Glimpses of Antiquity Being a collection of metrical sketches, in the form of ballads, lyrics, &c., with main reference to mediaeval times or classical subjects. By George F. Preston [i.e. J. B. L. Warren] |
 |
DANGER IN HAPPINESS. |
 |
 | Glimpses of Antiquity |  |
95
DANGER IN HAPPINESS.
The falcon builds above the feudal towers
Half up the spiral crests of rosied snow.
The lark sinks nested in the summer flowers,
The swans on glancing mere-waves float and go.
Half up the spiral crests of rosied snow.
The lark sinks nested in the summer flowers,
The swans on glancing mere-waves float and go.
From yonder oriel set with purple leaves
Accents of love fall trembling towards the vale.
Unraised the maiden's eyelids as she weaves,
She feels his fire-glance, hears his glowing tale.
Accents of love fall trembling towards the vale.
Unraised the maiden's eyelids as she weaves,
She feels his fire-glance, hears his glowing tale.
“Dear wonder, best delight, with gracious breath
Wake the ripe roses of thy lips to sound.
O, cancel frozen silence worse than death,
Speak, and I live. Heaven's music anthems round!”
Wake the ripe roses of thy lips to sound.
O, cancel frozen silence worse than death,
Speak, and I live. Heaven's music anthems round!”
96
The full white bosom heaves in rippling gauze,
About the woof her fingers idly dwell—
A trembling and delicious wonder pause
Where one small tear in silence filled and fell.
About the woof her fingers idly dwell—
A trembling and delicious wonder pause
Where one small tear in silence filled and fell.
What bodes yon crashing hoofs? A jaded steed,
A faltering messenger with crimson'd sword,—
“The heathen storm thy castle; ride with speed;
I hewed out passage thence to bring thee word!”
A faltering messenger with crimson'd sword,—
“The heathen storm thy castle; ride with speed;
I hewed out passage thence to bring thee word!”
With stedfast gaze upon the maiden's face
He heard, her answering eyes no longer dry;
Imploringly, as towards some saint of grace,
He watch'd the crystal'd eyelash for reply.
He heard, her answering eyes no longer dry;
Imploringly, as towards some saint of grace,
He watch'd the crystal'd eyelash for reply.
“Say thou art mine, my danger is a dream,
Thy “Yes” would break the shade of death with Sun.
“No!” the red battle waits me, and its stream
Shall end my sorrow ere 'tis well begun!”
Thy “Yes” would break the shade of death with Sun.
“No!” the red battle waits me, and its stream
Shall end my sorrow ere 'tis well begun!”
“Yet answerless I go not, loved one, speak,
For if unloved I fight my nerve shall fail!”—
Against his armour then she leant her cheek,
And her soft eyes were mirrored in his mail.
For if unloved I fight my nerve shall fail!”—
Against his armour then she leant her cheek,
And her soft eyes were mirrored in his mail.
97
“Dear, I am thine, ride bravely to the fray,
To noble death—to conquest—which betide;
Win—thine my heart is always and to-day,
Die—and the cloister keeps me still thy bride.”
To noble death—to conquest—which betide;
Win—thine my heart is always and to-day,
Die—and the cloister keeps me still thy bride.”
Then, as a vapour of mysterious glory
Folded all earth and brightened towards the sky,
He kissed her like a hero of old story,
And like a hero rode away to die.
Folded all earth and brightened towards the sky,
He kissed her like a hero of old story,
And like a hero rode away to die.
| Glimpses of Antiquity | |