Constance De Castile A Poem, in Ten Cantos. By William Sotheby |
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| I. | I. |
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| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
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 | Constance De Castile |  |
139
I.
While in mute awe the warriors hung,
Deep anguish burst from Pedro's tongue.
“The day when Bourbon's spirit fled,
“Before my train I joyful sped
“Maria's honour'd brow to crown,
“And hail her Queen on Castile's throne.
Deep anguish burst from Pedro's tongue.
“The day when Bourbon's spirit fled,
“Before my train I joyful sped
“Maria's honour'd brow to crown,
“And hail her Queen on Castile's throne.
“As mid Sidonia's wood my way
“Through a dark glen's deep covert lay,
“A form, surpassing human height,
“Terrific, tow'r'd before my sight,
“And loud and awful as the roar
“Of ocean bursting on the shore,
“‘Murderer!’—exclaim'd—‘in mercy sent,
“‘I warn of woe to come—repent!—
“‘Deem not, like shadows of the night
“‘I pass, and vanish from the sight:
“‘The belt that hapless Bourbon wove,
“‘Present and pledge of nuptial love,
“‘Shall, yearly, on the fatal day,
“‘What time her spirit past away,
“‘Harass thy soul with sights unholy,
“‘And fill with wild'ring melancholy.
“‘Lo! at my touch, 'tis stain'd with gore:
“‘No pow'r its lustre shall restore,
“‘Nor art, nor force of mortal hand
“‘Unclasp th' inextricable band,
“‘Till deep remorse mourn Bourbon slain,
“‘And contrite tears efface the stain!’
“The Phantom vanish'd from my view.
“Urg'd by strange terror, on I flew.
“Then—at that hour—th' internal flame
“Prey'd on Maria's sinking frame,
“Her brow was bath'd in icy dew.
“As o'er her speechless lip I hung
“The last, last pang her bosom wrung.
“With mine was mix'd her farewell breath,
“On mine her eye yet gaz'd in death,
“Nor earth sithence a solace gave
“Save lamentation o'er her grave.
“Yet—ere my worldly sufferings close,
“Ere yet the tomb conceal my woes,
“Reft of my crown though here I stand,
“An exile in a stranger land,
“Castillia's rightful King, I claim
“Reverence for great Pelayo's fame,
“And honour due to kings alone
“Through me appeals to Edward's throne.
“Through a dark glen's deep covert lay,
“A form, surpassing human height,
“Terrific, tow'r'd before my sight,
140
“Of ocean bursting on the shore,
“‘Murderer!’—exclaim'd—‘in mercy sent,
“‘I warn of woe to come—repent!—
“‘Deem not, like shadows of the night
“‘I pass, and vanish from the sight:
“‘The belt that hapless Bourbon wove,
“‘Present and pledge of nuptial love,
“‘Shall, yearly, on the fatal day,
“‘What time her spirit past away,
“‘Harass thy soul with sights unholy,
“‘And fill with wild'ring melancholy.
“‘Lo! at my touch, 'tis stain'd with gore:
“‘No pow'r its lustre shall restore,
“‘Nor art, nor force of mortal hand
“‘Unclasp th' inextricable band,
“‘Till deep remorse mourn Bourbon slain,
“‘And contrite tears efface the stain!’
“The Phantom vanish'd from my view.
“Urg'd by strange terror, on I flew.
“Then—at that hour—th' internal flame
“Prey'd on Maria's sinking frame,
“Her brow was bath'd in icy dew.
“As o'er her speechless lip I hung
“The last, last pang her bosom wrung.
141
“On mine her eye yet gaz'd in death,
“Nor earth sithence a solace gave
“Save lamentation o'er her grave.
“Yet—ere my worldly sufferings close,
“Ere yet the tomb conceal my woes,
“Reft of my crown though here I stand,
“An exile in a stranger land,
“Castillia's rightful King, I claim
“Reverence for great Pelayo's fame,
“And honour due to kings alone
“Through me appeals to Edward's throne.
“Say, heir of England's greatness, say,
“Shall earth a rebel's nod obey,
“Shall realms at will revoke the vow
“That binds them to th' anointed brow?
“But—if regardless of the crown
“From sire to son transmitted down,
“Edward forgets that gracious heav'n
“Sceptre and sway to kings has giv'n:
“I, warriors, in Castillia's right
“Dare Trastamere to mortal fight.
“Conquest once more shall Pedro grace,
“Or close in blood my earthly race.
“Tell then the sons of other times,
“I fell for unattoned crimes.
“So shall my sufferings guilt appall,
“And awe-struck kings mourn Pedro's fall!”
“Shall earth a rebel's nod obey,
“Shall realms at will revoke the vow
“That binds them to th' anointed brow?
“But—if regardless of the crown
“From sire to son transmitted down,
“Edward forgets that gracious heav'n
“Sceptre and sway to kings has giv'n:
“I, warriors, in Castillia's right
“Dare Trastamere to mortal fight.
“Conquest once more shall Pedro grace,
“Or close in blood my earthly race.
142
“I fell for unattoned crimes.
“So shall my sufferings guilt appall,
“And awe-struck kings mourn Pedro's fall!”
| Constance De Castile | |