"A dreary wood before me spread,
"The night was fast advancing,
"And oft the gloomy bows between
"The rising moon by fits was seen,
"A silver radiance glancing.
66 Thus, whilst I slowly journey'd on,
"Ne'er dreading aught of danger,
"No passing gale the branches stirr'd;
"I paus'd-when sure methought I heard
"The distant tread of stranger.'
"Again I paus'd-'twas hush'd—anon "The sound drew near-yet nearer "Haply," said I, "some cheerful friend "His lonely steps may hither bend"Nor cherish'd thought severer. "But ah! how were my hopes deceiv'd, "When by the moon's pale lustre, "Two vassals of the Earl I knew! "Stern were their looks-aside they drew "Behind a shady cluster.
"Nay, by our lady, Jacques !" cried one, "My heart begins to fail me,
"For if, plague take the youth, say I,
"Beneath his blows I chance to die,
"Would thirty marks avail me?"?
"Repli'd a second voice""Tis well
"You're past Earl Alric's hearing ;-
"Besides the sturdy strength of two
"Will sure a puny lad outdo,
"What cause is there for fearing "
"List'ning, with half suspended breath,
"Upon the spot I tarried,
"Till from behind a sudden blow,
"Ah me! had well nigh laid me low,
"But by my shield 'twas parried.
"True to his charge, a second stroke...{
"Aim'd Jacques, the bravelier venturing,
"Not powerless now the lance recoil'd,"
"My better arm it sorely foil'd,
"Through the strong brasset entering.
"Now, rising from the caitiff's blow,
"Mine eyes with rage beheld him;
"A trusty rapier forth I drew,
"Upon the murderous ruffian flew,
"And to the earth prone fell'd him.
"He groan'd-he died. His comrade soon
"Upon his steed far hasted,
"Whilst I, as near my courser fed,
"On the soft grass reclin'd my head,
"My strength with bleeding wasted.
"Ere long an aged man approach'd,
"His waving locks were hoary,
"A secret prayer to Heav'n he sent,
"With looks most piteous o'er me bent,
"And staunch'd the wound so gory.
"In his right hand a vase he held,
"Of water from the fountain,
"Then choicest simples he applied,
"Whose healing virtues oft he tried,
"Cull'd on a neighbouring mountain.
"Gradual I felt my sense revive,
"And from the ground rose slowly;
"The hermit's cell not distant lay,
"Thither we now pursu'd our way,
"Andreach'd the portal lowly.
"When all his cares a secret love
"Had to my breast imparted,
"I left, reluctant left, the cave,
"My blessings to its tenant gave,
"And on my course departed.
""Twere long to tell, what heavy toils,
"Of grief, the various sources,
""Twas mine, O Hubert! to withstand,
"And now, to rescue Holy Land,
"I join'd our monarch's forces.
""Twere long to tell, how Saladin,
"The leaguer'd walls defended,
"Till at the last the christian powers,
"Waving the cross o'er Jaffa's towers,
"The ramparts heights ascended.
D d
"Yet Hubert! know, that e'en when loud. "The battle's clang was swelling, "I cared not,, strove not e'er to claim "The warrior's noblest guerdon-fame, "My thoughts on Julia dwelling, "Thus heartsick, I resolv'd once more "To find my lovely peasant,
"Aside my cumbrous harness thrown, "And in this minstrel garb unknown, "To her fond sighs be present.
But ah! so dread, so deep a shock,
"My fears had ne'er portended!
"Dear Julia!"-sighs his bosom wrung,
Around him all the lover clung,
And thus his tale he ended.
Hubert and Wilhelmine to Heaven
Pour'd blessings without number;
Now with the toils of day o'erspent,
They to their rushy pallets went,
And woo'd refreshing slumber.
FAIR smil'd the morn, the orient sun
Through Henry's casement peeping,
Whilst he within old Hubert's cot,
(The world and all its cares forgot),
Was yet profoundly sleeping.
Fair smil'd the morn-he woke, he pray'd,
He left his humble pillow,
He sought hard by the little dome,
Where lay, the maiden's still, dark home,
Beneath the weeping willaw.
And, thither as he pensive stray'd,
He cull'd full many a flower,
The violet from the river's bed,
The heartsease, like poor Julia dead,
Cropt in its loveliest hour.
Ere long upon her sleeping corse,
The blooming sweets he scatter'd;
Close to the high mound's grassy site,
The stormy blast of yesternight,
The willow's boughs had shatter'd
His fervent orisons he breath'd,
Then back his steps did measure,
The rustic's matin meal partook—
And oft an half averted look
Evinc'd anew their pleasure.
Henry to Hubert was most dear,
Nor seem'd the minutes vapid;
But as on joys once known, once felt,
Their varying converse fondly dwelt,
Another day fled rapid.
When now the twilight's deepening shades
The hour of eve denoted,
And at long intervals around
The castle bell's deep, hollow sound
Upon the night breeze floated.
To the kind pair he bade adieu,
And softly clos'd the wicket,
But O! to him what dread surprize,
As at a winding turn, his eyes
Glanc'd on the well-known thicket! Ah me! since first those trees I pass'd, "Sad course my stars have taken! "Claycold is now the darling maid, "Who then my wayward fate allay'd"By all, all else-forsaken!"
Fearful he spake-soon Alric's walls
Before his view rose towering;
Above the rampart-crested fosse,
O'erspread with wild weeds and with moss,
The falling gloom hung louring.
(To be concluded in our next. )
Dag
HY does stern fate on some devoted head,
Pour all her vengeance-rend his soul with
woe?
His paths, through life's dark vale, why love to spread
With piercing thorns, enforcing tears to flow?
There, deckt with roseate bloom, the face appears,
Glitt'ring with gay attire, reclin'd at ease;
And here, as primrose pale, bedew'd with tears,
Stands tatter'd poverty, with trembling knees!
Unshelter'd from the evening blast, forlorn,
No hospitable door admits her feet,
Beneath a shadowy tree she lies till morn,
Then, cold and cheerless, leaves her lone retreat.
Or in the shatter'd barn, abides the night,
Tho' oft disturb'd with screech owls' hideous noise, Or fancied spectres fill her with affright,
And sleep, sweet antidote of care, destroys.
Strange mystery!-could I undraw the veil,
Which shades the causes of this chequer'd scene-
Unfold to man the deep-envelop❜d tale,
Whether his lot be joy, or anguish keen.
Then should ye know, ye victims of distress,
Why grandeur rolls in vehicle of state;
And why, with adamantine heart, he dares oppress
The helpless children of relentless fate.
Harrass'd with cares, and struggling hard for food,
Why heav'n-born genius lives in garret poor,
While stupid ignorance's grov'ling brood,
Soft ease, and golden sinecures procure.
Why guilt resides beneath the gilded dome,
Possessing lavish all fair fortune's stores;
Whilst virtue for support's impell'd to roam,
And oft at wealth's proud mansion aid implores.
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