Page:The poems of Emma Lazarus volume 1.djvu/277

SCENE III.

Morning twilight in Ribera’s Garden. During this Scene the day gradually breaks, and at the close the full light of morning illuminates the stage. Lorenzo.

AUBADE.

LORENZO (sings).

From thy poppied sleep awake ;
From thy golden dreams arise ;
Earth and seas new colors take,
Love-light dawns in rosy skies,
Weird night s fantastic shadows are outworn ;
Why tarriest thou, oh, sister to the morn?

Hearken, love ! the matin choir
Of birds salutes thee, and with these
Blends the voice of my desire.
Unto no richer promises
Of deeper, dearer, holier love than mine,
Canst thou awaken from thy dreams divine.

Lo, thine eastern windows flame,
Brightening with the brightened sky ;
Rise, and with thy beauty shame
Morning s regal pageantry,
To thrill and bless as the reviving sun,
For my heart gropes in doubt, though night be gone.

(He speaks.) Why should I fear? Her soul is pledged to mine,
Albeit she still withheld the binding word.