 | The Legend of St. Loy |  |
29
XV.
Scarce to the emotions of his mindHad Edwy given relief,
And Almar old had scarce rejoin'd
Th' ejaculation brief,
Ere came the Band, with joyous rage,
And covered all the space
Which spread before the Hermitage
With torches glaring rays,
That shed a short and cowering light
Mingled along the mist of night,
And shewed each griesly feature clear;
The lank red beard, the shaggy hair,
The rugged brows that rigid lour
O'er eyes of unrelenting power,
That seemed as never yet a tear
Had claimed its proper channel there,
But spake their souls of sternest steel,
And hearts severe that scorned to feel!
Their numerous feet tread down the grass,
And brush away the dew;
Their shouts disturb that grove, alas!
Which nought but peace ere knew.
30
—When from on high the tumbling wave
Dashes down cataracts headlong steep,
In thunder, on the misty deep,
Before its mouth — resounds the roar
From many an answering fracture hoar;
While all its trees the storm-blast meet,
That doth their trembling branches greet
Full roughly, and their wakened voice
Blend with the complicated noise!
| The Legend of St. Loy | |