Had she not been all truth in soul and lip,
Her's was too full delight to be dissembled ;
And so, with many a blush, and words that trip
Faltering, she told her tender care, and gave
Glad hope for hope, with gifts that might beseem
So proud a knight, and named him for her own.
How those clear diamonds seemed to dim their rays,
Beneath the starrier lustre of her gaze,
When now as love-gifts to her view they gleam
Of him most loved! If ever Heaven shone down Into a human bosom, 'twas with her
All that enchanted day, that sleepless night
Of many dreams. Aye, many a night and day,
She seemed as wafted from this world away,
A soul scarce fettered by its mortal clay ;
Heart-tranced, yet wakeful as if every breath
She drew were from the sweets of Eden-flowers.
Perchance some untold mystery of Fate
Which links the loveliest to the loveliest ever,
In one fond hope, though doomed on earth to sever,
Joined those two perfect beings in one wreath;
As though they were apart from all their kind,
Framed for one bliss, one unexampled love:
But thus did they the depth of passion prove,
While two swift years sped on without a date,
Each unbeheld of other. If they pined
Awhile, hope came anon, and life delighted,
With many an interchange of sweetest thought,
And dearest gifts, and many a promise plighted
Of speedy meeting. Then a change was wrought—
Oh, not in their true hearts! but that their doom
Was such as lovers find from the chill hate
Of those who are the aliens-born of joy,
The unchosen people. Soon the tidings come,
Buzzed by the busy prowlers of the court,
Of this half-hidden love; and these report
Unto the Moorish King, with added lies,
How for a Christian knight his daughter sighs,
And so to rid him of such deep annoy,
To speedy wedlock he has vowed the dame;
Granada's lord the spouse to whom her sire
Betrothed her. Not the desert blast of fire
Could blight her thus. She weeps-she maddens rather; But tears, nor swoons can move that wrathful father.
Tunis was then a tributary state
To the Sicilian; and its ruler claims,
By lordly embassage dispatched thereon,
A pledge of safeguard, at King William's throne,
To shield that bark which bears as dear a freight
As e'er was trusted to the wave. "Tis granted:
Nought knows that aged Prince of love-tales now, Nor dreams he of Gerbino's secret vow.
Ah, better that his burial-dirge were chanted
Ere he had thus bestowed his royal word!
All now is ready. Favouring gales afford
Their aid, and that huge bridal-bark is gone
Forth on the watery ways. O beauteous one,
Droop not to death, amid thy sorrowing dames!
Thine is the boldest knight, the truest lover
That e'er drew steel: there's not an ocean-rover
Shall bear thee from him to thy unloved mate.
Yes, he hath heard thy call for aid, afar;
He speeds upon the billows ;-thou the star
To shape his course; the very hour is nigh
Of life-oh, life to both! Thou shalt not sigh,
A crowned captive in Granada's halls,
Nor, while he breathes, perish in golden state;
So thy heart tells thee: nor deceives the while.
Yes, he awaits thee by Sardinia's Isle,
With two swift gallies, two redoubted crews,
Nor many hours can fleet before he views
The coming prize.
Aye, there she swims in sight;
"That Ark of hope, with scarce a wave, a breath "To heave her sails, or speed her on her flight! "Now, trusty friends, if I esteem aright
"Your worth, there is not one of you but feels,
"Or hath felt love, ere now ;-love, without which "Methinks no mortal can himself enrich
"With any noble gift: and, if 'tis so,
"Not vainly to your deeds this heart appeals; "Not many words will ye require to know "That which I cannot speak. For life or death, "Love bade me bring you hither. In yon bark "She whom I love is prisoned ;-and for you "Great store of gold is there, a treasure sent, "As fitting guerdon for the bold and true. "One dearest maid be mine; the shining spoil "Be yours alone. With brief and manly toil "Achieve we this emprise. Do ye not mark "How Nature holds her breath to favour our intent? "How all those pendants droop, while the rich prize "Waits for its winners? Ho, the trumpets sound
"For the assault!" A sudden shout replies; The clarions ring; the sturdy rowers strain,
In foamy furrows, o'er the glassy plain :
And now they near the floating bulwark's side,
Where, ready for the fray, her crew was found,
For these well knew what foemen they descried.
At once Gerbino summons them to yield ;—
But sternly they deny his bold demand,
With fierce and scornful threats; him and his band
As faithless they defied, while forth they held
That glove, the hallowed pledge of safety sent
By the Sicilian to the Moorish King;
Brief was the look which on that pledge he bent;
He saw 'twas she !-upon the lofty poop
The lady of his heart!—this hour hath rent
The veil of absence: all that tenderest hope
Or fairest fancy painted now must fade,
Where that surpassing creature shines displayed,
While to her chosen one those glances bring
Rapture 'till then unknown. Again he speaks,
With heaving bosom, and with flushing cheeks:
"Fond men, that glove avails not:-o'er the deep
"No falcons have we brought, to own its sway:
"But here are such as carve the vulture's prey,
"And take with hands what gauntlets may not keep.
Enough ;-ye will not live: then, madmen, die !"
Now speed the arrowy volleys; and from high
Huge stones are hurled, and whizzing javelins fly.
And spears are crossed with spears, in sudden fray;
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