Gaston de Blondeville, or The court of Henry III Keeping festival in Ardenne, a romance. St. Alban's Abbey, a metrical tale; With some poetical pieces. By Anne Radcliffe ... To which is prefixed: A memoir of the author, with extracts from her journals. In four volumes |
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| III. | PART III. THE MAGIC MIRRORS.
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 | Gaston de Blondeville, or The court of Henry III |  |
310
III. PART III. THE MAGIC MIRRORS.
A SUMMER NIGHT IN WINDSOR FOREST.
Edwy forsook the Fairie Court,
And to forest-glades withdrew,
Where never yet had elfin-sport
Cheered the melancholy view.
And to forest-glades withdrew,
Where never yet had elfin-sport
Cheered the melancholy view.
Upon the hazel-wands he writes
Eda's name, with “thrice and three,”
Then buries them, with bidden rites,
Underneath a forest-tree.
Eda's name, with “thrice and three,”
Then buries them, with bidden rites,
Underneath a forest-tree.
It was an oak, whose trunk within
A foul and watching spirit lay,
Whose night-shrieks in the tempest-din,
Filled the traveller with dismay:
A foul and watching spirit lay,
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Filled the traveller with dismay:
It was an oak, whose sinewy boughs
Threw a dark horror o'er the ground;
Whose high, gaunt top and warrior-brows
With the storms of ages frowned.
Threw a dark horror o'er the ground;
Whose high, gaunt top and warrior-brows
With the storms of ages frowned.
Its trunk was never touched with light,
So wide and deep the branching shade
Of leaves, that, on a starry night,
A gleam, like break of morning, shed.
So wide and deep the branching shade
Of leaves, that, on a starry night,
A gleam, like break of morning, shed.
But the brook, stealing from the brake,
Showed a glimpse of brighter ray,
When on it's dewy banks did take
Will-o'-the Wisp his mystic way.
Showed a glimpse of brighter ray,
When on it's dewy banks did take
Will-o'-the Wisp his mystic way.
Round the high roots our Edwy drew,
With muttered charm, a magic line;
And in the circle heart's ease threw,
And briony and eglantine;
With muttered charm, a magic line;
And in the circle heart's ease threw,
And briony and eglantine;
312
Then sweets and poisons, three and three,
Jess'mine blossoms, violet bud,
The deadly nightshade's tresses grey,
And the pale Monk's gloomy head.
Jess'mine blossoms, violet bud,
The deadly nightshade's tresses grey,
And the pale Monk's gloomy head.
Next, the buried wands he raised,
And “Eda! Eda! Eda!” called;
Thrice upon the West he gazed,
When, hark! a shriek his breast appalled.
And “Eda! Eda! Eda!” called;
Thrice upon the West he gazed,
When, hark! a shriek his breast appalled.
It was the spirit of the oak,
Who, startled by the Love-Fay's name,
His dark and secret home forsook.
He fled, in haste, whene'er she came.
Who, startled by the Love-Fay's name,
His dark and secret home forsook.
He fled, in haste, whene'er she came.
A tongue from Windsor's distant tower
Tolled Twelve along the silent wood,
When, lo! the planet of the hour
Quivered upon the trembling flood.
Tolled Twelve along the silent wood,
When, lo! the planet of the hour
Quivered upon the trembling flood.
Cheered by the monitory sight,
Then Edwy forth his mirrors drew,
And by that star's informing light,
Upheld them to his searching view.
Then Edwy forth his mirrors drew,
313
Upheld them to his searching view.
Again he called on Eda's name
Mildly and meekly to appear.
And round the crystals rolled a flame;
While unknown murmurs met his ear.
Mildly and meekly to appear.
And round the crystals rolled a flame;
While unknown murmurs met his ear.
See!—o'er the mirrors mists arise,
And strange and fearful shadows throng;
Frowning faces, glaring eyes
Look and threat and glance along.
And strange and fearful shadows throng;
Frowning faces, glaring eyes
Look and threat and glance along.
These gone, a tiny form there bounds,
Flitting along the magic glass;
Which, in an instant, her surrounds
With leaves of Love in Idleness.
Flitting along the magic glass;
Which, in an instant, her surrounds
With leaves of Love in Idleness.
She seems reclining in a bower,
As the green leaves around her spread,
The motley-yellow, purple flower
Bends in a top-knot o'er her head.
As the green leaves around her spread,
The motley-yellow, purple flower
Bends in a top-knot o'er her head.
314
As round this cage of wreaths she hies,
Forth from her wand a lustre pale
Dawns o'er her blue and frolic eyes,
And silvers all her dewy veil,
Forth from her wand a lustre pale
Dawns o'er her blue and frolic eyes,
And silvers all her dewy veil,
Touches the rose upon her cheek,
The dimple, that her quaint lip owns,
The smile, that now begins to break,
Through clouds of wild, capricious frowns.
The dimple, that her quaint lip owns,
The smile, that now begins to break,
Through clouds of wild, capricious frowns.
While Edwy gazed, a little strain
Of sweet complaint did feebly swell,
When, hovering round her leafy chain,
Behold! her faithful Nightingale!
Of sweet complaint did feebly swell,
When, hovering round her leafy chain,
Behold! her faithful Nightingale!
He perched upon the true-knot there,
And tried to break, with slender bill,
Her prison-wreath, so flowery fair;
But the leaves mocked his puny skill.
And tried to break, with slender bill,
Her prison-wreath, so flowery fair;
But the leaves mocked his puny skill.
Too late, she owns the forceful spell
The little purple blossom throws.
Fixed, as a painting, she must tell
Mildly and meekly all she knows!
The little purple blossom throws.
315
Mildly and meekly all she knows!
“Fairy Eda! show to me
Aura, as she's now employed.”—
“On the other glass you'll see;”
With pretty lisp the Fay replied.
Aura, as she's now employed.”—
“On the other glass you'll see;”
With pretty lisp the Fay replied.
He looked; the colours faintly dawn,
And living forms begin to glow:
Aura, full-dressed in lace and lawn,
Blooms in a ball-room with a beau.
And living forms begin to glow:
Aura, full-dressed in lace and lawn,
Blooms in a ball-room with a beau.
And, dancing with a Grace's air,
And with the eyes of Venus smiling,
Edwy beheld her, with despair,
His hated rival's heart beguiling.
And with the eyes of Venus smiling,
Edwy beheld her, with despair,
His hated rival's heart beguiling.
To atoms he had almost dashed
The mirror, and so lost the spell,
But warning lights around him flashed,
Checked his hand, and all was well,
The mirror, and so lost the spell,
But warning lights around him flashed,
Checked his hand, and all was well,
316
“Who is this Fop, so light and vain?”—
Quickly, the magic scene is changed
To rivers, woods, a wide domain,
With falconers on the banks ranged.
Quickly, the magic scene is changed
To rivers, woods, a wide domain,
With falconers on the banks ranged.
All at their head his rival pranced
In velvet cap, with feathers gay,
And proudly o'er the sward advanced,
While men and steeds their lord obey.
In velvet cap, with feathers gay,
And proudly o'er the sward advanced,
While men and steeds their lord obey.
“O tell me, Eda—loves she him?
Can she her promise old forget?”—
A flame curled round the mirror's rim;
The crystal darkened into jet.
Can she her promise old forget?”—
A flame curled round the mirror's rim;
The crystal darkened into jet.
And in long moonlight prospect rose
Windsor-Terrace, flanked with towers;
How soft the lights and shades repose
Among the low Park's lawns and bowers!
Windsor-Terrace, flanked with towers;
How soft the lights and shades repose
Among the low Park's lawns and bowers!
Oh! what an arch the heavens throw
Upon the vast horizon round!
The stars! how numberless they glow
Down to the landscape's dim-seen bound!
Upon the vast horizon round!
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Down to the landscape's dim-seen bound!
Some battlements are left in night;
Others almost appear to shine
Of yonder tower, whose stately height
Draws on the sky a tall black line,
Others almost appear to shine
Of yonder tower, whose stately height
Draws on the sky a tall black line,
That measures, on the azure void,
Billions of miles, while worlds unknown,
Distant howe'er, glow, side by side,
Upon it's shadowy profile shown.
Billions of miles, while worlds unknown,
Distant howe'er, glow, side by side,
Upon it's shadowy profile shown.
Down on the terrace, men appear,
Gliding along the stately wall,
With arms enfolding the tall spear—
How still their measured footsteps fall!
Gliding along the stately wall,
With arms enfolding the tall spear—
How still their measured footsteps fall!
Voices are heard round that vast shade,
Although no talkers meet the sight;
But, beyond, where moonbeams spread,
Figures steal upon the light.
Although no talkers meet the sight;
But, beyond, where moonbeams spread,
Figures steal upon the light.
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'Twas Aura, with a lady-friend—
'Twas Aura, with this lover new!
Ah! does she to his suit attend?
The distance baffled Edwy's view.
'Twas Aura, with this lover new!
Ah! does she to his suit attend?
The distance baffled Edwy's view.
“Eda! Eda! why torment me
With obscure ambiguous truth?
Thou to show my fate wast sent me.
Say, will she wed this fopling-youth?”
With obscure ambiguous truth?
Thou to show my fate wast sent me.
Say, will she wed this fopling-youth?”
Behold! the terrace fades away!
And a tap'stried room succeeds;
Her sire, with age and wisdom grey,
'Mid lawyer, settlements and deed
And a tap'stried room succeeds;
Her sire, with age and wisdom grey,
'Mid lawyer, settlements and deed
Again, the charmed picture changed:
A gothic porch, with silk all hung;
There beaux and ladies fair are ranged,
While humbler gazers round them throng.
A gothic porch, with silk all hung;
There beaux and ladies fair are ranged,
While humbler gazers round them throng.
There a happy rival waited
With his friends, in trim array:
“Aura! what makes thee belated?
Aura! why this long delay?”
With his friends, in trim array:
319
Aura! why this long delay?”
Again, the mirrors were in danger,
From our thoughtless Edwy's rage;
But a fairie checked his anger—
Would she might his grief assuage!
From our thoughtless Edwy's rage;
But a fairie checked his anger—
Would she might his grief assuage!
Next, dimly on the crystal steals
A chamber in her father's home;
There, Aura, weeping, pleads and kneels!
The father, frowning, quits the room.
A chamber in her father's home;
There, Aura, weeping, pleads and kneels!
The father, frowning, quits the room.
Again the changeful glass receives
The porch—and Edwy, doth he tremble,
As smiling Aura there he sees?
And whom doth the bridegroom resemble?
The porch—and Edwy, doth he tremble,
As smiling Aura there he sees?
And whom doth the bridegroom resemble?
It is—himself!—He's joyous, frantic,
As the glass showed his happy shape;
But as he sprung, with gesture antic,
It fell, and let the fairie 'scape!
As the glass showed his happy shape;
But as he sprung, with gesture antic,
It fell, and let the fairie 'scape!
320
Without due homage let her fly!
Straight, unknown voices from the ground
Wildly exclaimed, “O fie! fie! fie!”
And “Fie! fie! fie!” the echoes sound.
Straight, unknown voices from the ground
Wildly exclaimed, “O fie! fie! fie!”
And “Fie! fie! fie!” the echoes sound.
Unhomaged he had let her fly!
From the old oak an owlet hooted;
And thence a louder “Fie! fie! fie!”
To the spot poor Edwy rooted.
From the old oak an owlet hooted;
And thence a louder “Fie! fie! fie!”
To the spot poor Edwy rooted.
But, soon recovered, through the woods,
Hopeful and light, away he sprung:
The moon peeped through their leafy hoods,
And o'er the path her chequers flung.
Hopeful and light, away he sprung:
The moon peeped through their leafy hoods,
And o'er the path her chequers flung.
To the forest's-edge he hied,
Where the Beech's giant-form
Had, for age on age, defied,
With his lion-fangs the storm:
Where the Beech's giant-form
Had, for age on age, defied,
With his lion-fangs the storm:
Where the Lime, with spotted bark—
Spots, that old moss on silver weaves,
Hung her spray on branches dark
Among the light transparent leaves,
Spots, that old moss on silver weaves,
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Among the light transparent leaves,
And fragrant blossoms, forming bowers,
That cast, at noon, a twilight green,
Where 'twas most sweet to watch the hours
Change the highly-tinctured scene.
That cast, at noon, a twilight green,
Where 'twas most sweet to watch the hours
Change the highly-tinctured scene.
The silvery Aspin quivered nigh,
The spiry Pine in darkness rose,
The Ash, all airy grace, on high
Waved her lightly-feathered boughs.
The spiry Pine in darkness rose,
The Ash, all airy grace, on high
Waved her lightly-feathered boughs.
And there the mighty Chesnut reared
His massy verdure, deepening night;
Whose pale flowers through the dark appeared
Like gleams of April's coldest light.
His massy verdure, deepening night;
Whose pale flowers through the dark appeared
Like gleams of April's coldest light.
Under the low boughs Edwy went.
Shade, after shade, in close array,
A sadder tint to midnight lent;
And thoughtless Edwy lost his way.
Shade, after shade, in close array,
A sadder tint to midnight lent;
And thoughtless Edwy lost his way.
322
Now, far beyond the long-drawn gloom,
Where a faint, misty moonlight fell,
He watched a lonely figure roam,
And loud he made the echoes swell.
Where a faint, misty moonlight fell,
He watched a lonely figure roam,
And loud he made the echoes swell.
His call was heard, the stranger turned,
And paused a moment; but, in vain,
Our Edwy would his way have learned,
For, not a word in answer came.
And paused a moment; but, in vain,
Our Edwy would his way have learned,
For, not a word in answer came.
The vision fled—but soon a cry,
Loud, though far-off, alarmed his ear;
And a footstep passed him by;
Which he followed fast and near.
Loud, though far-off, alarmed his ear;
And a footstep passed him by;
Which he followed fast and near.
Till a groan of sad affright
Almost killed him, with dismay;
And to his undoubting sight
There a man expiring lay.
Almost killed him, with dismay;
And to his undoubting sight
There a man expiring lay.
As, horror-fixed, awhile he stood,
A cloud o'erspread it's darkening veil;
It suited well his fearful mood;
It hid that dreadful visage pale.
A cloud o'erspread it's darkening veil;
323
It hid that dreadful visage pale.
Now, mark, where yonder high elms crowd,
What red lights gleam and pass along!
What funeral torches, dirges loud!
A bier and mourners round it throng.
What red lights gleam and pass along!
What funeral torches, dirges loud!
A bier and mourners round it throng.
Down th' avenue of pines they go:
All sad and chaunting their despair,
Then wind they on in pomp of woe;
Then fade and vanish into air!
All sad and chaunting their despair,
Then wind they on in pomp of woe;
Then fade and vanish into air!
For, yonder, o'er the eastern hill,
Morning's crystal tint is seen,
Edging the darkness, solemn still,
And glimmering o'er the sleeping scene.
Morning's crystal tint is seen,
Edging the darkness, solemn still,
And glimmering o'er the sleeping scene.
O best of light! O light of soul!
O blessed Dawn, to thee we owe
The humbled thought—our mind's best dole,
The bliss of praise—Devotion's glow.
O blessed Dawn, to thee we owe
The humbled thought—our mind's best dole,
The bliss of praise—Devotion's glow.
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O blessed Dawn! more sweet to me
Thy gradual hues, thy influence fine
O'er flying darkness, than the ray
And glorious pomp, that doth enshrine
Thy gradual hues, thy influence fine
O'er flying darkness, than the ray
And glorious pomp, that doth enshrine
The cope of heaven, when the Sun
Comes laughing from the joyous East,
And bids th' expressive shadows run
To tell his coming to the West.
Comes laughing from the joyous East,
And bids th' expressive shadows run
To tell his coming to the West.
At thy first tint the happy lark
Awakes, and trills his note of joy;
And feebler, warbling murmurs, hark!
Break from the woodlands—rise, and die,
Awakes, and trills his note of joy;
And feebler, warbling murmurs, hark!
Break from the woodlands—rise, and die,
At thy first tint, O blessed light!
Th' observant Elves and spectres fled,
And that misguiding, watching sprite
Home to her oaken dungeon sped;
Th' observant Elves and spectres fled,
And that misguiding, watching sprite
Home to her oaken dungeon sped;
Elfena then, the mischief-fay,
Who with an urchin had combined
To 'wilder Edwy thus astray;
Now in a Monk's-hood is confined.
Who with an urchin had combined
325
Now in a Monk's-hood is confined.
No dying man was there—no moan,
There were no red-lights, near the elms,
No funeral torches, dirge's moan,
No sable band, whom grief o'erwhelms.
There were no red-lights, near the elms,
No funeral torches, dirge's moan,
No sable band, whom grief o'erwhelms.
Still, doubtful of his homeward way,
Our hero watched the rise of dawn,
Over a beech-tree's airy spray,
That trembles on the Park's high lawn.
Our hero watched the rise of dawn,
Over a beech-tree's airy spray,
That trembles on the Park's high lawn.
And soon the glorious Sun was spied,
And Windsor, in her pomp of groves,
Rose up in battlemented pride,
Queen of the vale, that Old Thames loves—
And Windsor, in her pomp of groves,
Rose up in battlemented pride,
Queen of the vale, that Old Thames loves—
From where the far-seen western hill
In smiling slumber seems to lie,
Upon the azure vault so still
As listening heaven's harmony,
In smiling slumber seems to lie,
Upon the azure vault so still
As listening heaven's harmony,
326
To where, beneath the eastern ray,
With swelling dome and spires aloft,
Vast London's lengthened city lay,
All miniatured, distinct and soft—
With swelling dome and spires aloft,
Vast London's lengthened city lay,
All miniatured, distinct and soft—
To where, upon the northern edge,
Learned Harrow points her vane,
And Stanmore lifts it's heathy ridge,
Sloping to the cultured plain,
Learned Harrow points her vane,
And Stanmore lifts it's heathy ridge,
Sloping to the cultured plain,
Which, purpled with the morning's glow,
To boundless tints of azure fades,
While humbler spires and hamlets show
Their sun-lights o'er the woody shades;
To boundless tints of azure fades,
While humbler spires and hamlets show
Their sun-lights o'er the woody shades;
And gleaming Thames along the vale,
'Midst willowy meads, his waters led,
While, here and there, a feeble sail
Was to the scarce-felt breeze outspread.
'Midst willowy meads, his waters led,
While, here and there, a feeble sail
Was to the scarce-felt breeze outspread.
The willowy meads and lawns rejoice;
And every heath, and warbling wood;
The fragrant air, with whispering voice,
The golden clouds, the brightened flood,
And every heath, and warbling wood;
327
The golden clouds, the brightened flood,
All laugh and sing beneath the morn,
The dancing lamb, the springing deer;
The wild bee with his humming horn,
And, loud and long, Sir Chanticleer.
The dancing lamb, the springing deer;
The wild bee with his humming horn,
And, loud and long, Sir Chanticleer.
Soon as his joyous clarion calls,
Answering notes strike up and swell
From rafter dark and loop-holed walls,
Where sleep and silence seemed to dwell,
Answering notes strike up and swell
From rafter dark and loop-holed walls,
Where sleep and silence seemed to dwell,
Surprising with their clamour clear
The passing herdsman and his hound;
Thus, far and near, Sir Chanticleer
Rouses up all the country round.
The passing herdsman and his hound;
Thus, far and near, Sir Chanticleer
Rouses up all the country round.
Edwy so roused, who long had stood
Over this scene of morning beauty,
Forgetting every other good,
And lost to each forgotten duty,
Over this scene of morning beauty,
Forgetting every other good,
And lost to each forgotten duty,
328
Now, bounding lightly down the hills
And through the high o'erarching groves,
Hied to his home, where Eda wills
He soon shall wed the nymph he loves;
And through the high o'erarching groves,
Hied to his home, where Eda wills
He soon shall wed the nymph he loves;
And grateful for the boon she grants,
He now resolves, that, never more,
His spell shall shock her quiet haunts;
And quite abjures the magic lore.
He now resolves, that, never more,
His spell shall shock her quiet haunts;
And quite abjures the magic lore.
But,—never let impatient wight,
When he presumes to woo a fairie,
Destroy his glass,—or rouse her spite,
But civil be—and very wary.
When he presumes to woo a fairie,
Destroy his glass,—or rouse her spite,
But civil be—and very wary.
Thus all was well,
As watchmen tell,
Of fairie sports in Windsor glades,
Save that too long
A summer-song
Once lingered in those witching shades.
As watchmen tell,
Of fairie sports in Windsor glades,
Save that too long
A summer-song
Once lingered in those witching shades.
| Gaston de Blondeville, or The court of Henry III | |