I a shut up in so s a time”
”I will try and persuade him, lady; and if it is not contrary to his orders I think he will allow us to go together,” returned the girl
”But you know, lady, since the futile attenor Paolo, your brother, to carry you off, you have constantly been watched”
”I know it, and therein is my misery He knoould not quit hiirl escape from this rock-bound prison except--” she paused and looked at the deep blue sea which lay at their feet--”except it were to seek that rest which can be found, by one like me, only beneath the calm bosom of yonder ocean”
”Oh, lady, let not such dreadful thoughts enter into yourup at her with a face in which pity blended with alarm ”Come, ander forth, as you wish it, far into the country; the change of scene, the fresh air, and exercise will cheer your spirits, and I arandfather will not deny our request to be allowed a little freedom”
A silk scarf and such boots as the Turkish women hen they venture abroad, co the young Greek, they descended froround was steep and narrow, and were the same which had been used in foriven way, byork slightly run up This, a few strokes of an axe would serve to destroy, and the summit of the toould be immediately rendered inaccessible The story immediately beneath the one inhabited by the lady was fitted up as a residence, though with ance There were several couches for sleeping, and a few seats and tables; but in the corners of the room furthest frooods, silks, cottons, and woollen cloths; in another, a collection of ar-pikes There were a few ses and others on swivels, such as are carried on the gunnels of shi+ps, or on the bows of boats; and there were shot and cases which looked as if they contained powder
Indeed, there was altogether a large collection of valuable goods, and arms and ammunition sufficient to protect, it if the men were found to use them In the recesses for the hich were very narroere fitted platfores on, as there were ring-bolts to which totoo far back at the recoil The s, as in the story above, looked down on the harbour, and seaward, but there was another on the land side which commanded a view of the narrow neck of land which led to the platform on which the castle stood
The lower part of the toas much in the same state in which it had been left centuries before The first story, as it were, had disappeared, so that there was an eht of two stories; and, as there were no s of any description, it appeared dark and dreary in the extreme A steep path led round it several tiatehich looked towards the sea and thethis lower division, would not have supposed, from what he could observe, that the upper part would have afforded so great a contrast by the richness and luxury displayed there On a more minute examination, however, of the basee had been raised froe jars of wine, casks of olives, cases of figs, and sacks of corn and other grain, indeed, provision sufficient to support a body of uns than those seen above, and spars, and cordage, and otherout a shi+p
The bottoirls had descended led to the side of this chamber farthest fro the bright light reigning through the upper regions, in finding their way across it The Greek then, with her little hand, struck the door as hard as she was able, to call the attention of some one without to open it; but the noise she ed to try the effect of her voice
”It is I, your grandchild, Mila Open the door, I say; open the door, Vlacco!” she exclaioing to reone off his post Now, if we could but have one out without his leave, and when he comes back, he would find the birds flown”