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110
THE VAULT OF THE ESCURIAL.
Within a dark sepulchral vault,
In death Spain's monarchs lay,
Around a lofty crucifix
In grand and dread array.
In death Spain's monarchs lay,
Around a lofty crucifix
In grand and dread array.
For twice ten years no step had waked
The hollow echoes there;
Upon its hinge no door had turned
To let in other air.
The hollow echoes there;
Upon its hinge no door had turned
To let in other air.
But lo! down yonder steps descends
A King with stifled breath:
That rapid flight of steps that kings
Descend not save in death.
A King with stifled breath:
That rapid flight of steps that kings
Descend not save in death.
The moving torches flickering high
His haggard face expose:
He comes to view the vault where soon
He shall himself repose.
His haggard face expose:
He comes to view the vault where soon
He shall himself repose.
111
Amid the tranquil dwellers there
He seeks for one beloved;
The wife whom death had, youthful still,
In beauty's pride removed.
He seeks for one beloved;
The wife whom death had, youthful still,
In beauty's pride removed.
Unchanged by death's all-changing hand,
In seeming sleep she lies;
While, oh! how changed the face of him
That stares with straining eyes!
In seeming sleep she lies;
While, oh! how changed the face of him
That stares with straining eyes!
A single moment thus he gazed
Upon her upturned face,
Then, raving and blaspheming, fled
In madness from the place.
Upon her upturned face,
Then, raving and blaspheming, fled
In madness from the place.
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