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A BALLAD, OF EDWARD AND ELGIVA, The Nun of St. Agatha.
Lord Edward he had red red gold,
Lord Edward he had store;
In troth the man that had as much,
Should never crave for more.
Lord Edward he had store;
In troth the man that had as much,
Should never crave for more.
Lord Edward he was young and bold,
And jovial friends had he,
And they would feast and drink with him,
And sing right jovially.
And jovial friends had he,
And they would feast and drink with him,
And sing right jovially.
But then Lord Edward he was false,
And play'd the traitor's part;
He had a tongue was oily smooth,
But cruel was his heart.
And play'd the traitor's part;
He had a tongue was oily smooth,
But cruel was his heart.
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His feigned tears had often mov'd
Chaste maidens many a one,
To yield unto his artful tale,
To yield, and be undone.
Chaste maidens many a one,
To yield unto his artful tale,
To yield, and be undone.
But no compunction rent his soul;
Their loud complaints were vain;
For he but sought some other fair,
That she might share the pain.
Their loud complaints were vain;
For he but sought some other fair,
That she might share the pain.
As at the board Lord Edward sate,
And drank the red red wine,
Beside him was a youthful knight,
They call'd him Galberdine.
And drank the red red wine,
Beside him was a youthful knight,
They call'd him Galberdine.
And to Lord Edward spake this knight—
“Though damsels fair you've known,
“There's one surpasseth all the rest,
“You ne'er can call your own.
“Though damsels fair you've known,
“There's one surpasseth all the rest,
“You ne'er can call your own.
“Oh! she is peerless to the sight,
“But icy cold her breast;
“For he, on whom her soul was fix'd,
“Is gone to lasting rest.
“But icy cold her breast;
“For he, on whom her soul was fix'd,
“Is gone to lasting rest.
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“So Elgiva, this blooming fair,
“The sacred veil hath ta'en,
“And from the convent's sainted walls
“Will ne'er come forth again.”
“The sacred veil hath ta'en,
“And from the convent's sainted walls
“Will ne'er come forth again.”
“And where now rise those convent walls
“Which hold this maid of fame?
“Oh! tell to me,” Lord Edward said,
“The patroness's name.”
“Which hold this maid of fame?
“Oh! tell to me,” Lord Edward said,
“The patroness's name.”
“The patroness, Saint Agatha,
“Receiv'd before her shrine
“The vows of lovely Elgiva,”
Replied Sir Galberdine.
“Receiv'd before her shrine
“The vows of lovely Elgiva,”
Replied Sir Galberdine.
Lord Edward never word spake more,
But quaff'd the wine so free,
Yet in his vicious heart he wish'd
The holy maid to see.
But quaff'd the wine so free,
Yet in his vicious heart he wish'd
The holy maid to see.
Next morning with the sun he rose,
And left the castle gate;
He clad himself in pilgrim's robes,
And laid aside all state.
And left the castle gate;
He clad himself in pilgrim's robes,
And laid aside all state.
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And to the shrine of Agatha
Lord Edward sped alone,
And there before the altar he
Said paters many a one.
Lord Edward sped alone,
And there before the altar he
Said paters many a one.
And there he saw the relic fair,
And kiss'd the holy bone;
He gave one penny, and then said
Of aves many a one.
And kiss'd the holy bone;
He gave one penny, and then said
Of aves many a one.
But while he seem'd intent on prayer,
With visage turn'd to ground,
His roving thoughts on sin were fix'd,
His eyes oft cast around.
With visage turn'd to ground,
His roving thoughts on sin were fix'd,
His eyes oft cast around.
Amid the nuns at length he spied
A peerless maiden bright;
So fair a she had ne'er before
Engag'd Lord Edward's sight.
A peerless maiden bright;
So fair a she had ne'er before
Engag'd Lord Edward's sight.
It was indeed fair Elgiva
That caught his lustful eyne;
Far better had it prov'd to him
He ne'er her face had seen.
That caught his lustful eyne;
Far better had it prov'd to him
He ne'er her face had seen.
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Then to himself Lord Edward said—
“Though e'er so bad it be,
“I swear by Christ his holy rood,
“The nun shall sleep with me.”
“Though e'er so bad it be,
“I swear by Christ his holy rood,
“The nun shall sleep with me.”
Then from the chapel hied the lord;
His mind was full of thought,
And, urg'd by hellish fiends anon,
A wicked monk he sought.
His mind was full of thought,
And, urg'd by hellish fiends anon,
A wicked monk he sought.
A crafty sinner was this monk,
On worldly gain intent;
But all believ'd he was a man
Whose soul on prayer was bent.
On worldly gain intent;
But all believ'd he was a man
Whose soul on prayer was bent.
“Oh! I am sick,” Lord Edward said,
“Good father John, I pray,
“Now give some comfort in this need,
“Nor to my wish say nay.
“Good father John, I pray,
“Now give some comfort in this need,
“Nor to my wish say nay.
“Oh! give me comfort, and I swear
“Whate'er thou wouldst of me;
“Or be it land, or gold, or kine,
“I'll give it unto thee.”
“Whate'er thou wouldst of me;
“Or be it land, or gold, or kine,
“I'll give it unto thee.”
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“Oh! tell me now,” quoth father John,
“What makes thee sick and sad;
“I love my lord, and will obey,
“Or be it good or bad.
“What makes thee sick and sad;
“I love my lord, and will obey,
“Or be it good or bad.
“Command then, and by Christ I swear,
“Whate'er thy will may be,
“I shall enact as thou requir'st.”—
“Then list, kind monk, to me:
“Whate'er thy will may be,
“I shall enact as thou requir'st.”—
“Then list, kind monk, to me:
“Before the shrine of Agatha
“There kneels a veiled nun;
“And on a fairer maiden yet
“Ne'er shone the morning sun:
“There kneels a veiled nun;
“And on a fairer maiden yet
“Ne'er shone the morning sun:
“Yclept she is Nun Elgiva;
“It is her maiden charms
“I fain would clasp, the live long night,
“Within my eager arms.
“It is her maiden charms
“I fain would clasp, the live long night,
“Within my eager arms.
“But compass this, good friar John!
“And ask whate'er you will;
“Or be it land, or gold, or kine,
“Thy wish I will fulfil.”
“And ask whate'er you will;
“Or be it land, or gold, or kine,
“Thy wish I will fulfil.”
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“Oh! thou requir'st a mighty sin,
“A dreadful crime of me;
“For if I do as thou would'st have,
“My soul condemn'd will be.
“A dreadful crime of me;
“For if I do as thou would'st have,
“My soul condemn'd will be.
“For sacrilegious is the act
“Of him that dares prophane
“A nun of Agatha's fam'd shrine,
“Ah! therefore, lord, refrain.”
“Of him that dares prophane
“A nun of Agatha's fam'd shrine,
“Ah! therefore, lord, refrain.”
To this in haste the youthful lord,
With bitter frown, replied,
“Oh! had you lov'd me as you said,
“I had not been denied;
With bitter frown, replied,
“Oh! had you lov'd me as you said,
“I had not been denied;
“But I will seek some surer friend,
“Nor trust a friar more:”
Thus having spake, Lord Edward turn'd,
And march'd toward the door.
“Nor trust a friar more:”
Thus having spake, Lord Edward turn'd,
And march'd toward the door.
Though great the sin, the gold was bright;
The monk could not refrain—
“Oh! I will do thy will,” he said,
“Though hell should prove my pain.”
The monk could not refrain—
“Oh! I will do thy will,” he said,
“Though hell should prove my pain.”
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Lord Edward told an hundred marks,
He told them out with glee—
“Take this as earnest, father John,
“Of that shall be thy fee.”
He told them out with glee—
“Take this as earnest, father John,
“Of that shall be thy fee.”
Then to the shrine of Agatha
Repair'd the monk in haste;
Ah! little thought the sisterhood
His errand so unchaste.
Repair'd the monk in haste;
Ah! little thought the sisterhood
His errand so unchaste.
He chaunted mass; then to confess
He call'd them one by one;
Till last of all within the church
Kneel'd Elgiva the nun;
He call'd them one by one;
Till last of all within the church
Kneel'd Elgiva the nun;
To whom the friar spake these words:
“To cell thou needs must go;
“For not to me thou must confess,
“The Lord he wills it so:
“To cell thou needs must go;
“For not to me thou must confess,
“The Lord he wills it so:
“For to our convent now is come
“A monk of holy fame;
“Who says that thou art one elect
“To bear a sainted name.
“A monk of holy fame;
“Who says that thou art one elect
“To bear a sainted name.
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“But unto no one else would he
“The sacred truth disclose;
“To visit thee by stealth this night
“The monk hath therefore chose.
“The sacred truth disclose;
“To visit thee by stealth this night
“The monk hath therefore chose.
“So softly ope the garden door,
“And leave unbarr'd thy cell;
“The holy monk shall come to thee
“Just at the midnight bell.”
“And leave unbarr'd thy cell;
“The holy monk shall come to thee
“Just at the midnight bell.”
The lovely maiden bow'd assent;
She dream'd not of the guile,
But thought that heaven, and not the fiend,
Had sent one to defile.
She dream'd not of the guile,
But thought that heaven, and not the fiend,
Had sent one to defile.
And all the day she told her beads,
And contrite zeal display'd;
While friar John Lord Edward told
How he deceiv'd the maid.
And contrite zeal display'd;
While friar John Lord Edward told
How he deceiv'd the maid.
And when the robe of ebon night
Obscur'd the jocund day,
Lord Edward, in a monkish cowl,
His figure did array.
Obscur'd the jocund day,
Lord Edward, in a monkish cowl,
His figure did array.
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And having gain'd the garden gate,
'Twas open to his will;
And when he pac'd the cloister'd arch,
The scene was drear and chill.
'Twas open to his will;
And when he pac'd the cloister'd arch,
The scene was drear and chill.
And when he gain'd the secret cell,
A lamp was burning there,
By which was seen the prostrate form
Of Elgiva the fair.
A lamp was burning there,
By which was seen the prostrate form
Of Elgiva the fair.
With measur'd step Lord Edward first
Advanc'd within the cell,
And at that moment sullen toll'd
The chapel's midnight bell.
Advanc'd within the cell,
And at that moment sullen toll'd
The chapel's midnight bell.
He kneel'd awhile beside the maid,
But long could not refrain;
Then seiz'd her trembling in his arms;
Her struggles were but vain.
But long could not refrain;
Then seiz'd her trembling in his arms;
Her struggles were but vain.
She strove to cry, but with his lips
He stifled these alarms;
O'ercome at length, she pow'rless sunk,
And fainted in his arms.
He stifled these alarms;
O'ercome at length, she pow'rless sunk,
And fainted in his arms.
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He stain'd the purest lily form
That ever met the eye;
She woke to mis'ry and despair,
And only wish'd to die.
That ever met the eye;
She woke to mis'ry and despair,
And only wish'd to die.
By vows, by oaths, and every pray'r,
To soothe her long he strove;
But still she loath'd his hated form,
And still repuls'd his love.
To soothe her long he strove;
But still she loath'd his hated form,
And still repuls'd his love.
“Yes, soon I'll join the clay-cold youth,
“That sleeps within the tomb;
“But when I'm dead, thy crime,” she cried,
“From me shall meet its doom.
“That sleeps within the tomb;
“But when I'm dead, thy crime,” she cried,
“From me shall meet its doom.
“This sacrilege proclaim'd shall be,
“For which, in scorching fire,
“Thy recreant limbs consign'd will be,
“So shall thy form expire.”
“For which, in scorching fire,
“Thy recreant limbs consign'd will be,
“So shall thy form expire.”
Lord Edward with contemptuous smile
Beheld the weeping fair—
“How vain,” he cried, “are all thy threats,
“To speak thou wilt not dare.
Beheld the weeping fair—
“How vain,” he cried, “are all thy threats,
“To speak thou wilt not dare.
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“For who but thou didst ope the gate
“To let the spoiler in;
“By which it must appear to all
“That thou hast plann'd the sin.
“To let the spoiler in;
“By which it must appear to all
“That thou hast plann'd the sin.
“Be silent then, return the flame
“Which still exists for thee;
“Be kind, sweet Elgiva!” he said,
“And learn to love like me.”
“Which still exists for thee;
“Be kind, sweet Elgiva!” he said,
“And learn to love like me.”
“Oh! cruel, cruel, is my fate!”
The nun in anguish cried;
“For if I speak, more guilt appears
“To stain the guiltless side.
The nun in anguish cried;
“For if I speak, more guilt appears
“To stain the guiltless side.
“But though in silence I remain,
“On Christ my voice shall call,
“To let his wrath for this thy crime
“On thee for ever fall.
“On Christ my voice shall call,
“To let his wrath for this thy crime
“On thee for ever fall.
“Oh! mayst thou, when I'm dead and gone,
“Repent the midnight hour!
“May horrors chill thee when foul hell
“First plac'd me in thy power.”
“Repent the midnight hour!
“May horrors chill thee when foul hell
“First plac'd me in thy power.”
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And as she spoke Lord Edward turn'd,
And left the cell with speed;
He heeded nought the bitter curse,
But gloried in the deed.
And left the cell with speed;
He heeded nought the bitter curse,
But gloried in the deed.
And at the board, with mirth and glee,
He welcom'd rising morn;
Nor cast one thought, nor heav'd one sigh,
For her who wept forlorn.
He welcom'd rising morn;
Nor cast one thought, nor heav'd one sigh,
For her who wept forlorn.
And when the sullen night drew in,
With wine his brain was fir'd;
He call'd to mind fair Elgiva,
His soul the nun desir'd.
With wine his brain was fir'd;
He call'd to mind fair Elgiva,
His soul the nun desir'd.
At length he left the sleepless couch,
And ope the lattice threw,
To taste the cool refreshing breeze
That from the woodland blew.
And ope the lattice threw,
To taste the cool refreshing breeze
That from the woodland blew.
When sudden, at the castle gate,
Was heard a brazen sound;
Lord Edward listen'd, and anon
He turn'd his eyes around.
Was heard a brazen sound;
Lord Edward listen'd, and anon
He turn'd his eyes around.
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He saw a friar at the gate,
Who thrice knock'd at the ring—
“Now save thee, monk,” Lord Edward said,
“What tidings dost thou bring?”
Who thrice knock'd at the ring—
“Now save thee, monk,” Lord Edward said,
“What tidings dost thou bring?”
With hollow voice the form replied—
“My news must welcome prove;
“I come from Elgiva the nun,
“My tidings are of love.”
“My news must welcome prove;
“I come from Elgiva the nun,
“My tidings are of love.”
“Attend, and I will come to thee;
“Stay there,” the lord replied;
And instant sped him down the stairs,
And op'd the portal wide.
“Stay there,” the lord replied;
And instant sped him down the stairs,
And op'd the portal wide.
But there no monk Lord Edward saw,
That should the tidings bring;
Yet lo! a scroll of parchment was
Affixed to the ring.
That should the tidings bring;
Yet lo! a scroll of parchment was
Affixed to the ring.
He loosen'd quick the parchment scroll,
And there these words were writ—
“'Twas yesternight I cursed you,
“I now repent of it.
And there these words were writ—
“'Twas yesternight I cursed you,
“I now repent of it.
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“For I will straight requite thy love,
“And give thee up my heart;
“Do thou as truly mark my words,
“As I shall play my part.
“And give thee up my heart;
“Do thou as truly mark my words,
“As I shall play my part.
“To-morrow night, when chapel bell.
“Proclaims the midnight peal,
“In secret to thy bed of down
“Thy Elgiva will steal.
“Proclaims the midnight peal,
“In secret to thy bed of down
“Thy Elgiva will steal.
“Then open leave the castle gate,
“And early seek thy rest,
“For Elgiva the nun shall come,
“And clasp thee to her breast.”
“And early seek thy rest,
“For Elgiva the nun shall come,
“And clasp thee to her breast.”
And as Lord Edward read the scroll,
The hour of midnight toll'd;
The raven croak'd, the bat flew by,
The wind blew nipping cold.
The hour of midnight toll'd;
The raven croak'd, the bat flew by,
The wind blew nipping cold.
And on the distant breeze was heard
A sad and solemn knell;
It was of some departed soul
The heavy passing bell.
A sad and solemn knell;
It was of some departed soul
The heavy passing bell.
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The sound struck deep Lord Edward's heart,
And on his downy bed,
With thoughts of Elgiva, he strove
To chase it from his head.
And on his downy bed,
With thoughts of Elgiva, he strove
To chase it from his head.
“To-morrow night,” quoth he, “shall I
“Within those arms repose,
“And press that form, and kiss that mouth,
“More perfum'd than the rose.
“Within those arms repose,
“And press that form, and kiss that mouth,
“More perfum'd than the rose.
“To-morrow night her panting form
“By me will be caress'd;”
Yet as he thought, the heavy toll
Disturb'd his wish'd-for rest.
“By me will be caress'd;”
Yet as he thought, the heavy toll
Disturb'd his wish'd-for rest.
Lord Edward welcom'd thrice the dawn,
And left his costly bed;
And for his pastime he that morn
The hounds to green wood led.
And left his costly bed;
And for his pastime he that morn
The hounds to green wood led.
And at the board the jovial knights
His flagging thoughts 'gan cheer;
They eat, they drank, and toasted oft
The killer of the deer.
His flagging thoughts 'gan cheer;
They eat, they drank, and toasted oft
The killer of the deer.
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And as the hour of night drew in,
His heart wax'd full of glee,
And ev'ry guest from castle sped,
As blithsome as might be.
His heart wax'd full of glee,
And ev'ry guest from castle sped,
As blithsome as might be.
And then Lord Edward open'd wide
The castle's folding gate;
And then did he upon his couch
Fair Elgiva await.
The castle's folding gate;
And then did he upon his couch
Fair Elgiva await.
And tedious seem'd the minutes then
To his expecting mind,
As restless on the bed of down
His sinful form reclin'd.
To his expecting mind,
As restless on the bed of down
His sinful form reclin'd.
At length he heard the castle bell
The hour of midnight beat;
And then upon the stairs he heard
The sound of trampling feet.
The hour of midnight beat;
And then upon the stairs he heard
The sound of trampling feet.
And then he saw a female form
His chamber softly tread;
And then upright it made a halt
Beside Lord Edward's bed.
His chamber softly tread;
And then upright it made a halt
Beside Lord Edward's bed.
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And then between the sheets it crept,
And spread its arms full wide;
And then exclaim'd—“Oh! clasp me now,
“Thy true love and thy bride.”
And spread its arms full wide;
And then exclaim'd—“Oh! clasp me now,
“Thy true love and thy bride.”
Lord Edward sprang to her embrace,
And lock'd her in his arms;
Then scream'd—“What makes you shrink,” she said,
“Ah! know you not these charms?
And lock'd her in his arms;
Then scream'd—“What makes you shrink,” she said,
“Ah! know you not these charms?
“Come, press me, love! come, kiss these lips—
“Nay, why so coy, my dear?”
“Thy form is icy cold,” he cried,
“I'm palsied o'er with fear.”
“Nay, why so coy, my dear?”
“Thy form is icy cold,” he cried,
“I'm palsied o'er with fear.”
“Oh! say not so, my love, my lord!
“With me there's nought but bliss”—
Her lips, then damp and marble cold,
Impress'd on his a kiss.
“With me there's nought but bliss”—
Her lips, then damp and marble cold,
Impress'd on his a kiss.
Lord Edward shrunk, yet closer still
She clasp'd him in her arms:
Lord Edward shriek'd— “For shame,” she cried,
“Oh! banish these alarms.”
She clasp'd him in her arms:
Lord Edward shriek'd— “For shame,” she cried,
“Oh! banish these alarms.”
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“Great God! what art thou?” cried the youth;
“My blood begins to chill:”
“Thine Elgiva,” the form replied,
“Obedient to thy will.”
“My blood begins to chill:”
“Thine Elgiva,” the form replied,
“Obedient to thy will.”
And as she spake, a stream of ice
Ran trickling through his veins;
Still more she kiss'd, and more caress'd,
Augmenting still his pains.
Ran trickling through his veins;
Still more she kiss'd, and more caress'd,
Augmenting still his pains.
And then Lord Edward's limbs grew stiff,
For death his frame 'gan seize;
And then his blood, and then his heart,
With horror 'gan to freeze.
For death his frame 'gan seize;
And then his blood, and then his heart,
With horror 'gan to freeze.
“Thank Heaven I die,” Lord Edward said,
“And death shall ease my woe”—
“Nay, pray not thus, my love!” she cried,
“For it will not be so.
“And death shall ease my woe”—
“Nay, pray not thus, my love!” she cried,
“For it will not be so.
“This night I come to call thee forth,
“That we may wedded be;
“The priest, grim Death, awaits us both,
“Beneath the cypress tree;
“That we may wedded be;
“The priest, grim Death, awaits us both,
“Beneath the cypress tree;
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“And there are choristers so gay,
“To greet the marriage rites;
“The screech owl, bat, and raven's croaks,
“And troops of yelling sprites.
“To greet the marriage rites;
“The screech owl, bat, and raven's croaks,
“And troops of yelling sprites.
“And thousands there will cry amen,
“And praise the youthful pair;
“They'll greet us with a dear embrace,
“In rattling bones quite bare.
“And praise the youthful pair;
“They'll greet us with a dear embrace,
“In rattling bones quite bare.
“Our priest is ghastly grinning Death,
“And lovely Sin the clerk;
“A flame sulphureous from whose eyes
“Will dissipate the dark.
“And lovely Sin the clerk;
“A flame sulphureous from whose eyes
“Will dissipate the dark.
“I have a ring of human bone,
“With blood begrimed o'er;
“I have a bride-cake made for thee
“Of brains and clotted gore.
“With blood begrimed o'er;
“I have a bride-cake made for thee
“Of brains and clotted gore.
“I have a bed to lay us on,
“In charnel house it stands;
“I piled the heap of rotting flesh
“With these my loving hands.
“In charnel house it stands;
“I piled the heap of rotting flesh
“With these my loving hands.
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“I have fine clothes to wrap us in,
“And tuck us up so neat;
“They are a dead man's stinking shroud,
“And fest'ring winding sheet.
“And tuck us up so neat;
“They are a dead man's stinking shroud,
“And fest'ring winding sheet.
“But come, my love! the morning air
“I now begin to smell;
“I'll cure thee of this icy cold
“Before the fires of hell.”
“I now begin to smell;
“I'll cure thee of this icy cold
“Before the fires of hell.”
With that the spectre clasp'd him tight,
And through the lattice sped,
And bore Lord Edward to the realms
Of horror and the dead.
And through the lattice sped,
And bore Lord Edward to the realms
Of horror and the dead.
Since which the castle's lonely walls,
As monkish legends tell,
No mortal form can e'er approach,
When tolls the midnight bell.
As monkish legends tell,
No mortal form can e'er approach,
When tolls the midnight bell.
Then shrieks the ghost of Elgiva,
While sprites tormenting run,
And lash with scorpions' stings the wretch
By whom she was undone.
While sprites tormenting run,
And lash with scorpions' stings the wretch
By whom she was undone.
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By this example, youths, beware,
For such desires will prove,
A lasting torment to your souls,
And not the source of love.
For such desires will prove,
A lasting torment to your souls,
And not the source of love.
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