 | Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell |  |
II.
When the summer waned to autumn, on the feast of St. John's Day,
Thus, to some of her companions, the young girl was heard to say:
Thus, to some of her companions, the young girl was heard to say:
“I saw far upon the ocean, from the top of Mount Arey,
Struggling hard a gallant vessel, which the waves sought for their prey;
On the poop stood my bold lover, like a knight who ne'er would yield,
Clasp'd his hand his gleaming falchion, and before him hung his shield.
And he fought the foemen fiercely, from the place whereon he stood,
Never flinching from the conflict till he fell all bathed in blood.”
Struggling hard a gallant vessel, which the waves sought for their prey;
On the poop stood my bold lover, like a knight who ne'er would yield,
Clasp'd his hand his gleaming falchion, and before him hung his shield.
And he fought the foemen fiercely, from the place whereon he stood,
Never flinching from the conflict till he fell all bathed in blood.”
Thus she said, the fair Aloida, down her cheeks the hot tears glide;
And at Christmas, holy season, she becomes another's bride.
Now good news and joyful tidings greet the ear on every hand,
War is o'er, the knight returneth, victor, to his native land.
As he flies, on wings of rapture, to Aloida's long'd-for home,
Sounds of loud and dulcet harpings from each brilliant chamber come;
And from every window'd lattice lights are streaming gay and bright,
Chasing all the gloomy shadows from the raven wings of night.
And at Christmas, holy season, she becomes another's bride.
149
War is o'er, the knight returneth, victor, to his native land.
As he flies, on wings of rapture, to Aloida's long'd-for home,
Sounds of loud and dulcet harpings from each brilliant chamber come;
And from every window'd lattice lights are streaming gay and bright,
Chasing all the gloomy shadows from the raven wings of night.
“O ye singers of the Yule-tide, who now cross the fields to me,
What good tidings can ye tell me of the house from whence ye be?
Say, what meaneth all this music, borne along so sweet and clear
From the doors of yonder mansion to the pleased and listening ear?”
What good tidings can ye tell me of the house from whence ye be?
Say, what meaneth all this music, borne along so sweet and clear
From the doors of yonder mansion to the pleased and listening ear?”
“There are on the harp sweet players, two and two who skilful play,
When the bridal milk-soup reaches first the happy bride's doorway;
There are others, harpers also, who play sweetly three and three,
As the milk-soup first is carried o'er the porch with mirth and glee.”
When the bridal milk-soup reaches first the happy bride's doorway;
There are others, harpers also, who play sweetly three and three,
150
| Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell | |