Tales of Terror With an introductory dialogue [by M. G. Lewis] |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. | No. VI. GONZALVO.
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| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
 | Tales of Terror |  |
38
No. VI. GONZALVO.
A SPANISH BALLAD.
------ Infelix indelibata reliquit
Oscula, et abrupto flendus amore cadit.
Milton.
Oscula, et abrupto flendus amore cadit.
Milton.
See! yon knight of Calatrava,
All his vesture stain'd with gore,
Faintly beat the curling waters,
Now he breathless gains the shore!
All his vesture stain'd with gore,
Faintly beat the curling waters,
Now he breathless gains the shore!
'Twas the haughty Renegado,
Met the chief in yonder wood;
'Twas his coward rival's poniard
Drank the unarm'd hero's blood.
Met the chief in yonder wood;
'Twas his coward rival's poniard
Drank the unarm'd hero's blood.
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Long had love enslaved Bujeya,
Long had vengeance fired his heart;
Long he lurk'd amidst the thicket,
Sudden on his foe to dart.
Long had vengeance fired his heart;
Long he lurk'd amidst the thicket,
Sudden on his foe to dart.
Here the Moor had forced Gonzalvo,
Gasping to resign his breath,
But the pitying Guadalquiver
Bore him from the stroke of death.
Gasping to resign his breath,
But the pitying Guadalquiver
Bore him from the stroke of death.
On the wave-wash'd bank reclining,
See him cast his eyes around;
Now he droops his head despairing,
Now he gazes on the wound.
See him cast his eyes around;
Now he droops his head despairing,
Now he gazes on the wound.
In his breast, with restless fury,
Agony's dark surges roll;
What are wounds that pierce the body
To the pangs that rack the soul!
Agony's dark surges roll;
What are wounds that pierce the body
To the pangs that rack the soul!
When he thinks of fierce Bujeya,
Kindling wrath his bosom warms;
When he thinks of Antonina,
Memory saddens on her charms.
Kindling wrath his bosom warms;
When he thinks of Antonina,
Memory saddens on her charms.
40
Long the flame of pure affection
In his generous breast has burn'd;
True he loved the beauteous maiden,
True his love the maid return'd.
In his generous breast has burn'd;
True he loved the beauteous maiden,
True his love the maid return'd.
A short gleam of transient pleasure
Faint illumes his languid eyes,
As, from yonder shade advancing,
Almorand the knight espies.
Faint illumes his languid eyes,
As, from yonder shade advancing,
Almorand the knight espies.
—“Oh! what means this sight, my master!”
Cries the page, distress'd with fears,
“All your features speak your sorrow,
“All your cheek is wet with tears!
Cries the page, distress'd with fears,
“All your features speak your sorrow,
“All your cheek is wet with tears!
“See! the streams of gore descending,
“All around your garments stain!
“Who would wound so brave a warrior?
“Who would kill the pride of Spain?”—
“All around your garments stain!
“Who would wound so brave a warrior?
“Who would kill the pride of Spain?”—
—“'Tis the moor!” exclaim'd Gonzalvo,
“'Tis through him these pangs I prove,
“He has stabb'd my aching bosom,
“He has torn me from my love.
“'Tis through him these pangs I prove,
“He has stabb'd my aching bosom,
“He has torn me from my love.
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“From my love! oh! think what anguish
“Now my heart-strings ruthless tears;
“Yet, when life has left my body,
“Bear these accents to her ears.
“Now my heart-strings ruthless tears;
“Yet, when life has left my body,
“Bear these accents to her ears.
“Quick I'll haste to speak my wishes,
“While kind Heaven my life prolongs;
“Tell her all the hapless story,
“Tell her all my cruel wrongs.
“While kind Heaven my life prolongs;
“Tell her all the hapless story,
“Tell her all my cruel wrongs.
“Bid her curse the Moorish city
“Which has rear'd my dastard foe;
“Bid her curse the Moorish chieftain
“Who has laid her lover low.
“Which has rear'd my dastard foe;
“Bid her curse the Moorish chieftain
“Who has laid her lover low.
“Let her frowns dismay his bosom,
“Let her all his vows despise;
“Let her blast his hopes for ever,
“With the lightning of her eyes.
“Let her all his vows despise;
“Let her blast his hopes for ever,
“With the lightning of her eyes.
“Beg, oh! beg her not to blot me
“From the tablet of her brain;
“Let the name of dead Gonzalvo
“In her mem'ry still remain.
“From the tablet of her brain;
“Let the name of dead Gonzalvo
“In her mem'ry still remain.
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“And if e'er by chance she wanders
“Near this winding river's side;
“If these last sad words she values,
“Bid her thank the pitying tide.
“Near this winding river's side;
“If these last sad words she values,
“Bid her thank the pitying tide.
“To some nobler, worthier suitor,
“Let her heart its vows transfer;
“Heavens! what years of rapturous pleasure,
“Did I think to spend with her!
“Let her heart its vows transfer;
“Heavens! what years of rapturous pleasure,
“Did I think to spend with her!
“What gay scenes did Hope depicture!
“What bright joys did Fancy show!
“Joys! now sunk, and lost for ever,
“In the dark abyss of woe!
“What bright joys did Fancy show!
“Joys! now sunk, and lost for ever,
“In the dark abyss of woe!
“I shall ne'er more taste her kisses,
“Ne'er more taste her balmy breath;
“I must leave her warm embraces,
“For the cold embrace of Death.
“Ne'er more taste her balmy breath;
“I must leave her warm embraces,
“For the cold embrace of Death.
“Yes! I feel his icy touches,
“Nature fades upon my sight;
“Thick before my aching vision,
“Floats the mist of endless night.
“Nature fades upon my sight;
“Thick before my aching vision,
“Floats the mist of endless night.
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“A chill numbness lulls my tortures;
“All my pangs at once subside!”—
Instant sunk the bleeding hero,
Gasp'd his mistress' name, and died.
“All my pangs at once subside!”—
Instant sunk the bleeding hero,
Gasp'd his mistress' name, and died.
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