 | Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell |  |
I.
One day after my betrothal I was forced to take my way,
With the Lord de Rieux's army, where the scene of combat lay;
In the suite of the old Baron I was forced to cross the sea,
That in Wales I might do battle for the Britons bold and free—
With the Lord de Rieux's army, where the scene of combat lay;
In the suite of the old Baron I was forced to cross the sea,
That in Wales I might do battle for the Britons bold and free—
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“Haste thee now, my page so trusty, and come with me to the fight!”
On this day, O bitter sorrow! out, alas! this woeful night,
Must I to my Bride so gentle say a sad and long adieu!
Oh, the heart within my bosom will with anguish break in two!”
As he neared the ancient mansion, trembled he until he bow'd,
As he crossed the well-known threshold, then his heart beat fast and loud.
On this day, O bitter sorrow! out, alas! this woeful night,
Must I to my Bride so gentle say a sad and long adieu!
Oh, the heart within my bosom will with anguish break in two!”
As he neared the ancient mansion, trembled he until he bow'd,
As he crossed the well-known threshold, then his heart beat fast and loud.
“Come, dear knight, draw near the hearthstone, while I give thee bread to eat.”
“No, gramercy,” thus replied he, “neither want I wine nor meat;
All the favour I implore thee, all the boon I of thee seek,
Is that with thy fairest daughter I may have thy leave to speak.”
“No, gramercy,” thus replied he, “neither want I wine nor meat;
All the favour I implore thee, all the boon I of thee seek,
Is that with thy fairest daughter I may have thy leave to speak.”
When the lady heard his answer, off she slipp'd her silken shoon,
Then stepp'd quickly in her hosen, stepp'd up to the bedside soon,
And thus leaning over gently, spake in accents soft and mild,
Then stepp'd quickly in her hosen, stepp'd up to the bedside soon,
And thus leaning over gently, spake in accents soft and mild,
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“Wake, Aloida! dearest maiden, leave thy bed, my darling child;
Quickly rouse thee from thy slumbers, sweetest daughter, list, I pray,
He, thy true love, craves thy presence, much he has with thee to say.”
From the bed the maiden darted, swift as arrow thro' the air,
O'er her snowy shoulders floated masses of her night-black hair.
Quickly rouse thee from thy slumbers, sweetest daughter, list, I pray,
He, thy true love, craves thy presence, much he has with thee to say.”
From the bed the maiden darted, swift as arrow thro' the air,
O'er her snowy shoulders floated masses of her night-black hair.
Then I said, “Alas! Aloida, oh, my brightest, fairest bride,
O'er the sea I sail to-morrow, leaving, sweetest, thy dear side.
We must part, for unto England with the Baron bold I go;
Ah! the dear God knoweth only all the sharpness of my woe.”
O'er the sea I sail to-morrow, leaving, sweetest, thy dear side.
We must part, for unto England with the Baron bold I go;
Ah! the dear God knoweth only all the sharpness of my woe.”
“In the name of yon blue heaven, sail not, my belov'd, from me,
For the wind it is inconstant, and all treach'rous is the sea.
Shouldst thou die, what then would happen to Aloida, hapless dove,
Oh, my heart would break, impatient, waiting tidings of my love.
For the wind it is inconstant, and all treach'rous is the sea.
Shouldst thou die, what then would happen to Aloida, hapless dove,
Oh, my heart would break, impatient, waiting tidings of my love.
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On the beach I lone shall wander, where the fishers' dwellings rise,
And shall ask of all who meet me, anxious looking in their eyes:
‘Have ye heard, ye kindly seamen, have ye heard, oh, truly tell:
Aught of him, my own betrothed, him I only love too well?’”
And shall ask of all who meet me, anxious looking in their eyes:
‘Have ye heard, ye kindly seamen, have ye heard, oh, truly tell:
Aught of him, my own betrothed, him I only love too well?’”
Thus outspoke the maiden weeping, weeping 'midst her grief and woe,
Whilst the knight, her sorrow soothing, kiss'd the bright tears in their flow.
Whilst the knight, her sorrow soothing, kiss'd the bright tears in their flow.
“Ah, forbear, Aloida dearest; Sweet! these bitter tears restrain,
I will bring thee back a girdle from the countries o'er the main;
Yes, a marriage zone I'll bring thee, of a purple deep and bright,
All y'decked with burning rubies, sparkling as the stars of night.”
I will bring thee back a girdle from the countries o'er the main;
Yes, a marriage zone I'll bring thee, of a purple deep and bright,
All y'decked with burning rubies, sparkling as the stars of night.”
Oh, to see the knight thus seated by the fire's fast-fading glow,
With Aloida on his bosom, and her head down drooping low,
And her arms his neck encircling, arms as white as driven snow,
All the while in silence weeping, dreading the approach of day,
Of that dark and fatal morning which should tear her love away!
With Aloida on his bosom, and her head down drooping low,
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All the while in silence weeping, dreading the approach of day,
Of that dark and fatal morning which should tear her love away!
When the dawn at length broke dimly, sadly thus out-spoke the knight:
“Hark, my sweet! the cock is crowing, and appear the streaks of light.”
“Hark, my sweet! the cock is crowing, and appear the streaks of light.”
“Nay, my love, he only cheats us, rest thou, dearest, patient, still,
'Tis the moon, that softly shineth on the brow of yonder hill.”
'Tis the moon, that softly shineth on the brow of yonder hill.”
“Sweetest love, I cry thee mercy, 'tis the sun whose rays appear,
Shining thro' the eastern casement, with a radiance all too clear.”
Shining thro' the eastern casement, with a radiance all too clear.”
Now he's left the ancient portal, now he's crossed the olden moat,
As he goes the raven croaketh from his hoarse ill-omen'd throat.
If all treacherous is the ocean, tempting to a watery grave,
Far more treacherous still is woman, falser than the changing wave!
As he goes the raven croaketh from his hoarse ill-omen'd throat.
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Far more treacherous still is woman, falser than the changing wave!
| Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell | |