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Mary Darby Robinson - Sir Raymond of the Castle
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[The following little Poems are written after the Model of the Old English Ballads, and are inscribed to those who admire the simplicity of that kind of versification.]


NEAR GLARIS, on a mountain`s side,
  Beneath a shad`wy wood,
With walls of ivy compass`d round,
  An ancient Castle stood. 

By all rever`d, by all ador`d,
  There dwelt a wealthy dame;
One peerless daughter bless`d her age,
  A maid of spotless fame ! 

While one fair son, a gallant boy,
  Whose VIRTUE was his shield,
Led on the dauntless sons of war,
  Amidst the crimson`d field: 

For o`er the land dissension reign`d
  Full many a direful year,
And many a heart`s best blood had stain`d
  The proud oppressor`s spear. 

Young ELLA`S charms had spread her fame 
  O`er all the country wide;
And youths of high descent and brave, 
  Had sought her for their bride ! 

Amongst the rest SIR RAYMOND came, 
  Sprung from a princely race;
Right valiant in each warlike art, 
  And blest with ev`ry grace ! 

In tournaments renown`d afar, 
  For manly feats admir`d;
His brilliant fame, his bold exploits, 
  The damsel`s bosom fir`d. 

Her blushing cheek, her down-cast eye 
  Her secret flame confess`d;
The gallant RAYMOND`S circling arm, 
  The beauteous ELLA press`d. 

From her fond mother`s doating eyes 
  The radiant gem he bore;
The weeping maids and village swains 
  Beheld her charms no more. 

Where the swift billows of the RHINE 
  Their shining curls disclose;
With many a gilded turret crown`d 
  His splendid Palace rose. 

The festive scene had scarce began,
  When near the Castle wall,
A messenger of warlike mein,
  On RAYMOND`S name did call; 

"Come forth thou valiant Knight," he said,
  "Thy prowess quickly show,
With speed prepare thy lance and shield
  To meet the dauntless foe: 

"The blood of many a noble Swiss
  Doth stain the country round,
And many a brave aspiring youth
  Lies vanquish`d on the ground. 

"The daring Chief, whose shining spear
  With purple gore is dy`d;
Oh ! direful news, prepare to meet
  THE BROTHER OF THY BRIDE." 

Enrag`d, the haughty RAYMOND cried,
  "Base wretch receive thy doom,
For thy bold errand thou shalt die
  Within a dungeon`s gloom." 

Speechless the mournful ELLA stood,
  Despair her heart did wound;
When from the echoing tow`r she heard,
  Th` larum-bell`s dreadful sound!

Her cold wan cheek, her quiv`ring lip, 
  Bespoke her soul`s deep woe,
From her blue eye the crystal drop 
  In silent grief did flow, 

"For shame, shake off those woman`s tears,"
  The frowning bridegroom cried,
"And know, SIR RAYMOND`S warlike breast
  Disdains a timid bride. 

"In vain you weep, ignoble dame,
  Behold yon neighing steed;
My soldiers wait, my bosom burns 
  TO CONQUER or to BLEED." 

Forth went the Knight;­the frantic bride 
  To the high rampart flew;
With trembling knee she climb`d the wall, 
  Th` embattled plain to view. 

On either side, by turns she thought 
  Proud vict`ry grac`d the field;
`Till vanquish`d by her BROTHER`S sword, 
  She saw her HUSBAND yield. 

For refuge to his Castle gate, 
  The bleeding warrior flew;
And from the battlements on high, 
  His daring gauntlet threw ! 

Three days from dawn to setting sun,
  The hardy soldiers stood,
`Till faint with toil, by famine press`d,
  They saw their chief subdu`d. 

"Oh! haste my page," SIR RAYMOND said,
  "The captive youth set free,
And bid him to the conqu`rer`s feet
  This message bear from me. 

"Treasures immense of massy gold,
  Rich gems, and jewels rare,
As ransom will I freely give,
  If he our lives will spare; 

"If he consents, let garlands green
  His peaceful brows adorn;
If hostile yet, beneath our walls,
  Thrice sound his bugle horn." 

Gaily he pass`d the outward gate;
  But sadly he return`d;
His bugle horn he sounded thrice,
  —No wreath his brows adorn`d. 

"Thy gold" he cried " the conqu`ror scorns,
  He claims thy forfeit LIFE,
Thy precious gems, and jewels rare,
  He gives thy beauteous wife." 

"Your lands are free, your soldiers too,
  And for young ELLA`S sake
To prove his truth, the gen`rous chief
  This solemn vow did make:" 

"That whatsoe`er she holds most dear,
  At morrow`s dawn of day:
Her pages, to some distant place,
  May safely bear away;" 

At dawn of light fair ELLA came,
  Fresh as the rose of May;
SIR RAYMOND in a chest of gold,
  Her pages bore away ! 

She pass`d the gate with throbbing heart,
  She pass`d the ranks among;
The praises of her peerless charms,
  Fell fast from ev`ry tongue ! 

"Halt, halt," they cried, "right noble dame,
  `Tis fit we should behold
Whether thy coffer ought contains
  But gems and messy gold;" 

"O stay me not ye gallant youths,
  For soon it shall appear;
This burnish`d coffer doth contain
  ALL THAT I HOLD MOST DEAR !" 

"Take heed, my Brother, ah, take heed, 
  Nor break thy sacred word;
Nor let thy kinsman`s blood degrade 
  The glories of thy sword !" 

The Hero smil`d­fair ELLA`S cheek 
  Glow`d with vermilion dye;
Fear chill`d her heart, the starting tear 
  Stood trembling in her eye. 

Subdu`d, abash`d, her brother flew
  And clasp`d her to his breast,
Then with an angel`s pitying voice, 
  The vanquish`d chief address`d: 

"Come forth SIR RAYMOND, valiant knight,
  Behold thy peerless wife;
Receive thy sword, and from HER hand 
  Accept thy forfeit life. 

"Here shall the bloody contest end,
  Let peace o`erspread the land;
More homage than the conqueror`s sword
  CAN BEAUTY`S TEARS COMMAND!"
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