Constance De Castile A Poem, in Ten Cantos. By William Sotheby |
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| II. |
| III. |
 | IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. | XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
 | Constance De Castile |  |
XXIII.
Avails it now her love to hide?—
Ellen has cast her pomp aside:
In Hubert's cell the mourner kneels,
And thus her secret soul reveals.
Ellen has cast her pomp aside:
In Hubert's cell the mourner kneels,
And thus her secret soul reveals.
“Breathe, holy father! breathe a pray'r
“O'er Ellen, victim of despair,
“Who thus disguis'd in lowly weeds,
“In pennance for unhallowed deeds,
“Shall tend Alonzo's sore distress,
“And sooth him in his wretchedness.
“O'er Ellen, victim of despair,
“Who thus disguis'd in lowly weeds,
“In pennance for unhallowed deeds,
“Shall tend Alonzo's sore distress,
“And sooth him in his wretchedness.
“My guilt on him heaven's vengeance draws,
“Ellen alone the fatal cause.—
“Fondly I wreath'd his victor brow:
“Shall I in grief forsake him, now?
“Never.—The ills that round him wait,
“But bind me closer to his fate.
“In winter's cold, in summer's heat,
“Long as the pulse of life may beat,
“Shall Ellen at Alonzo's side
“By day, by night, the wanderer guide.
“On mine, his wearied brow shall rest,
“And sweet his sleep on Ellen's breast.
“So may long years of penitence
“In shadow veil each past offence,
“Ellen his fixed eyelid close,
“Then—peaceful—in his grave repose.”—
“Ellen alone the fatal cause.—
“Fondly I wreath'd his victor brow:
“Shall I in grief forsake him, now?
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“But bind me closer to his fate.
“In winter's cold, in summer's heat,
“Long as the pulse of life may beat,
“Shall Ellen at Alonzo's side
“By day, by night, the wanderer guide.
“On mine, his wearied brow shall rest,
“And sweet his sleep on Ellen's breast.
“So may long years of penitence
“In shadow veil each past offence,
“Ellen his fixed eyelid close,
“Then—peaceful—in his grave repose.”—
| Constance De Castile | |