The Legend of Genevieve with other tales and poems. By Delta [i.e. David Macbeth Moir] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. | No. VI.
THE SPECTRE'S VISIT. |
 | The Legend of Genevieve |  |
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No. VI. THE SPECTRE'S VISIT.
Within her lonely chamber sate
Fair Helen at the dusk of day;
She ponder'd o'er her hapless fate,
Then sigh'd for William far away.
Fair Helen at the dusk of day;
She ponder'd o'er her hapless fate,
Then sigh'd for William far away.
Kneeling, she pray'd her love return'd
From moonless storms, and weltering seas;
And aye, as desolate she mourn'd,
Plash'd the loud rains, and raved the breeze.
From moonless storms, and weltering seas;
And aye, as desolate she mourn'd,
Plash'd the loud rains, and raved the breeze.
Dim lower'd the night of Winter down
On bleak December's tempest wild;
Waste was the sylvan, and from town
Joy seem'd with Summer's warmth exiled.
On bleak December's tempest wild;
Waste was the sylvan, and from town
Joy seem'd with Summer's warmth exiled.
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Without she heard the raven's cry;
Within lay silence o'er the room;
The embers flicker'd fitfully
O'er the high roof, then sank to gloom.
Within lay silence o'er the room;
The embers flicker'd fitfully
O'er the high roof, then sank to gloom.
Now brighten'd shone the warriors stern,
In limnings old that hung around;
In light their smiles she could discern,
But ever with the dark they frown'd.
In limnings old that hung around;
In light their smiles she could discern,
But ever with the dark they frown'd.
She wept—the warm unconscious tear
The bridling lid no longer brook'd;
Startled, she rose with sudden fear—
She listen'd,—and behind she look'd.—
The bridling lid no longer brook'd;
Startled, she rose with sudden fear—
She listen'd,—and behind she look'd.—
“Who—what art thou?” she shriek'd aloud,
“That comest to cause me needless fear?”—
Like winds beneath grey Winter's cloud,
So came the voice that thrill'd her ear.
“That comest to cause me needless fear?”—
Like winds beneath grey Winter's cloud,
So came the voice that thrill'd her ear.
“Helen! behold me—I am he
To whom was pledged thy virgin troth;
Whelm'd lie my bones within the sea,
And bleach beneath the surge's froth.
To whom was pledged thy virgin troth;
Whelm'd lie my bones within the sea,
And bleach beneath the surge's froth.
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“The starless Archipelago
In fire and foam did o'er us break;
Our good ship sank the floods below;
Yet sought I life for Helen's sake!
In fire and foam did o'er us break;
Our good ship sank the floods below;
Yet sought I life for Helen's sake!
“I buffetted the mountain waves;
I dash'd the foaming brine aside;
Now downwards suck'd to ocean's caves,—
Now whirl'd aloft upon the tide.—
I dash'd the foaming brine aside;
Now downwards suck'd to ocean's caves,—
Now whirl'd aloft upon the tide.—
“The clouds were crush'd, a deluge rush'd;
With sheeted fire the sky was riven;
And now the rolling sands we brush'd;
And now the reeling stars of heaven!
With sheeted fire the sky was riven;
And now the rolling sands we brush'd;
And now the reeling stars of heaven!
“The tempest howl'd; sea-monsters growl'd;
'Twas thunder's burst, and billows' roar;
Grim forms of flame before me came—
And dizzying sounds—and all was o'er.—
'Twas thunder's burst, and billows' roar;
Grim forms of flame before me came—
And dizzying sounds—and all was o'er.—
“Ha! dost thou know me not? has Death
Then changed this cheek so wan and wild?
Hast thou forgot the hawthorn path,
Where William sued, and Helen smiled?
Then changed this cheek so wan and wild?
Hast thou forgot the hawthorn path,
Where William sued, and Helen smiled?
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“Hast thou forgot the broken gold?
Hast thou forgot the linden tree?
Must our love-tokens all be told?
Oh Helen, Helen, this from thee!
Hast thou forgot the linden tree?
Must our love-tokens all be told?
Oh Helen, Helen, this from thee!
“'Tis done—'tis o'er; I must away
O'er wave and wild, unseen to roam;
Before the moon her earliest ray
Sheds o'er the deep, I must be home!”—
O'er wave and wild, unseen to roam;
Before the moon her earliest ray
Sheds o'er the deep, I must be home!”—
He turn'd and raised his shadowy arm,
As if in grief to veil his brow;
Uprose the ladye, in mad alarm,
Around his neck her arms to throw.—
As if in grief to veil his brow;
Uprose the ladye, in mad alarm,
Around his neck her arms to throw.—
“I go with thee, through fire or sea!”
Rushing, she cried with piercing scream;
Like bliss from heaven, oh sure 'twas given—
She woke, and found 'twas all a dream!
Rushing, she cried with piercing scream;
Like bliss from heaven, oh sure 'twas given—
She woke, and found 'twas all a dream!
'Twas all a dream, red morning's beam
Through the bower'd casement glimmer'd free;
While clouds on high were sailing bye;
The blackbird chanting from its tree.
Through the bower'd casement glimmer'd free;
While clouds on high were sailing bye;
The blackbird chanting from its tree.
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And yet its song she could not heed:—
Who knocks so loud, and cannot wait?
Hark!—'tis the neighing of a steed—
And lo! her love is at the gate!
Who knocks so loud, and cannot wait?
Hark!—'tis the neighing of a steed—
And lo! her love is at the gate!
| The Legend of Genevieve | |