 | Miscellaneous Poems |  |
71
CAMILLA.
72
Next from the dark and Volscian hills,
Their Queen, the young Camilla, came;
Heading her squadrons bold, she rode
In brazen armour bright as flame.
Their Queen, the young Camilla, came;
Heading her squadrons bold, she rode
In brazen armour bright as flame.
Brave heart was hers, that warlike maid:
She knew not of the arts of peace;
And ever did her hand disdain
The distaff and the fleece.
She knew not of the arts of peace;
And ever did her hand disdain
The distaff and the fleece.
But, when the breath of battle rose,
Steadfast she stood amidst the fight;
Nor could the viewless winds that blew
O'ertake her in her flight.
Steadfast she stood amidst the fight;
Nor could the viewless winds that blew
O'ertake her in her flight.
73
When skimming o'er the billowy grain,
How light her winged footsteps flew!
Her tread above the tenderest stalk
Was softer than the summer-dew.
How light her winged footsteps flew!
Her tread above the tenderest stalk
Was softer than the summer-dew.
Suspended on the swelling wave
Her floating image glides away;
And then her small and ivory foot
Just glances o'er the feathery spray.
Her floating image glides away;
And then her small and ivory foot
Just glances o'er the feathery spray.
Where'er she pass'd—from field or fold,
From hamlet or from town—
Matron and child—the young and old—
In troops came flocking down.
From hamlet or from town—
Matron and child—the young and old—
In troops came flocking down.
With open mouth, with eager eye,
Each wond'ring village throng'd to gaze;
Unwonted sight—nor e'er beheld
In all the length of aged days.
Each wond'ring village throng'd to gaze;
Unwonted sight—nor e'er beheld
In all the length of aged days.
They saw across her ivory arms
How fell the mantle's purple fold;
How that rich length of raven hair
Was gather'd in its clasp of gold.
How fell the mantle's purple fold;
How that rich length of raven hair
Was gather'd in its clasp of gold.
74
They saw the sounding quiver bear
Its Lycian shafts of deathly flight;
And in her hand, with steely gleam,
The myrtle javelin glitter bright.
Its Lycian shafts of deathly flight;
And in her hand, with steely gleam,
The myrtle javelin glitter bright.
Heading her Volscian cavalry
She pass'd in stern and virgin pride;
While round their Queen—a princely guard—
Her troop of maiden warriors ride.
She pass'd in stern and virgin pride;
While round their Queen—a princely guard—
Her troop of maiden warriors ride.
Oh! say, Latonian Phœbe, say
If, mid thy nymphs of mortal train,
Is one as well-beloved as she?
Oh, be she not beloved in vain!
If, mid thy nymphs of mortal train,
Is one as well-beloved as she?
Oh, be she not beloved in vain!
Along the banks of Anasene
You lov'd her when her years were few;
And faithful to each favouring smile,
Her youthful life was vowed to you.
You lov'd her when her years were few;
And faithful to each favouring smile,
Her youthful life was vowed to you.
A huntress bold, like you, she lov'd
The rocky glen, the wood unshorn,
And, on the mountain's kindling brow,
To meet the opening eye of Morn.
The rocky glen, the wood unshorn,
And, on the mountain's kindling brow,
To meet the opening eye of Morn.
75
Smote by her spear, the felon wolf
Lay bleeding in his savage lair;
And swift must be the wing that sav'd
The tenants of the air.
Lay bleeding in his savage lair;
And swift must be the wing that sav'd
The tenants of the air.
A kingly race was hers! her sire
O'er old Privernum held the sway,
And oft upon thy sylvan shrine
His infant child a suppliant lay.
O'er old Privernum held the sway,
And oft upon thy sylvan shrine
His infant child a suppliant lay.
Then guard, fair goddess of the woods,
Thine own chaste maid from hostile hand,
And waft her back, in life or death,
Uninjur'd to her native land.
Thine own chaste maid from hostile hand,
And waft her back, in life or death,
Uninjur'd to her native land.
Unspoil'd, uninjur'd, unprofan'd,
Oh! bear her from war's bleeding plain;
Lov'd best on earth, and soon to be
Best lov'd of thy celestial train.
Oh! bear her from war's bleeding plain;
Lov'd best on earth, and soon to be
Best lov'd of thy celestial train.
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