Rings And Seals.

"Go!" said the angry, weeping maid,     "The charm is broken!--once betrayed,     "Never can this wronged heart rely     "On word or look, on oath or sigh.     "Take back the gifts, so fondly given,     "With promised faith and vows to heaven;     "That little ring which, night and morn,     "With wedded truth my hand hath worn;     "That seal which oft, in moments blest,     "Thou hast upon my lip imprest,     "And sworn its sacred spring should be     "A fountain sealed[1] for only thee:     "Take, take them back, the gift and vow,     "All sullied, lost and hateful now!"         I took the ring--the seal I took,     While, oh, her every tear and look     Were such as angels look and shed,     When man is by the world misled.     Gently I whispered, "Fanny, dear!     "Not half thy lover's gifts are here:     "Say, where are all the kisses given,     "From morn to noon, from noon to even,--     "Those signets of true love, worth more     "Than Solomon's own seal of yore,--     "Where are those gifts, so sweet, so many?     "Come, dearest,--give back all, if any."         While thus I whispered, trembling too,     Lest all the nymph had sworn was true,     I saw a smile relenting rise     Mid the moist azure of her eyes,     Like daylight o'er a sea of blue,     While yet in mid-air hangs the dew     She let her cheek repose on mine,     She let my arms around her twine;     One kiss was half allowed, and then--     The ring and seal were hers again.