 | Redwald |  |
The restless wave flow'd clear and fast,
Where oft the sun-beams lov'd to play,
And louder murmur'd as it pass'd
The mossy stones that stopt its way.
Where oft the sun-beams lov'd to play,
And louder murmur'd as it pass'd
The mossy stones that stopt its way.
Why pauses here in mute surprise
The maid, who gaily from the wood,
So swiftly came with sparkling eyes,
To cross in haste the rapid flood?
The maid, who gaily from the wood,
So swiftly came with sparkling eyes,
To cross in haste the rapid flood?
10
Ah, maiden, backward wend thy way,
The storm that chas'd thy sleep last night
O'erturn'd the bridge, whose ruins grey
So oft have felt thy footsteps light!
The storm that chas'd thy sleep last night
O'erturn'd the bridge, whose ruins grey
So oft have felt thy footsteps light!
Yet would she strive to cross the stream;
Is there no hand to lend its aid?
She smil'd—“Alas, 'twas but a dream—
“My senses were by sleep betray'd.
Is there no hand to lend its aid?
She smil'd—“Alas, 'twas but a dream—
“My senses were by sleep betray'd.
“And yet last night, when weary grown
“With list'ning to the wild wind's roar,
“I courted sleep my fears to drown,
“This was the face my vision bore.
“With list'ning to the wild wind's roar,
“I courted sleep my fears to drown,
“This was the face my vision bore.
“Methought this bridge, where oft I've stood
“And gaz'd in silence o'er its side,
“Was thus destroy'd—and thus the flood
“Was strewn with all its ruins wide.
“And gaz'd in silence o'er its side,
“Was thus destroy'd—and thus the flood
“Was strewn with all its ruins wide.
“And I could wish the rest were true,
“The youth, whose form so heav'nly fair
“Still dwells on my deluded view—
“His gentle words—his tender air!
“The youth, whose form so heav'nly fair
“Still dwells on my deluded view—
“His gentle words—his tender air!
11
“Hence idle thought!” she softly sigh'd,
And turn'd her graceful steps again,
When seen across the narrow tide
Approach'd a stranger o'er the plain.
And turn'd her graceful steps again,
When seen across the narrow tide
Approach'd a stranger o'er the plain.
In gentle tone she heard him speak,
And while his voice her flight detain'd,
The crimson blush that dy'd her cheek
Told that her dream was well explain'd.
And while his voice her flight detain'd,
The crimson blush that dy'd her cheek
Told that her dream was well explain'd.
The stream is pass'd—the maiden gone—
Still does the stranger's eye pursue
Her steps—while bounding as the fawn,
She wav'd him, thankfully, adieu.
Still does the stranger's eye pursue
Her steps—while bounding as the fawn,
She wav'd him, thankfully, adieu.
Oh, ne'er till then had Edith sigh'd
When ent'ring at that cottage door,
Oh, ne'er till then had Mable spy'd
A tear, where sparkled smiles before.
When ent'ring at that cottage door,
Oh, ne'er till then had Mable spy'd
A tear, where sparkled smiles before.
“What ails my friend?—and why those tears?
“Thy sorrows let thy Mable know;
“Whatever cause of grief appears,
“My heart, dear maid, must share thy woe!”
“Thy sorrows let thy Mable know;
“Whatever cause of grief appears,
“My heart, dear maid, must share thy woe!”
12
“'Tis past—'tis gone—my sadness grew
“For little cause, I blush to own;
“'Twas but a foolish dream, that threw
“A gloom where 'tis so seldom known.”
“For little cause, I blush to own;
“'Twas but a foolish dream, that threw
“A gloom where 'tis so seldom known.”
“Think on't no more—but let me tell
“The errand which at early morn
“Has bid me seek the distant dell
“My beauteous Mable's charms adorn.”
“The errand which at early morn
“Has bid me seek the distant dell
“My beauteous Mable's charms adorn.”
With playful smiles the tale was told,
The rural fete that claim'd her care
She said would be but dull and cold
If gentle Mable were not there.
The rural fete that claim'd her care
She said would be but dull and cold
If gentle Mable were not there.
“I cannot join your dance to-night,
“My mother's sick, and I must stay;
“For how could Mable taste delight
“If she should mourn I was away?”
“My mother's sick, and I must stay;
“For how could Mable taste delight
“If she should mourn I was away?”
“Now, shame on thee, deceitful maid,
“Your mother yonder meets my eye,
“Our meeting seek you to evade,
“That thus you will my wish deny?”
“Your mother yonder meets my eye,
“Our meeting seek you to evade,
“That thus you will my wish deny?”
13
“Believe me, Edith, 'tis not so,
“I wait my brother here to see,
“And thus I must the joy forego
“Of joining in the dance with thee.
“I wait my brother here to see,
“And thus I must the joy forego
“Of joining in the dance with thee.
“And I had beg'd thou would'st remain
“And give him gentle welcome too,
“But that from what thou say'st 'tis plain
“Thou hast more pleasing cares in view.”
“And give him gentle welcome too,
“But that from what thou say'st 'tis plain
“Thou hast more pleasing cares in view.”
Again the colour left her cheek,
She leant on Mable's helping arm,
“What means this paleness, Edith?—speak,
“I fear—I know not what—of harm!”
She leant on Mable's helping arm,
“What means this paleness, Edith?—speak,
“I fear—I know not what—of harm!”
“I dreamt I was your brother's bride,
“And that, alas! in vain I strive
“To banish fears I wish to hide,
“For ev'ry moment they revive!”
“And that, alas! in vain I strive
“To banish fears I wish to hide,
“For ev'ry moment they revive!”
“What means this sad—this strange dismay
“At mention of my brother's name?
“And does my Edith dread the day
“When he his long-betroth'd shall claim?”
“At mention of my brother's name?
“And does my Edith dread the day
“When he his long-betroth'd shall claim?”
14
“Oh no, dear Mable, thou should'st know
“My parents' wishes still are mine,
“And soon my breast with love will glow
“If Ivan's heart be like to thine!”
“My parents' wishes still are mine,
“And soon my breast with love will glow
“If Ivan's heart be like to thine!”
[Fair Mable turn'd her head away,
And strove to hide her bosom's care,
Too well she knew love's tyrant sway
Stoops not a parent's yoke to bear.]
And strove to hide her bosom's care,
Too well she knew love's tyrant sway
Stoops not a parent's yoke to bear.]
“His danger 'twas disturb'd my peace,
“And made me tremble while you spoke,
“From such a dream of strange distress
“No being ever yet awoke.
“And made me tremble while you spoke,
“From such a dream of strange distress
“No being ever yet awoke.
“Farewel—whate'er the reason be
“That Mable from her friend detains,
“May she from grief be ever free,
“While life, and length of life, remains!”
“That Mable from her friend detains,
“May she from grief be ever free,
“While life, and length of life, remains!”
She's gone—as swift as o'er the sea
Darts the white sea-gull of her isle;
And soon she bounds in youthful glee,
And soon her cheek resumes its smile.
Darts the white sea-gull of her isle;
And soon she bounds in youthful glee,
And soon her cheek resumes its smile.
15
For she was of that lively mould
Which ev'ry diff'ring passion mov'd,
Her heart to feeling ne'er was cold,
Yet mirth and gaiety she lov'd.
Which ev'ry diff'ring passion mov'd,
Her heart to feeling ne'er was cold,
Yet mirth and gaiety she lov'd.
But placid was fair Mable's mind,
Yet deeply felt she ev'ry pain:
One gave her sorrows to the wind—
The other own'd soft sadness' reign.
Yet deeply felt she ev'ry pain:
One gave her sorrows to the wind—
The other own'd soft sadness' reign.
Not less her soul with virtue fill'd,
Tho' less in all her words exprest;
Her heart was one, which harshness chill'd,
When lov'd—the truest and the best!
Tho' less in all her words exprest;
Her heart was one, which harshness chill'd,
When lov'd—the truest and the best!
The stars had ris'n more fair and bright
Than Mona saw for many a night,
And as they shed their rays on high,
They each in splendour seem'd to vie,
With di'monds of the purest light.
Than Mona saw for many a night,
And as they shed their rays on high,
They each in splendour seem'd to vie,
With di'monds of the purest light.
Amidst the awful stillness round,
The waves with sad and mournful sound
Dash'd on the rocks, as if they fear'd
Their sullen murmurs should be heard.
The waves with sad and mournful sound
Dash'd on the rocks, as if they fear'd
Their sullen murmurs should be heard.
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