 | Young Arthur |  |
There's a flower that wakes when the day's begun
,
Expanding its leaves to the rising sun;
Its beauties they live in the genial light,
But its calyx is clos'd at the grey of night.
Expanding its leaves to the rising sun;
Its beauties they live in the genial light,
But its calyx is clos'd at the grey of night.
There's a gay fly born at the sun's first gleam,
And it wantons with life in the golden beam;
Its tiny date is one sportive day,
And its death the decline of the solar ray.
And it wantons with life in the golden beam;
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And its death the decline of the solar ray.
There's a flower in form like the orb of light,
,
And ever it turns to that radiant sight;
But when the sun to the west has sped
Eastward it turns with a drooping head.
And ever it turns to that radiant sight;
But when the sun to the west has sped
Eastward it turns with a drooping head.
There's a trembling brilliancy dances the wall,
,
Which the fancy of infancy tries to stay:
But it whisks away like the bandied ball,
If withdrawn whatever reflects the ray.
Which the fancy of infancy tries to stay:
But it whisks away like the bandied ball,
If withdrawn whatever reflects the ray.
Emblems of life and joy are these,
And human hope is the solar beam;
And when that heavenly ray shall cease
'Tis death to joy, and all life's a dream.
And human hope is the solar beam;
And when that heavenly ray shall cease
'Tis death to joy, and all life's a dream.
Hope in Sir Brandon's heart arose,
And joy to lighten his heart began;
The union he wish'd hope urg'd would close
The sorrows which rack'd the repentant man;
And joy to lighten his heart began;
The union he wish'd hope urg'd would close
The sorrows which rack'd the repentant man;
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For Ernest had won Sir Brandon's heart,
And he deem'd him match for his daughter sweet;
To win his purpose employ'd each art
For a knight, and a friend, and a father meet.
And he deem'd him match for his daughter sweet;
To win his purpose employ'd each art
For a knight, and a friend, and a father meet.
But Ernest and Isabel felt one love;
While Edith and Allan their love was one;
And Sir Brandon's joy may those emblems prove,
His hope but a brief diurnal sun.
While Edith and Allan their love was one;
And Sir Brandon's joy may those emblems prove,
His hope but a brief diurnal sun.
O, there is a bower of woodbines sweet
Near a grove where the nightingales sing;
That bow'r was Edith's lov'd retreat,
And there on her lute, at the noon-tide heat,
To love would she tune the string.
Near a grove where the nightingales sing;
That bow'r was Edith's lov'd retreat,
And there on her lute, at the noon-tide heat,
To love would she tune the string.
For seldom Sir Brandon that grove he sought,
Or that blooming bower pass'd by;
But it chanc'd on a day that his wandering brought
The knight to the spot, and his charm'd ear caught
The soothing of melody.
Or that blooming bower pass'd by;
But it chanc'd on a day that his wandering brought
The knight to the spot, and his charm'd ear caught
The soothing of melody.
The lute he heard and the tasteful art
That wak'd the strain he knew;
And her heavenly voice, which could ever impart
A charm to his ear that entranc'd his heart,
His rapt attention drew.
That wak'd the strain he knew;
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A charm to his ear that entranc'd his heart,
His rapt attention drew.
But there was a deep and a harsher tone,
Which, after, join'd her lay;
A voice he never before had known,—
She singing of love and not alone,
Ah, what do his dark looks say?
Which, after, join'd her lay;
A voice he never before had known,—
She singing of love and not alone,
Ah, what do his dark looks say?
He listen'd 'til love's fond lay was o'er,
When Edith pronounc'd a name—
He heard the name, and he heard no more,
But sprung with fury the bower before,
And his eye wore frenzy's flame.
When Edith pronounc'd a name—
He heard the name, and he heard no more,
But sprung with fury the bower before,
And his eye wore frenzy's flame.
For Allan he saw, “draw! draw!” he cried;
And Edith was at his knee;
But he dash'd the trembling maid aside,
And on Allan he rush'd, with a mad-man's stride,
But Allan prepar'd was he.
And Edith was at his knee;
But he dash'd the trembling maid aside,
And on Allan he rush'd, with a mad-man's stride,
But Allan prepar'd was he.
And Allan he parried the thrust with care,
And the raging knight disarm'd;
His sword return'd with submissive air,
And pardon for Edith implor'd with a pray'r
Which check'd, but, alas! ne'er charm'd.
And the raging knight disarm'd;
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And pardon for Edith implor'd with a pray'r
Which check'd, but, alas! ne'er charm'd.
And Allan is banish'd from Brandon Hall,
While Edith is lost in grief;
The eye of Sir Brandon, suffus'd with gall,
Look'd round with the frowning of pride on all,
Save Ernest, his sole relief.
While Edith is lost in grief;
The eye of Sir Brandon, suffus'd with gall,
Look'd round with the frowning of pride on all,
Save Ernest, his sole relief.
| Young Arthur | |