THE BRIDAL
THE BRIDAL
The guests have met in the castle hall.Who rides through the castle gate,With banner and plume? The young bridegroomAnd a hundred knights in state.
The guests have met in the castle hall.Who rides through the castle gate,With banner and plume? The young bridegroomAnd a hundred knights in state.
The guests have met in the castle hall.Who rides through the castle gate,With banner and plume? The young bridegroomAnd a hundred knights in state.
The guests have met in the castle hall.Who rides through the castle gate,With banner and plume? The young bridegroomAnd a hundred knights in state.
The guests have met in procession fair,Around the bride they stand;The myrtle wreath on her golden hair,The bride ring on her hand.
The guests have met in procession fair,Around the bride they stand;The myrtle wreath on her golden hair,The bride ring on her hand.
The guests have met in procession fair,Around the bride they stand;The myrtle wreath on her golden hair,The bride ring on her hand.
The guests have met in procession fair,Around the bride they stand;The myrtle wreath on her golden hair,The bride ring on her hand.
So bright her beauty she dazed men's eyes,Like the blinding, glorious sun."Never knight," they murmured, "gained such prizeSince ever the world begun."
So bright her beauty she dazed men's eyes,Like the blinding, glorious sun."Never knight," they murmured, "gained such prizeSince ever the world begun."
So bright her beauty she dazed men's eyes,Like the blinding, glorious sun."Never knight," they murmured, "gained such prizeSince ever the world begun."
So bright her beauty she dazed men's eyes,Like the blinding, glorious sun."Never knight," they murmured, "gained such prizeSince ever the world begun."
Seven maidens held up her train of white,Inwrought with the precious gold,And over it flowed in a stream of lightHer long, bright hair unrolled.
Seven maidens held up her train of white,Inwrought with the precious gold,And over it flowed in a stream of lightHer long, bright hair unrolled.
Seven maidens held up her train of white,Inwrought with the precious gold,And over it flowed in a stream of lightHer long, bright hair unrolled.
Seven maidens held up her train of white,Inwrought with the precious gold,And over it flowed in a stream of lightHer long, bright hair unrolled.
Seven pages, each with a lighted torch,Precede her as she movesWith the long array to the ancient churchWithin the beechen groves.
Seven pages, each with a lighted torch,Precede her as she movesWith the long array to the ancient churchWithin the beechen groves.
Seven pages, each with a lighted torch,Precede her as she movesWith the long array to the ancient churchWithin the beechen groves.
Seven pages, each with a lighted torch,Precede her as she movesWith the long array to the ancient churchWithin the beechen groves.
The priest stood mute with the holy book,And scarce could utter a prayer,As that lovely vision of light and youthKnelt down before him there.
The priest stood mute with the holy book,And scarce could utter a prayer,As that lovely vision of light and youthKnelt down before him there.
The priest stood mute with the holy book,And scarce could utter a prayer,As that lovely vision of light and youthKnelt down before him there.
The priest stood mute with the holy book,And scarce could utter a prayer,As that lovely vision of light and youthKnelt down before him there.
She vows the vows. Erick bends to placeThe gold ring on her hand,Prouder then, as he gazed on her face,Than if King of the Swedish land.
She vows the vows. Erick bends to placeThe gold ring on her hand,Prouder then, as he gazed on her face,Than if King of the Swedish land.
She vows the vows. Erick bends to placeThe gold ring on her hand,Prouder then, as he gazed on her face,Than if King of the Swedish land.
She vows the vows. Erick bends to placeThe gold ring on her hand,Prouder then, as he gazed on her face,Than if King of the Swedish land.
The lights were bright in the hall that night,But brighter Thekla's glance,As in wedded pride, by Erick's side,She led the bridal dance.
The lights were bright in the hall that night,But brighter Thekla's glance,As in wedded pride, by Erick's side,She led the bridal dance.
The lights were bright in the hall that night,But brighter Thekla's glance,As in wedded pride, by Erick's side,She led the bridal dance.
The lights were bright in the hall that night,But brighter Thekla's glance,As in wedded pride, by Erick's side,She led the bridal dance.
"Drink! and wave high the flaming pines;God bless the bride so fair!May a goodly race, like clustering vines,Twine round the wedded pair!"
"Drink! and wave high the flaming pines;God bless the bride so fair!May a goodly race, like clustering vines,Twine round the wedded pair!"
"Drink! and wave high the flaming pines;God bless the bride so fair!May a goodly race, like clustering vines,Twine round the wedded pair!"
"Drink! and wave high the flaming pines;God bless the bride so fair!May a goodly race, like clustering vines,Twine round the wedded pair!"
The "vivas" rung for the noble race,Till they stirred the banners of gold,And the bridegroom bow'd with a stately grace;But the bride sat mute and cold—
The "vivas" rung for the noble race,Till they stirred the banners of gold,And the bridegroom bow'd with a stately grace;But the bride sat mute and cold—
The "vivas" rung for the noble race,Till they stirred the banners of gold,And the bridegroom bow'd with a stately grace;But the bride sat mute and cold—
The "vivas" rung for the noble race,Till they stirred the banners of gold,And the bridegroom bow'd with a stately grace;But the bride sat mute and cold—
For the air seemed heavy as that of graves,And the lights burned lurid and chill;And she hears the dash of the far-off waves,And the creak of the mighty mill.
For the air seemed heavy as that of graves,And the lights burned lurid and chill;And she hears the dash of the far-off waves,And the creak of the mighty mill.
For the air seemed heavy as that of graves,And the lights burned lurid and chill;And she hears the dash of the far-off waves,And the creak of the mighty mill.
For the air seemed heavy as that of graves,And the lights burned lurid and chill;And she hears the dash of the far-off waves,And the creak of the mighty mill.
The "vivas" sound like an infant's wail,Or a demon's laugh of scorn."Oh! would to God," she murmured, all pale,"That I had never been born!"
The "vivas" sound like an infant's wail,Or a demon's laugh of scorn."Oh! would to God," she murmured, all pale,"That I had never been born!"
The "vivas" sound like an infant's wail,Or a demon's laugh of scorn."Oh! would to God," she murmured, all pale,"That I had never been born!"
The "vivas" sound like an infant's wail,Or a demon's laugh of scorn."Oh! would to God," she murmured, all pale,"That I had never been born!"