Tales of Terror :: :: University of Virginia Library

The moon shone bright on Lapland's snows,
When grim the Winter King arose;
His icy cave he left with speed,
And summon'd straight his fiend-born steed:

—“Oh! haste, my steed, o'er marsh and plain!
“I burn yon beauteous maid to gain;
“Oh! haste, my steed, to Sargen's gate,
“Where Tura weeps her lover's fate!”—

Full swift he donn'd his armour bright,
And mounts, a young and comely knight.
The steed sped on o'er marsh and plain,
The beauteous damsel to obtain.

He quickly sped, and reach'd the gate
Where Tura wept her lover's fate.
She cursed her charms, which caused the fight
That tore her Asgar from her sight.

—“Oh! list thee, lady, list to me!
“Full many a day I've sought for thee;
“Oh! listen, lady, banish fear,
“Thy lover's trusty friend is here.”—

Then sigh'd the damsel fair and bright,
—“I have no lover, courteous knight,
“My Asgar lies on yonder plain,
“By Hacho fierce in combat slain.”—

—“Oh! no, fair lady, haste with me!
“I soon will show thy love to thee;
“In Larno's caves he wounded lies,
“Oh! haste e'er life his bosom flies.”—

Then sigh'd the lady fair and bright,
—“My mind misgives me, courteous knight,
“For Asgar lies on yonder plain,
“By Hacho fierce in combat slain!”—

—“Oh! list thee, lady, list to me,
“These tokens sends thy love to thee;
“These belts so fair, these rings so bright,
“Which erst you gave with fond delight.”—

He show'd her tokens one and two,
—“Lovely maid, he waits for you;”—
He show'd her tokens two and three,
—“Lovely maiden, go with me.”—

Then spake the lady fair and bright,
—“Forgive my doubtings, courteous knight!
“Let weal or woe this breast betide,
“O'er hill and dale with thee I'll ride!”—

Full sure the dæmon spreads his snare,
The eager maid descends the stair,
Anon they mount the panting steed
And swift o'er hill and valley speed.

As through the forest quick they dart,
With joy bounds high the fiend's proud heart,
Ah! little thought the lady bright
She clasp'd the cruel Winter-Sprite!

Now cried the maiden with dismay,
As swift the steed pursued its way,
—“And must we up yon mountain go,
“Whose sides are heap'd with drifted snow?”—

—“There lies our road,” the Sprite replied,
“The way is drear, but I'm your guide,
“Then hush your throbbing heart's alarms,
“I'll give you to your lover's arms!”—

The desert wild the moon-beams show,
White glares around the glistening snow,
The fiend spurs on his steed amain,
Whose hoofs ring on the frozen plain.

Now swifter, swifter on they ride,
And reach the mountain's snow-clad side,
The plunging steed, without delay,
Through drifted heaps pursues his way.

—“Oh, stop your horse! my feet are chill,
“The snow is deep and high the hill.”—
—“Now hush your throbbing heart's alarms,
“I'll give you to your lover's arms!”—

—“Oh, stop, thou eager guide! for see
“The rising coldness numbs my knee.”—
—“Now hush thy throbbing heart's alarms,
“I'll give thee to thy lover's arms!”—

—“Stop! stop! for God's sake, stop! for oh!
“My breast is chill'd by circling snow.”—
—“Now vain your fears and wild alarms,
“You feel your lover's icy arms!”—

Now shrieks the maid with sad affright,
While loud exults the Winter-Sprite;
The moon grows dark, the night grows foul.
Thick snows descend, and tempests howl.

Afar the fiend's hoarse yells resound,
As round the maid his arms he wound;
Afar are borne the maiden's cries
By warring blasts that rend the skies.

But ere she sunk beneath the snows,
Her Asgar's ghastly shade arose;
He bared his bosom streak'd with gore,
And sigh'd—“sweet love, we meet no more!”—

Now loud are heard the maiden's cries,
But louder blasts and tempests rise;
And when the tempests ceased to roar,
The maiden's cries were heard no more.

Take warning hence, ye damsels fair,
Of men's insidious arts beware,
Believe not every courteous knight,
Lest he should prove a Winter-Sprite.