GOLFRE,PART FOURTH.
The Maid refus’d theBaron’s suit,For, well she lov’d another;The angryGolfre’s vengeful rageNor pride nor reason could assuage,Nor pity prompt to smother.His Sword was gone; the Goatherd SwainSeem’d guilty, past recalling:TheBaronnow his life demandsWhere the tall Gibbet skirts the landsWith black’ning bones appalling!Low at theBaron’s feet, in tearsFairZoriettokneeling,The Goatherd’s life requir’d;—but foundThat Pride can give the deepest woundWithout the pang of feeling.That Pow’r can mock the suff’rer’s woesAnd triumph o’er the sighing;Can scorn the noblest mind oppress’d,Can fill with thorns the feeling breastSoft pity’s tear denying.“Take me,” she cried, “but spare his age—“Let me his ransom tender;“I will the fatal deed atone,“For crimes that never were my own,“My breaking heart surrender.”The marriage day was fix’d, the Tow’rsWith banners rich were mounted;His heart beat high against his sideWhileGolfre, waiting for his bride,The weary minutes counted.The snow fell fast, with mingling hail,The dawn was late, and louring;PoorZoriettorose aghast!Unmindful of the Northern blastAnd prowling Wolves, devouring.Swift to the wood of Pines she flew,Love made the assignation;For there, the sov’reign of her soulWatch’d the blue mists of morning rollAround her habitation.TheBaron, by a Spy appriz’d,Was there before his Bride;He seiz’d the Youth, and madly strew’dThe white Cliff, with his steaming blood,Then hurl’d him down its side.And now ’twas said, an hungry wolfHad made the Youth his prey:His heart lay frozen on the snow,And here and there a purple glowSpeckled the pathless way.The marriage day at length arriv’d,The Priest bestow’d his blessing:Aclasp of orient pearlfast boundAzone of ambercircling round,Her slender waist compressing.OnZorietto’s snowy breastA ruby cross was heaving;So the pale snow-drop faintly glows,When shelter’d by the damask rose,Their beauties interweaving!And now the holy vow beganUpon her lips to falter!And now all deathly wan she grewAnd now three lamps, of livid huePass’d slowly round the Altar.And now she saw the clasp of pearlA ruby lustre taking:And thrice she heard the Castle bellRing out a loud funereal knellThe antique turrets shaking.O! then how pale theBarongrew,His eyes wide staring fearful!While o’er the Virgin’s image fairA sable veil was borne on airShading her dim eyes, tearful.And, on her breast a clasp of pearlWas stain’d with blood, fast flowing:And round her lovely waist she woreAn amber zone; a cross she boreOf rubies—richly glowing.The Bride, her dove-like eyes to Heav’nRais’d, calling Christ to save her!The cross now danc’d upon her breast;The shudd’ring Priest his fears confest,And benedictions gave her.Upon the pavement sunk the BrideCold as a corpse, and fainting!The pearly clasp, self-bursting, show’dHer beating side, where crimson glow’dThree spots, of nature’s painting.Three crimson spots, of deepest hue!TheBarongaz’d with wonder:For on his buried Lady’s sideJust three such drops had nature dyed,An equal space asunder.And now remembrance brought to view,For Heav’n the truth discloses,The Baby, who had early died,Bore, tinted on its little side,Three spots—as red as roses!Now, ere the wedding-day had past,SternGolfre, and his BrideWalk’d forth to taste the ev’ning breezeSoft sighing, mid the sombre trees,That drest the mountain’s side.And now, beneath the grove of Pine,Two lovely Forms were gliding;A Lady, with a beauteous face!A Youth with stern, but manly, graceSmil’d,—as in scorn deriding.Close, by the wond’ring Bride they pass’d,The red Sun sinking slowly:And to the little cross they hied—And there she saw them, side by side,Kneeling, with fervour holy.The little cross was golden ting’dThe western radiance stealing;And now it bore a purple hue,And now all black and dim it grew,And still she saw them, kneeling.White were their robes as fleecy snowTheir faces pale, yet chearful.Their golden hair, like waves of lightShone lust’rous mid the glooms of night;Their starry eyes were tearful.And now they look’d to Heav’n, and smil’d,Three paly lamps descended!And now their shoulders seem’d to bearExpanding pinions broad and fair,And now they wav’d in viewless air!And so, the Vision ended.
The Maid refus’d theBaron’s suit,For, well she lov’d another;The angryGolfre’s vengeful rageNor pride nor reason could assuage,Nor pity prompt to smother.His Sword was gone; the Goatherd SwainSeem’d guilty, past recalling:TheBaronnow his life demandsWhere the tall Gibbet skirts the landsWith black’ning bones appalling!Low at theBaron’s feet, in tearsFairZoriettokneeling,The Goatherd’s life requir’d;—but foundThat Pride can give the deepest woundWithout the pang of feeling.That Pow’r can mock the suff’rer’s woesAnd triumph o’er the sighing;Can scorn the noblest mind oppress’d,Can fill with thorns the feeling breastSoft pity’s tear denying.“Take me,” she cried, “but spare his age—“Let me his ransom tender;“I will the fatal deed atone,“For crimes that never were my own,“My breaking heart surrender.”The marriage day was fix’d, the Tow’rsWith banners rich were mounted;His heart beat high against his sideWhileGolfre, waiting for his bride,The weary minutes counted.The snow fell fast, with mingling hail,The dawn was late, and louring;PoorZoriettorose aghast!Unmindful of the Northern blastAnd prowling Wolves, devouring.Swift to the wood of Pines she flew,Love made the assignation;For there, the sov’reign of her soulWatch’d the blue mists of morning rollAround her habitation.TheBaron, by a Spy appriz’d,Was there before his Bride;He seiz’d the Youth, and madly strew’dThe white Cliff, with his steaming blood,Then hurl’d him down its side.And now ’twas said, an hungry wolfHad made the Youth his prey:His heart lay frozen on the snow,And here and there a purple glowSpeckled the pathless way.The marriage day at length arriv’d,The Priest bestow’d his blessing:Aclasp of orient pearlfast boundAzone of ambercircling round,Her slender waist compressing.OnZorietto’s snowy breastA ruby cross was heaving;So the pale snow-drop faintly glows,When shelter’d by the damask rose,Their beauties interweaving!And now the holy vow beganUpon her lips to falter!And now all deathly wan she grewAnd now three lamps, of livid huePass’d slowly round the Altar.And now she saw the clasp of pearlA ruby lustre taking:And thrice she heard the Castle bellRing out a loud funereal knellThe antique turrets shaking.O! then how pale theBarongrew,His eyes wide staring fearful!While o’er the Virgin’s image fairA sable veil was borne on airShading her dim eyes, tearful.And, on her breast a clasp of pearlWas stain’d with blood, fast flowing:And round her lovely waist she woreAn amber zone; a cross she boreOf rubies—richly glowing.The Bride, her dove-like eyes to Heav’nRais’d, calling Christ to save her!The cross now danc’d upon her breast;The shudd’ring Priest his fears confest,And benedictions gave her.Upon the pavement sunk the BrideCold as a corpse, and fainting!The pearly clasp, self-bursting, show’dHer beating side, where crimson glow’dThree spots, of nature’s painting.Three crimson spots, of deepest hue!TheBarongaz’d with wonder:For on his buried Lady’s sideJust three such drops had nature dyed,An equal space asunder.And now remembrance brought to view,For Heav’n the truth discloses,The Baby, who had early died,Bore, tinted on its little side,Three spots—as red as roses!Now, ere the wedding-day had past,SternGolfre, and his BrideWalk’d forth to taste the ev’ning breezeSoft sighing, mid the sombre trees,That drest the mountain’s side.And now, beneath the grove of Pine,Two lovely Forms were gliding;A Lady, with a beauteous face!A Youth with stern, but manly, graceSmil’d,—as in scorn deriding.Close, by the wond’ring Bride they pass’d,The red Sun sinking slowly:And to the little cross they hied—And there she saw them, side by side,Kneeling, with fervour holy.The little cross was golden ting’dThe western radiance stealing;And now it bore a purple hue,And now all black and dim it grew,And still she saw them, kneeling.White were their robes as fleecy snowTheir faces pale, yet chearful.Their golden hair, like waves of lightShone lust’rous mid the glooms of night;Their starry eyes were tearful.And now they look’d to Heav’n, and smil’d,Three paly lamps descended!And now their shoulders seem’d to bearExpanding pinions broad and fair,And now they wav’d in viewless air!And so, the Vision ended.
The Maid refus’d theBaron’s suit,For, well she lov’d another;The angryGolfre’s vengeful rageNor pride nor reason could assuage,Nor pity prompt to smother.
The Maid refus’d theBaron’s suit,
For, well she lov’d another;
The angryGolfre’s vengeful rage
Nor pride nor reason could assuage,
Nor pity prompt to smother.
His Sword was gone; the Goatherd SwainSeem’d guilty, past recalling:TheBaronnow his life demandsWhere the tall Gibbet skirts the landsWith black’ning bones appalling!
His Sword was gone; the Goatherd Swain
Seem’d guilty, past recalling:
TheBaronnow his life demands
Where the tall Gibbet skirts the lands
With black’ning bones appalling!
Low at theBaron’s feet, in tearsFairZoriettokneeling,The Goatherd’s life requir’d;—but foundThat Pride can give the deepest woundWithout the pang of feeling.
Low at theBaron’s feet, in tears
FairZoriettokneeling,
The Goatherd’s life requir’d;—but found
That Pride can give the deepest wound
Without the pang of feeling.
That Pow’r can mock the suff’rer’s woesAnd triumph o’er the sighing;Can scorn the noblest mind oppress’d,Can fill with thorns the feeling breastSoft pity’s tear denying.
That Pow’r can mock the suff’rer’s woes
And triumph o’er the sighing;
Can scorn the noblest mind oppress’d,
Can fill with thorns the feeling breast
Soft pity’s tear denying.
“Take me,” she cried, “but spare his age—“Let me his ransom tender;“I will the fatal deed atone,“For crimes that never were my own,“My breaking heart surrender.”
“Take me,” she cried, “but spare his age—
“Let me his ransom tender;
“I will the fatal deed atone,
“For crimes that never were my own,
“My breaking heart surrender.”
The marriage day was fix’d, the Tow’rsWith banners rich were mounted;His heart beat high against his sideWhileGolfre, waiting for his bride,The weary minutes counted.
The marriage day was fix’d, the Tow’rs
With banners rich were mounted;
His heart beat high against his side
WhileGolfre, waiting for his bride,
The weary minutes counted.
The snow fell fast, with mingling hail,The dawn was late, and louring;PoorZoriettorose aghast!Unmindful of the Northern blastAnd prowling Wolves, devouring.
The snow fell fast, with mingling hail,
The dawn was late, and louring;
PoorZoriettorose aghast!
Unmindful of the Northern blast
And prowling Wolves, devouring.
Swift to the wood of Pines she flew,Love made the assignation;For there, the sov’reign of her soulWatch’d the blue mists of morning rollAround her habitation.
Swift to the wood of Pines she flew,
Love made the assignation;
For there, the sov’reign of her soul
Watch’d the blue mists of morning roll
Around her habitation.
TheBaron, by a Spy appriz’d,Was there before his Bride;He seiz’d the Youth, and madly strew’dThe white Cliff, with his steaming blood,Then hurl’d him down its side.
TheBaron, by a Spy appriz’d,
Was there before his Bride;
He seiz’d the Youth, and madly strew’d
The white Cliff, with his steaming blood,
Then hurl’d him down its side.
And now ’twas said, an hungry wolfHad made the Youth his prey:His heart lay frozen on the snow,And here and there a purple glowSpeckled the pathless way.
And now ’twas said, an hungry wolf
Had made the Youth his prey:
His heart lay frozen on the snow,
And here and there a purple glow
Speckled the pathless way.
The marriage day at length arriv’d,The Priest bestow’d his blessing:Aclasp of orient pearlfast boundAzone of ambercircling round,Her slender waist compressing.
The marriage day at length arriv’d,
The Priest bestow’d his blessing:
Aclasp of orient pearlfast bound
Azone of ambercircling round,
Her slender waist compressing.
OnZorietto’s snowy breastA ruby cross was heaving;So the pale snow-drop faintly glows,When shelter’d by the damask rose,Their beauties interweaving!
OnZorietto’s snowy breast
A ruby cross was heaving;
So the pale snow-drop faintly glows,
When shelter’d by the damask rose,
Their beauties interweaving!
And now the holy vow beganUpon her lips to falter!And now all deathly wan she grewAnd now three lamps, of livid huePass’d slowly round the Altar.
And now the holy vow began
Upon her lips to falter!
And now all deathly wan she grew
And now three lamps, of livid hue
Pass’d slowly round the Altar.
And now she saw the clasp of pearlA ruby lustre taking:And thrice she heard the Castle bellRing out a loud funereal knellThe antique turrets shaking.
And now she saw the clasp of pearl
A ruby lustre taking:
And thrice she heard the Castle bell
Ring out a loud funereal knell
The antique turrets shaking.
O! then how pale theBarongrew,His eyes wide staring fearful!While o’er the Virgin’s image fairA sable veil was borne on airShading her dim eyes, tearful.
O! then how pale theBarongrew,
His eyes wide staring fearful!
While o’er the Virgin’s image fair
A sable veil was borne on air
Shading her dim eyes, tearful.
And, on her breast a clasp of pearlWas stain’d with blood, fast flowing:And round her lovely waist she woreAn amber zone; a cross she boreOf rubies—richly glowing.
And, on her breast a clasp of pearl
Was stain’d with blood, fast flowing:
And round her lovely waist she wore
An amber zone; a cross she bore
Of rubies—richly glowing.
The Bride, her dove-like eyes to Heav’nRais’d, calling Christ to save her!The cross now danc’d upon her breast;The shudd’ring Priest his fears confest,And benedictions gave her.
The Bride, her dove-like eyes to Heav’n
Rais’d, calling Christ to save her!
The cross now danc’d upon her breast;
The shudd’ring Priest his fears confest,
And benedictions gave her.
Upon the pavement sunk the BrideCold as a corpse, and fainting!The pearly clasp, self-bursting, show’dHer beating side, where crimson glow’dThree spots, of nature’s painting.
Upon the pavement sunk the Bride
Cold as a corpse, and fainting!
The pearly clasp, self-bursting, show’d
Her beating side, where crimson glow’d
Three spots, of nature’s painting.
Three crimson spots, of deepest hue!TheBarongaz’d with wonder:For on his buried Lady’s sideJust three such drops had nature dyed,An equal space asunder.
Three crimson spots, of deepest hue!
TheBarongaz’d with wonder:
For on his buried Lady’s side
Just three such drops had nature dyed,
An equal space asunder.
And now remembrance brought to view,For Heav’n the truth discloses,The Baby, who had early died,Bore, tinted on its little side,Three spots—as red as roses!
And now remembrance brought to view,
For Heav’n the truth discloses,
The Baby, who had early died,
Bore, tinted on its little side,
Three spots—as red as roses!
Now, ere the wedding-day had past,SternGolfre, and his BrideWalk’d forth to taste the ev’ning breezeSoft sighing, mid the sombre trees,That drest the mountain’s side.
Now, ere the wedding-day had past,
SternGolfre, and his Bride
Walk’d forth to taste the ev’ning breeze
Soft sighing, mid the sombre trees,
That drest the mountain’s side.
And now, beneath the grove of Pine,Two lovely Forms were gliding;A Lady, with a beauteous face!A Youth with stern, but manly, graceSmil’d,—as in scorn deriding.
And now, beneath the grove of Pine,
Two lovely Forms were gliding;
A Lady, with a beauteous face!
A Youth with stern, but manly, grace
Smil’d,—as in scorn deriding.
Close, by the wond’ring Bride they pass’d,The red Sun sinking slowly:And to the little cross they hied—And there she saw them, side by side,Kneeling, with fervour holy.
Close, by the wond’ring Bride they pass’d,
The red Sun sinking slowly:
And to the little cross they hied—
And there she saw them, side by side,
Kneeling, with fervour holy.
The little cross was golden ting’dThe western radiance stealing;And now it bore a purple hue,And now all black and dim it grew,And still she saw them, kneeling.
The little cross was golden ting’d
The western radiance stealing;
And now it bore a purple hue,
And now all black and dim it grew,
And still she saw them, kneeling.
White were their robes as fleecy snowTheir faces pale, yet chearful.Their golden hair, like waves of lightShone lust’rous mid the glooms of night;Their starry eyes were tearful.
White were their robes as fleecy snow
Their faces pale, yet chearful.
Their golden hair, like waves of light
Shone lust’rous mid the glooms of night;
Their starry eyes were tearful.
And now they look’d to Heav’n, and smil’d,Three paly lamps descended!And now their shoulders seem’d to bearExpanding pinions broad and fair,And now they wav’d in viewless air!And so, the Vision ended.
And now they look’d to Heav’n, and smil’d,
Three paly lamps descended!
And now their shoulders seem’d to bear
Expanding pinions broad and fair,
And now they wav’d in viewless air!
And so, the Vision ended.