Glimpses of Antiquity Being a collection of metrical sketches, in the form of ballads, lyrics, &c., with main reference to mediaeval times or classical subjects. By George F. Preston [i.e. J. B. L. Warren] |
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THE RIVALS. |
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 | Glimpses of Antiquity |  |
92
THE RIVALS.
Three brother princes sate at feast
In their old ancestral hall.
Above on palace pinnacles
The wandered moon-lights fall.
In their old ancestral hall.
Above on palace pinnacles
The wandered moon-lights fall.
The beakers of the elder twain
Again and again ran dry;
The youngest sang to a harp amain
With the fire of hearts gone by.
Again and again ran dry;
The youngest sang to a harp amain
With the fire of hearts gone by.
How in the very ancient days
The Golden Age began
With never a war thro' the wide green earth,
And never a fighting man.
The Golden Age began
With never a war thro' the wide green earth,
And never a fighting man.
How beautiful and tender Peace,
In crystal cloud-waves veiled,
With incense worship thro' all lands
A gracious presence sailed.
In crystal cloud-waves veiled,
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A gracious presence sailed.
And as he sang and as they drank
Stood their little cousin by,
And loved the strains, yet ever shrank
From the noisy revelry.
Stood their little cousin by,
And loved the strains, yet ever shrank
From the noisy revelry.
A radiant maid, in white arrayed;
From the rich wreath'd chalice fine
The brethren feasted all their eyes
As she served the rosy wine.
From the rich wreath'd chalice fine
The brethren feasted all their eyes
As she served the rosy wine.
A precious vintage of ripe foam
From a delicate hand of snow,
The burbling streams with the purple gleams
Of a living ember glow.
From a delicate hand of snow,
The burbling streams with the purple gleams
Of a living ember glow.
Her deep hair fann'd with revel breath
As she leant and the rich juice pour'd,
A lily head from her loosening wreath
Floated and fell to the board.
As she leant and the rich juice pour'd,
A lily head from her loosening wreath
Floated and fell to the board.
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The eldest grasped the prize with might;
The second's blade flashed out;
The youngest sang of peace and right
Thro' their angry battle shout.
The second's blade flashed out;
The youngest sang of peace and right
Thro' their angry battle shout.
The elder's blade to his brother's heart
The mail went crashing thro';
The younger clave his elder's brain
With an angry aim and true.
The mail went crashing thro';
The younger clave his elder's brain
With an angry aim and true.
O maiden, maiden, who shall stay,
The fountains of thine eyes?
Thy bloom of May, may fade away
Ere fresh love-blossoms rise.
The fountains of thine eyes?
Thy bloom of May, may fade away
Ere fresh love-blossoms rise.
Thou hadst of wooers one too much,
When thou wert wooed of two;
Thou hast, in both thy champions dead,
Of lovers one too few.
When thou wert wooed of two;
Thou hast, in both thy champions dead,
Of lovers one too few.
| Glimpses of Antiquity | |