IX.

She, as he gazed with grateful wonder, pressed Her sheltered love to her impassioned breast; 190 And suited to her soft caresses, told An olden tale of Love,--for Love is old, Old as eternity, but not outworn With each new being born or to be born:[406] How a young Chief, a thousand moons ago, Diving for turtle in the depths below, Had risen, in tracking fast his ocean prey, Into the cave which round and o'er them lay; How, in some desperate feud of after-time, He sheltered there a daughter of the clime, 200 A foe beloved, and offspring of a foe, Saved by his tribe but for a captive's woe; How, when the storm of war was stilled, he led His island clan to where the waters spread Their deep-green shadow o'er the rocky door, Then dived--it seemed as if to rise no more: His wondering mates, amazed within their bark, Or deemed him mad, or prey to the blue shark; Rowed round in sorrow the sea-girded rock, Then paused upon their paddles from the shock; 210 When, fresh and springing from the deep, they saw A Goddess rise--so deemed they in their awe; And their companion, glorious by her side, Proud and exulting in his Mermaid bride; And how, when undeceived, the pair they bore With sounding conchs and joyous shouts to shore; How they had gladly lived and calmly died,-- And why not also Torquil and his bride? Not mine to tell the rapturous caress Which followed wildly in that wild recess 220 This tale; enough that all within that cave Was love, though buried strong as in the grave, Where Abelard, through twenty years of death, When Eloisa's form was lowered beneath Their nuptial vault, his arms outstretched, and pressed The kindling ashes to his kindled breast.[407] The waves without sang round their couch, their roar As much unheeded as if life were o'er; Within, their hearts made all their harmony, Love's broken murmur and more broken sigh. 230