Mary Darby Robinson - Sir Raymond of the CastleMary 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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