EACH matin-bell, the Baron saith, Knells us back to a world of death. These words Sir Leoline first said, When he rose and found his lady dead: These words Sir Leoline will say, Many a morn to his dying day!
And hence the custom and law began, That still at dawn the sacristan, Who duly pulls the heavy bell, Five-and-forty beads must tell Between each stroke-a warning knell, Which not a soul can choose but hear From Bratha Head to Wyndermere.
Saith Bracy the bard, So let it knell! And let the drowsy sacristan Still count as slowly as he can! There is no lack of such, I ween, As well fill up the space between. In Langdale Pike and Witch's Lair And Dungeon-ghyll so foully rent, With ropes of rock and bells of air Three sinful sextons' ghosts are pent, Who all give back, one after t' other, The death-note to their living brother; And oft too, by the knell offended, Just as their one! two! three is ended, The devil mocks the doleful tale With a merry peal from Borrowdale.
She forthwith led fair Geraldine
To meet her sire, Sir Leoline.
The lovely maid and the lady tall
Are pacing both into the hall,
And, pacing on through page and groom, Enter the Baron's presence-room.
The Baron rose, and while he prest His gentle daughter to his breast, With cheerful wonder in his eyes The lady Geraldine espies, And gave such welcome to the same, As might beseem so bright a dame!
But when he heard the lady's tale, And when she told her father's name, Why wax'd Sir Leoline so pale, Murmuring o'er the name again, Lord Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine?
Alas! they had been friends in youth; But whispering tongues can poison truth; And constancy lives in realms above, And life is thorny; and youth is vain: And to be wroth with one we love, Doth work like madness in the brain. And thus it chanced, as I divine, With Roland and Sir Leoline. Each spake words of high disdain And insult to his heart's best brother: They parted-ne'er to meet again! But never either found another To free the hollow heart from paining- They stood aloof, the scars remaining, Like cliffs which had been rent asunder; A dreary sea now flows between.
But neither heat, nor frost, nor thunder, Shall wholly do away, I ween,
The marks of that which once hath been. Sir Leoline, a moment's space, Stood gazing on the damsel's face: And the youthful Lord of Tryermaine Came back upon his heart again.
O then the Baron forgot his age ! His noble heart swell'd high with rage; He swore by the wounds in Jesu's side, He would proclaim it far and wide With trump and solemn heraldry,
That they, who thus had wrong'd the dame, Were base as spotted infamy! "And if they dare deny the same, My herald shall appoint a week, And let the recreant traitors seek My tourney court-that there and then
I may dislodge their reptile souls
From the bodies and forms of men!" He spake his eye in lightning rolls!
For the lady was ruthlessly seized; and he kenn'd In the beautiful lady the child of his friend!
And now the tears were on his face, And fondly in his arms he took Fair Geraldine, who met the embrace, Prolonging it with joyous look.
Which when she view'd, a vision fell Upon the soul of Christabel,
The vision of fear, the touch and pain! She shrunk and shudder'd, and saw again- (Ah, woe is me! Was it for thee, Thou gentle maid! such sights to see?)
Again she saw that bosom old, Again she felt that bosom cold,
And drew in her breath with a hissing sound: Whereat the knight turn'd wildly round, And nothing saw but his own sweet maid With eyes upraised, as one that pray'd.
The touch, the sight, had pass'd away, And in its stead that vision blest, Which comforted her after-rest, While in the lady's arms she lay, Had put a rapture in her breast, And on her lips and o'er her eyes Spread smiles like light!
With new surprise, "What ails then my beloved child?" The Baron said-His daughter mild Made answer, "All will yet be well!" I ween, she had no power to tell Aught else: so mighty was the spell.
Yet he, who saw this Geraldine, Had deem'd her sure a thing divine. Such sorrow with such grace she blended, As if she fear'd she had offended Sweet Christabel, that gentle maid! And with such lowly tones she pray'd, She might be sent without delay Home to her father's mansion.
Nay, by my soul!" said Leoline. "Ho! Bracy the bard, the charge be thine: Go thou, with music sweet and loud, And take two steeds with trappings proud, And take the youth whom thou lovest best To bear thy harp, and learn thy song, And clothe you both in solemn vest, And over the mountains haste along, Lest wandering folk, that are abroad, Detain you on the valley road.
And when he has cross'd the Irthing flood, My merry bard! he hastes, he hastes Up Knorren Moor, through Halegarth wood, And reaches soon that castle good
Which stands and threatens Scotland's wastes.
"Bard Bracy, bard Bracy! your horses are fleet, Ye must ride up the hall, your music so sweet, More loud than your horses' echoing feet! And loud and loud to Lord Roland call, Thy daughter is safe in Langdale hall! Thy beautiful daughter is safe and free Sir Leoline greets thee thus through me. He bids thee come without delay With all thy numerous array; And take thy lovely daughter home: And he will meet thee on the way
With all his numerous array, White with their panting palfreys' foam: And by mine honor! I will say, That I repent me of the day When I spake words of high disdain To Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine ! -For since that evil hour hath flown, Many a summer's sun hath shone; Yet ne'er found I a friend again Like Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine."
The Lady fell, and clasp'd his knees, Her face upraised, her eyes o'erflowing; And Bracy replied, with faltering voice, Her gracious hail on all bestowing;- Thy words, thou sire of Christabel, Are sweeter than my harp can tell; Yet might I gain a boon of thee, This day my journey should not be, So strange a dream hath come to me, That I had vow'd with music loud To clear yon wood from thing unblest, Warn'd by a vision in my rest! For in my sleep I saw that dove, That gentle bird, whom thou dost love, And call'st by thy own daughter's name- Sir Leoline! I saw the same, Fluttering, and uttering fearful moan, Among the green herbs in the forest alone. Which when I saw and when I heard,
I wonder'd what might ail the bird:
For nothing near it could I see,
Save the grass and green herbs underneath the old tree.
And in my dream, methought, I went To search out what might there be found; And what the sweet bird's trouble meant That thus lay fluttering on the ground. I went and peer'd, and could descry No cause for her distressful cry; But yet for her dear lady's sake I stoop'd, methought, the dove to take. When lo! I saw a bright green snake Coil'd around its wings and neck. Green as the herbs on which it couch'd, Close by the dove's its head it crouch'd! And with the dove it heaves and stirs, Swelling its neck as she swell'd hers! I woke; it was the midnight hour, The clock was echoing in the tower; But though my slumber was gone by, This dream it would not pass away- It seems to live upon my eye! And thence I vow'd this self-same day, With music strong and saintly song To wander through the forest bare, Lest aught unholy loiter there.
Thy sire and I will crush the snake! He kiss'd her forehead as he spake, And Geraldine in maiden wise, Casting down her large bright eyes, With blushing cheek and courtesy fine She turn'd her from Sir Leoline; Softly gathering up her train, That o'er her right arm fell again; And folded her arms across her chest, And couch'd her head upon her breast, And look'd askance at Christabel- Jesu, Maria, shield her well!
A snake's small eye blinks dull and shy, And the lady's eyes they shrunk in her head, Each shrunk up to a serpent's eye,
And with somewhat of malice and more of dread, At Christabel she look'd askance :- One moment-and the sight was fled! But Christabel, in dizzy trance Stumbling on the unsteady ground, Shudder'd aloud, with a hissing sound; And Geraldine again turn'd round, And like a thing, that sought relief, Full of wonder and full of grief, She roll'd her large bright eyes divine Wildly on Sir Leoline.
The maid, alas! her thoughts are gone, She nothing sees-no sight but one! The maid, devoid of guile and sin, I know not how, in fearful wise So deeply had she drunken in
That look, those shrunken serpent eyes, That all her features were resign'd To this sole image in her mind: And passively did imitate
That look of dull and treacherous hate! And thus she stood, in dizzy trance, Still picturing that look askance With forced, unconscious sympathy Full before her father's view— As far as such a look could be, In eyes so innocent and blue.
And when the trance was o'er, the maid Paused awhile, and inly pray'd:
Then falling at the Baron's feet,
The same, for whom thy lady died. O by the pangs of her dear mother, Think thou no evil of thy child! For her, and thee, and for no other, She pray'd the moment ere she died; Pray'd that the babe for whom she died Might prove her dear lord's joy and pride! That prayer her deadly pangs beguiled, Sir Leoline!
And wouldst thou wrong thy only child, Her child and thine?
Within the Baron's heart and brain If thoughts like these had any share, They only swell'd his rage and pain, And did but work confusion there.
His heart was cleft with pain and rage,
His cheeks they quiver'd, his eyes were wild, Dishonor'd thus in his old age; Dishonor'd by his only child, And all his hospitality
To the insulted daughter of his friend By more than woman's jealousy Brought thus to a disgraceful end- He roll'd his eye with stern regard Upon the gentle minstrel bard, And said in tones abrupt, austere, Why, Bracy! dost thou loiter here? I bade thee hence! The Bard obey'd; And, turning from his own sweet maid, The aged knight, Sir Leoline, Led forth the lady Geraldine!
THE CONCLUSION TO PART II.
A LITTLE child, a limber elf, Singing, dancing to itself,
A fairy thing with red round cheeks That always finds and never seeks, Makes such a vision to the sight As fills a father's eyes with light; And pleasures flow in so thick and fast Upon his heart, that he at last Must needs express his love's excess With words of unmeant bitterness. Perhaps 't is pretty to force together Thoughts so all unlike each other; To mutter and mock a broken charm, To dally with wrong that does no harm. Perhaps 'tis tender too and pretty At each wild word to feel within A sweet recoil of love and pity. And what, if in a world of sin (O sorrow and shame should this be true)! Such giddiness of heart and brain Comes seldom save from rage and pain, So talks as it's most used to do.
Remorse is as the heart in which it grows: If that be gentle, it drops balmy dews
MARQUIS VALDEZ, Father to the two brothers, and of true repentance; but if proud and gloomy,
Donna Teresa's Guardian.
DON ALVAR, the eldest son.
It is a poison-tree that, pierced to the inmost, Weeps only tears of poison.
The morning of the day of my departure. We were alone: the purple hue of dawn Fell from the kindling east aslant upon us, And, blending with the blushes on her cheek, Suffused the tear-drops there with rosy light. There seem'd a glory round us, and Teresa The angel of the vision! [Then with agitation. Hadst thou seen
How in each motion her most innocent soul Beam'd forth and brighten'd, thou thyself wouldst
A portrait which she had procured by stealth (For ever then it seems her heart foreboded Or knew Ordonio's moody rivalry),
A portrait of herself with thrilling hand She tied around my neck, conjuring me With earnest prayers, that I would keep it sacred To my own knowledge: nor did she desist, Till she had won a solemn promise from me, That (save my own) no eye should e'er behold it Till my return. Yet this the assassin knew, Knew that which none but she could have disclosed.
The Belgic states: there join'd the better cause; And there too fought as one that courted death! Wounded, I fell among the dead and dying, In death-like trance: a long imprisonment follow'd. The fullness of my anguish by degrees Waned to a meditative melancholy;
And still, the more I mused, my soul became More doubtful, more perplex'd; and still Teresa, Night after night, she visited my sleep, Now as a saintly sufferer, wan and tearful, Now as a saint in glory beckoning to me! Yes, still, as in contempt of proof and reason, I cherish the fond faith that she is guiltless! Hear then my fix'd resolve: I'll linger here In the disguise of a Moresco chieftain.- The Moorish robes ?-
I hold Ordonio dear; he is your son And Alvar's brother.
Love him for himself, Nor make the living wretched for the dead.
I mourn that you should plead in vain, Lord Valdez; But heaven hath heard my vow, and I remain Faithful to Alvar, be he dead or living.
Heaven knows with what delight I saw your loves, And could my heart's blood give him back to thee, I would die smiling. But these are idle thoughts; Thy dying father comes upon my soul
With that same look, with which he gave thee to me; I held thee in my arms a powerless babe, While thy poor mother with a mute entreaty Fix'd her faint eyes on mine. Ah not for this, That I should let thee feed thy soul with gloom, And with slow anguish wear away thy life, The victim of a useless constancy.
I must not see thee wretched.
Ill-barter'd for the garishness of joy!
If it be wretched with an untired eye To watch those skiey tints, and this green ocean; Or in the sultry hour beneath some rock, My hair dishevell'd by the pleasant sea-breeze, To shape sweet visions, and live o'er again All past hours of delight! If it be wretched To watch some bark, and fancy Alvar there, Το go through each minutest circumstance Of the blest meeting, and to frame adventures Most terrible and strange, and hear him tell them; * (As once I knew a crazy Moorish maid Who drest her in her buried lover's clothes, And o'er the smooth spring in the mountain cleft Hung with her lute, and play'd the self-same tune He used to play, and listen'd to the shadow Herself had made)-if this be wretchedness, And if indeed it be a wretched thing To trick out mine own death-bed, and imagine That I had died, died just ere his return! Or hover round, as he at midnight oft Then see him listening to my constancy,
Here Valdez bends back, and smiles at her wildness, which Teresa noticing, checks her enthusiasm, and in a soothing half-playful tone and manner, apologizes for her fancy, by the little tale in the parenthesis.
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