Poems on Various Subjects By John Thelwall. In Two Volumes |
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EDMUND AND ROSALINDA. |
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 | Poems on Various Subjects |  |
EDMUND AND ROSALINDA.
“Ah me! the west no longer glows
“With evening's blushing ray:
“The moon a feeble light bestows,
“To paint the pathless way.
“With evening's blushing ray:
“The moon a feeble light bestows,
“To paint the pathless way.
“Oh! whither shall our feeble feet,
“With lengthen'd toil oppress'd,
“In all this dreary forest meet
“A place secure to rest?
“With lengthen'd toil oppress'd,
“In all this dreary forest meet
“A place secure to rest?
“For here oppressive outlaws dwell,
“And rapine's desp'rate race;
“And prowling wolves, more fierce and fell,
“Infest the houseless place.
“And rapine's desp'rate race;
“And prowling wolves, more fierce and fell,
“Infest the houseless place.
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“Alas! with toil and fear I faint!”—
Fair Ros'lind said, and sigh'd.
“Ah cease thy moan, my love, my saint!”
The gentle Edmund cried:
Fair Ros'lind said, and sigh'd.
“Ah cease thy moan, my love, my saint!”
The gentle Edmund cried:
“Dismiss thy fears, and thank the Pow'r
“Who pities the distress'd,
“And leads us to an humble bow'r
“Of safety and of rest.
“Who pities the distress'd,
“And leads us to an humble bow'r
“Of safety and of rest.
“For where yon spiring poplars bend
“Before the fanning breeze,
“I see a little cottage send
“Its smoke above the trees.
“Before the fanning breeze,
“I see a little cottage send
“Its smoke above the trees.
“Then courage, love! and let's away
“To yon sequester'd shed;
“Where we perhaps secure may lay,
“Or hide the weary head.”
“To yon sequester'd shed;
“Where we perhaps secure may lay,
“Or hide the weary head.”
Not evening dew to drooping flow'rs
Such fresh'ning strength affords,
Nor to the turf descending show'rs,
As to her mind his words.
Such fresh'ning strength affords,
Nor to the turf descending show'rs,
As to her mind his words.
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Then, hand in hand, the wild they trace,
To gain the low retreat;
Till faint and sad, they reach the place—
Of weeping age the seat.
To gain the low retreat;
Till faint and sad, they reach the place—
Of weeping age the seat.
With furz was thatch'd the lowly hut,
Part hollow'd from the hill,
Part built with planks, all rudely cut,
More form'd by want than skill.
Part hollow'd from the hill,
Part built with planks, all rudely cut,
More form'd by want than skill.
They knock, and straitway at the door
A wrinkled dame appears;
Neat was her look, her habit bore
The signs of better years.
A wrinkled dame appears;
Neat was her look, her habit bore
The signs of better years.
The shelter of her cleanly roof
The matron freely grants,
And gives them every friendly proof
Of pity for their wants.
The matron freely grants,
And gives them every friendly proof
Of pity for their wants.
Upon a table quick she spread
A napkin clean and neat,
Then brings a loaf of barley bread,
With fruits, a wholesome treat!
A napkin clean and neat,
Then brings a loaf of barley bread,
With fruits, a wholesome treat!
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With many a welcome oft times said,
Her friendly heart she shows.
The fire, with added faggots fed,
A cheerful light bestows.
Her friendly heart she shows.
The fire, with added faggots fed,
A cheerful light bestows.
Then, for a while, the courteous dame
Withdrew in silent haste;
But with a bowl soon back she came,
Which she before them plac'd.
Withdrew in silent haste;
But with a bowl soon back she came,
Which she before them plac'd.
“My children,” says the matron sage,
“Behold the wholesome draught.
“With this your craving thirst assuage:—
“Such our forefathers quaft;
“Behold the wholesome draught.
“With this your craving thirst assuage:—
“Such our forefathers quaft;
“Which them with health and strength supply'd,
“All luxury unknown,
“Then charity unmix'd with pride,
“And simple virtue shone.
“All luxury unknown,
“Then charity unmix'd with pride,
“And simple virtue shone.
“A cow, the sole remaining wealth
“Of all my former store,
“Supplying this, secures me health;
“Nor do I wish for more.
“Of all my former store,
“Supplying this, secures me health;
“Nor do I wish for more.
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“And if, by chance benighted here,
“Some sadly wand'ring guest
“For shelter to my cot repair,
“I give him, and am blest.
“Some sadly wand'ring guest
“For shelter to my cot repair,
“I give him, and am blest.
“For such a portion I reserve
“When I the udder press;
“O'erjoy'd the pow'r I still preserve
“The needy to redress.
“When I the udder press;
“O'erjoy'd the pow'r I still preserve
“The needy to redress.
“For what can greater joy impart
“To minds with feeling blest,
“Than to revive the drooping heart,
“Or succour the distrest?
“To minds with feeling blest,
“Than to revive the drooping heart,
“Or succour the distrest?
“The flow'rs the morning dews exhale,
“And gather thence their sweets,
“And kindly scent each gentle gale
“That fans their gay retreats.
“And gather thence their sweets,
“And kindly scent each gentle gale
“That fans their gay retreats.
“The larks, by nature's bounty fed,
“Their bliss to all impart;
“Melodious soaring o'er our head,
“They glad the drooping heart.
“Their bliss to all impart;
“Melodious soaring o'er our head,
“They glad the drooping heart.
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“Shall we alone, with reason bless'd,
“A sordid mind retain?
“See others with misfortune press'd,
“And not relieve their pain?”
“A sordid mind retain?
“See others with misfortune press'd,
“And not relieve their pain?”
Thus she, benevolent and kind,
The while each youthful guest
Griev'd, to behold so good a mind
By poverty opprest.
The while each youthful guest
Griev'd, to behold so good a mind
By poverty opprest.
Their simple meal, their hostess good,
Delight each lover's mind:
Yet in their eyes the tear oft stood,
And, trembling, sadly shin'd.
Delight each lover's mind:
Yet in their eyes the tear oft stood,
And, trembling, sadly shin'd.
The melting glance, the mutual sigh,
Bespoke the lover's flames:
But ah! the frequent moisten'd eye
A sadder cause proclaims.
Bespoke the lover's flames:
But ah! the frequent moisten'd eye
A sadder cause proclaims.
At length the fair her drooping head,
With tender woes opprest,
Reclined, and there its sorrows shed,
On Edmund's throbbing breast.
With tender woes opprest,
Reclined, and there its sorrows shed,
On Edmund's throbbing breast.
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The tender scene provokes the tears
To wet the matron's cheeks;
And thus, emov'd with generous fears,
The kind enquirer speaks:
To wet the matron's cheeks;
And thus, emov'd with generous fears,
The kind enquirer speaks:
“Ah me! reveal ye tender pair,
“If thwarted in your love,
“Ye fly some jealous guardian's care,
“A stolen bliss to prove?
“If thwarted in your love,
“Ye fly some jealous guardian's care,
“A stolen bliss to prove?
“Or if in Hymen's bonds conjoin'd,
“An angry father's doom
“Compels you, in his wrath unkind,
“Abandon'd thus to roam?
“An angry father's doom
“Compels you, in his wrath unkind,
“Abandon'd thus to roam?
“Perhaps some wealthier rival woo'd
“The virgin to his bed;
“Some titled wretch her love pursued,
“And gold's allurements spread.
“The virgin to his bed;
“Some titled wretch her love pursued,
“And gold's allurements spread.
“For this the father may withhold
“His sanction to your joy;
“And for vain stores of useless gold,
“Your happiness destroy.
“His sanction to your joy;
“And for vain stores of useless gold,
“Your happiness destroy.
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“Can wealth relieve the aching heart,
“Or silence discord's voice;
“That parents act this cruel part?—
“Oh avaricious choice!
“Or silence discord's voice;
“That parents act this cruel part?—
“Oh avaricious choice!
“To drive content and peace away
“To make their fortunes more;
“That, like the bee, some spoiler may
“Destroy them for their store.
“To make their fortunes more;
“That, like the bee, some spoiler may
“Destroy them for their store.
“If hence, my friends, your sorrows flow,
“I can your sorrows feel.
“Then listen to the tale of woe
“Which, weeping, I reveal.
“I can your sorrows feel.
“Then listen to the tale of woe
“Which, weeping, I reveal.
“The Mercian throne when Keonwulph held,
“My father did preside:
“A valiant soldier in the field,
“And in the council tried.
“My father did preside:
“A valiant soldier in the field,
“And in the council tried.
“Of all the children of his bride,
“But only me surviv'd:
“Young Alwin woo'd me from his side,
“But nought his passion thriv'd.
“But only me surviv'd:
“Young Alwin woo'd me from his side,
“But nought his passion thriv'd.
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“The fav'rite of the king was he,
“My father took his part;
“But to a youth of less degree
“I had bestow'd my heart.
“My father took his part;
“But to a youth of less degree
“I had bestow'd my heart.
“Not lilies on the stem display'd
“Were half so fair to view;
“Nor doves that seek the woodland shade
“So tender and so true:
“Were half so fair to view;
“Nor doves that seek the woodland shade
“So tender and so true:
“Alas! but small his fortunes were,
“Which made my sire disprove;
“And long he sought to part the pair
“Combin'd in mutual love.
“Which made my sire disprove;
“And long he sought to part the pair
“Combin'd in mutual love.
“And oft he press'd I'd Alwin wed;
“But I his will withstand,
“And to my humbler lover fled,
“And gave to him my hand:
“But I his will withstand,
“And to my humbler lover fled,
“And gave to him my hand:
“All to my sire unknown, I flew
“Just at the break of dawn:
“The fields were white with pearly dew,
“And hung with tears the thorn.
“Just at the break of dawn:
“The fields were white with pearly dew,
“And hung with tears the thorn.
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“Secluded long, compell'd, we dwelt,
“To shun my father's rage;
“In hopes that time his ire would melt,
“His cruel wrath assuage.
“To shun my father's rage;
“In hopes that time his ire would melt,
“His cruel wrath assuage.
“The sun had walk'd his annual round,
“A witness to our bliss;
“A daughter fair our love had crown'd
“With double happiness.
“A witness to our bliss;
“A daughter fair our love had crown'd
“With double happiness.
“When that my angry father heard
“Where we had liv'd so long,
“And with his vassals arm'd appear'd—
“A bold and mighty throng!
“Where we had liv'd so long,
“And with his vassals arm'd appear'd—
“A bold and mighty throng!
“He swore the life he would not spare
“Of him my dearest lord;
“For wedding thus his daughter fair,
“Against his known accord.
“Of him my dearest lord;
“For wedding thus his daughter fair,
“Against his known accord.
“Behind the house a forest stood;
“And much my lord I pray'd,
“That thro' the same escape he would,
“And take our little maid.
“And much my lord I pray'd,
“That thro' the same escape he would,
“And take our little maid.
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“With much of tears and discontent,
“And with a heavy heart,
“He thro' the woods to exile went.
“We griev'd full sore to part.
“And with a heavy heart,
“He thro' the woods to exile went.
“We griev'd full sore to part.
“Now scarcely out of sight was he,
“When burst the castle door;
“In rush'd my sire, with cruel glee:
“I sunk upon the floor.
“When burst the castle door;
“In rush'd my sire, with cruel glee:
“I sunk upon the floor.
‘And where is he, the saucy slave,’
“When I reviv'd, he said,
‘Who dar'd, ere I my blessing gave,
‘My only daughter wed?’
“When I reviv'd, he said,
‘Who dar'd, ere I my blessing gave,
‘My only daughter wed?’
“Safe from thy pow'r, (I bold reply'd,)
“O thou inhuman sire!
“By this he stems the briny tide;
“And mocks thy cruel ire.”
“O thou inhuman sire!
“By this he stems the briny tide;
“And mocks thy cruel ire.”
“Then me he to his home did bear,
“And keep me there confin'd,
“And oft with threats, oft speeches fair,
“He'd tempt my constant mind.
“And keep me there confin'd,
“And oft with threats, oft speeches fair,
“He'd tempt my constant mind.
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“From former vows, full oft he'd say,
“The pope should set me free,
“If I would his commands obey,
“And gallant Alwin's be.
“The pope should set me free,
“If I would his commands obey,
“And gallant Alwin's be.
“But I resolv'd I'd faithful prove
“To him my dearest lord,
“Who now, by my hard father drove,
“Was wand'ring sad abroad.
“To him my dearest lord,
“Who now, by my hard father drove,
“Was wand'ring sad abroad.
“To shun his persecuting pow'r,
“I from my father fled;
“All at the fearful, silent hour
“When darkness round was spread.
“I from my father fled;
“All at the fearful, silent hour
“When darkness round was spread.
“Secluded in this homely cot,
“I've shunn'd the public eye;
“Submissive to my hapless lot,
“Where I'll contented die.
“I've shunn'd the public eye;
“Submissive to my hapless lot,
“Where I'll contented die.
“If yours is like my former love,
“Oh may it happier end!
“May time your fond esteem improve,
“Your fortunes heav'n befriend!
“Oh may it happier end!
“May time your fond esteem improve,
“Your fortunes heav'n befriend!
13
“But, oh ye heav'ns! I yet must mourn,
“With tears and anguish wild,
“That I could yet no tidings learn
“Of Roldan or my child.
“With tears and anguish wild,
“That I could yet no tidings learn
“Of Roldan or my child.
“Roldan, my lord! my dear delight!—”
Her tears her words delay;
While quick from Rosalinda's sight
Each object fades away.
Her tears her words delay;
While quick from Rosalinda's sight
Each object fades away.
Attentive long the tale she heard,
On every accent hung,
And toss'd on passion's tide appear'd,
And with impatience stung;
On every accent hung,
And toss'd on passion's tide appear'd,
And with impatience stung;
But, when she heard brave Roldan's name,
She sunk in Edmund's arms;
A sudden chilness seiz'd her frame,
And dimn'd her heav'nly charms.
She sunk in Edmund's arms;
A sudden chilness seiz'd her frame,
And dimn'd her heav'nly charms.
To give her aid the hostess flies,
When, on the maiden's breast,
A picture met her wond'ring eyes
With Roldan's form imprest.
When, on the maiden's breast,
A picture met her wond'ring eyes
With Roldan's form imprest.
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Then shook with joy the matron's frame,
“My child,” she cried, “my child!
“By heav'n's high will you hither came:
“Conducted thro' the wild.
“My child,” she cried, “my child!
“By heav'n's high will you hither came:
“Conducted thro' the wild.
“For when thy father with thee flew,
“Thy infant neck around
“I hung this toy, which now I view.
“And art thou, art thou found?”
“Thy infant neck around
“I hung this toy, which now I view.
“And art thou, art thou found?”
Reviving, Rosalinda throws
Her arms around her neck,
Each to the other's bosom grows,
And tears their utterance check.
Her arms around her neck,
Each to the other's bosom grows,
And tears their utterance check.
“My child,” demands the eager dame,
“My Rosalinda dear!
“Does yet thy father live,—proclaim—
“And how he lives, and where?”
“My Rosalinda dear!
“Does yet thy father live,—proclaim—
“And how he lives, and where?”
Returning sorrow chills the blood
Of either youthful guest;
Forlorn and motionless they stood,
And sighs each voice supprest.
Of either youthful guest;
Forlorn and motionless they stood,
And sighs each voice supprest.
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Then thus the youth: “Ah parent dear!
“As soon I hope you'll be,
“Thy Roldan lately press'd his bier,
“From guilt and terror free.
“As soon I hope you'll be,
“Thy Roldan lately press'd his bier,
“From guilt and terror free.
“He call'd me to his death-bed side,
“And press'd my hand in his;
‘My Edmund, oh my friend!’ he cried,
‘May yours be every bliss.
“And press'd my hand in his;
‘My Edmund, oh my friend!’ he cried,
‘May yours be every bliss.
‘Like you I lov'd, in youthful time,
‘And was again belov'd:
‘Our joys were short, and in their prime
‘The source of sorrow prov'd.
‘And was again belov'd:
‘Our joys were short, and in their prime
‘The source of sorrow prov'd.
‘Spurn'd from my country, forc'd to roam,
‘I've wander'd sad and poor:
‘But now I seek a peaceful home,
‘Where sorrow is no more.
‘I've wander'd sad and poor:
‘But now I seek a peaceful home,
‘Where sorrow is no more.
‘By thy supporting bounty fed—
‘But oh! when I'm no more
‘Let Ros'lind share thy nuptial bed,
‘Nor broken vows deplore.
‘But oh! when I'm no more
‘Let Ros'lind share thy nuptial bed,
‘Nor broken vows deplore.
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‘Have pity on her tender years,
‘And do not blast her fame,
‘Nor forfeit, by her injur'd tears,
‘The guerdon you may claim.
‘And do not blast her fame,
‘Nor forfeit, by her injur'd tears,
‘The guerdon you may claim.
‘For heav'n its bitter wrath prepares
‘To blast his closing day,
‘Who wooes the maid, and basely dares
‘Her easy heart betray.’
‘To blast his closing day,
‘Who wooes the maid, and basely dares
‘Her easy heart betray.’
“Oh rest thy heart, sincere I cried,
“I will be just and kind.—
‘Ah yet’ he rear'd his head and sigh'd,
‘One wish remains behind:
“I will be just and kind.—
‘Ah yet’ he rear'd his head and sigh'd,
‘One wish remains behind:
‘In Angles-land Elfrida seek,
‘If yet my dearest lives,
‘And wipe from tears her aged cheek,
‘If yet forlorn she grieves.’
‘If yet my dearest lives,
‘And wipe from tears her aged cheek,
‘If yet forlorn she grieves.’
“He said, and harder grasp'd my hand;
“His faultering accents cease;
“He smil'd serene, with aspect bland,
“And sunk to endless peace.
“His faultering accents cease;
“He smil'd serene, with aspect bland,
“And sunk to endless peace.
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“Soon as each duteous task was done
“To his departed shade,
“We cross'd the sea, and journey'd on
“To seek you as he'd said.
“To his departed shade,
“We cross'd the sea, and journey'd on
“To seek you as he'd said.
“When now the sun's enlivening sheen
“Had pass'd the middle day,
“Our guides we left, the sylvan scene
“Invited us to stray.
“Had pass'd the middle day,
“Our guides we left, the sylvan scene
“Invited us to stray.
“In mournful, pleasing converse long,
“Neglectful of the road,
“We wander'd inconsiderate on,
“And lost us in the wood.
“Neglectful of the road,
“We wander'd inconsiderate on,
“And lost us in the wood.
“But sure 'twas heav'n's directing will
“That led our wand'ring feet,
“To end with joy thy years of ill,
“Whom here forlorn we meet.
“That led our wand'ring feet,
“To end with joy thy years of ill,
“Whom here forlorn we meet.
“Then be he thank'd with grateful heart,
“Who led us on our way;
“Whose hand extracts affliction's dart,
“And wipes our tears away.”
“Who led us on our way;
“Whose hand extracts affliction's dart,
“And wipes our tears away.”
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Elfrida hears, her bosom heaves
With mingled joy and woe;
She clasps her child, her husband grieves,
And tears descending flow.
With mingled joy and woe;
She clasps her child, her husband grieves,
And tears descending flow.
“And blest and happy may you be,
“And full of years,” she cried;
“May ne'er misfortunes sorrow ye,
“Nor angry fate divide!
“And full of years,” she cried;
“May ne'er misfortunes sorrow ye,
“Nor angry fate divide!
“And may my Roldan's virtues shine
“In all your offspring fair:
“His sweet endowments bless your line,
“Without his weight of care.”
“In all your offspring fair:
“His sweet endowments bless your line,
“Without his weight of care.”
| Poems on Various Subjects | |