Longtime in silence they each other eyed
          At length, to speak the lovely charmer tried
          Said she, ’tis useless, Hispal, to bewail: 
          Tears, with the cruel Parcae, naught avail;
          Each other to console be now our aim;
          Grim death his course will follow still the same. 
          To mitigate the smart let’s try anew;
          In such a place as this few joys accrue.

          Consoleeach other, say you?  Hispal cried;
          What can console when forced one’s love to hide? 
          Besides, fair princess, ev’ry way ’tis clear,
          Improper ’twere for you to love while here;
          I equally could death or famine brave;
          But you I tremble for, and wish to save.

          Thesewords so pained the fair, that gushing tears
          Bedewed Alaciel’s cheeks, her looks spoke fears;
          The ardent flame which she’d so long concealed;
          Burst forth in sighs, and all its warmth revealed;
          While such emotion Hispal’s eyes expressed,
          That more than words his anxious wish confessed. 
          These tender scenes were followed by a kiss,
          The prelude sweet of soft enchanting bliss;
          But whether taken, or by choice bestowed,
          Alike ’twas clear, their heaving bosoms glowed.

          Thosevows now o’er, said Hispal with a sigh,
          In this adventure, if we’re doomed to die,
          Indiff’rent surely ’tis, the prey to be
          Of birds of air, or fishes of the sea;
          My reason tells me ev’ry grave’s the same,
          Return we must, at last, from whence we came,
          Here ling’ring death alone we can expect;
          To brave the waves ’tis better to elect;
          I yet have strength, and ’tis not far to land;
          The wind sets fair:  let’s try to gain the strand;
          From rock to rock we’ll go:  I many view,
          Where I can rest; to this we’ll bid adieu.

          Tomove, Alaciel readily agreed;
          Again our couple ventured to proceed;
          The casket safe in tow; the weather hot;
          From rock to rock with care our swimmer got;
          The princess, anxious on his back to keep:—­
          New mode of traversing the wat’ry deep.

          WithHeav’n’s assistance, and the rocks for rest,
          The youth, by hunger and fatigue oppressed,
          Uneasiness of mind, weighed down with care,
          Not for himself, but safety of the fair,
          A fast of two long tedious days now o’er,
          The casket and the belle he brought on shore: