 | Young Arthur |  |
SIR ERNEST'S TALE—concluded.
And now (returning to the court of Spain,
Where Charles had landed with victorious train;
Where Ernest stood the warlike chiefs among,
And from his casque the fadeless laurel hung;)
The youth, Sir Brandon on his tale intent
And graceful Edith, to its sequel went.
Where Charles had landed with victorious train;
Where Ernest stood the warlike chiefs among,
And from his casque the fadeless laurel hung;)
The youth, Sir Brandon on his tale intent
And graceful Edith, to its sequel went.
“Arriv'd in Spain, and panting for the land
My bliss and birthright, I resign'd command;
The bark and treasure from the pirates won
Shar'd by the king, a moiety's my own;
Rich in reward, a knight's degree obtain'd,
I sail'd for England, and a landing gain'd;
Nature then urg'd revisiting the scene
Of budding infancy and childhood green,
In early vigour which I left; and there
Enjoy th' embraces of a doting pair;
Implore the blessing of parental love,
Crown anxious hope, and boding care remove:
'Twas as I rode, absorb'd by pleasing thought,
My honour'd ear Sir Brandon's welcome caught;
Whose generous notice, and whose princely hall
Mem'ry shall oft to gratitude recall.”
My bliss and birthright, I resign'd command;
The bark and treasure from the pirates won
Shar'd by the king, a moiety's my own;
Rich in reward, a knight's degree obtain'd,
I sail'd for England, and a landing gain'd;
Nature then urg'd revisiting the scene
Of budding infancy and childhood green,
In early vigour which I left; and there
Enjoy th' embraces of a doting pair;
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Crown anxious hope, and boding care remove:
'Twas as I rode, absorb'd by pleasing thought,
My honour'd ear Sir Brandon's welcome caught;
Whose generous notice, and whose princely hall
Mem'ry shall oft to gratitude recall.”
Sir Ernest ceas'd, and, with the graceful grave,
“The House of Brandon;” and “his thanks” he gave.
Sir Brandon's thanks his courteous pledge repay,
And ardent welcomes woo his longer stay;
His grace, his title, and his deeds of fame,
From high Sir Brandon fix'd attention claim;
And as he told his “deeds of valour done,”
Sir Brandon sigh'd, and sigh'd for such a son;
Sir Ernest sigh'd, fair Edith was the source;
And Edith's bosom labour'd with remorse;
Haply, in vain for love's return she sighs—
The slave had charms and slighted Allan eyes;
One fate supporting, by one 'venture freed,
Such mutual fortunes mutual feelings breed;
The mingling sympathies that ease the chain
Of galling slav'ry mingle not in vain,
And fortune's hands, as oft life's annals prove,
The chains of slav'ry from the sexes move
To bind them closer in the chains of love.
“The House of Brandon;” and “his thanks” he gave.
Sir Brandon's thanks his courteous pledge repay,
And ardent welcomes woo his longer stay;
His grace, his title, and his deeds of fame,
From high Sir Brandon fix'd attention claim;
And as he told his “deeds of valour done,”
Sir Brandon sigh'd, and sigh'd for such a son;
Sir Ernest sigh'd, fair Edith was the source;
And Edith's bosom labour'd with remorse;
Haply, in vain for love's return she sighs—
The slave had charms and slighted Allan eyes;
One fate supporting, by one 'venture freed,
Such mutual fortunes mutual feelings breed;
The mingling sympathies that ease the chain
Of galling slav'ry mingle not in vain,
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The chains of slav'ry from the sexes move
To bind them closer in the chains of love.
With Brandon's wish, and oft assail'd
To stay, the youth complies:—
'Twas Brandon's warmth, of course, prevail'd?
Ah! no 'twas Edith's eyes.
To stay, the youth complies:—
'Twas Brandon's warmth, of course, prevail'd?
Ah! no 'twas Edith's eyes.
And was no thought to home applied
And those who there might moan?—
Alas! fair Edith by his side,
He thought of her alone.
And those who there might moan?—
Alas! fair Edith by his side,
He thought of her alone.
But how could duty reconcile
What all must disapprove?—
Poor youth! he saw sweet Edith smile,
And only thought of love.
What all must disapprove?—
Poor youth! he saw sweet Edith smile,
And only thought of love.
But real love, heaven-born, is sure
On duty to refine.—
Friend, was thy love thus always pure?
Was frailty never thine?
On duty to refine.—
Friend, was thy love thus always pure?
Was frailty never thine?
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Yet think not I'd his folly mask,
Mankind will errors make;
He was a man, and all I ask
Is, pity his mistake.
Mankind will errors make;
He was a man, and all I ask
Is, pity his mistake.
Where Edith was love linger'd there,
And Ernest linger'd too;
And had you seen th' enchanting fair
She might have spell-bound you.
And Ernest linger'd too;
And had you seen th' enchanting fair
She might have spell-bound you.
Ernest for Edith home forgot,
And duty's sacred right;
But ever repentance is the lot
Of all who duty slight.
And duty's sacred right;
But ever repentance is the lot
Of all who duty slight.
The evening was lovely, Sir Ernest had stray'd
Thro' the grounds of Sir Brandon, his guide the sweet maid;
His speech was of love, to her thoughts all he said
Could only young Allan recall.
His footsteps she led through park, lawn, grove, or wood,
Referr'd to each charm in the beauteous, or rude,
'Till they came to the spot where the old ruin stood,
With the ivy that clung round the wall.
Thro' the grounds of Sir Brandon, his guide the sweet maid;
His speech was of love, to her thoughts all he said
Could only young Allan recall.
His footsteps she led through park, lawn, grove, or wood,
Referr'd to each charm in the beauteous, or rude,
'Till they came to the spot where the old ruin stood,
With the ivy that clung round the wall.
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And she stood by that ruin suppressing a sigh,
And she thought of the night when young Allan was by;
She yet saw the anguish that sadden'd his eye,—
Her thoughts Ernest strove to recall;
He urg'd her away, and ask'd questions: but grief
Her steps still detain'd, all her answers were brief,
And her eye ever wandered, imploring relief,
To the ivy that clung round the wall.
And she thought of the night when young Allan was by;
She yet saw the anguish that sadden'd his eye,—
Her thoughts Ernest strove to recall;
He urg'd her away, and ask'd questions: but grief
Her steps still detain'd, all her answers were brief,
And her eye ever wandered, imploring relief,
To the ivy that clung round the wall.
And the moon it arose; and reflected the hour
When from Allan she parted: who saw her brow low'r
With the scorning of pride, and presuming of pow'r;
With him her joys disappear'd all;
Ah! then it was Allan who rush'd on her heart;
While Ernest in vain play'd the suitor's fond part:
Her attention too fix'd for the wav'ring of art
On the ivy that clung round the wall.
When from Allan she parted: who saw her brow low'r
With the scorning of pride, and presuming of pow'r;
With him her joys disappear'd all;
Ah! then it was Allan who rush'd on her heart;
While Ernest in vain play'd the suitor's fond part:
Her attention too fix'd for the wav'ring of art
On the ivy that clung round the wall.
What glides like a vision her fancy before,
Now hid by the ruin, now shown thro' the door?
She trembles, she totters, her energy's o'er,
Ernest sees, and his arms save her fall:
But he knew not the cause—now the moon beam'd more bright,
And the full form of Allan it rush'd on her sight;
She scream'd, and her eyes clos'd in transient night,
By the ivy that clung round the wall.
Now hid by the ruin, now shown thro' the door?
She trembles, she totters, her energy's o'er,
Ernest sees, and his arms save her fall:
But he knew not the cause—now the moon beam'd more bright,
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She scream'd, and her eyes clos'd in transient night,
By the ivy that clung round the wall.
'Twas Allan, returning from where he once laid
The bones of lov'd Simon; and, passing that shade,
With a gay cavalier he by chance saw the maid,
And to move vain his efforts were all:
Her scream made him fly; he escap'd Ernest's view,
Whose alarm and astonishment equally grew,
And, the maid in his arms swiftly catching, he flew
From the ivy that clung round the wall.
The bones of lov'd Simon; and, passing that shade,
With a gay cavalier he by chance saw the maid,
And to move vain his efforts were all:
Her scream made him fly; he escap'd Ernest's view,
Whose alarm and astonishment equally grew,
And, the maid in his arms swiftly catching, he flew
From the ivy that clung round the wall.
And Edith was laid on a sorrowful bed,
And the leech he was summon'd with hasty dread;
But he calm'd her fever'd brain;
Three days of fear he oppos'd death's pow'r,
On the fourth that youth and beauty's flow'r
Began to bloom again.
And the leech he was summon'd with hasty dread;
But he calm'd her fever'd brain;
Three days of fear he oppos'd death's pow'r,
On the fourth that youth and beauty's flow'r
Began to bloom again.
And merry it was in Sir Brandon's hall,
And merry it was with the cotters all
Who quaff'd Sir Brandon's ale;
But she to their love had more grateful claim
Since Allan had taught her that pride was shame,
And the lessons of love ne'er fail.
And merry it was with the cotters all
Who quaff'd Sir Brandon's ale;
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Since Allan had taught her that pride was shame,
And the lessons of love ne'er fail.
There's a bright beam streaming from the sun,
And to catch it, with hope, the fool has run;
“Ha! ha! I have it,” the witless cries,
And titters, and opens his eager hands;
But nothing is there; and his wondering eyes
Look round for his loss, as aghast he stands.
And to catch it, with hope, the fool has run;
“Ha! ha! I have it,” the witless cries,
And titters, and opens his eager hands;
But nothing is there; and his wondering eyes
Look round for his loss, as aghast he stands.
And this is the picture of human hope
Depending on any bright beam but one,
Which darts from the highest and heavenly cope,
And never shall set its glorious sun.
Depending on any bright beam but one,
Which darts from the highest and heavenly cope,
And never shall set its glorious sun.
Ernest on Edith fix'd his heart,
Edith to Allan her heart had given;
Allan's has been an arduous part,
And almost in twain his heart is riven.
The slave, though Edith had waken'd his sigh,
Yet Edith had scorn'd him, that slave had smil'd,
And of half his heart had the youth beguil'd;
But Allan had since met Edith's eye,
And first love's magic bring's victory.
Fair slave hast thou for young Allan sigh'd,
Thy solace in sorrow, thy partner in joy?
Alas! two passions thy heart divide,
And thou, with Allan, art love's bright toy.
Edith to Allan her heart had given;
Allan's has been an arduous part,
And almost in twain his heart is riven.
The slave, though Edith had waken'd his sigh,
Yet Edith had scorn'd him, that slave had smil'd,
And of half his heart had the youth beguil'd;
But Allan had since met Edith's eye,
And first love's magic bring's victory.
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Thy solace in sorrow, thy partner in joy?
Alas! two passions thy heart divide,
And thou, with Allan, art love's bright toy.
Thy wond'rous story shall the muse display,
But other sorrows first demand her lay.
But other sorrows first demand her lay.
| Young Arthur | |