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Tis done! and this night I have broken the vow
Which bound me in silence for ever!

And thy spirit hath fled from a world of woe,
To return again, never! Oh never!

My soul is sad! and my heart is weary!
For thy bosom is cold to me;
Without thy smile the world is dreary,
And I will fly with thee!

Together we'll float down eternity's stream,
Twin stars on the breast of the billow,
The splendours of Paradise round us shall beam,
And thy bosom shall be my pillow !

Then open thine arms bright star of the morning!
My grave in thy bosom shall be,

The glories of Paradise 'round us are dawning,
My Heaven is only with thee!

Hushed were the words, and hush'd the song,
Which sadly, sweetly flow'd along,
But Amir Khan's warm heart beat high,
Though closed and rayless was his eye;
And every note which struck his ear,
Whisper'd a hovering angel near;
And each warm tear that wet his cheek,
Her long-concealed regard bespeak ;
His bosom bounded to be free,
And fluttered, - wild with ecstasy!
Oh! would the magic charm had passed!
Would that the morn would break at last!
But no-it will not, may not be!
He is not, nor can yet be free!

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But hark! Amreta's murmurs rise,
Sweet as the bird of Paradise;
She bowed her head, and deeply sighed,
"Yes, Amir Khan, I am thy Bride!
And here the crimson hand of death
Shall wed us with a rosy wreath!
My blood shall join us as it flows,
And bind us in a deep repose!" -

Beneath her veil a light is beaming,
A dagger in her hand is gleaming,
And livid was the light it threw,
A pale, cold, death-like stream of blue,
Around her form of angel brightness,
And o'er her brow of marble whiteness !

Awake! Oh! Amir Khan, awake! -
Canst thou not rouse thee for her sake?
Beside thee can Amreta stand,
The fatal dagger in her hand,
And canst thou still regardless lie,
And let thy loved Amreta die?
Awake! oh, Amir Khan! awake,
And rouse thee for Amreta's sake!

- Like lightning from a midnight cloud,
The Subahdar, from 'neath his shroud,
Burst the cold, magic, death-like band,
And snatched the dagger from her hand!
The maiden sunk upon his breast,
And deep, and lengthened was her rest!
There was no sigh, no murmur there,
And scarcely breathed the Subahdar,
While almost fearing to be blest,
He clasped Amreta to his breast!

Deep buried in his mantle's fold,
He felt not that her cheek was cold;
His own heart throbbed with pleasure's thrill,
But whispered not that hers was still! -
-Yes! - the wild flow of blissful joy,
Which, bursting, threatened to destroy,
Gave to her soul a rest from feeling;
A transient torpor gently stealing
O'er beating pulse, and throbbing breast,
Had calmed her ev'ry nerve to rest;
-But see! the tide of life returns,
Once more her cheek with rapture burns,
Once more her dark eye's heav'nly beam
Pours forth its full and piercing gleam,
Once more her heart is bounding high,
Too full to weep - too blest to sigh!

NOTES TO AMIR KHAN.

I.

Beneath calm Cashmere's lovely vale, &c.

"Cashmere, called the happy valley, the garden in perpetual

spring, and the Paradise of India."

II.

The bulbul, with his lay of love, &c.

"The Bulbul, or Nightingale."

III.

The gulnare blush'd a deeper hue, &c.

"Gulnare or Rose."

IV.

The lofty plane-tree's haughty brow, &c.

"The Plane-tree, that species termed Platanus orientalis, is commonly cultivated in Cashmere, where it is said to arrive at a greater perfection than in any other country. This tree, which in most parts of Asia is called the Chinur, grows to the size of an oak, and has a taper, straight trunk, with a silvercoloured bark, and its leaf, not unlike an expanded hand, is of a pale green. When in full foliage it has a grand and beautiful appearance, and in hot weather affords a refreshing shade."Foster.

V.

And wide the plantain's arms were spread, &c.

"Plantain-trees are supposed to prevent the plague from visiting places, where they are found in abundance."-Middleton's Geography.

VI.

Knelt the once haughty Subahdar, &c. "Subahdar, or Governor."

VII.

Since Amir Khan first blessed the hour, &c.

"To the east of this delightful spot is a fortified palace, erected by Amir Khan, a Persian, who was once Governor of Cashmere. He used to pass much of his time in this residence, which was curiously adapted to every species of Asiatic luxury."-See Encyclopædia, vol. v., part 2.

VIII.

Through the long walks of tzinnar-trees, &c. "Their walks are curiously laid out, and set on both sides with tzinnar-trees, a species of poplar unknown in Europe. It grows to the height of a pine, and bears a fruit resembling the chestnut, and it has broad leaves like those of the vine."--Middleton's Geography.

IX.

As it glides o'er the wave of the Wuller's stream, &c.

"A beautiful river passes through Cashmere, called the Ouller, or Wuller. There is an outlet, where it runs with greater rapidity and force than elsewhere, between two steep mountains, whence proceeding, after a long course, it joins with the Chelum.

Χ.

And like a star on Mahmoud's wave, &c.

"It appears like a lake covered with rocks and mountains. Stones, when thrown in, make a surprising noise, and the river itself is deemed unfathomable." - Middleton's Geography.

XI.

Proud Hirney Purvit rears his head, &c.

"There is an oval lake, which joins the Chelum towards the east.-The Yucht Suliman and Hirney Purvit form the two sides of what may be called a grand portal to the lake. They are hills; one of which is sacred to the great Solyman.

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