Favorite Poems Author:Leigh Hunt Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: An aged nurse had Hero in the place, An under priestess of an humbler race, Who partly served, partly kept watch and ward Over the rest, but no good love debarre... more »d. The temple's faith, though serious, never crossed Engagements, missed to their exchequer's cost; And though this present knot was to remain. Unknown awhile, 't was blessed within the fane, And much good thanks expected in the end From the dear married daughter, and the wealthy friend. Poor Hero looked for no such thanks. Her hand, But to be held in his, would have given sea and laud. The reverend crone accordingly took care To do her duty to a time so fair, Saw all things right, secured her own small pay (Which brought her luxuries to her dying day), And finishing a talk, which with surprise She saw made grave e'en those good-humored eyes, Laid up, towards night, her service on the shelf, And left her nicer mistress to herself. Hesper mean while, the starwith amorous eye, Shot his fine sparkle from the deep blue sky. A depth of uiglit succeeded, dark, but clear, Such as presents the hollow starry sphere, Like a high gulf to heaven; and all above Seems waking to a fervid work of love. A nightingale, in transport, seemed to fling His warble out, and then sit listening: And ever and anon, amidst the flush Of the thick leaves, there ran a breezy gush; And then, from dewy myrtles lately bloomed, An odor small in at the window fumed. At last, with twinkle o'er a distant tower, A star appeared that was to show the hour. The virgin saw; and going to a room Which held an altar burning with perfume, Cut off a lock of her dark solid hair, And laid it, with a little whispered prayer, Before a statue, that of marble bright Sat smiling downwards o'er the rosy light. Then at the flame a torcli of pine she lit, ...« less