 | The bridal of Vaumond |  |
XVI.
SONG CONTINUED.
Horror, horror darker gathers,
Hunger fury lends despair,
Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers,
Own no tie of nature there.
Hunger fury lends despair,
Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers,
Own no tie of nature there.
Than the famish'd lioness,
For a wilder deed prepar'd,
On for food to death they press,
And destroy whom we had spar'd!
For a wilder deed prepar'd,
On for food to death they press,
And destroy whom we had spar'd!
Two towards the dying flame
Of a cottage, darkling led,
By the lurid embers came,
And each hollow face survey'd;—
Of a cottage, darkling led,
By the lurid embers came,
And each hollow face survey'd;—
118
One a female;—she had caught
From a dying man his food;
There an infant's corse she brought,
Mangled, streaming in its blood.
From a dying man his food;
There an infant's corse she brought,
Mangled, streaming in its blood.
Fitful blazing as the fire
On each wasted visage shone,
She beheld that infant's sire—
She beheld her new-born son!
On each wasted visage shone,
She beheld that infant's sire—
She beheld her new-born son!
They had lov'd as few can love;
Not one year he call'd her spouse,
Since the marriage wreath was wove,
Since that cottage heard their vows.
Not one year he call'd her spouse,
Since the marriage wreath was wove,
Since that cottage heard their vows.
On the spot that saw them wed
Warr'd they for the babe's remains,
Tore away the reeking head,
Eager suck'd its famish'd veins.
Warr'd they for the babe's remains,
Tore away the reeking head,
Eager suck'd its famish'd veins.
Gorg'd they, till in death they sunk—
E'en we shudder'd at the sight,
Horror-struck, away we shrunk,
Wandering in that awful night.
E'en we shudder'd at the sight,
Horror-struck, away we shrunk,
Wandering in that awful night.
Soon, hurra! the fiend's dominion
Uncontrol'd on earth shall be;
Soon, hurra! on whirlwind's pinion,
Mount we for our revelry!
Uncontrol'd on earth shall be;
Soon, hurra! on whirlwind's pinion,
Mount we for our revelry!
| The bridal of Vaumond | |