 | Young Arthur |  |
Who was that lady and that knight her care?
The knight a stranger; Edith was the fair.
He stopp'd, alighted; ready grooms attend—
Fashion still finds the welcome of a friend—
Grooms, lacquies, pages, ready at his call,
The stranger bows in Brandon's lofty hall:
Sir Brandon meets him, pompous welcomes pass;
The youth receives them as the courteous glass
Reflects, and faithfully, the image warm;
All without substance, fallacy, and form:
Contrasted manner told this tale aloud,
The stranger humble, and Sir Brandon proud;
A stately banquet stately welcome waits;
There Edith rules; and there the youth relates
Varied adventures: as the maiden hears
Smiles speak her pleasure, half-heav'd sighs her fears;
Alternate thus the stranger's heart they try,
And still to Edith they attract his eye;
Sir Brandon fill'd; the youth ne'er backward stands,
But fills; yet, e'er each pledge for drinking's up;
Respect to beauty gallantry demands,
Each bow'd to Edith, kissing first the cup;
Their gentle courtesy the maid discern'd,
With smiles receiv'd, and modestly return'd;
At length fair Edith, and the haughty man,
The youth's adventures ask'd, who thus began.
The knight a stranger; Edith was the fair.
He stopp'd, alighted; ready grooms attend—
Fashion still finds the welcome of a friend—
Grooms, lacquies, pages, ready at his call,
The stranger bows in Brandon's lofty hall:
51
The youth receives them as the courteous glass
Reflects, and faithfully, the image warm;
All without substance, fallacy, and form:
Contrasted manner told this tale aloud,
The stranger humble, and Sir Brandon proud;
A stately banquet stately welcome waits;
There Edith rules; and there the youth relates
Varied adventures: as the maiden hears
Smiles speak her pleasure, half-heav'd sighs her fears;
Alternate thus the stranger's heart they try,
And still to Edith they attract his eye;
Sir Brandon fill'd; the youth ne'er backward stands,
But fills; yet, e'er each pledge for drinking's up;
Respect to beauty gallantry demands,
Each bow'd to Edith, kissing first the cup;
Their gentle courtesy the maid discern'd,
With smiles receiv'd, and modestly return'd;
At length fair Edith, and the haughty man,
The youth's adventures ask'd, who thus began.
| Young Arthur | |