^^'^Wff*' 
 
 lt1»**
 
 Ex Libris 
 C. K. OGDEN 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 A M A L Y R A C 
 
 POEM 
 
 Bold and unwavering steps in the difficult pathway of duty, 
 Trod by a sentinel mind that is ever prepared for the 
 
 struggle; 
 Glances of faith, that follow the Pole star of Heaven's high 
 
 calling. 
 Lead on the militant soul to the Gates of the Temple of 
 
 Triumph. 
 
 MDCCCLXX. 
 
 W I S B E n : 
 Printed by A. Balding, "Mirror" Office.
 
 399/ 
 
 AIA43 
 
 TO 
 
 MY BROTHER, 
 
 IN REMEMBRANCE 
 
 OF MANY 
 
 PLEASANT HOURS 
 
 SPENT IN 
 
 INTESTIGATING THE 
 
 " CHRONICLES OF AMALTRAC" 
 
 Wisbech, 1857. 
 
 ICgS^S" 
 
 ZJf
 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 
 
 Introduction Page 9 
 
 I. 
 
 Gates of Amalyeao ,, 
 
 13 
 
 II. 
 
 Amalvrac ,, 
 
 23 
 
 III. 
 
 The Embassy , 
 
 31 
 
 IV. 
 
 TuE Battle , 
 
 43 
 
 V. 
 
 The Pkocession , 
 
 57 
 
 VI. 
 
 The Sacrifice , 
 
 G7 
 
 VIT. 
 
 Amarantha , 
 
 79 
 
 VIII. 
 
 XrLoc , 
 
 89 
 
 IX. 
 
 Epiromenes , 
 
 105 
 
 X. 
 
 GONSALVO , 
 
 , 115 
 
 XI. 
 
 Isle of Death , 
 
 131 
 
 XII. 
 
 The Campaign ... , 
 
 , 149 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Leonarchox , 
 
 165 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Pylos , 
 
 179 
 
 XV. 
 
 The Coliseum , 
 
 191 
 
 XVI. 
 
 The Challenge , 
 
 211 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Alonzo , 
 
 237 
 
 XVIII 
 
 . The Empire , 
 
 2G5 
 
 
 Conclusion ... , 
 
 , 271
 
 PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS. 
 
 Leonaechon. 
 
 Araxes 
 
 The 
 
 Adonis 
 
 XES ] 
 RON f 
 
 Epiromenes... . 
 
 Philolaos 
 
 High Priest of the Unknown 
 High Priest of the Daystar, 
 
 HiERAKCH OF THE WaRGOD. 
 
 Okontes or Oro 
 Alonzo 
 
 Emperor of Amalyrac. 
 
 , Sons of Leonarchon. 
 
 Kinsman of the Queen of Epidaurua 
 and General of Amalyrac. 
 
 The late Emperor. 
 
 Sovereign Pontiff. 
 
 Amphilonin 
 
 Leascar 
 
 Cleopatra 
 
 Hera -\ 
 
 Curysothemis [ 
 Irene ) 
 
 Queen of Epidaurus 
 Amarantha 
 
 ... Favorite of Leonarchon. 
 
 Dictator of Islanda. 
 
 Chief of Dalico. 
 
 Euler of Ardoc. 
 
 Empress, Wife of Leonarchon. 
 
 ... Daughters of Leonarchon. 
 
 Consort of the late Emperor. 
 ... Only Child of Philolaos.
 
 PRINTED FOR 
 
 PRIVATE CIRCULATION 
 
 ONLY.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 "VMio can check the fleeting Fancy ? 
 Who can bind the grand Ideal ? 
 Who can stay her wings of Swiftness ? 
 Who can curb her steeds of Lightning ? 
 Vain has Reason sought to bind her, 
 Sought to chain her with his fetters. 
 Fruitless task ! she waves her piniuns, 
 Dewy with etherial splendours, 
 And with unresisted power, 
 Soaring upwards, bursts her bondage, 
 Bursts her chains, and darting onwards, 
 Leaves behind the far horizon ; 
 Leaves the earth, and in a moment 
 All around in gleaming order 
 Sweep the Planets in their courses ; 
 In a moment suns unnumber'd 
 Roll before in grand procession. 
 
 Onward still, the Pleiad centre 
 Whirling constellations round it 
 Stays her not, she leaves its borders 
 Plunging in the wastes of twilight. 
 Other stars and other Pleiads, 
 Rolling vast, round other centres. 
 Other sunless wastes of darkness — 
 Other dimly lighted regions — 
 Spread their endless zones around her.
 
 fO INTUODUCTION. 
 
 Onward still ! when lo ! before lier 
 Frowns a dark and awful bulwark ; 
 High it rears its mighty bastions, 
 Lost above in clouds of starlight, 
 Lost beneath in clouds of darkness ; 
 And the beams of dazzling brightness 
 That at seasons darted thro' it, 
 Showed her how it veil'd the glories 
 Of the Heaven of Heavens behind it. 
 
 Now with bold outstretching pinions. 
 Up she swee^DS with ardent swiftness 
 Seeking to attain its summit ; 
 Upward, upward, on she soareth. 
 Upward thro' the clouds of starlight. 
 Thro' the hum of universes, 
 Still it rises up vmmeasured — - 
 Still no sign, nor form of ending. 
 
 Then again her wings extended. 
 Bear her downward, downward, downward, 
 Downward, thro' the mists of darkness, 
 Thro' the gleam of mighty systems ; 
 All in vain she sweepeth onward, 
 Seeks in vain its vast foundation, 
 And her wearied pinions failing. 
 Cease at length to bear her forward, 
 For upon its front emblazoned 
 In the dazzling beams of Heaven, 
 Shone the mystery revealed, 
 Shone the name "ETERNITY." 
 Then she sunk o'erpowered with weakness, 
 Lost in undefined wonder, 
 And she fell upon the earth-ball, 
 Fell and fainted into nothing. 
 
 Yet she reigns in fairy power, 
 Reigns supreme upon our planet ;
 
 IXTR OD UCTIOy, yy 
 
 She can rear the glowing mountain, 
 
 She can build the golden palace, 
 
 She can spread the emerald garden 
 
 Tuneful with the song of streamlets ; 
 
 She can bid her helmed heroes 
 
 Fill the astonished world with reverence, 
 
 Slie can bid the great Atlantic 
 
 Curb its waves with new-born kingdoms.* 
 
 Listen then and hear her wonders. 
 
 Listen to a tale of Fancy. 
 
 Lo ! she breathed upon the ocean, 
 Breathed upon the Indian Ocean, 
 And a land of fairy beauty 
 Rose above its sunlit billows ; 
 Lo ! she waves her hand and instant, 
 Giant mountains raise their summits 
 Wrapt in everlasting winter ; 
 All around the peaceful valleys 
 Lie in verdure neath their shadow 
 While the floods of mighty rivers 
 Gleaming in the breadth of sunbeams 
 Roll their courses to the ocean. 
 Now she nods and stately kingdoms, 
 Polish'd nations teem around her, 
 And the queenly Amalyrac 
 Rears her lofty towers to Heaven. 
 See ! she bids the angry tempests 
 Bear her heroes on their bosom. 
 Bids the Isles of Elcorada 
 Nurse them till the time apjioinlcd. 
 Till she leads them on to battle, 
 Leads them on to deeds of glory ; 
 Till their star in rising splendour 
 Beams upon the throne of Xiloc. 
 But she spreads before her heroes 
 
 * The fabled Atlantis.
 
 12. 
 
 IN TROD UCTION. 
 
 Other fields of greater glory, 
 
 As she sends their venturous armiea 
 
 To the Gates of Amalyrac ; 
 
 In her hand the gleaming balance 
 
 Trembles with their changing fortune, 
 
 And upon its beam of silver 
 
 Seems to hang the fate of Empires, 
 
 Till the parting clouds unfolding 
 
 Show at length the final judgment, 
 
 Till the fairy vision fleeting, 
 
 Leaves the tranced world in silence. 
 
 Listen then and hear her wonders — 
 
 Listen to a tale of Fancy : 
 
 Listen to the Harp of Pera — 
 
 To the Bard of Amalyrac, 
 
 To the long heroic story 
 
 Of the deeds of great Alonzo, — 
 
 To the actions of Gonsalvo — 
 
 Of his ever dauntless brother. 
 
 Listen to the joys and sorrows 
 
 Of the beauteous Amarantha.
 
 
 GATES OF AMALYRAC. 
 
 
 
 March of the Islesmen to the Kingdoms 
 of the Eastward. — Their former deeds in 
 Zorayda, Sfc. — Alonzo leader. — Gates of 
 Amalyrac. — Epiromenes answers the sum- 
 mons. — Parley. — Gonsalvo offers himself as 
 Ambassador, 
 
 
 

 
 GATES OF AMALYRAC. 
 
 Wearied with the length of journey, 
 Wearied with the toilsome marching 
 Thro' the long grass of the Prairie, 
 By the dark and lonely waters, 
 Thro' the high entangling rushes — 
 Dark Deserta far behind them 
 Stretching wide its dismal regions, 
 Lay the noble hosts of Island 
 In the flowery fields of Thiba. 
 Few their numbers — but their bosoms 
 Glowed with old heroic ardour 
 Worthy of their deeds of valour. 
 In the sad and toilsome journey, 
 "NMien the bravest heart had fainted. 
 They remember'd all their glory, 
 All the perils they had master'd. 
 Fair Zorayda twice reconquered, 
 Northland's bravest warriors vanquish'd. 
 Proud Dahcotan, long the terror 
 Of the mighty nations round her. 
 Routed in her sacred j^recincts. 
 Glad to join their conquering banners. 
 And great Xiloc, she the fairest. 
 Brightest gem of all the Southland, 
 With her wide outstretching causeways, 
 With her tall and gloomy portals. 
 With her many tower'd temples.
 
 fe GATES OF AMALYRAC. 
 
 With her pyramids of wonder, 
 All reflected in the mirror 
 Of her clear, pelk;cid water ; 
 She the terror of Dahcotan 
 Vanquished by the bold Zoraydans, 
 Lay beneath their matchless power, 
 Monrned her bravest sons and heroes. 
 Mourned the glories of her temples, 
 Mourned her mighty empire lost. 
 
 Young Alonzo rode before them, 
 Guardian of Zorayda's banner, 
 Floating free o'er Thiba's valleys, 
 Flaunting in the freshening breezes. 
 On they marched, till high before them 
 Rose sublime a giant portal 
 Leading thro' the granite mountain. 
 Bending o'er it calm and stately, 
 Graven o'er with mystic ciphers. 
 Stood on either side the semblance 
 Of an eagle-pinioned Lion. 
 Full two hundred cubits upward 
 Rose their forms in towering grandeur, 
 Witnesses of times forgotten — 
 Changeless in the flow of ages. 
 Struck with awe and admiration 
 Rode Alonzo and Gonsalvo, 
 As beneath the cavern'd roofing 
 Clanked their charger's hoofs of iron. 
 But an ancient brazen gateway 
 Stretched across the narrow entrance, 
 Stretched its bars of brass before them, 
 Staying further passage onward. 
 
 Then Alonzo blew his bugle, 
 
 Blew a long and sounding summons.
 
 GATES OF AM ALT R AC. 
 
 Till the gloomy rock-hewn portal 
 Shook before the blast of power. 
 Then an answering peal resounded 
 Thro' the vault-o'ershadowed xhasm, 
 And a train of noble warriors 
 Llarched in order to the gateway. 
 Bold and lofty was their bearing, 
 Rich their arms and golden breastplates, 
 Brightly flashed their beamy javelins, 
 Gaily soared their golden eagles, 
 As to sounds of martial music, 
 Moved along the serried Phalanx. 
 
 On they came, and slow approaching, 
 Stayed their march beneath the archway ; 
 But when they beheld Alonzo 
 On his proudly prancing charger. 
 When they saw the lordly Brothers 
 Stately as the sons of Leda, 
 Then a tlirilling cold ran thro' them. 
 And a dim foreboding terror. 
 For they knew the mystic verses 
 Graven on the golden altar. 
 Graven in the awful temple 
 Of the Sun at Amalyrac. 
 
 ' ' When dark ages rolling onward 
 
 " Bring the circling cycles round you, 
 
 "When the footsteps of the seasons 
 
 "Count the fated niimber over; — 
 
 " Then before the Northern Gateway 
 
 ' ' Shall appear the Sun's bright offspring, 
 
 ' ' To require his rightful kingdom, 
 
 " To assume his father's empire : 
 
 " Partly beast and partly human, 
 
 ' ' Armed with thunder, armed with lightning.
 
 -/S GATES OF AJifALYBAC. 
 
 ' ' Moving swifter tlian the eagle, 
 
 * * Fiercer than the raging lion. 
 
 ' ' Tremble then, O ! Amalyrac ! 
 
 ' * For thy kings must fall before him, 
 
 "And the daily sacrifices, 
 
 ' ' And the mystical procession 
 
 ' ' Winding wp the ancient temple, 
 
 "Shall for ever, ever cease." 
 
 Such the words whose darkened meaning. 
 
 Sent a terror through the Phalanx — 
 
 For the sons of Amalyrac 
 
 Ne'er before had seen a charger, 
 
 And they deemed that horse and rider 
 
 Were of one immortal body. 
 
 As an earthquake overturneth 
 Towns and cities at its centre, 
 And its devastating tossings 
 Bid the neighbouring kingdoms tremble, 
 So the throne of Amalyi'ac 
 Shook before the fall of Xiloc. 
 Fame with swift and erring pinions — 
 Sung how she the great had fallen. 
 Sung how gods had warr'd against her. 
 Sung the slaughter of her legions ; 
 Changed the roaring of the cannon 
 Into loudly rolling thunder ; 
 Changed the flashing of the rifle 
 Into fierce avenging lightning ; 
 And no wonder that the bravest 
 Trembled when they saw the heroes — 
 For they viewed in them immortals, 
 And the children of their Godhead. 
 Yet it was but for a moment.
 
 GATES OF AMALTRAC. fg 
 
 And again the hardy warriors, 
 With a stalworth front and stately, 
 Waited for their leader's orders. 
 
 Then the great Epiromenes, 
 Hero of a hundred battles, 
 Victor o'er a hundred cities, 
 Flower of courtesy and knighthood. 
 Waving high the Herald's banner, 
 Tossed his tall plume in the breezes, 
 And with firm and lordly bearing 
 Marched alone to meet the strangers. 
 " Wlio are ye, who tluis impatient 
 " Fill our fair and peaceful valleys 
 " With the sound of martial music ? 
 ' ' Ai-e ye Gods, or are ye mortals ? 
 "Are ye they who armed with thunder 
 ' ' Bade proud Xiloc bow before you ? 
 ' ' Tell us what has led you hither, 
 * * What the guiding cause that brings you 
 "Thus with threatening ranks attended 
 ' ' To the solemn Northern Gateway ? " 
 
 Then Alonzo, wondering deeply 
 At the bearing of the leadei-, 
 At the order of the Phalanx, 
 At the white steel of their sabres, 
 Answered him in gentle accents : 
 "With no sound of hostile music 
 "Seek we to disturb your valleys; 
 ' ' We are strangers, bold adventurers, 
 "Guided by the Powers of glory, 
 "We desire to see your covmtry, 
 " We desire to see your cities, 
 "And to pass in peaceful order
 
 20 GATES OF AMALTRAC. 
 
 "To the kingdoms of the Eastward. 
 "We would hear what favoured nation, 
 ' ' What most fortunate of monarchs 
 "Owns with pride such noble heroes." 
 
 Then the courteous chief responded : 
 " O ye oifspring of the Sunlight, 
 "Of the glorious King of Heaven, 
 ' ' Wherefore do you thus beguile us ? 
 ' ' Wherefore lead us thus to tell you 
 "Things that ye have known for ages. 
 "Ah ! how vain is all the boasting, 
 ' ' All the valourous deeds of nations, 
 "All the bravery of the warrior, 
 "All the wisdom of the statesman; 
 " If the fame of AmaljTac 
 ' ' Has not soared beyond the limits 
 "Of the azure vault of Heaven. 
 "Has not reached the Sapphire portals 
 "Where the God of Daylight reigneth ! 
 " Would ye pass the brazen gateway, 
 ' ' Ye must ask of Leonarchon, 
 " Ruler over far-spread regions, 
 "King of Bangs, and Lord of Armies. 
 "For the lofty portals never 
 ' ' Ope without the Monarch's bidding, 
 "Never turn upon their hinges, 
 "Save before the Herald's office." 
 
 Then the leaders of Islanda 
 Looked distrustfully upon him, 
 And suspicion rose within them ; 
 For the treachery of Xiloc 
 Made them wary in their actions.
 
 GATES OF AMALYRAC. 21 
 
 But the great Epiromenes 
 
 Viewed their gestures, read their feelings, 
 
 And with generous warmth aroused, 
 
 Thus reprovingly addressed them : 
 
 "Sons of the all seeing Godhead, 
 
 ' ' Has E]jiromene3 ever 
 
 ' ' Been deserving of your anger ! 
 
 "By the palaces of Heaven, 
 
 " By the Glory of your Father, 
 
 "By the Mystery of the Unknown! 
 
 "Not a single hair of any 
 
 ''Wlio shall pass in guise of Herald, 
 
 " Shall be injured or displaced." 
 
 "Be it so," Gonsalvo answered, 
 " I with state becoming followers 
 "Pass as Herald thro' the Gateway." 
 
 Then Alonzo and his brother 
 
 Spake the thoughtful words of parting. 
 
 Backward rode the brave Dictator, 
 
 Backward rode the chiefs of Island, 
 
 And Gonsalvo, with his horsemen, 
 
 Stood alone beneath the shadow 
 
 Of that dark and awful archway.
 
 
 AMALYRAC. 
 
 
 
 Gonsalvo's journey. — The first view of 
 Amalyrac. — Sunset. — The Islesrnen pass 
 thro' groves and gardens to Pera. — Qon- 
 solvo, unahle to sleep, listens to the song 
 of the Dove. 
 
 
 

 
 AMALYRAC, 
 
 Slowly moved the creaking hinges, 
 Slowly rose the huge portcullis, 
 Slowly passed the neighing chargers, 
 Tliro' the wide expanded portal. 
 Scarce had passed, when swiftly closing- 
 Crashing like a storm struck tower, 
 Sprung the willing hinges backwards. 
 Shut the ponderous gate behind them. 
 One last look Gonsalvo darted 
 Thro' the darkly frowning archway, 
 Waved his hand in sign of parting : 
 On he spuri'ed his sable charger, 
 Wide displayed the Herald's banner, 
 And all eager for his journey, 
 Stood beside Epiromenes. 
 
 O ! Thou noble steed Arabia ! 
 Often hast thou borne thy master 
 Thro' the tumult of the battle, 
 Thro' the perils of the waters. 
 Thro' the crowds of shouting people, 
 Thro' the palaced streets of Xiloc ; 
 But thou ne'er before hast borne him 
 By such lovely lakes and forests, 
 By such fields of richest verdure. 
 By such fair embowered cities,
 
 26 AMALYRAC. II. 
 
 As upon that wondrous journey 
 Passed before his raptured vision. 
 On they rode until the evening, 
 Wlien their wearied chargers slowly 
 Climbed the shoulder of a mountain. 
 Now Arabia gains the summit, 
 Crowned with many a waving palm tree 
 Graceful with the boughs of triumph. 
 On neath many an odorous fir tree, 
 On neath many a tall Banana, 
 Rode the scattered troop of Islesmen. 
 Till the dark wood sudden ceasing. 
 Veiled no more the forward prospect, 
 Hid no more the wojidrous vision 
 Spread before the startled strangers. 
 
 Bow thy head, O ! lofty Strasburg ! 
 Sink in dust ye tombs of Egypt ! 
 Bid thy dome St Peter's tremble ! 
 And tliy pyramids, O ! Xiloc, 
 Sink away in awe-struck wonder ! 
 See your giant rivals standing 
 Calmly in unequalled glory, 
 Glowing in the tints of sunset, 
 In the roseate tints of evening. 
 
 Far below them rolled a river 
 Bound with many a fairy archway, 
 Mighty quays stretched far along it, 
 Massive piles adorned its borders. 
 And a thousand pennoned vessels 
 Poured their riches thro' the city. 
 On it flowed neath pillared crescents, 
 On thro' colonnades of marble. 
 Till it swept beneath the shadow
 
 II. A.MALYRAC. 
 
 Of a proud embattled fortress, 
 Built in old Pelasijic a^es. 
 
 Rich with shade, and red with sunlight, 
 Hoary neath its pomp of spires, 
 Rose the lofty-portaled temple 
 Of the aye enduring Daystar. 
 While on high, midst crags of granite, 
 Fair in all its glowing beauty — • 
 Like an angel guard from Heaven — 
 Smiled the Parthenon's great rival. 
 Glorying in its symmetry. 
 Yet beyond, where great Eurotas 
 Winding still thro' towery mazes — 
 Thro' long lengths of palaced marble — 
 • Rolled her topaz glowing billows 
 To the lake's illumined brightness — 
 Gloomy o'er mysterious temples. 
 Dark against the gorgeous sunset 
 Rose the altar of the Unknown ; 
 Casting wide a mighty shadow 
 O'er the waveless sheen of purple. 
 O'er the gilt domes of the city ; 
 With its circling stairs around it, 
 With its long red granite causeways. 
 Higher than the hills around it, 
 Like a mountain in the water. 
 
 Long the warriors gazed in wonder, 
 Long they stood in breathless silence, 
 Lest a single sovmd or whisper 
 Should dispel the magic vision. 
 Long they stood and viewed the Daystar 
 Slowly sink neath distant mountains ; 
 Saw their dark gigantic outline
 
 28 A'MALYRAC. II. 
 
 Rise against the far horizon ; 
 Saw the evening shadows creeping 
 O'er the glowing vault of Heaven ; 
 Saw the redness of the sunbeams 
 Slowly leave the mighty city. 
 Dome on dome was wrapt in darkness, 
 Spire on spire was sunk in twilight, 
 Till the last beam of its glory 
 Rested on that awful summit. 
 On the altar of the Unknown. 
 Then from all the city's towers, 
 From her thousand domes and spirea 
 Rang a peal of solemn music, 
 Echoing o'er the distant valleys, 
 O'er the deep reposing waters, 
 Till it died in gentle cadence 
 As the breath of night came over. 
 
 Lost in rapture and amazement, 
 Half afraid to break the illusion, 
 Moved the noble sons of Island 
 Passing down the sloping roadway. 
 As they reached the walls of Pera, 
 Large and round the moon was rising, 
 Shedding forth her sacred lustre ; 
 Half revealing, half concealing 
 Lovely gardens, fairy sculptures, 
 Academic groves and alleys, 
 Beauteous rills and sparkling fountains, 
 Warbling in the evening stillness. 
 
 Scarce Gonsalvo closed his eyelids, 
 Pondering o'er the wondrous city. 
 Till the orb in midnight courses 
 Poured her full beams on his pillow :
 
 II. AMALTRAC. 29 
 
 Then arose a sound symphonious, 
 Softly swelling into mnsic, 
 Like a lovely opening flower — 
 Like the sweet night-blowing Cereus, 
 And a voice of angel sweetness 
 Sung a song in mournful numbers. 
 
 SONG. 
 
 Lone and forsaken 
 
 Sat a poor Nestling, 
 
 Calling in vain 
 
 For its father to feed it ; 
 
 Calling in vain 
 
 For its mother to warm it ; 
 
 For they were gone 
 
 To return again never, 
 
 Gone to the land 
 
 Where the turtledoves sleep. 
 
 Vainly she wafted 
 
 Her half feather'd pinions ; 
 
 Vainly sought warmth 
 
 In the comfortless dwelling ; 
 
 For the cold night wind 
 
 Blew sharp thro' the branches, 
 
 "Ruffling her plumage — 
 
 Chilling all over. 
 
 But the fierce Eagle 
 Heard her complaining, 
 Heard her bemoaning 
 Her desolate fortune. 
 Down from his eyrie 
 High on the mountain, 
 Swept the dread tyrant 
 Careless of pity ;
 
 30 AMALTRAC. II. 
 
 Seized on the soft nest 
 For his own young ones, 
 Left the poor Nestling 
 To die on the ground. 
 
 Son of the Daylight ! 
 Son of the Morning ! 
 When thou regainest 
 Thy beautiful kingdom ; 
 When thou fulfiUest 
 The mystical promise, 
 Standing revealed on 
 The altar of Sunlight, 
 Pity ! O ! pity ! 
 The Child of misfortune ; 
 Pity ! O ! pity ! 
 The poor little Nestling. 
 
 As the evening primrose closes 
 Gently with the setting sunbeam. 
 Sending forth its parting odour 
 To refresh the fields around it ; 
 So that sweet and soothing music, 
 Spread its influence o'er the midnight, 
 Aa it sunk in gradual measure, 
 Leaving all around in silence — 
 Silence, that invited slumber.
 
 
 III. 
 THE EMBASSY. 
 
 
 
 The Civilization of Amalyrac. — At the 
 summons from the Monarch, Oonsalvo 
 enters the City. — Amalyrac described — The 
 ancient Staircase. — The Guards of Ama- 
 lyrac. — Passing beneath the statue of the 
 Wargod, they enter the Hall of Audience. 
 — Leonarchon, threatening vengeance for 
 Xiloc, dismisses the Herald of Islanda. 
 
 
 

 
 HL 
 
 THE EMBASSY. 
 
 On the mom, Gonsalvo, rising, 
 Mused ni^on the song of midnight. 
 Mused upon its darkened impurt. 
 All impatient of beholding 
 More of that most wondrous city ; 
 But the summons from the Monarch 
 Came not till the hour of noontide. 
 Wheresoe'er he turned his eyesight, 
 Wlieresoe'er he bent his footsteps, 
 New unlooked-for scenes awaited, 
 Fresh amazement seized upon him. 
 All the beauty of Circassia, 
 All the splendour of the Roman, 
 All the taste of ancient Athens, 
 All the politesse of Europe, 
 And a science e'en surpassing 
 The far-boasted lore of Britain, 
 Seemed all crowded here together 
 In this fairy land of beaiity. 
 Only in the art of warfare, 
 In the knowledge of the engine 
 Moved by vapours of the waters, 
 Seemed their works to be surpassed. 
 
 But a sound of martial music 
 
 Rolls along the streets of Pera, 
 
 And the summons from the Monarch
 
 34 
 
 THE EMBASSY. 
 
 III. 
 
 Bids them enter his great city. 
 
 On they rode thro' peopled suburbs, 
 
 On they rode thro' palace gardens, 
 
 Till the Red Gate of the City 
 
 Frowned in haughty pride before them ; 
 
 Far to right hand, far to left hand, 
 
 Stretched the walls of giant fabric, 
 
 Built of mighty blocks of granite, 
 
 Shaming Babylon's high bulwarks ; 
 
 Onward still thro' wide piazzas, 
 
 On thro' thoroughfares of business. 
 
 Crowded with the rumbling waggons. 
 
 Crowded with astonished people. 
 
 On they rode across the river. 
 
 Teeming with a thousand vessels. 
 
 With unnumbered fair Gondolas — 
 
 Restless with the hum of commerce ; 
 
 Girt with many a marbled warehouse, 
 
 Many a gilded dome and spire. 
 
 Stretching onward till the river 
 
 Sweeping in imperial grandeur. 
 
 Parted from the gazers' vision. 
 
 On they passed neath bronzed columns, 
 
 By the statues of their heroes. 
 
 By the fair and stately buildings 
 
 Raised by philanthropic ardoiir. 
 
 By their schools and seats of learning, 
 
 By the National Museums ; 
 
 Under minarets of beauty. 
 
 Under monuments of triumph. 
 
 To the heart of the great city, 
 
 To the Forum in whose centre 
 
 Meet the wide streets from the river. 
 
 Meet the wide streets from the suburbs. 
 
 Onward still they rode, while round them 
 
 Rattled chariots drawn by oreas,
 
 III. TUB EMBASSY. 3,5 
 
 Rumbled ■waggons drawn by oxen, 
 Stared with open eyes the people, 
 Trembling half, and half adoring, 
 For they seemed to them immortals. 
 Seemed the children of their Godhead. 
 
 On by spacious Market-Houses, 
 By the broad front of the Mansion, 
 Wliere the senate of the city 
 Plan and build and beautify it. 
 By the busy marts of commerce. 
 By the vast bazaars of tradesmen. 
 Where on either side were crowded 
 Stuffs and fabrics, gems and brilliants. 
 Far surpassing England's tissue. 
 Far surpassing India's jewels : 
 Till they reached the mighty Staircase 
 Leading up the rock of granite. 
 Leading to the Wargod's temple. 
 That in vast and perfect splendour 
 Rose enormous o'er the city : 
 Formed in long forgotten ages, 
 When he strode the lofty mountains. 
 When his footsteps shook the valleys. 
 And he made the ocean tremble. 
 Now the pigmy race of mortals 
 Wind in easy passage upward. 
 Wondering at the mighty Staircase, 
 Wondering at the hands that made it. 
 
 Far along the rising roadway, 
 Stretched on either hand majestic, 
 With their bright and polished armour. 
 With their long spears pointing upwards, 
 With their tall plumes proudly waving, 
 With their gold shields gaily flashing,
 
 36 THE EMBASSY. III. 
 
 In the radiance of the sunlight 
 Stood the guards of Amalyrac. 
 
 Now they reach the spacious pavement, 
 
 Where the temple of the Wargod, 
 
 "Where the palace of the Monarch s 
 
 Smile upon their mighty city, 
 
 Smile upon the lake's blue waters, 
 
 Look in wonder to the altar — 
 
 Mystic altar of the Unknown. 
 
 In the centre, like a tower, 
 
 High above the lofty temple, 
 
 Like a watchman o'er the city 
 
 Rose the statue of the Wargod ; 
 
 In one hand he hurled the thunder, 
 
 In the other preferred kingdoms ; 
 
 While beneath his feet a lion, 
 
 Graven o'er with names of nations. 
 
 Names of many a conquered people. 
 
 Roared with hopeless rage and vengeance. 
 
 Underneath the palace portal, 
 
 Under painted domes and ceilings. 
 
 Thro' long avenues of statues. 
 
 Thro' long corridors of pillars, 
 
 Passed the herald of Zorayda ; 
 
 Till they reached the Hall of Audience, 
 
 Reached the great Hall of the Palace, 
 
 Where the King of Amalyrac 
 
 Sat in state with all his princes. 
 
 On a thi'one of massive splendour. 
 Reared midst light and fairy columns, — 
 Shining shafts of ivory whiteness. 
 Wreathed with gold of dazzling polish —
 
 in. THE EMBASSY. 3>/ 
 
 Sat the mighty Leonarchon, 
 
 Lord o'er far outstretchin» regions — 
 
 Monarch o'er a hundred kingdoms — 
 
 Emperor of thousand cities. 
 
 On his head a high tiara 
 
 Frowned -vnth all tlie weight of empire ; 
 
 And his grand and noble features, 
 
 And his rich imperial vesture, 
 
 Bright with gem-embroidered eagles. 
 
 Made him seem by Heaven predestined 
 
 To the rule of mighty nations. 
 
 By him stood his dauntless warriors, 
 Wreath'd with glory-crowns of valour. 
 All their armour graced with jewels, 
 Flasliing back the darting sunbeams. 
 
 While around in closer circle. 
 Worthy of their lordly father — 
 Worthy of the Wargod's oflspring — 
 Blazed his sons, a race of heroes. 
 
 First and neai'est to the IMonarch, 
 With one foot upon the dais, 
 Resting on his gleaming falchion — 
 Like the terror of the Trojans 
 Stood the war-approved Araxes. 
 
 By him Theron, broad of shoulder. 
 Panting for a field of honor, 
 Aiid the young and fair Adonis, 
 Fleeter than the swiftest greyhound, 
 First in sports among his fellows. 
 
 All along in solemn order, 
 
 Lining each side of the building 
 
 With their ivory sceptres raised, — 
 
 With their long and snow-white garments ; 
 
 Bent with age and grey with learning — 
 
 With their ephods and their mitres, —
 
 JS THE EMBASSY. III. 
 
 With the symbols of their order, — 
 Sat the high priests of the Wargod, 
 Sat the high priests of the Daystar. 
 O'er them rose in cahii composure, 
 Looking down upon their children. 
 Throned forms of sainted monarchs, 
 Each one gone to rest in sjDlendour, 
 In the halo of their glory. 
 
 One alone whose shield was graven 
 With a dove midst stars of Heaven — 
 Sign of peace and sign of mei'cy — 
 Looked with stern expression downward, 
 Seeming to reprove injustice. 
 On the pedestal inscribed, 
 Stood these words of deep expression : 
 " To the Father of his People." 
 To the good King Philolaos, 
 Brother of great Leonarchon, 
 Was the mighty statue raised 
 By Pasitulus, the carver, 
 The inimitable sculptor. 
 
 As the golden gates flew open. 
 And Gonsalvo proudly entered 
 With his band of brave Zoraydans — 
 With his dark and wavy tresses — 
 Like a tall pine in the forest. 
 Like a God from high Olympus — 
 All the assembled princes wondered ; 
 But when from beneath his eyebrows 
 Darted forth a glance of fire, 
 Piercing to the inmost centre — 
 Searching out the thoughts and feelings- 
 All the assembly quailed before it. 
 E'en the lordly Leonarchon
 
 III. THE EMBASSY. SQ 
 
 Could not long endure the silence, 
 
 And imijatient at his bearing, 
 
 Thus addressed Islanda's herald : 
 
 ' ' Who art thou who thus presumptuous 
 
 " Conis't to seek us in our palace ? 
 
 " Com'st before us as an equal 
 
 "Though an herald from a greater? 
 
 ' ' Tell us what the cause that brings thee, 
 
 "What the country that produces 
 
 ' ' Such uncourteous behaviour. " 
 
 Then Gonsalvo, bending forward, 
 
 Leant upon the herald's banner, 
 
 And in stately accents answered : 
 
 "0! forgive, great Leonarchon, 
 
 "That the blaze of such a presence 
 
 "Bursting unexpected on me, 
 
 "Should have made me for a moment 
 
 ' ' Wanting in becoming reverence. 
 
 " Lo ! we bear a message to thee, 
 
 " Bear a message from our leader. 
 
 ' ' We are strangers, bold adventurers, 
 
 "Guided by the Powers of glory, 
 
 "We desire to see your country, 
 
 ' ' We desire to see your city, 
 
 "And to pass in peaceful order 
 
 "To the kingdoms of the Eastward. 
 
 " Woulds't thou know the land whose bowers 
 
 " Saw us first arise to daylight ! 
 
 * ' Far beyond the blue horizon, 
 
 "Far beyond the circling ocean, 
 
 "Far beyond the sun at mid-day, 
 
 "Lies that fair and blessed region, 
 
 "With its blooming vales and gardens, 
 
 "With its vast and peopled cities —
 
 40 
 
 THE EMBASSY. 
 
 III. 
 
 "See in us the great avengers 
 "Of the treachery of Xiloc ! 
 
 Scarcely had the name of Xiloc 
 Sounded thro' the Hall of Audience, 
 Ere the Pontiff of the Daystar, 
 Starting from his throne of marble, 
 Cast his sceptre on the pavement. 
 And with trembling hands extended, 
 Spake as moved with Pythian tire : 
 ' Open ! Ox3en ! Heaven of Heavens, 
 ' Pour down phials of destruction 
 ' On this offspring of the Midnight, 
 ' On these dark and impious strangers, 
 ' Who with sacrilegious triumph 
 ' Rifled Xiloc's sacred temples ; 
 ' Filled the holiest of holies 
 ' With the blood of slaughtered people ; 
 ' And, O ! fearful desecration, 
 ' Hurled the Sun's most awful image, 
 ' Midst their diabolic laughter, 
 ' Down the steep side of the temple ! 
 ' Mighty King ! No state of mortals, 
 'Not the Herald's sacred office 
 ' Shieldeth such unholy scorners 
 ' From the vengeance of the Godhead ! 
 ' Take him, bind him, sacrifice him ! 
 ' And send forth avenging armies 
 ' To destroy his race for ever !" 
 
 Thus the priest with frenzied ardour, 
 Spread around a wild excitement. 
 Some step forth to seize Gonsalvo ; 
 But he stood in stern composure. 
 Like a mount midst lowering tempests ;
 
 III. THE EMBASSY. ^f 
 
 No one dared to touch his garment, 
 No one ventured ought against him. 
 
 But great Leonarchon, rising, 
 Waved his hand in sign of silence, 
 And in high commanding accents. 
 Thus addressed Islanda's Herald : 
 " Imijious offspring of the Midnight! 
 " This the message for thy leader 
 "From the mighty Leonarchon. 
 ' ' Flee away with eagle pinions, 
 " For with lightning speed I follow, 
 ' ' Bidding vengeance roll before me, 
 "For the desecrated temples, 
 " For the rifled holy places. 
 "Flee away! nor seek to enter, — 
 ** Seek to pass the empire's borders ; 
 "Lest the altar of the Unknown, 
 ' ' Sated with its slaughtered victims, 
 " Shall fulfil the wrath of Heaven, 
 "Shall avenge tlie fall of Xiloc." 
 
 Thus the Monarch, but Gonsalvo, 
 With a look of awful meaning, 
 Pointed slowly toward the Southward, 
 Toward the lofty towered Temple 
 Of the ever seeing Godhead ; 
 And in warning accents answered ; 
 " Tliink, O ! tliink, great Leonarchon, 
 " Of the words that stand revealed 
 " On the altar of the Sunlight !" 
 Slowly turned him and departed. 
 
 As the golden portals closed, 
 All the tropliied banners ranged
 
 42 
 
 THE EMBASSY. Hi. 
 
 Round the domed roof of the building, 
 Moved above in ghostly silence ; 
 And the marble kings seemed paler, 
 And a dim and dark foreboding 
 Weighed upon that great assembly.
 
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 
 
 The Hosts of Amalyrar, gather for 
 Battle. — The array of the Armies. — Araxes 
 is driven hack. — The sacred Banner is 
 destroyed. — Adonis is slain. — The Army of 
 Leonarchon, enra/jed at his fall, overpoivers 
 the Islesmen. — Alonzo is taken Prisoner. — 
 Gonsalvo gives the Order for rei/reating. 
 
 
 

 
 IV, 
 THE BATTLE 
 
 Now no more the songs of gladness 
 
 Echo from thy hills, O ! Thiba ! 
 
 Now no more the laughing children 
 
 Twine their garlands in thy valleys ! 
 
 Now no more the Jierce Desertans 
 
 Chase the wild boar through the prairie ! 
 
 And no more the huntsman's bugle 
 
 Rings its shrill notes through thy forests. 
 
 All forgotten in thy gardens, 
 
 Droop the maidens' favorite flowers ! 
 
 For the sons of Amalyrac, 
 
 At their mighty king's commandment, 
 
 At the summons of the beacons, 
 
 Redly flaming o'er the mountains. 
 
 Leave their sports, and leave their labours, 
 
 Hastening to the field of battle. 
 
 From the queenly Epidavarus, 
 
 Smiling on its lake of sunshine ; 
 
 From the shores, where Almodira 
 
 Guards the mouth of great Orontes ; 
 
 From the land where haughty Pylos 
 
 Holds the dark stream of Eurotas 
 
 Bound in massive chains of granite ; 
 
 From the great imperial City, 
 
 With its fair and peopled suburbs ; 
 
 From the neighbouring states and kingdoms 
 
 Poured a host of hardy warriors.
 
 _^0 THE BATTLE. IV. 
 
 All in line along the valley — 
 Like the drifted snow in winter, 
 Lay the white tents of their forces ; 
 And the hnm of countless voices, 
 And the roll of rattling chariots, 
 And the hoarse notes of the trumpets, 
 Rose from all that peaceful valley ; 
 Rose from all its fields of verdure, 
 Breaking Nature's holy stillness. 
 
 But at length in mystic coiirses, 
 Came the fated day of battle ; 
 And the sun in lurid splendour. 
 Robed in clouds of red and darkness, 
 Raised his head above the mountains 
 Veiled in mist and gloomy vapours — 
 Slowly rose, as if imwilling 
 To behold the coming combat. 
 To behold the fields and orchards 
 That he smiled on every morning — 
 That he nurtured with his sunbeams. 
 Trampled down with armed footstep — 
 Lying prostrate in their greenness. 
 Then the mountain streams lamented. 
 For they knew the destined conflict. 
 Knew that ere he set at evening, 
 All their floods would run with crimson. 
 Then the tall pines of the forest 
 Bent before the dark foreboding, 
 For they knew that ere the midnight 
 Many a mournful funeral pyre 
 Would ascend in flames to Heaven. 
 
 Now the trumpet's fiery summons 
 Bids the host array for battle,
 
 IT. THE BATTLE. ^i/ 
 
 Bids their far extended columns 
 
 Form into their line of order ; 
 
 Bids the deep and serried phalanx 
 
 ]\Iarch into its due position. 
 
 All at once the winding valley 
 
 Bristled with their radiant lances ; 
 
 All at once it seemed to glitter 
 
 In the faint beams of the sunshine : 
 
 Till the hosts of Amalyrac, 
 
 Wide outstretching tlu'ough the campaign, 
 
 Rolled their mighty billows onward 
 
 Flashing in the brightening morning. 
 
 Many an ancient graven standard 
 
 Rose amidst their countless lances ; 
 
 Many a herald-blazoned banner 
 
 Proudly waved above its people ; 
 
 Many a brave and well tried leader 
 
 Led his native tribes to combat ; 
 
 Many a tierce and hardy veteran, 
 
 Many a long exjjerienced general — 
 
 Many a proud and haughty monarch 
 
 Ranged that mighty host for battle. 
 
 On the right wing strode A raxes, 
 In the pride of youthful valour ; 
 By his side the young Adonis, 
 In his bright unblemished armour, — 
 On his maiden field of glory. 
 
 To the left wing, sturdy Theron 
 Leads to Avar his dark battalions, 
 Leads to battle thirty cities — 
 Chosen cities of the Empire. 
 
 Where the Guard of Amalyrac 
 Blazed in all its golden glory — 
 Wliere its tall and crested warriors 
 Marched in long and perfect order —
 
 ^S THE BATTLE. IV. 
 
 Stood the famed Epiromenes — 
 
 First in prudence, iirst in valour. 
 
 In his hand he held the Standard, 
 
 Sacred Standard of the nation, 
 
 That had led them on for ages — 
 
 Led to victory and triumph ; 
 
 Borne as ancient legftnds whisper, 
 
 Borne by Mars himself in battle, 
 
 When he warred against the Titans, 
 
 When he warred against the Planets, 
 
 When he hurled the Moon in anger, 
 
 Hurled it at his mighty Brother : 
 
 But the great Unknown, his Father, 
 
 Throned upon the Constellations, 
 
 Stretched his hand and staid the vengeance, 
 
 Turned tlie vengeance to a blessing, — 
 
 Bid it roll in radiant courses 
 
 Round the darkened earth at midnight. 
 
 Slow it rises on the breezes. 
 
 Slow unfolds its gorgeous colours. 
 
 Till it blazed before the army, 
 
 Blazed a meteor in the Heaven. 
 
 Then Epiromenes waved 
 
 High his hand in sign of speaking. 
 
 And sent forth his words of thunder 
 
 To the helmed host around him : 
 
 " Soldiers ! comrades ! mighty chieftains, 
 
 * ' Hear the words of Leonarchon ! 
 
 " * Many a foe have ye encountered, 
 "'Many a fierce barbarian people, 
 "'Many a bold and hardy nation! 
 "'But to-day shall prove your valour. 
 " ' For the foe we come to battle 
 "'Are the children of the Midnight,
 
 IV. 
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 49 
 
 Red \vith sacrilege and slaughter. 
 Lo ! the auguries of Heaven, 
 And the oracles of Wisdom 
 Give to you to be avengers 
 Of the fall of sacred Xiloc ! 
 Give to you to hurl destruction 
 On this band of impious beings ! 
 On ! to victoiy and triumph I 
 Fear ye not their arts of darkness ! 
 Fear j^e not their monstrous bodies ! 
 For they only add to glory.' 
 
 Lo ! the sacred Standard waving 
 Leads you on ! Then raise the war-cry 
 Rolling to the song of Battle ! 
 On ! for queenly Amalyrac." 
 
 On they swept. Meanwhile Alonzo 
 Mounted on his stately charger, 
 Rode before the ranks of Island. 
 Few their numbers, but each warrior 
 Long inured to fields of combat 
 Seemed to stride himself a legion. 
 On the right in stern battalions. 
 Stood the haughty sons of Dacho ; 
 On the left Cnizatlan's hei'oes 
 Waved their tall plumes in the sunshine ; 
 In the centre far outstretching 
 In their long and narrow column 
 Shone the legion of Zorayda, 
 Shone the long blaze of their rifles. 
 Shone the bright sheen of their bayonets ; 
 High above, the dark blue Lions 
 Danced upon their golden banner ; 
 Wliile in front the dreaded cannon 
 Scowling wait the hour of carnage. 
 Far athwart the sloping moorland
 
 AO 
 
 THE BATTLE. IV. 
 
 Reining in their fiery chargers, 
 Marshalled by the brave Gonsalvo, 
 Rode the horsemen of Islanda. 
 
 Then the eyes of great Alonzo 
 
 Resting on the ancient portal 
 
 Saw beneath its frowning archway 
 
 Young Araxes' banner waving ; 
 
 Saw the right wing of the army 
 
 Heaving its impending billows 
 
 Like a mighty brazen ocean. 
 
 "See" he cried "my noble comrades, 
 
 " See a foeman worthy of you : 
 
 " Hard the fight and long the struggle, 
 
 "But the triumph still more splendid." 
 
 Scarce he ceased, when, like a river 
 That has burst its banks in flood-time. 
 Thronging legions filled the portal ; 
 And from all their mingled nations 
 Rose a cry of exultation, 
 As they saw the unequal foemen 
 Standing motionless before them. 
 But when speeding, deadly on them 
 Sang a storm of shot-star swiftness 
 And in dark and sulphurous vapours 
 Viewless carnage rained upon them — 
 Veterans shrunk, and warriors wavered, 
 Yielding to unwonted terror. 
 But again the young Araxes 
 Led them on upon Islanda : 
 Fierce they rushed — but down upon them 
 Moved Zorayda's glittering column, 
 Bore Avith force impetuous onward, 
 Bore the foremost ranks before them,
 
 IV. THE BATTLE. ,jf 
 
 Burst their way through shattered legions 
 Towards the sombre shadowing gateway. 
 Then the trumpet's voice resounded, 
 And Gonsalvo led his horsemen 
 Charging on their yielding forces. 
 When they saw them sweeping downward 
 Like a whirlwind roaring on them ; 
 When they saw their comrades trampled, 
 Crushed to death beneath the horse hoofs — 
 Then they fled beyond the archway. 
 Flying foes, pursuing victors, 
 Horse and footmen, heavy cannon 
 Rolled in headlong torrent onward, 
 Till the army of the strangers 
 Stood in grand imposing order 
 On the southward of the gateway. 
 
 Wlien the great Epiromenea 
 Saw Araxes' flying forces ; 
 When the refluent tide of ensigns 
 Poured tumultuous thro' the archway ; 
 When he heard the thunder roaring, 
 And beheld the death-shot sweeping 
 Like a pestilence among them ; 
 AVhen he saw how few the victors — 
 Then Epiromenes trembled — 
 Not with fear, but with amazement — 
 Then he cheered his chosen leaders. 
 Marshalling his Guards to battle. 
 
 When the flying legions saw them 
 IVIoving on in ai'dont order, 
 Hope again returned upon them, 
 And the remnants of the phalanx 
 And the ruins of their squadrons 
 Formed again to meet t!ie Islcsmen.
 
 S2 THE BATTLE. IV. 
 
 Like the storm wind in a tempest 
 Howling wild round castle bulwarks ; 
 So the hosts of Amalyrac 
 Chafed in overwhelming forces 
 Round the army of Islanda : 
 But like towers they stood unshaken, 
 Firm amidst the boisterous raving ; 
 All unmoved, while on their bosoms 
 Rained a deadly storm of arrows — 
 Poured a tempest hail of missiles. 
 All around like sheets of lightning 
 Flashed the rifle, flashed the carbine ; 
 But the far o'er-matching numbers 
 Threatened soon to bear them backward : 
 Then Gonsalvo looked around him, 
 Looked in vain for hope of succour ; 
 But he saw the sacred Standard 
 Waving proudly o'er the army ; 
 Saw it graced with golden symbols, 
 "With its gemmed and purple fringes ; 
 And he thought of old Otumba. 
 Down he bounded from his charger, 
 Down he bent, and aimed a rocket : 
 Aimed it with unerring eyesight, 
 Aimed it with a master's knowledge ; 
 And sent forth its shaft of fire. 
 Blazing towards the sacred ensign. 
 On it swept a mid-day comet, 
 Till it touched the purple border : 
 In a moment o'er the army 
 Glowed a dull and lurid redness ; 
 For a moment vivid lightning 
 Seemed to play above their helmets ; 
 And the Standard that had led them 
 On to countless deeds of glory. 
 Sunk iu smouldering tatters downwards,
 
 IV. THE BATTLE. S3 
 
 Fell a heap of blackened ashes. 
 
 Then the sons of Amalyrac, 
 Lost in dread, forgot their valour ; 
 Then the forces of Zorayda 
 Raised a mighty cry of triumph, 
 And the dark line of their legions 
 Rolled resistless on the foemen. 
 Backward bent the yielding banners, 
 Backward fled the dark battalions. 
 And the torn and shattered squadrons 
 Shrunk, o'ercome with awe and teiTor. 
 Then the brave Araxes maddened. 
 Raged terrific through the army; 
 Urged them onward, urged them forward, 
 Heedless of impending danger; 
 Then the sturdy striving Theron, 
 And the young and fair Adonis 
 Rushed into the thickest battle — 
 Darted fearless on tlie cannon ; 
 Then the great Epiromenes 
 Raised his voice above the tumult. 
 And conjured them by their honor — 
 By the glory of their fathers, 
 Not to fly like frightened oreas — 
 Fly before a single legion. 
 
 But a cry of woe and anguish 
 Echoed from the reeling squadrons — 
 Echoed from the foremost legions ; 
 For a ball had struck Adonis — 
 Struck him through his noble forehead. 
 And he sunk a broken flower, — 
 Broken on a summer morning. 
 Just when it should bloom the fairest —
 
 .54 THE BATTLE. IV. 
 
 Sunk and died— the Sun beliolding, 
 Hid his liead in clouds and mourning, 
 And the sky in sign of sorrow 
 Wept in raindrops o'er his body — 
 And the army when they heard it, 
 When they knew that he had fallen — • 
 He, their loved, adored Adonis — 
 Staid their flight, forgot their terror, 
 Formed their ranks and rushed infuriate 
 To avenge his hapless slaughter. 
 
 Then Alonzo saw Destruction 
 Hovering o'er his wearied army 
 Bar the way to Eastern Kingdoms, — 
 Saw his worn and broken legions, — 
 Saw the foemen onward bearing. 
 Heedless of the deadly fire, — 
 Saw the dreaded cannon taken, 
 All their brave defenders fallen ; 
 And he spurred his charger onward 
 Where the danger seemed the greatest, 
 And with stern determination, 
 Shouted "Death or Victory ! " 
 
 Through the ranks with arrowy swiftness, 
 Dasl>ed the dark steed of Gonsalvo, 
 Spreading consternation ro\ind him^ 
 Trampling 'neath him, dead and dying ; 
 For he sought his much loved master ; 
 Sought, to find ; for now the hero 
 Parted from his black Arabia, 
 Charged to join him through the foemen, 
 Waving high his flashing sabre — 
 Making wide a bloody pathway. 
 Till he met the sturdy Theron,
 
 IV. 
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 55 
 
 Hurled to earth the mighty warrior. 
 
 But a cry came rolling towards him 
 That Alonzo had been taken, 
 That the noble chief had perished. 
 
 Then Gonsalvo viewed the carnage — 
 Saw the remnant of the legions, 
 Fighting still like raging lions, 
 Falling fast o'ercome with numbers ; 
 Saw the great Dictator captive, 
 And, unwilling, from his bugle 
 Blew the 
 
 order for retreating. 
 
 Sadly moved the Islesmen backward, 
 For they ne'er before had yielded, 
 Ne'er before had been defeated. 
 But the sons of Amalyrac, 
 Wearied by the huig encounter, 
 Ceased to follow at the gateway ; 
 And the sad and broken relics 
 Of that once victoriovis army 
 Marched in silence 'neath the shadow 
 Of those ancient graven lions. 
 Mourning all their legions broken — 
 Comrades dying — heroes slaughtered, — 
 Mourning those that taken captive 
 Soon would bleed upon the altar — 
 Mourning their Dictator fallen. 
 All their brightest prospects vanished.
 
 V. 
 
 THE PROCESSION. 
 
 The triumph of Epiromenes. — Ama/rcmtha 
 mournfully ivatches the body of Admvis 
 home by in state. — The scene changes to 
 Alonzo in his dungeon. — He muses over the 
 Past and the last struggle in the Battle. — 
 A midnight visitation. — He receives the 
 ring from the snow-ivhite figure.
 
 V, 
 THE PROCESSION 
 
 Gorgeously adorned with banners — 
 Gleaming in the summer's glory 
 Shone the great imperial city, 
 Shone the queenly Amalyrac, — 
 As beneath her ancient portals 
 Rolled the long parade of Triumph. 
 All her mai-ble pillared causeways, 
 All her tall and stately spires, 
 All her dark and frowning bulwarks, 
 All her solemn piles of grandeur, 
 AJl her awful forms of wonder, 
 Glowed with gay victorious ensigns — 
 Glowed a sea of rainbow colours. 
 Proudly then the mighty waters 
 Of the unsurpassed Eurotas 
 Bid the bright reflection tremble 
 All along her sparkling bosom ; — 
 Bid the gaily gilded columns, 
 And the laurel wreathed Temples ; 
 Bid the bannered domes and towers 
 Of a calm and silent city, 
 Lay disclosed in azure beauty, 
 In the crystal of her mirror. 
 
 And the Sun enthroned in Heaven, 
 Smiled upon his lovely city ; 
 Poured his beams in dazzling brightness 
 In a flood of splendour o'er her,
 
 gQ THE PROCESSION. 
 
 Till her countless gilded summits, 
 
 Sated with the beam of glory, 
 
 Sent it back again in rapture, 
 
 In a blaze of heavenly fire ; . 
 
 Till it seemed as though the concourse 
 
 Of the starry realms of Heaven ^ 
 
 Had descended from their mansions 
 
 In the Empyrean city ; 
 
 And enthroned beneath the Daystar, 
 
 Graced the triumph with their presence. 
 
 From the lofty Eastern Gateway, 
 All along her streets and causeways. 
 Upward to the spacious forum 
 Rolled the multitudes of people ; 
 And above, — adorned with jewels. 
 Gracing balconies of marble, — 
 Sat the Beauty of the city. 
 Pouring down a rain of laurels 
 On the hero-ranks below them. 
 
 'Neath a portico of granite. 
 Reared above the crowded forum, 
 With his cotmsellors around him, 
 Leonarchon sat enthroned. 
 Stooping low, a golden eagle 
 Held a crown of glory o'er him ; 
 And his diadem of power 
 Shone in beams of jewelled brightness. 
 Round him long imperial vestures 
 Spread their folds of gold and purple ; 
 Wliile the ancient emerald sceptre, 
 Bore on high the Daystar's symbol. 
 
 By his side, in mourning shrouded. 
 Sat the Empress Cleopatra ; 
 And around on ivory couches,
 
 V. THE PROCESSION. 61 
 
 Shone the beauty of her daughters. 
 
 On the left, retired and silent, 
 
 Throned beside her royal mother, 
 
 Sat the Princess Amarantha, — 
 
 Daughter of King Philolaos. 
 
 But a veil of silken tissue, 
 
 Falling from her gemmed tiara. 
 
 Hid her fairy form of beauty — 
 
 Hid the tear of sacred sorrow 
 
 From the multitudes around her. 
 
 For it pained her tender bosom, 
 
 When she saw tlie train of captives. 
 
 When she thought how they were destined 
 
 Soon to fall in horrid slaughter 
 
 On the altar of the Unknown ; 
 
 When she saw the young Adonis 
 
 Borne before in funeral pageant ; 
 
 And she heard the jarring music 
 
 Tell how they who fell in battle 
 
 Shone supreme in starry brightness. 
 
 In the blissful courts of Heaven. 
 
 Slowly rolled the bier and heavy, 
 While the priests in solemn order 
 Waved their censers spreading perfumes. 
 Raising dense the clouds of incense ; 
 Till the corpse of the young hero, 
 'Crowned Avith laurels, clad in armour, 
 Seemed to float in peaceful slumber. 
 Resting calmly on the bosom 
 Of the clouds that soon would bear him 
 Up into the courts of Heaven. 
 
 Now the loud victorious trumpets 
 Tell of the apj^roaching army. 
 See the great Epiromenes,
 
 ^2 THE PROCESSION. 
 
 Reared upon tlie Car of triumph, 
 Hailed by the admiring people. 
 See the young Araxes follows, 
 Reining in the milk-white Oreas, 
 With their brightly gilded antlers. 
 Then a line of kings and princes, 
 And a stream of long battalions : 
 Then the heavy rolling cannon. 
 Taken from the foe in battle. 
 As they reached the bannered Forum, 
 And the famed Epiromenes 
 Passed before the royal presence. 
 From the crowds of gazing people 
 Rose a cry of exultation, 
 And the great bells of the city 
 Pealed afar their joyous anthem. 
 Till the ascending shouts of triumph 
 Pouring upwards, 'called responses 
 From the domed hills around them. 
 
 Long they echoed, and tlieii* thunder. 
 Spreading far the notes of gladness, 
 Reached the cell where great Alonzo 
 Lay all lonely in his prison. 
 There he lay, all sad and lonely, 
 In the dark and dismal dungeon, 
 Dark, save where the grated window 
 Let the tardy daylight enter. 
 All was still, save when the tumult 
 Of the boisterous voice of triumph 
 Entered in, in loud defiance. 
 Sad he lay, but not in sorrow 
 For himself, his own misfortune ; 
 For his bold, heroic spirit, 
 Firmest in the dai'kest danger, 
 Stood unshaken by the tempest,
 
 V. TEE PROCESSION. gj 
 
 Waiting for a gleam of sunlight. 
 Yet his mind was bowed with mourning, 
 When he thought of those whose corpses 
 Strewed the fatal field of battle ; 
 As he saw the wasted army- 
 Toiling over endless praii'ies ; 
 As he thought how all his conquests, 
 All his friends and faithful comrades 
 Now perhaps were lost for ever. 
 Still he failed not, for within him 
 Glowed the fire that erst had warmed him 
 When the viewless hand extended 
 Tore him from the loved Zorayda, 
 And he felt, that yet before him 
 Stood a brighter goal of glory, 
 And that yet his arm was destined 
 For the work of hero wonders. 
 
 Then the last, the deadly struggle. 
 
 Came before his mental vision, 
 
 And again he heard the crashing. 
 
 Heard the tumult of the battle. 
 
 And again with hope undaunted, 
 
 Seemed to spur his charger onward. 
 
 Round him fall his faithful comrades, 
 
 Showers of missiles shade the sunbeams. 
 
 Like a cataract, on he dashes. 
 
 Through the astonished ranks of foemen. 
 
 As a pine tree in the forest 
 
 Falls before the forked Levin, 
 
 So the prince of wide Orontes 
 
 Fell before Alonzo's prowess. 
 
 Flight and texTor swept before him. 
 
 Fear and carnage rode behind him. 
 
 Till, alas ! a fatal arrow 
 
 Winged its passage through his charger,
 
 C4 1'nE PROCESSION. 
 
 And the noble conrser maddened. 
 Rearing upwards, rolled in anguish, 
 Dying on the iield of battle. 
 From that hour a shade of darkness 
 Seemed to cloiid his recollection. 
 Till again he woke to daylight 
 In the streets of Amalyrac. 
 
 Even now he scarce could fancy 
 
 But that all was mist and dreaming. 
 
 Yet the weighty iron fetters, 
 
 And the dimly lighted dungeon 
 
 Bound with walls of rough -hewn granite, 
 
 Told it was no fleeting vision. 
 
 Thus he mused till daylight fading. 
 Left him in the shades of evening. 
 Till the moon in cheering radiance 
 Shed her soft beams through the lattice. 
 Vain he sought to close his eyelids, 
 Sleep refused her Vv^onted blessing. 
 And he watched the gi'ated shadow 
 Creeping slowly o'er the stonework. 
 Now it shines upon the doorpost, 
 Now the iron-plated doorway 
 Stands confessed all closely bolted, 
 And the massive rings and rollers 
 Gleam amid the rays of moonlight. 
 
 Does he dream ? or does the faintness 
 Of the feeble light deceive him 1 
 No ! it moves, the bolts retiring. 
 Harshly grating leave the doorcase, 
 And the rollers creaking dully, 
 Move along their iron pathway. 
 Now it opens, gaping wider, 
 And, behold, a graceful figure
 
 THE PROCESSION. 
 
 65 
 
 Clad in robes of snowy whiteness, 
 Shone distinctly in the moonbeams. 
 Round her neck a chain of crystal 
 Bore a dove with emerald pinions 
 Gleaming star-like on her bosom. 
 Close behind in sable garments, 
 Moved a form with veiled features, 
 But her step of firmer bearing, 
 And her more commanding stature, 
 Showed her one whom time and honors 
 Long had trained to queenly presence. 
 
 All amazed Alonzo viewed them. 
 
 Wondering at the silent vision — 
 
 Wondering at the snow-white figure, 
 
 Gliding graceful mid the moonlight. 
 
 He had heard of ghostly beings. 
 
 He had heard of nightly spirits, 
 
 That would ride upon the brightness, 
 
 That would haunt the lonely prison. 
 
 But no ghostly form nor spirit, 
 
 No dark messenger of midnight 
 
 Could have spread such awe-struck feelings 
 
 Through the hero's iron bosom — 
 
 Could have sent so cold a chillness 
 
 Through his limbs inured to danger, 
 
 For he thought he saw the semblance 
 
 Of a loved one long departed. 
 
 Yet at length with faltering accents. 
 
 Thus he broke the awful silence. 
 
 "Fairy form of angel brightness, 
 "What has led thee through the darkness, 
 "Led thee to my lonely dungeon? 
 " Art thou come to warn my spirit 
 "That the hour of death approacheth ?
 
 66 THE PROCESSION. 
 
 "Art thou come to cheer Alonzo 
 
 ' ' Through the last impending clanger ? " 
 
 Then a gentle voice responded 
 In a tone of heavenly sweetness : 
 " I am come to guide thy footsteps 
 ' ' Through the maze that leads to glory. 
 ' ' I am come to cheer thy pathway 
 ' ' Throvigh the great impending danger. 
 ' ' When the hour of death approaches, 
 "And the priest prepares to slay thee, 
 ' ' Show this ring, and standing forward, 
 ' ' Fearlessly demand the challenge. 
 " Ask no more, for time is fleeting, 
 "Ask no more, for we must leave thee." 
 
 Then the snow-white form bent o'er him, 
 And he saw a sparkling jewel 
 Falling from her slender fingers : 
 Stooping down he placed its circlet, 
 Gleaming o'er with gems and beauty. 
 On his hand ; but lo ! the vision 
 When he raised himself had vanished, 
 And the iron portal closing, 
 Wafted cold damps through the prison. 
 And the moon enveiled in tempests. 
 Cheered no more the midnight darkness.
 
 
 VI. 
 THE SACRIFICE. 
 
 
 
 Chorus of the Priests as the Cwptives are 
 led to Sacrifice. — They wind up the 
 ancient Altar. — Alonzo's Comrades are 
 slaughtered. — He demands the Challenge. — 
 The High Priest of the Unknown addresses 
 the Assenibly, and tells of Times to come. — 
 The final Judgment is given, and Alonzo is 
 unfettered. 
 
 
 

 
 V5. 
 THE SACRIFICE 
 
 Now at length the night of slaughter, 
 Sheds its gloom around the city, 
 And the priests in solemn chorus 
 Praise the God Unknown they worship. 
 
 "Hail ! to Thee, Great One, ruling in Heaven! 
 " Lo ! we prepare Thee a solemn oblation! 
 " Lo ! the long lines of garlanded captives 
 "Wind up the steps of Thy mystical altar! 
 
 "Onward we come, and the perils of battle, 
 ' ' The prize that we fought for, are all for Thy 
 
 glory, 
 " Look down from Thy palace of exquisite 
 
 beauty — 
 ' ' The fount of creation — and smile on our city ? 
 
 " Yea, as we pour out the blood of the victims, 
 "Bidding its crimson encircle Thy borders, 
 "So let Thy blessing descend on our nations, 
 " Rolling the flood of its fullness around us. 
 
 "Onward we march in mysterious order, 
 "Bearing on high the altar of incense, — 
 "Bearing on high the hallowed synibols 
 "Shrined in the courts of the Holy of Holies.
 
 /^Q TEE SACRIFICE. VI. 
 
 "Death-doomed captives, pale and desponding, 
 "Slowly move over the causeway of granite; 
 " And the red torches flaring in midnight, 
 "Casting a hue of blood on the water, 
 " Show their dark forms in long ranks advanc- 
 ing— 
 "Sadly advancing to meet their destruction; 
 
 "But unto us, for whom they ai^e ofi'ered, 
 "Joy and rejoicing shall rise with the morning. 
 
 * ' Bowing before Thee, we bring to Thine altar, 
 
 " Loaded with fetters, the OflFspring of Dark- 
 ness, 
 
 ' ' Dyed with the blood of the sons of thy people ; 
 
 "And blackened with sins, that arising to 
 Heaven, 
 
 " Call for revenge for the temples of Xiloc. 
 
 ' ' Humbly we worship, adoring thy presence, 
 "Humbly to thee is the ofiering given! 
 "For unto thee our souls shall be raised, 
 "Praising thy glory inito everlasting!" 
 
 Thus the priests in measured chorus, 
 
 Led the dark procession onwards 
 
 Through the shade of starless midnight, — 
 
 Led it o'er the arched causeway. 
 
 Stretched across the gloomy water. 
 
 Tall and dark Alonzo's figure 
 
 Rose against the lurid torchlight. 
 
 Firm he moved, unchanged his bearing. 
 
 Careless of the scenes around him. 
 
 Mighty thoughts were passing through him, 
 
 Working in the hero's bosom. 
 
 How to save his brave companions 
 
 From the agonizing altar. 
 
 All in vain ! the lines of warriors 
 
 Ranged along, a brazen baiTier,
 
 "VI. THE SACRIFICE. ijf-f 
 
 And the chains that bound the captives, 
 And the multitudes of people, 
 Closed up every path of safety. 
 
 Now they reach the mighty portal ; 
 Now they move in slow procession. 
 Winding up the staircase stained 
 With the tears and sighs of mortals. 
 All along the pile was graven 
 With the mysteries of the Unknown; 
 Here an orb of golden splendour 
 Darts its redly flashing lightnings 
 At a sphere of midnight darkness, 
 Falling far to dee]3 abysses. 
 Here again its beams of blessing 
 Form unnumbered worlds and planets ; 
 Here the Sun in smiling glory 
 Rolls around his mighty father ; 
 Here the long wars of the ancients ; 
 Here a world o'erwhelmed with waters ; 
 Here the deeds of men and nations, 
 Dim revealed in giant greatness, 
 Stand engraved along the pathway. 
 
 Ah ! how many a mournful captive ! 
 Ah ! how many a dreadful pageant. 
 Had for ages passed before them ; 
 As they stood in silent grandeur. 
 Telling of a race departed. 
 
 Now at length they reached the summit. 
 
 Lighted with the ghastly radiance 
 
 Of the sacrificial fire. 
 
 And Alonzo sees with horror. 
 
 One by one, his faithful comrades
 
 1/2 THE SACRIFICE. VI. 
 
 Bound with cords unto the altar ; 
 Sees them writhe in pain and anguish, 
 Sees the priests midst drums and clangour 
 Rend their brave hearts from their bosoms, 
 And the flames in flaring redness 
 Burn their quivering forms to ashes. 
 
 All around in stately order 
 
 Sat the rulers of the kingdom, 
 
 To behold the scene of bloodshed, 
 
 To behold the rite performed. 
 
 Many a heart with indignation, 
 
 Looked with longing for the season 
 
 "Wlien the Sun's predestined children 
 
 Should dispel those scenes of horror. 
 
 But the beam of hoj^e, that lately 
 
 Seemed to show the time appointed. 
 
 Now had faded, for the hero 
 
 Whom their hearts had fondly augured 
 
 As the Heaven-decreed avenger, 
 
 Stood before them bound with fetters, 
 
 Doomed by the relentless priesthood 
 
 To the sacrificial altar. 
 
 As they dragged Alonzo forward, 
 
 Slowly tolled the rolling tlumder 
 
 Of the bell, whose awfnl booming 
 
 Echoing far across the waters, 
 
 Tells the cities all around it 
 
 That a mighty foe is falling ; 
 
 That the heart of a great hero 
 
 Beats the last time in his bosom. 
 
 But the long-continued slaughter 
 Had o'erpast the hours of midnight, 
 And the lurid flame no longer 
 Cast its red glow o'er the city :
 
 VI. THE SACRIFICE. ^3 
 
 And no more it shed the shadow 
 Of the moving forms around it. 
 For the golden-vestured morning 
 Fair arising showed the castle 
 Grandly dark against its splendour ; 
 Showed the glorious Day star's temple, 
 Rearing vast its stately towers, 
 Rearing high its airy spires. 
 Showed the wearied city slumbering 
 In the dimness of the twilight. 
 
 As the priests approached the altar, 
 And prepared to bind Alonzo 
 To its sides all red and gory. 
 Suddenly he started forward, 
 Turning towards the throned rulers, 
 And erect with God-like presence 
 Showed the diamond circlet gleaming 
 Brightly on his hand of power, 
 Wliile his voice in stately accents 
 Spake in stern and kingly measure. 
 
 " Princes I demand the challenge, 
 " I demand the lawful challenge." 
 
 Then a thrill of icy coldness 
 
 Passed through all that great assembly ; 
 
 And a long and death-like stillness — 
 
 Broken only by the tolling. 
 
 Solemn tolling of the death bell, 
 
 Spread its ghostly influence o'er them — 
 
 Till a faintly broken whisper 
 
 Circling round the place of slaughter. 
 
 Rising into dubious questions, 
 
 Told how few had known the secret ; 
 
 And the quick inquiring glances 
 
 Flashing upward from the rulers
 
 1/^ THE SACRIFICE. VI. 
 
 To the mighty sovereign Pontiff, 
 To the High Priest of the Unknown, 
 Told how they too understood not. 
 All, o'ercorae with expectation 
 Waited with impatient longing, 
 Till the venerable Pontiff 
 Rising with the sacred college. 
 Beckoned to the high assembly. 
 
 He was one whose lengthened lifetime 
 Had been sj)ent in deeds of mercy ; 
 He was one who bore the blessings 
 Of that mighty nation with him ; 
 One whose never wearied labour 
 Warred against those deeds of bloodshed. 
 Round him fell a sable garment, 
 Round him shone the mystic girdle, 
 Round his silver hair enwreathed 
 Gleamed a band of gold and jewels, 
 While his aged hand, outstretching. 
 Trembling held the priestly sceptre. 
 
 Slow he rose, and words of power 
 Flowed with honied sweetness from him. 
 From his venerable visage 
 Seemed to glow pi-ojihetic fire ; 
 And his mild eye, gleaming brightly. 
 Spake of some great wish accomplished. 
 
 "Know that mysteries forgotten 
 "In the lapse of countless ages 
 "Still remain engraven deeply 
 " On the records of the ancients ; 
 ' ' Still remain as hoarded treasures 
 "In the colleges of learning. 
 " Some are given to be revealed 
 "At the will of common mortals;
 
 VI. 
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 
 
 rs 
 
 " Some are given to be disclosed 
 
 ' ' By the mouth of priests and prophets ; 
 
 " Some are given to be concealed 
 
 "Till the time by Gods appointed — 
 
 " Till the time when heavenly wisdom, 
 
 "Working in mysterious courses, 
 
 " Solves the mystery of ages. 
 
 ' ' Know that on the sacred portal 
 
 "Of the Holiest of Holies, 
 
 "Ranged among the guarded records, 
 
 " Stands this granite-graven secret. 
 
 ' ' But at length the time appointed 
 
 "Bids me to delay no longer; 
 
 " Bids me speak the words concealed 
 
 " To the multitude around me. 
 
 " Lo ! the stranger must have justice, 
 
 "He must have the lawful challenge, 
 
 "For 'tis written 'He who beareth 
 
 "'On his hand the shining circlet 
 
 "'Placed upon the hery hgure 
 
 ' ' ' Flaming o'er the Daystar's altar, 
 
 " ' Shall in times of utmost danger 
 
 "'La-\v fully demand the challenge; 
 
 " ' Shall obtain the mystic challenge 
 
 "'With the elements of nature.' 
 
 "Yet it is no easy combat. 
 
 " Fit for children and for cowards ; 
 
 "For the fierceness of the Eagle, 
 
 "And the Alligator's terrors; 
 
 " For the fury of the Lion, 
 
 "And the four-fold strength of Giants 
 
 ' ' Must be vanquished by the wan*ior 
 
 " Who would thus escape destruction. 
 
 ' ' Only one, as yet, has asked it, 
 
 " Only one, as yet, has known it. 
 
 " And that one is he, who rising,
 
 •re 
 
 THE SACRIFICE. 
 
 VI. 
 
 ' ' Now enwraps his ancient temple 
 " In the radiance of his sunbeams. 
 "He has conquered and we know not 
 "But that He inspired the stranger. 
 " How he owns the rinse of macfic 
 "Is a secret undefined. 
 " For it hath for ages glistened 
 "Deep within the Holy places. 
 "How he learned the guarded mystery 
 "None can tell, but He whose power 
 "Showed it to the Godlike Champion." 
 But a gleam of light celestial, 
 Played upon the Pontiflf's features, 
 As with rapt prophetic ardour, 
 Thus his rising voice continiied : 
 ' Stranger ! thou has asked the challenge, 
 ' Stranger ! thou shalt have the challenge, 
 ' Stranger ! unto thee is given 
 ' To fulfil the times appointed. 
 ' Unto thee the Gods have given 
 * Power to rule the first of Empires : 
 ' In thy hand is laid the balance 
 ' Of the weal or woe of nations ; 
 ' For I see a star arising 
 ' That shall dim the solar brightness, 
 'And I see its beaming radiance 
 ' Cleanse the blood-polluted altar ; 
 ' And I see the crowding people 
 ' Hail the wished-for hour of blessing, 
 'When the amaranth shall enwreath it 
 ' With its crown of deathless beauty. 
 'Vain the eagle seeks to hide it 
 'With his wings of cloud and darkness : 
 ' Down he sinks ; no tear of pity 
 ' Weeps above the outstretched body — 
 ' Lo ! unveiled before my vision 
 ' Stands the glory of the Unknown. " —
 
 VI. THE SACRIFICE. f*"^ 
 
 More the ag(5d man had spoken, 
 But his bent and feeble iigure 
 Slink beneath the mighty effort ; 
 And his tongue refused to utter 
 All the splendours of that vision. 
 Slow he sinks ; the holy college 
 Bear him fainting from the assembly 
 That had hung in breathless silence 
 On his words of darkened meaning. 
 
 But the High Priest of the Daystar, 
 Rising up with haughty bearing, 
 Bid them bind the impious captive, 
 Bind him to the sacred altar ! 
 And with unrelenting ardour 
 Moved himself to aid the slaughter. 
 
 Then the civic chief appointed 
 To preside o'er that assembly, 
 Rising, thus restrained his frenzy 
 And gave forth the final sentence : 
 "Vain we war against the Powers, 
 " Whose decrees are ever during ; 
 "Vainly seek to change the meaning 
 "Of the signs before appointed. 
 " Lead the stranger from the altar ! 
 "Free him from the weight of fetters; 
 "Bind him with a vow of honor 
 " That he will not leave the city : 
 " For the famed Epiromenes 
 "Hath declared himself resolved 
 " To await the awful combat, 
 "Should the stranger, basely perjured, 
 " Break the sacred bonds of promise." 
 
 Then Alonzo, standing forward, 
 Raised his fettered liands to Heaven ;
 
 i/S THE SACRIFICE. VI. 
 
 And amidst that high assembly 
 Vowed a vow in solemn language ; 
 That he would not leave the city ; 
 That upon the day of combat 
 He would stand before the people ; 
 And that all should know that honor 
 Dwelt within the stranger's bosom. 
 
 Then the famed Epiromenes, 
 Hastening to him, loosed his fetters ; 
 Grasped his hand, and bade him welcome ! 
 Welcome to his halls in Pera : 
 TiU the Oracle of Wisdom, 
 Far beyond the snow-capped mountains. 
 Should reveal the fated hour 
 Destined for the coming conflict. 
 
 Then the long procession slowly 
 Left the dreadful scene of slaughter. 
 But -Alonzo, turning backwards, 
 Lingering in mournful silence, 
 Bade a long farewell in sorrow 
 To the burnt and mangled corpses 
 Of his brave and faithful comrades.
 
 
 AMARANTHA. 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 The Gardens and Palace of Epiromenes. 
 — Amarantha sings to Alonzo the Deeds of 
 her Ancestors, of her father Philolaos, and 
 Epiromenes. — Turning to him, she requests 
 him to relate his Actions, to which he 
 assents. 
 
 
 

 
 AMARANTHA 
 
 Fair are all the stately bowers, 
 That beside the Lake of Como 
 Lie like gems of varied colors, 
 Gleaming round a costly jewel. 
 Fair are all the lovely gardens 
 Wliere the brightest Indian flowers 
 Pour their perfumes o'er the borders 
 Of Cashmera's waves of silver. 
 
 But still fairer were tlie bowers. 
 And still brighter was the garden, 
 Where the famed Epiromenes — 
 Wearied with the toils of glory. 
 Would, retired at evening stillness. 
 Muse upon the works of nature ; 
 Drinking there the calm refreshment 
 Poured from all her founts of beauty. 
 
 Yes ! it was a lovely garden, 
 Fit to nurture deeds of greatness ; 
 When the sun in sinking radiance 
 Shot its mellow beams of brightness 
 Through the dark boughs of tlie cedars. 
 When it shed the palm tree's shadow 
 Far along the lawns of verdure ; 
 When it clothed the distant city 
 In her robes of evening purplj, 
 And the luminous lake unruffled. 
 Mirrored clear the glowing summits 
 Of the distant peaks of Deiro.
 
 S2 AMARANTHA. Ylf. 
 
 To the west arose the Island 
 On wliose shores a race of monarchs 
 Lay in funeral pomp enshrined ; 
 Pyramids whose steps of granite 
 Braved the unwearied storms of ages ; 
 Brazen columns, Doric temples, 
 Obelisks, gigantic statues, 
 Traced their forms in dark distinctness 
 On the orange tints of sunset. 
 
 To the south in mystic grandeur, 
 Softly melting into dimness — 
 High above the tall bananas 
 Rose the ancient founded altar, 
 While between the reddening causeway 
 Stretched the long line of its pillars. 
 
 Lofty groves of odorous pine-trees 
 Gently waving moved their bi'anches ; 
 Flowers of fragrance lowly bending. 
 Kissed the lips of sparkling streamlets. 
 That in answer, warbling praises. 
 Threw a dew of pearls around them, 
 As they dashed along in laughter. 
 Leaping to the pool beneath them, 
 Wliere the varied lilies floating, 
 Lay like roses on the water. 
 
 Stately walks and terraced gardens, 
 Lined with gems of classic sculpture, 
 Rose by steps of polished marble 
 To the brazen portalled palace, 
 That on shafts of purest whiteness. 
 Reared its pillared domes to Heaven. 
 
 Here a poet's aged figure 
 Glowed with old Homeric tire ; 
 Here a Plato bending forward. 
 Teaches wisdom to the i>eople ;
 
 VII. AMARANTIIA. 
 
 Here the glorious Philolaos 
 
 Gives the sacred scroll of freedom 
 
 To the nations kneeling round liiiu. 
 
 But a strain of gentle music 
 Rises from the graceful columns 
 Shading round the hero's palace. 
 
 Now it sinks, but blending sweetly. 
 Hark ! a voice is softly singing 
 Of the deeds of ancient warriors, 
 Of the deeds of old Mmodad. 
 Is it not the same, that flowing 
 Through the moonlit groves of Pera, 
 Poured its harmony at midnight 
 In Gonsalvo's raptured hearing ! 
 Yes it is, and sli>wly swelling. 
 Now again the loftier cadence 
 Sweeps along in hei'o measure. 
 Hark ! it sings of Philolaos, 
 King o'er mighty Amalyrac. 
 Sings his fame, antl how he wai'red. 
 How he compiered great Larissa ; 
 How he won a lovely island, 
 And returning home in glory, 
 Gave it to his Amaranllia. 
 
 Now she praises all the riches. 
 All the beauties of her island. 
 Sings its lields of balm and odours, 
 Sings its many peopled cities ; 
 How her hills and groves of orange, 
 Circled by the billowy ocean. 
 Gaze upon imperial rivers. 
 Here the broad stream of Eurotas 
 Bears along a thousand vessels ; 
 Hear Larissa, sweeping downwards, 
 Spreads the azure of its waters.
 
 84 AMARANTHA. VII. 
 
 Now lier bolder theme is telling 
 Of the triumphs of her kinsman — 
 Of the famed Epiromenes. 
 How he led her father's armies 
 All along the wide Orontes ; 
 How he bid the waves of Empire 
 Dash upon Sorardo's mountains ; 
 How he staid the whelming waters 
 Of the flood of conquering Xiloc, 
 And set bounds unto the raging 
 Of Alloria's iron tempests. 
 
 Trembling chords in solemn measure, 
 Mourn the death of her great father, 
 Mourn the sorrows of her kingdom, 
 Neath the rule of Leonarchon. 
 Tell how all in vain tlie people, 
 Sti'uggling with the jjroud usurper, 
 Called aloud for Amarantha. 
 Fruitless strife, the cruel monarch 
 Bore her, with her royal mother. 
 Far away amidst the forests, 
 Shadowing o'er Phoceia's valleys. 
 Yet at length, his heart relenting. 
 Placed the crown of Epidaurus, 
 On the brows that rightly bore it — 
 On the queen of Philolaos. 
 
 Hark ! the voice in sinking cadence. 
 Fondly praises Epidaurus ; 
 Sings its marble mansions shining 
 Round the lake's transparent azure ; 
 Sings her balmy blooming valleys, 
 Circled by luxuriant summits ; 
 Sings the white walls of her cities, 
 Peopled by a happy nation. 
 Till the soul-deliuhtiucr music
 
 Vn. AMARANTEA. 85 
 
 Died away in melting distance, 
 And a peace inspiring stillness 
 Spread its mantle o'er the garden. 
 
 From a hall of classic beauty, 
 Whose bright portico of columns 
 Seemed to frame the lovely landscape 
 In its shafts of twisted silver, 
 Rose that harmony of sweetness. 
 
 In the centre, amber pillars 
 Bore on high a dome of marble, 
 Shimmering o'er with brighter spangles 
 Than thy gorgeous roofs, Alhamar ! 
 Reared beside the waves of Darro ; 
 Neath its shade a sparkling fountain, 
 Glowing with the varied sunbeams, 
 Shed delicious coolness round it — 
 Waking ecstasy of fragrance 
 From, the flowers that blushed beneath it. 
 
 On the walls, twixt high pilasters, 
 Shone the works of mighty masters, 
 'Gainst whose shades of darker painting 
 Glittered forms of purest whiteness. 
 
 Bending forward, pouring sweetness 
 From the deep tones of her lyre ; 
 In the bloom of youthful beauty 
 Sat the favorite of the nation, — 
 Sat the Princess Amarantha. 
 Gaily flew her fairy fingers. 
 Dancing lightly through its mazes, 
 And the diamonds of her bracelets 
 Sparkled in the light of evening. 
 
 O'er her neck, in flowing richness, 
 Rolled her light luxuriant tresses, —
 
 Se AMARANTHA. VII. 
 
 Boiind with many a costly jewel, 
 That around her bright tiara. 
 Shone like stars amid the moonlight. 
 Round her form of matchless beauty 
 Fell the folds of snowy network, — 
 Fell the robes of silken tissue, 
 Broidered in the looms of Pera. 
 Round her waist a golden girdle 
 Clasped it closer to her bosom, 
 Where the dove, with emerald pinions, 
 Nestled midst the gleaming brilliants. 
 
 But she bids the IjTe no longer 
 Pour around the tones of music ; 
 And she turns her eyes of azure. 
 Radiant with celestial brightness, 
 To the couch where love inspired, 
 Rests the ruler of Islanda. 
 
 He has cast his deeds of glory 
 At the feet of Amarantha, 
 And now wrapt in mournfvil musing, 
 Gazes fondly on his loved one. 
 Gently soothing, tlms the Princess 
 Spake unto the lordly hero : 
 "I have told thee all the honors 
 " That my Father gained in battle ; 
 "I have told thee how my kinsman 
 ^ " Spread the precincts of the Empire ; 
 "And have sung my varied fortunes — 
 "Clouds of wrong ilhimed with blessings. 
 " Now Alonzo, thou must tell me 
 "More of thy unwearied strivings 
 " In the paths decreed by Heaven : — 
 " Stormy paths, with mists enshrouded, 
 " Leading by the coasts of sorrow ; 
 " Leading from the homes of sunshine ;
 
 VII. A3IARANTnA. 87' 
 
 "Parting thee from Elcorada. 
 "Ah ! I fear still darker trovibles 
 "Now are rising, soon to whelm thee 
 * ' Deeper in their gathering tempests. 
 ' ' For alas ! the day is hastening, 
 "Destined for the fatal combat. 
 "But we must not let our sorrow 
 "Blight the few remaining hours ; 
 "Must not let these dark forebodings 
 " Shade the summer of our blessings. 
 ' ' Tell me then, my loved Alonzo — 
 " Tell me of thy deeds of glory ! " 
 
 Then the mighty chieftain answered : 
 
 " Few, O ! lovely Amarantha, 
 
 "Few have been my deeds of glory 
 
 "When compared with tlie greatness 
 
 " Of the acts of Philolaos. 
 
 "Little worth that thou shouldst hear them, 
 
 " Daughter of a race of heroes, 
 
 "Yet if it will give thee solace, 
 
 "Listen to Alonzo's story."
 
 
 VUJ. 
 XILOC. 
 
 
 
 Alonzo relates his Departure from Zorayda 
 and Landing at Cruzatlan. — The Strangers 
 are loelcomed, by the Inhabitants. — At their 
 Intercession they lead them to encounter 
 the invading Armies of Xiloc. — They are 
 victorious, but are attacked in the Defiles 
 of Dahco; yet her People being repelled, 
 and hearing that they were striving for 
 Freedom, join them in the March on Xiloc, 
 tvhich falls before them. — The Land of 
 Wonders. — The Embassy from Ardoc, and 
 Expedition in her aid. 
 
 
 

 
 X I L C. 
 
 ' ' There are solemn times of parting, 
 ' ' Wlien the soul is sad and weary ; 
 * ' Wlien the pathway of our being 
 " Leads us over desert mountains, 
 ' ' When the works of the Eternal, 
 "Radiant in their perfect beauty, 
 "Cease to cheer the way-worn spirit. 
 "Such a season, Amarantha, 
 "Was our farewell to Zorayda. 
 ' ' For the Power whose greater wisdom 
 "Guides the destiny of mortals, 
 ' ' Raised within the Northern Monarch, 
 "Ever yearning thirst for conquest; 
 " Dooming the devoted city. 
 "And although the sons of freedom, 
 "Gathering from the far-off nations, 
 "Twice regained the fallen fortress; 
 "Yet the wise decrees of Heaven 
 "Could not thus by man be altered; 
 " And the remnant of her heroes, 
 "Borne by a mysterious impulse 
 "O'er the waves of shipless oceans, 
 " Left for aye the land beloved, 
 " Left the shores of Elcorada. 
 
 "As the verdiire crowndd Islands 
 "Faded in the growing distance, 
 " Deep emotion filled our bosoms.
 
 92. 
 
 XILOC. 
 
 vm. 
 
 ' Ilai-dy veterans bronzed with warfare 
 
 ' Shed the bitter tear of sadness, 
 
 ' And the lips of youthful warriors 
 
 ' Trembled with the strength of sorrow ; 
 
 ' While the Lion flag unconscious, 
 
 'Danced above the helmed mourners. 
 
 ' Many days of winds and tempests 
 
 ' Swei^t us o'er the stormy ocean ; 
 
 ' Many nights enveiled in dai'kness 
 
 ' Hid the beams of bright Canopus ; 
 
 ' Yet at length the fair Aurora, 
 
 ' Smiling on unclouded Heavens, 
 
 ' Showed • afar along the horizon, 
 
 ' Hills and valleys, towns and cities, 
 
 ' Gleaming in the mist of morning. 
 
 ' Then we saw the beamy brethren 
 
 ' Shining on our swelling canvas ; 
 
 ' Saw their starry radiance glitter 
 
 ' In the faintness of the twilight ; 
 
 ' And our hopes again arising, 
 
 ' Hailed the ascending sun of gladness. 
 
 ' Now we thread the verdant labyrinth 
 
 ' Of the purple-tinted islands ; 
 
 ' Now we glide along the bosom 
 
 ' Of a grove-encircled inlet : 
 
 ' All behind our lengthened furrow, 
 
 ' Glowed beneath the clear-rayed morning, 
 
 ' Till the bay, retiring southward, 
 
 ' Showed a bulwarked city, seated 
 
 ' With its ancient piles and temples, 
 
 ' On the green banks of a river. 
 
 ' Pressing downwards to the haven, 
 
 ' Ran in crowds the astonished people, 
 
 ' Wondering at our towering vessels, 
 
 ' Trembling at their voice of thunder. 
 
 ' Till their princely chief approaching,
 
 VIIT. XILOO. 93 
 
 "Borne on higli midst -waving feathers, 
 " Bade iis welcome to his city, — 
 ' ' Regal city of Cnizatlan. 
 
 "In the spacious builded fortim, — 
 
 "Watcliing all her gloomy gateways, 
 
 "Stood a temple, graven over, 
 
 ' ' lludely carved with ancient symbols, 
 
 " Scattered in their thick confusion 
 
 " O'er its rouglily fashioned pillars. 
 
 " Here her stranger-greeting princes, 
 
 " B:ide us rest and taste their bounty: 
 
 "Here they told us of the greatness 
 
 "Of the imperial throne of Xiloc ; 
 
 "Told us how her yoke of bondage 
 
 "Bowed the necks of vanquished nations; 
 
 "Told us how her victor armies 
 
 "Marched in pride to break their power; 
 
 "And implored us if we ever 
 
 "Loved the priceless gift of freedom, 
 
 "To protect them with our thunder. 
 
 "Then we knew the hand of Heaven, 
 
 "' Gaiding o'er the patliless oceans, 
 
 " Brought Zorayda's outcast warriors 
 
 "To the aid of fair Cruzatlan ; 
 
 "And I led their plumed heroes 
 
 "To contend with Xiloc's armies. 
 
 "Vainly did the imperial chieftains 
 
 "Spread their forces through the valley, — 
 
 "Standing iu unequal order, 
 
 "Gleaming in barbaric richness: 
 
 "For a gloomy fear controlled them 
 
 " When they saw the arm^d strangers 
 
 "Masters of tlie bolts of thunder; 
 
 " When they thought th3 forkdd lightning 
 
 ' ' Winged it3 courses at our pleasure :
 
 94- 
 
 XILOC. VIII. 
 
 " And their yielding legions scattered, 
 "Flying from the dreaded combat, 
 "Left their camp, and all its treasure, 
 " Trophies of our easy triumph. 
 
 "But far other was the combat, 
 
 "And far greater was the slaughter 
 
 " When the sons of high Dahcotan 
 
 " Met us in their rocky valleys ; 
 
 "When the consuls of her people 
 
 " Sought to stay Cruzatlan's ardour. 
 
 " Long and doubtful was the struggle, 
 
 " Long it lasted — till the evening ; 
 
 " Lopg the gallant Amphilonin 
 
 "Lad the hosts of the Republic. 
 
 "But at length proj^itious fortune 
 
 "Bore him backwards, slow retiring; 
 
 "And tlieir troops in sullen order, 
 
 "Sighing left the field of battle. 
 
 "Yet no thirsty rage for vengeance 
 
 "Glowed within their manly bosoms ; 
 
 " And when they had heard how freedom 
 
 "Was the guerdon that we fought for — 
 
 " When they heard how we were warring 
 
 " To avenge the wrongs of nations, 
 
 "Filled with joy, the generous people 
 
 "Nobly pledged enduring friendship, 
 
 "And the lions of Zorayda, 
 
 " Floating with Dahcotan's dragon — 
 
 "With the eagle of Cruzatlan ; 
 
 " Led the three united armies— 
 
 "Led the forces of Islanda 
 
 "To the regions of Xilocan. 
 
 "Glorious was indeed the prospect 
 "Of her wide extended champaign.
 
 VIII. XILOC. 93 
 
 "As our armies gained the summit 
 
 "Of the high impending mountains, 
 
 "Verdant groves, and fruitful orchards, 
 
 "Peopled towns, and quiet hamlets 
 
 " Spread their varied chai'ms beneath us. 
 
 "Gently sloping hills arising, 
 
 " Bore the waving gifts of Ceres ; 
 
 " Countless rills of gleaming brightness, 
 
 '•'Gliding on in streams of silver, 
 
 " Wound meandering thro' the valleys 
 
 "To the broad flood of a river, 
 
 "On whose banks the fleeting sunbeams 
 
 " Showed at times the dazzling Avhiteness 
 
 "Of her lofty towered cities. 
 
 "Far away upon the horizon, 
 
 "Dim amid the veil of sunlight, 
 
 "Rose the propyloean temples 
 
 "Of the great imx^orial Xiloc ; 
 
 "Rose her pyramids of vastness, 
 
 "Swelling o'er the fertile champaign, 
 
 " Like the rich embronzsd carving 
 
 "Wrought upon the emblazoned centro 
 
 " Of the sevenfold shield of heroes ; 
 
 "While behind, enrobed in distance, 
 
 "Traced in faint etherial outline 
 
 " Glowed the forms of shadowy mountains. 
 
 "Such the land whose fairy regions 
 
 "Groaned beneath the yoke of bondage; 
 
 "Such the land whose abject princes 
 
 "Bowed before the throne of Xiloc. 
 
 "Tremblingly her priestly monarch 
 "Sought the shade of halls prox)het.ic, 
 "When the messenger of evil 
 "Told him of retreating armies, 
 "Told him how mysterious strangers.
 
 ge XILOC. VIII. 
 
 "Armed with thunder bolts of terror, 
 
 ' ' Led the legions of Cruzatlan. 
 
 " Yet a smile of exviltation 
 
 " Passed across his royal features, 
 
 " Wiien he heard how we had rashly 
 
 "Dared the defiles of Dahcotan. 
 
 " For he knew the hardy warriors 
 
 "Fostered in her mountain bosom, 
 
 "Well could guard their cherished valleys 
 
 " With the patriot sword of freedom. 
 
 "But when he beheld our ensigns 
 
 "Lowering o'er her rocky barriers, 
 
 "Threatening soon to stand triumphant 
 
 "Oil the ruins of his kingdom: 
 
 " Then a boding fear o'ercame him, 
 
 " And he sought by deep devices 
 
 " To inveigle us in the meshes 
 
 " Of his treacherous woven cunning ; 
 
 "For he dared not brave our forces 
 
 "In the manly field of battle. 
 
 "As we marched along the valley, 
 ' ' As we toiled amid the forest, 
 "All around was solemn stillness, 
 "All seemed lonely and deserted; 
 "Save when, now at times, the outposts, 
 "Sounding forth the notes of warning, 
 " Told of pinnies and polished armour 
 " Glancing mid the darkened foliage. 
 " Warily vvc moved in order, 
 "All distrustful of the welcome, — 
 " Seeming welcome of the monarch, 
 "As he sent his noblest iirinces, 
 "Bearing tokens of his friendship. 
 ' ' For Dahcotan 's heroes told us
 
 VIII. XILOC. 0'/ 
 
 "How the treachery of Xiloc 
 "Had become a daily proverb, 
 
 "All at once the silent forest 
 " Started with a myriad lances ; 
 "All at once the whooping war-cry, 
 "Clash of arms ai'osc aronnd ns ; 
 "But the veterans of Islanda— 
 " Lightning darting, smoke enwreathdd, 
 "Stood in lion-hearted valour; 
 " And their panic-stricken army, 
 "Slunk again beneatli the shadow 
 " Of the lofty waving woodlands, 
 
 " But the story of our marches 
 "Through the wide extended champaign, 
 "Of our sieges and our battles, 
 " Of the treachery of the foemen, 
 "Would exhaust the closing evening 
 " With the long and Avearying sameness 
 " Of their talc of blood and slaughter. 
 " How Kuzal and great Chobalca 
 "Fell before our battering cannon; 
 "How Tesludo's sacred temples 
 "Saw their forms in reddening grandeur 
 " Painted on the crimsoned water, 
 "How at length our gathering nations 
 " Dared the last, and direful struggle, 
 "On the perfume breathing meadows 
 " Circling round the lake of Xiloc. 
 "How our days of toil were ended, 
 " And the gladdening sun arising, 
 "Hailed Islanda's gorgeous banner, 
 "Floating o'er the imperial city. 
 "Saw Xilocan's flying standard 
 ' ' Fluttering neath the desert shadow
 
 9S 
 
 XILOC. VIII. 
 
 " Of that vast and lonely mountain, 
 
 "'Father of the flaming terrors' — 
 
 ''Spreading floods of scorching fires 
 
 "O'er the plains of ancient Mesha, 
 
 " O'er the fields of Hazarmaveth. 
 
 "Then upon the wavy bosom 
 
 "Of the ever-swelling ocean, 
 
 "Rose a fleet of stately vessels, 
 
 "Guardians of our rising commerce. 
 
 "Huge and dark they reared their bulwarks 
 
 "High above Cruzatlan's harbour; 
 
 "Greater far than e'en the greatest 
 
 " Of tlae ships of Amalyrac. 
 
 "Swift they move upon the Avater, 
 
 "Fearless of the stormy breakers ; 
 
 "Clouds of mist Jiang o'er their canvas, 
 
 " Roariag furnaces within them, 
 
 "Bid the mighty iron fabric 
 
 ' ' INIove the twisted Aving behind her ; 
 
 "Ranged around the darkling cannon, 
 
 "Frowning, wait the hour of combat; 
 
 " While above, the mystic needle 
 
 "Ever pointing to the northward, 
 
 "Guides them o'er the pathless billows, 
 
 "Careless of the veil of tempests 
 
 " Shadowing o'er the vault of Heaven." 
 
 Then the lovely Amarantha 
 Thus addressed Islanda's ruler : 
 "Unto you indeed is given 
 "Wisdom from the founts of Heaven 
 "Unto you is poured out knowledge 
 " From the everlasting sources ; 
 "Who can wonder that the nations 
 "Tremble as they hear your power; 
 "Who can wonder that their tyrants
 
 VIII. XILOC. 90 
 
 '* Flee before your mighty standard, 
 " When the elements in homage 
 "Seem to hail you as their monarchs." 
 
 Then the great Alonzo answered : 
 
 " Amarantha ! I could tell thee 
 
 " Other works of greater wonder, — 
 
 " Other more mysterious powers. 
 
 "How the cloud-compelling coiirsers, 
 
 "Pouring fire from their nostrils, 
 
 " Rolling on the wheels of swiftness, 
 
 " Bjar Tipon their path of iron 
 
 "King? and Princes, paers and peoples;' 
 
 * ' Darting now through rocky mountains, 
 
 "Soaring high o'er teeming valleys. 
 
 " How the magic lines of metal, 
 
 " Stretching over realms and kingdoms, 
 
 "Plunging under raging oceans^ 
 
 "Bdar upon the wings of lightning 
 
 "News of battle, hidden secrets, 
 
 " Tales of woe and words of wisdom : 
 
 "And a moment only, severs 
 
 " Nations, peoples, distant regions 
 
 "Parted by the wastes of waters. 
 
 "How the giant iron workman, 
 
 "Toiling with unwearied labour, 
 
 "Ever lifts his arm of power; 
 
 "Whirling round unnumbered spindles, 
 
 "Crushing adamantine forces; 
 
 " Or with lightly Aveaving fingers 
 
 "Gently twining finest fabrics. 
 
 "I could tell of dreary deserts 
 
 " Spreading far their sandy regions ; 
 
 "I could tell of peopled cities 
 
 " B )a3ting of unequalled power; 
 
 "Toll of ever verdant valleys
 
 ■too XILOC. VIII. 
 
 " Sung by their adoring poets 
 "As the fairest gifts of Heaven. 
 "But no land upon our planet 
 " Shines with such ecstatic beauty ; 
 " No bright city rears its towers 
 "With such grand and royal splendour; 
 "No such people dwell upon it, 
 "Blessed so highly by the Immortals, 
 "As recline beneath the shadow 
 "Of the throne of Amalyrac. 
 
 "But I hasten now to tell thee, 
 "How at length my restless fortune 
 " Brought me to your fertile regions ; 
 " Wiiat the cause ordained to lead us, 
 "Thus to come with armed forces 
 " To the precincts of your empire. 
 
 "As our people-chosen Senate 
 " Pondered o'er the gloom of warfare, 
 " Tl)reatsning from the plains of Mesha ; 
 "We were told how lordly heralds, 
 " Warriors from the lands of Sunrise, 
 "Brought a message from their leader. 
 "Rising up, I bade to lead them 
 "To the lofty hall of council. 
 "As they entered, all the assembly 
 "Wondered at their noble bearing; 
 "Wondered at their blazing armour, 
 "Richly chased in gold and silver. 
 "Then the Herald, bending forward, 
 "Paid his reverence to the rulers, 
 " And with stately presence speaking, 
 "Thus fulfilled his chieftain's orders;
 
 VIIT. 
 
 XILOC. 
 
 7 or 
 
 "'Princes, Senators, and people 
 
 " ' Of the nations of Islanda ! 
 
 " ' We have heard in distant regions — 
 
 ' ' ' Neath the shade of Ardoc's mountains, 
 
 "'How your generous banners waving, 
 
 "'Free the peoj^le from oppression. 
 
 "'Know that now, that blighting evil 
 
 ' ' ' Hangs o'er our devoted nation ; 
 
 ' ' ' For the dark ambitious tyrant, 
 
 "'Neath whose sway Alloria's valleys 
 
 ' ' ' Weep away their springs of verdure, 
 
 "'Now unfurls his gloomy banner, 
 
 ' ' ' Shedding thraldom's night around us. 
 
 "'Come! we i^ray you, come! and save us, 
 
 " ' Save the last pine of the forest ! 
 
 "'Save tlie last home of the Raven! 
 
 " ' If ye know the bliss of freedom, 
 
 " 'O ! refuse it nut to others ! 
 
 "'But, alas! Ardocan's mountains 
 
 "'Lie fur distant to the Eastward, 
 
 "'And the Empire of the DaysLar 
 
 "'Spreads between its svrelling borders. 
 
 " ' They, too, prize the gift of freedom, 
 
 " ' But they will not succour others. 
 
 ' ' ' Those whose hearts are true and generous 
 
 " ' Care not for the lengthened distance, 
 
 " ' Care not for the toilsome prairies 
 
 "'That divide us from Xilocan ; 
 
 "'AH these lesser hardships vanish, 
 
 "'In the glory of receiving 
 
 " ' Floods of Honour — floods of Blessing 
 
 "'From an ever grateful people.' 
 
 ' ' Such the import of the message 
 
 " Brought by the heraldic envoy, 
 
 "And we knew that Heaven required us
 
 ■foa xiLOc. viir. 
 
 "Tims to offer life and empire 
 
 " 111 the cau^e of hapless Arcloc. 
 
 "Then the trump of war resounded, 
 
 "Rmsing all Islanda's warriors; 
 
 " All the veterans, whom the danger 
 
 "Hovering o'er the state allowed us. 
 
 "Ah! those noble hearts whose ardour 
 
 "Glowed so brightly midst the dangers 
 
 "Of that last,^that direful conflict, 
 
 " When the blood-stained walls of Xiloc 
 
 "Rocked beneath the depth of carnage, — 
 
 "They who sought to stay the madness 
 
 "Of the long enduring nations, 
 
 "As they plundered all her temples; 
 
 " As their long imprisoned vengeance 
 
 "Burst on her devoted people. 
 
 "Now, alas! all coldly lying, 
 
 " Feed the savage wolves and vultures ; 
 
 "Or, perhaps, returning wearied, 
 
 " Sink before the mail-clad armies 
 
 "Of Xilocan's priesbly monarch. 
 
 "Oft my mind in anxious sorrow 
 "Broods upon the brave Gonsalvo ; 
 
 And I wonder if my brother 
 
 Still is numbered with the living ; 
 "Still remains to cheer Islanda 
 "With his realm-protecting wisdom. 
 " But the breadth of endless prairies. 
 
 Spreads its vast extent between us — 
 
 Or a darker — gloomier country 
 
 May have parted us for ever. 
 
 
 (f 
 
 li 
 
 " Thus onveiled in clouds and mourning, 
 " Etids the story of Alonzo : 
 " Yet thy love, my Amarantha,
 
 viir. xiLoc. -jQ-- 
 
 ' ' Sheds a beam of hope across it ; 
 " For the powers, who in misfortune, 
 " Gave so fair a star to guide me, 
 "Surely -will not quench its brightness, 
 "Raising clouds of woe around it; 
 " Surely have not blessed our meeting, 
 "Thus so scon to part for ever."
 
 
 EPIROMENES. 
 
 
 
 Evening. — Epiromenes enters, and hrings 
 the Tidings of the Day decreed for the Chal- 
 lc7igc. — Amarantha offers her Father's Arms 
 to Alonzo, who, advised hy Epiromenes, 
 accepts them for the Day of Conibat. — As 
 they return to the Banquet-hall, a Messenger 
 meets them, bringing evil Tidings from the . 
 Northern Kingdoms. — Epiroraenes repairs 
 to Leonarchon. 
 
 
 

 
 IX. 
 EPIROJ^IENES. 
 
 Thu3 the two, in friendly converse, 
 Wore away the silent evening. 
 Thus they sat and scarcely heeded 
 How the creeping shades of twilight 
 Wrapt the fading world in dai'kness : 
 How the evening star in splendour, 
 Like a comely bride adorne'd, 
 Glided down the path of roses, 
 That the sun had strewn before her. 
 How the moon's etherial crescent 
 Shone serenely o'er the water, 
 Shedding forth a milder influence, 
 In the silver sheen around her. 
 One by one angelic lingers 
 Lit the starry lamps of Heaven; 
 And the ever-beaming planets 
 Trod the measure of their dances ; 
 Till the unruffled lake in silence, 
 Ere it sunk away to slumber, 
 Gernmed its robe of placid crystal 
 With tlie semblance of their brightness. 
 All was clear, save when a cloudlet 
 Fleeted o'er the expanse of Heaven ; 
 Like the dim revealed figure 
 Of some pure celestial s[iirit, 
 Sent, perchance, to cheer the darkness 
 Of the lone departing hour. 
 
 Now the moon, in fuller beauty, 
 Lighted up tlie lovely garden,
 
 ■!08 EPIROMENES. IX. 
 
 Pouring here her gentle radiance, 
 O'er the Lawns and murmuring water ; 
 Casting tliere a depth of shadow 
 From the thick embowering woodlands ; 
 From the temple of whose branches 
 Grateful Philomel arising, 
 Woke the sweet notes of her praises. 
 
 Thus in soul-united musings, 
 Sat the two, nor knew the entrance 
 Of the famed Epiroraenes ; 
 Till the blushing Amarantha, 
 Sudden starting, saw the moonbeams 
 Gleaming on his glittering cuirass. 
 "O! forgive, my royal cousin," 
 Gently thus began the chieftain ; 
 "O! forgive my bold intrusion 
 "On your hours of sacied converse; 
 "O! forgive that I must tell thee 
 "What will fill thy heart with sorrow. 
 "For the messengers returning 
 " From the Oracle of Wisdom, 
 "Bear the fatal answer with them, 
 "That the fiftieth suu arising 
 "Shall behold the mystic combat — 
 " See the stranger-champion striving 
 "With the Elements of Nature." 
 
 Then a deep-drawn sigh of sorrow 
 Rose from Amarantha's bosom ; 
 But she staid the tear that swelling, 
 Glistened 'neath her fringed eyelids, 
 As she answered to her kinsman : 
 "Since inevitable fortiuie 
 " Brings so near the dreaded hour ; 
 " Since the ruthless Leonarchon 
 "Still decrees the direful struggle;
 
 IX. 
 
 EPIROMEXES. 
 
 709 
 
 " Tell me ! O Epiromenes ! 
 "How we best can ward the clanger- 
 * ' Surest shield the great Alonzo 
 "From the too unequal combat." 
 
 But the ruler of Islanda 
 
 Thus addressed the princely leader : 
 
 ' ' Noble chieftain, nought avails me 
 
 " Save a trusty suit of armour ; 
 
 " Give me but a well-tried falchion ; 
 
 "Give me but a soldier's weapons! 
 
 "And I leave the rest to — Fortune — 
 
 "To the power the Heavens shall give 
 
 me. 
 
 Then the thoughtful Amarantha 
 
 Thus returned Alonzo answer : 
 
 " Wherefore should my father's armour 
 
 " Lie all useless and neglected 
 
 " In the tomb whose vaulted marble 
 
 "Guards his dear remaining relics, 
 
 "As at length a chief is given, 
 
 ' ' To defend his kingly honor. 
 
 " When the people see the radiance 
 
 " Of the crown-encircled helmet ; 
 
 " WTien they see the golden corslet 
 
 ' ' That was worn by Philolaos ; 
 
 ' ' When they hail the ruby falchion 
 
 "Round which fortune loved to linger; 
 
 " Then their loyal wrath arousing 
 
 " May perchance forbid the combat. 
 
 "For they loved my noble father — 
 
 "Loved the good king Philolaos." 
 
 Then the great Epiromenes 
 Thus assented to the Princess
 
 710 
 
 EPIROMENE!^. 
 
 IX. 
 
 Know ! Alonzo, he who blazes 
 
 In the arms of Philolaos, 
 
 Stands confest before the people, 
 
 As the champion of his daughter ; 
 
 He who sets the plumed helmet, 
 
 Circled with the high tiara. 
 
 Gleaming on his stately forehead. 
 
 Stands revealed the stern accuser 
 
 Of the mighty Leonarchon ; 
 
 And arraigns the haughty monarch 
 
 As usurper of the kingdom. 
 
 Though at first it seems to gather 
 
 Dangers uselessly around thee ; 
 
 Though it seems to plunge thee deeper 
 
 In the fountain of destruction ; 
 
 Yet the people, when they see thee 
 
 Clad in the imj^erial armour, 
 
 Will remember all the blessings 
 
 Of the reign of Philolaos : 
 
 How the glorious monarch led them 
 
 Gently on the path of freedom ; 
 
 How he strove to stay the slaughter 
 
 On the altar of the Unknown ; 
 
 And their fervent love awakened 
 
 In that hour of hojaeless combat. 
 
 May avail to shield the champion 
 
 Of the injured Amarantha." 
 
 Then the great Alonzo answered ; 
 "What would give me greater glory 
 " Than to be the chosen warrior 
 "Of so famed, so fair a princess 1 
 "What could give me greater solace, 
 "E'en though dying, than to view her 
 "Robed in all the imperial splendour 
 "Of the throne of Amalyrac.
 
 IX. EPIIiOMENES. f!7 
 
 "Tell me, great Ei^iromenes, 
 "Which of all the grand memorials, 
 * ' Gracing yonder solemn island, 
 "Is the tomb whose favoured marble, 
 "Guards the form of Philolaos." 
 
 " Seest thou not," replied the General 
 
 Of the hosts of Amalyrac : 
 
 "Seest thou not yon lofty temple, 
 
 "Neath whose shade the reddening crescent 
 
 " Sinks into the dark horizon : 
 
 "On the morrow, ere the sunrise, 
 
 " Speed across the breadth of water 
 
 * ' To the rock, whose craggy summit 
 
 "Bears sublime its solemn portal. 
 
 "Enter neath the sacred shadow, 
 
 " And with reverence take the armour 
 
 "From the sad fvmereal altar. 
 
 ' ' I will bid its mournful guardians 
 
 "Not to stay thy daring project. 
 
 "O! may victory enwreathe thee 
 
 " With as many crowns of glory 
 
 "As she twined with favoring fingers 
 
 "Round the brows of Philolaos." 
 
 Then the noble three retiring, 
 
 Sought a hall whose dazzling briglitness 
 
 Gleamed from stars of light that glistened 
 
 In the azure of its ceiling — 
 
 Glanced from lamps of varied crystal, 
 
 Tinging with their rainbow radiance 
 
 Circling bas-rclieves and sculptures. 
 
 As they passed beneath the portal, 
 Moving on in haste to meet them, 
 Came a messenger, whose bearing
 
 ^f2 EPIROMENES. IX. 
 
 Told tlie weight of anxious tidings. 
 First he bowed with deepest reverence 
 To the queenly Amarantha ; 
 Now salutes the great Alonzo, 
 Awed by his commanding presence ; 
 And then, turning to his leader, 
 Thus unfolds unlooked for troubles. 
 
 " I have brought thee news of battle ; 
 
 " News of battle and misfortune. 
 
 ' ' All the stately hills of Ardoc 
 
 ' ' Glisten with their hostile lances, 
 
 "And their firmly linked legions, 
 
 " Marching to assail our empire, 
 
 "Even now have passed its borders. 
 
 "Would that this were all the evil 
 
 " That a day of woe has brought U3 ; 
 
 " But the voice of rumour whispers 
 
 "That the King of Amalyrac 
 
 " Has received unwelcome tidings — 
 
 "Tidings which he seeks to cover. 
 
 "For Araxes has departed 
 
 ' ' With a host for far Larissa, 
 
 ' ' And the sturdy Theron hastens 
 
 ' ' To attend him in his marches. 
 
 ' ' For they tell of hostile armies 
 
 "Gathered in the Northern Kingdoms — 
 
 ' ' Of Vielma's lordly city 
 
 "Severed from the bond of Empire; 
 
 "Tell that Leonarchon's standard 
 
 " Waves no more on wealthy Aclan, 
 
 "That mysterious hosts of warriors 
 
 ' ' Sprvmg from ocean's hoary billows 
 
 " Lead the foes of Amalyrac. 
 
 "Such the vague reports reveale'd, 
 
 " Gliding through the maze of distance.
 
 IX. EPIROMEyES. /YJ 
 
 "But the murmuring army wonders 
 "Why the famed Epiromenes, 
 ' ' Leader in a hundred battles, 
 "Guides them not again to triumph." 
 
 Then the General, for a season, 
 Stood enwrapt in thoughtful silence ; 
 Sternly pondering in his spirit 
 All the messenger had told him : 
 Till his Avords to great Alonzo 
 Thus expressed his rising feelings : 
 
 " See my friend the gi'ateful honors 
 
 ' ' That the kings of nations offer — 
 
 " See the boasted crown of laurel 
 
 " That the princely Leonarchon 
 
 "Twines around the victor's temples; 
 
 ' ' No ! I am not even worthy 
 
 " To assist him in misfortune — 
 
 ' ' Am not worthy to defend him, 
 
 ' ' Though I bear the battle for him. 
 
 ' ' Yet, Alonzo, I must leave thee 
 
 ' ' To repair unto the palace ; 
 
 ' ' There perhaps some hidden counsel 
 
 ' ' May approve the sovereign's actions. 
 
 ' ' For I cannot see the dangers 
 
 " Spreading o'er my burdened country ; 
 
 " Cannot see her pressed by foemen, 
 
 " Ravaged by invading armies, 
 
 ' ' And refuse a patriot's power, 
 
 "To allay the rising fux'ies." 
 
 Then they parted ; he in splendour 
 Mounts his brazen beaming chariot, 
 Flashing back the gay refulgence 
 Of the lamps along the roadway. 
 They to seek the cooling fragrance
 
 Tf4 EPIROMENES. IX. 
 
 Of the mello-w fniits of Pera : 
 That in jars and crystal vases 
 Graced the hospitable marble 
 Of the famed Epiromenes.
 
 X, 
 GONS AL VO. 
 
 The retreat of Oonsalvo through the 
 Prairies. — On his return he finds Islanda 
 invaded hy the former Emperor of Xiloc. — 
 Uniting with Amphilonin, he restores Peace 
 to the Country. — He leads an Expedition by 
 Sea against the North of Amalyrac — Descrip- 
 tion of the Voyage. — They arrive at Aclan, 
 which is in a state of Behellion. — The citizens 
 advisedby their Ruler, invite the Strangers to 
 assist them. The Confidence of the People 
 and Prudence of their Princes.
 
 X. 
 GONSALYO 
 
 Mourning spread its sable piniona 
 
 O'er the army of Islanda, 
 
 As it toiled in broken numbers 
 
 Through the far outstretching prairies ; 
 
 As it left the field of battle, 
 
 Wliere their brightest hopes had perished. 
 
 Sad, yet stately, midst his comrades — 
 
 Calmly noble in misfortune, 
 
 Rode the ever brave Gonsalvo — 
 
 Musing o'er Alonzo taken, — 
 
 O'er the sacriHcial slaughter — 
 
 O'er the legend of the Daystar. 
 
 And though all seemed dark and gloomy, 
 Cheering rays of hope illumed him 
 As his ne'er despairing spirit 
 Trusted in a fairer future. 
 Yet at seasons, thoughts of vengeance, 
 Goading on the care-worn ■warrior, 
 Urged him to renew the battle, 
 Urged him to return and perish. 
 Till again arising wisdom. 
 Warning checked his daring rashness : 
 Till again the voice of prudence 
 Bid him seek the realms of Xiloc ; 
 There to heal his shattered forces^ 
 There to gather round his banner 
 All the chivalry of Dahco, 
 All the powers of Cruzatlan.
 
 ■JfS GOl^SALYO. X. 
 
 Long and toilsome was the journey, 
 As the Islesmen slow retreated, 
 As their weary marches led them 
 Through the pathless wastes of silence. 
 Endless plains were spread around them. 
 Endless fields of waving grasses, — 
 Dismal lakes and dreary moorlands, 
 Dark lagoons and swampy fenlands ; 
 Shores from whence the lonely heron, 
 Starting winged its way affrighted. 
 And the changing sky above them 
 Shed its influence o'er their feelings; 
 Now its veil of misty vapours 
 Throws a sad despondence o'er them. 
 Now unwonted awe enshrouds them 
 As they watch the gathering tempest — 
 See its heavy clouds of darkness. 
 Lowering shades of purple blackness. 
 Now the messengers of Heaven 
 Dart upon the forked lightning ; 
 And the voices of the thunders 
 Tell of the approaching whirlwind. 
 Hark ! it comes, and hollow moanings 
 Fill the whole expanse of nature, 
 As the storm enrobed in terror. 
 Sweeps along in gloomy grandeur. 
 Round his head the flashing meteors 
 Circle with their lurid redness. 
 And his dim right hand extended, 
 Pours afar the floods of water ; 
 While the earth in silent homage, 
 Shakes beneath his mighty footsteps. 
 
 Yet at times the glancing sunbeams 
 Shed a cheering radiance o'er them, 
 And a myriad opening flowers. 
 Smiling through their sparkling dewdrops.
 
 X. GOXSALVO. -Jig 
 
 Scented all the air with perfume — 
 Streaming ever fragrant incense 
 From their richly painted altars : 
 Then at once the spacious prairie, 
 Casting off its sombre raiment, 
 Shone in every varied colour : 
 Till it seemed as though an angel, 
 Filled with ecstasy of glory, 
 Had in passing shed the spangles 
 Starred upon his iris pinions 
 O'er the joyous earth beneath him. 
 
 And the cloudless sky above them 
 Seemed to give the mourners courage, 
 As its dome of deepest azure 
 Swelled above the far horizon, 
 And they raised a song of gladness, 
 When at length their wearied legions 
 Saw the mountains of Dahcotan 
 Glowing in the pomp of evening. 
 
 But they scarce had reached Islanda, 
 Ere reports of ill assailed them — 
 Ere they heard how Xiloc's monarch. 
 Rousing from his lair in IMesha, 
 Poured the ravage of his armies 
 O'er Tesludo's palmy valleys — 
 Closing round the sacred city. 
 Once the bulwark of his power. 
 
 When Gonsalvo heard the tidings. 
 Sorrow filled his mighty spirit, 
 For he knew how spent the prowess 
 Of his long enduring army. 
 But he hastened on to Dahco, 
 Where the gallant Ampliilonin, 
 Spreading wide the warlike summons.
 
 120 
 
 GONSALVO. 
 
 Gathered in lier rocky valleys 
 All the nations of Islanda. 
 
 Hope-inspired, that noble hero 
 Heard of their returning legions, 
 Though he deemed their shortened absence 
 Boded of unknown disaster. 
 And although when he beheld them, 
 When in vain he sought Alonzo, 
 Grief was graven on his features, 
 Yet the presence of Gonsalvo 
 Raised again his drooping spirits, 
 For he knew that he was able 
 To defend the realms of Freedom. 
 
 Then the two in thoughtful council. 
 Pondered o'er the Empire's dangers ; 
 Planned their prudence guided tactics, 
 Ranged the order of their marches ; 
 And again the black Arabia 
 Proudly bore his noble master, 
 As he led the chosen warriors 
 To relieve the leagured city. 
 
 Then the ancient towers of Xiloc 
 Watche:! the dreai decisive combat ; 
 Saw the waves of war and bloodshed 
 Rage tempestuous till the sunset — 
 Saw the tyrant of Xilocan 
 Fall amidst his yielding forces, 
 And beheld his routed army 
 Flying, scattered o'er the champaign ; 
 Till from all that mighty city 
 Rose the sounds of joy triumphant ; 
 Till she oped her festal portals 
 To receive the great Gonsalvo ; 
 And she wreathed her crown of laurels 
 Round the brows of Amphilonin.
 
 X. GOXSALVO. -{21 
 
 Thus at length, Gonsalvo, victor, 
 Drank the full delights of glory. 
 Yet again his noble sj^irit 
 Urged him to the path of danger. 
 For a strong — a deep affection, 
 Bound him to the great Alonzo. 
 
 Gentle peace, the joy of Heaven, 
 Spread her blessings o'er the kingdoms, 
 And the threatening clouds of Tvarfare 
 Fled before her angel presence, 
 'Ere the General called his armies 
 To unfold his dauntless project — 
 Told them how the loved Alonzo, 
 In a foreign land had perished, 
 And desired their generous ardour 
 To avenge the honored hero. 
 
 At the name of great Alonzo, 
 All the veteran army shouted ; 
 All the legions pressing forward, 
 Tlironged to join Gonsalvo's forces — 
 Prayed that he again would lead them 
 To the gates of Amalyrac. 
 
 For the people of Islanda 
 Loved the memory of Alonzo ; 
 And their ever grateful feelings 
 Mourned the loss of their Dictator : 
 And it proved their noble valour, 
 For they knew the certain danger — 
 Knew liow weak their daring legions 
 When compared with Amalyrac. 
 But they ne'er could be unmindful, 
 Ne'er forget the debt of freedom 
 That they owed to great Alonzo, 
 Ne'er forget their dauntless leader 
 Who had given his life to save them.
 
 ■J22 GO^SALVO. 
 
 All along Cnizatlan's river 
 Shone the brave sons of Islanda ; 
 Shone the warriors of Xilocan, 
 Eager to avenge his slaiighter. 
 For Azotan's neighbouring princes, 
 Ever friendly to the Islesmen, 
 Told them how they saw Eurotas, 
 Girt with cities join the ocean 
 'Neath the rays of Eastern Heavens. 
 First the lordly Amphilonin 
 Leads to war the proud Dahcotans, 
 Leads across Azotan's passes, 
 Serried thousands of his people. 
 
 Then Gonsalvo bids the seanian 
 Of the city man her navy. 
 Bids the heroes of Zorayda — 
 All the remnants of his comrades — 
 Bids the gallant troops of Xiloc 
 Climb the lofty vessel's bulwarks. 
 
 Many a mournful tear of parting 
 Dewed the passage to the roadstead ; 
 Many a noble warrior bending. 
 Bade farewell to his beloved one ; 
 Many a gentle eye with sorrow 
 Watched the swift departing vessels, 
 As the winds in favoring courses 
 Swell the white folds of their canvas. 
 As they gaily bore the pennons. 
 Blazoned with the dark blue lions. 
 
 Yet the daughters of the Empire, 
 Though they felt the pang of parting. 
 Though they knew how dim the future, 
 Hung around the bold adventurers. 
 Still desired not to restrain them. 
 For the sake of all the blessings 
 That they owed to the Dictator.
 
 GOXSALVO. 723 
 
 Now the clouds of smoke arising, 
 Tell of the awakened engines, 
 And the fleet in rapid progress 
 Gains the darkly surging ocean ; 
 For Gonsalvo sought the regions 
 Where the full floods of Eurotas 
 Dash their ocean mingled billows 
 On the isle of Amarantha. 
 
 All that day the broken summits 
 Of Azotan's rugged mountains 
 Rose above the plains of purple ; 
 But the heavy shrouded morrow 
 Hid the prospect with its shadow ; 
 Till the clear-domed night arising 
 Showed again the starry Heaven ; 
 Till the silver robed moonlight 
 Tinged the hills along the sea coast. 
 Then the brightly gleaming lustre, 
 Thrown from lamps and beacon towers, 
 Or the grand revealed outline 
 Of embattled castle summits, 
 Told them how their fleet was gliding 
 Past unknown and peopled cities ; 
 Then the darkly frowning headlands. 
 Circled with the foam of breakers. 
 Warned them of the rocky dangers, 
 With their flaming crown of signals. 
 
 Then at times the sparkling moonbeams 
 Glittered over spacious heavens, 
 Glittered o'er the white saile'd vessels. 
 O'er the silent marts of commerce ! 
 Till at length the silver crescent 
 Sunk beneath the blackening ocean ; 
 And the veil of growing darkness 
 Hid tlie fading prospect from them. 
 
 For the calm diflusing radiance
 
 f^4 GONSALVO. 
 
 Of the smiling constellations 
 
 Could not pierce the gloomy distance 
 
 With its faintly gleaming brightness. 
 
 Thus the Islesman fleet swept onward, 
 Swept along until the twilight 
 Brightened up the sleeping landscape ; 
 Swept along until the morning 
 Rose behind the gentle beauties 
 Of the hills of Amarantha. 
 
 Till it spread certilean splendour 
 O'er the waves of great Eurotas ; 
 Till it wrapt the towers of Aclan 
 In its golden rays of glory. 
 
 High above the ocean borders 
 Rose her diadem of temples, 
 Gleaming o'er the waves of azure 
 That attuned their billowy music 
 All around her quays of granite, — 
 Round her myriad masts of commerce, 
 Laden with the wealth of nations. 
 Lofty domes of swelling grandeur, 
 Marble fanes of spiry splendour, 
 Glowed against the roseate purple 
 Of luxuriant hills behind them. 
 
 Mighty causeways, mighty archways, 
 Guardians of her crowding vessels, 
 Bound a sea-encircled mountain 
 To the city's orient bulwarks. 
 Far along the bending sea shore, 
 Far along her bay of beauty 
 Shone her lengthened streets of columns. 
 Shone the mansions of her merchants — 
 All her halls and marts of commerce : 
 Till again the waves retiring, 
 Bowed before the lofty headlands,
 
 OON SALVO. 725 
 
 Wliere the gilded roofs and turrets 
 
 Of the fair imperial palace, 
 
 Rose amidst its odorous woodlands. 
 
 But the myi'iads of her people 
 Thronged the squares and spacious forum, 
 And the clash of arms resounded 
 From her tower-encircled precincts : 
 For the sons of wealthy Aclan 
 Could no longer bow in slavery ; 
 Would no longer yield the tribute 
 Called for by the grasping monarch. 
 
 All in vain her merchant nobles 
 Oft besought then* haughty sovereign — 
 Prayed him to annul the mandate ; 
 All in vain her lordly princes 
 Poured the strain of stern remonstrance, 
 For the unrelenting tyrant, 
 Blinded by his vast ambition. 
 Scorned to hear the voice of reason. 
 Till at length her stately ruler 
 Raised the standard of rebellion. 
 And the brightest, noblest jewel 
 Of the realms of Amalyi'ac, 
 Shone the first of all the glories 
 Of the crown of Amarantha. 
 For the people, ever loyal 
 To the house of Philolaos, 
 Scarce had torn the eagle banner 
 From the castellated ramparts ; 
 Ere the dove's emblazoned pinions 
 Soared amidst the starry Heaven, 
 Hailed by their exulting thousands. 
 
 Who can tell the mingled feelings 
 Of the sons of wealthy Aclan,
 
 ■[26 GONSALVO. 
 
 When the rays of morn arising, 
 Beamed upon Gonsalvo's squadron ; 
 Shewed them one by one in silence 
 Round the castle-crowned island, 
 Towering high above the vessels, 
 Floating on the broad Eurotas. 
 But their wonder still increased, 
 As the giant forms approaching. 
 Moved without the aid of canvas ; 
 As they saw the clouds of vai)our 
 Stretch their lines across the water, 
 And a thrilling sense of terror 
 Ran through all her trembling people, 
 Wlien the loud salutiiig cannon 
 Poured their thunders o'er the Haven ; 
 Wlien the hills of Amarantha 
 Echoed back the voice of power. 
 
 Btit the iTiler of the city 
 
 Saw the standard of Islanda 
 
 Floating high upon the breezes, 
 
 And at once his prudent counsel 
 
 Gave new courage to the j)eople : 
 
 * ' Dauntless sons of wealthy Aclan ! 
 
 ' ' Fear not all these moving monsters ; 
 
 " Fear not for the dreadful thunder 
 
 "Rolling o'er the subject ocean. 
 
 ' ' For I see the Lion banner 
 
 * ' Of Islanda's free-born nations — 
 
 "Of those great heroic warriors 
 
 "Who endured the depth of danger 
 
 ' ' In the cause of hapless Ai-doc ; 
 
 "Whom the children of the Daystar 
 
 "Led across the endless prairies; 
 
 "Who at length were scarcely vanquished 
 
 ' ' In that aye remembered combat ;
 
 X. GONSALYO. f 27 
 
 " When our bravest kings and princes, 
 
 "Fiercely struggling drove them backward. 
 
 * ' Doubtless now their gathering forces 
 
 * ' Come to shed the floods of vengeance 
 
 "O'er the kingdoms of the Empire — 
 
 "Come at length with clouds and thunder, 
 
 * ' To fulfil the words revealed. 
 
 * ' For the off'spring of the Daystar, 
 
 "All unharmed amidst his foemen, — 
 
 "Safe amidst svirrounding dangers, 
 
 " Still awaits the destined hour, 
 
 " Wlien tlie crown of Amalyrac, 
 
 " Shall again in dazzling lustre, 
 
 "Blaze upon its rightful owner. 
 
 "Let us haste and humbly bending, 
 
 ' ' Seek to turn away their anger : 
 
 " Let us tell them how our city 
 
 "Hates the tyrant Leonarchon, 
 
 ' ' And implore them to protect lis 
 
 "As we struggle for our freedom." 
 
 Scarce the prudent chief had ended, 
 Ere the shouts of approbation 
 Rose from all the crowding people, 
 Ringing from her answering towers. 
 Nearer still, and still ax^proaching, 
 Bearing down upon the haven. 
 Like inevitable fortune 
 Comes the dark Zoraydan squadron. 
 High iipon the foremost vessel. 
 Tali among Islanda's leaders 
 Stood Gonsalvo, sheathed in armour. 
 Vainly seeking to conjecture 
 What the reason of tlie shouting, — 
 What the cause that led the iDeople,
 
 ■J28 GONSALVO. 
 
 Thus to hail tlieir warlike presence 
 With the voice of exultation. 
 
 But a noiseless calm succeeded, 
 As a gaily awned galiot, 
 Urged along by fifty oarsmen — 
 Floating 'neath the flag of Friendship, 
 Left the stately stairs of landing. 
 Now it threads the crowded shipping. 
 Now it glides across the harbour ; 
 Now it darts with arrowy swiftness. 
 Through the entrance of the haven. 
 Till the gilded prow reposes 
 'Neath the war-ship of Gonsalvo. 
 
 Now they give the sign of parley, 
 And the ruler of the city, 
 Rising up with all her princes, 
 Tells of the revolted city — 
 Tells the deeds of Leonarchon — 
 How her wrath arotisdd warriors 
 Warred against the tyrant monarch ; 
 How they raised the starry standard 
 Of the child of Philolaos. 
 And conjured them by the Daystar — 
 By the power the Gods had given them. 
 To defend the injured Princess 
 With their dread inspiring thunder. 
 
 Joyfully the Islesman leaders, 
 Listened to the chief of Aclan ; 
 Joyfully they formed alliance 
 With the great revolted city ; 
 Joyfully they raised the banner 
 Of the "Empress Amarantha." 
 Not indeed, because the Princess 
 Was the child of Philolaos ; 
 For as yet they knew but little 
 Of the favorite of the nation ;
 
 GONSALVO, 129 
 
 But because it gave tliem power 
 
 To avenge Alonzo's slaughter. 
 
 Then the fleet of fair Cruzatlan, 
 
 Moving on again in grandeur 
 
 'Neath the unresisting castle, 
 
 Bore the blue imxjerial ensign, 
 
 As it passed midst showers of blessings 
 
 By the lofty beacon towers. 
 
 Reared upon the piers of granite. 
 
 O ! what shouts of acclamation 
 
 Mingled still with awe and wonder, 
 
 Pealed along the streets of Aclan, 
 
 As the crowding people gazdd 
 
 On the lofty bulwark'd vessels : 
 
 As they watched the sons of Island 
 
 Landing on her quays and causeways — 
 
 As they saw their spacious Forum 
 
 Gleam with thunder armdd warriors, — 
 
 Saw amazed chivalric horsemen, 
 
 Proudly check their prancing chargers ; 
 
 As they heard the heavy cannon 
 
 Rumbling o'er the stony roadway. 
 
 Yet they felt a silent reverence. 
 
 As Gonsalvo passed before them, 
 
 Reining in the black Arabia — 
 
 As they saw the noble hero 
 
 Moving slow with thoughtful bearing 
 
 Mid the leaders of Islanda. 
 
 Yes it was a glorious morning 
 For the sons of towery Aclan, 
 When the mighty sons of thunder 
 Laid their power in the balance ; 
 And the triumph reeling city 
 Filled with confidence and boasting — 
 All forgetful of the dangers
 
 ■J30 GONSALVO. 
 
 Brotiglit upon tliem by rebellion, 
 Thought the victory half accomi^lished 
 Ere the struggle had been entered ; 
 Thought to place the crown of ages 
 On the lovely Amarantha, 
 Ere their warriors had encountered 
 All the horrors of the combat. 
 
 But the princes of the city 
 Saw the great impending labour ; 
 Knew the strife that lay before them, 
 And retired in earnest council 
 With the heroes of Islanda. 
 Then they prudent formed the project 
 Of assailing strong Vielma ; 
 For it stood a tlii-eatening barrier 
 In the path of Amphilonin. 
 Then it was that joyful tidings 
 Reached the hearing of Gonsalvo ; 
 When they told him how Alonzo 
 Still was numbered with the living — 
 When they told how Amarantha 
 Was the flower of grace and beauty ; 
 Told him of the gentle whisper 
 Of her love for the Dictator. 
 
 Then a fair and hopeful future 
 Seemed again to spread before him ; 
 And the beaming goal though distant, 
 Nerved him for the coming conflict. 
 And he waited with impatience 
 For the long desired moment, 
 When his Heaven afllicted brother, 
 Freed at length from cares and danger. 
 Should again, enwreathed with lavirels 
 Lead the nations of Islanda 
 On a higher path of • glory.
 
 
 ISLE OF DEAT H. 
 
 
 
 Boatmen siiiging, row Alonzo'to the Isle of 
 Tombs to dbtouin the Arms of Philolaos. — He 
 is awakened from his Musings hy the arrival 
 of the Boat at the Island. — Description of the 
 Tombs ; Almodad's ISepulchre.—He enters 
 the Teiwpleinwhich the Remains of Philolaos 
 rest. — The Funereal Vault and Arms of the 
 Monarch.— Fhlegathrcm.— The High Priest 
 of the Unknown entering, warns him. 
 
 
 
 • 

 
 XI. 
 ISLE OF DEATH. 
 
 MORNING SONG. 
 
 O'er the calm bosom 
 Of the blue water 
 Floats our gondola, 
 Gliding in stillness. 
 
 Slowly retreating, 
 
 The armies of Heaven 
 
 Bow in obeisance 
 
 Before their great Monarch ; 
 
 Bow in obeisance. 
 
 And falling before him, 
 Throw off their helmets 
 Of glory and brightness. 
 
 Round us arising. 
 The white sjjray is dancing, 
 Floating in snow wreaths. 
 As we row onward ; 
 As we row over 
 The motionless mirror, — 
 As our arms 
 All bending together, 
 Urge on the boat 
 To the island of mourning ; 
 And our voices, 
 . Joining in chorus, 
 Answer the dashing 
 Of oars on the water.
 
 f34 -f-Si^ OF DEATH. XI. 
 
 Hail to thee, Hour 
 
 Of freshness and freedom ! 
 Hour of blessing, 
 
 That spreading around us 
 Pathless expanses of tenantless ether, 
 Binds us no more 
 
 In the chains of oppression — 
 Bids us no more 
 
 Bow down to the tyrant 
 Who has usurped the throne of the kingdom. 
 
 Happy the people, 
 
 Who rocked on the ocean, 
 Fear not the rage 
 
 Of a treacherous Monarch — 
 Happy the oarsman, 
 
 Who, born on the water. 
 Rides on the waves 
 
 In the pride of his freedom ; 
 Sweeps o'er the lake 
 
 In the joy of his gladness. 
 Scorning the pomp of imperial splendour. 
 
 Thus the rowers gaily singing. 
 Bore Alonzo o'er the water 
 In the stillness of the morning — 
 Bore him towards the solemn island 
 Dark with tombs of mighty monarchs ; 
 Now they glide with oars upraised, 
 Resting from the toil of rowing — 
 Now again their arms are straining. 
 As they reach the flowing current 
 Of the broad stream of Eurotas, 
 And again their voice arising, 
 Sings the lovely Amarantha.
 
 XI. ISLE OF DEATH. fSS 
 
 "Wliere is the Princess ! the pride of the nation ! 
 Where is the Empress beloved by her people ! 
 Ah ! she is sad in the shades of the garden, 
 Hid from our eyes by the proud Leonarchon, 
 Guarded and lone, till time in its courses 
 
 Make us forget 
 
 The fair Amarantha. 
 
 Let him conceal her in darkness and sorrow ! 
 Let her be veiled from the sight of her people! 
 Vainly he hides her, the flame of our homage, 
 Nurtured in tempests, is bursting to daylight ; 
 
 Hail to the nations ! who far to the northward, 
 Dwell on the hills of the lovely Larissa ! 
 
 Hail to the people, who rising to combat, 
 Fight for the crown of the fair Amarantha ! 
 
 High on the crags of the loftj^ Vielma 
 
 Floats the bright flag of the beautiful Empress; 
 
 Smiling Eurotas, sparkling in sunshine, 
 Sees it unfurled on the towers of Aclan ; 
 
 Sees the great city enthroned o'er her billows, 
 AVaving with pride the standard of Freedom. 
 
 Oh ! may its fringes of purple and silver. 
 Joyously welcomed, be borne by the breezes, 
 
 That all unwilling, in sullen despondence, 
 Scarcely support the weight of the eagle ; 
 
 Oh I may the dove in its Heaven of azure, 
 
 Soar o'er the mighty imperial city ; 
 Oh ! may its wings of ctherial softness 
 
 Wave o'er the towers of high Amalyrac ;
 
 136 ISLE OF DEATH. XI. 
 
 And as yon planet, 
 All beaming in beauty, 
 Ponrs its refulgence 
 Over the water, 
 So may her power, 
 Arising in glory. 
 Shine in its splendour 
 Over the nations — 
 So may her diadem, blazing with jewels. 
 Shed its magnilicence over the Empire. 
 
 Thus their song in fearless numbers, 
 Told the feelings of the people, — 
 For the sons of Amalyi'ac 
 Loved the house of Philolaos — 
 Loved his fair and queenly daughter ; 
 For in secret she would whisper 
 Comfort to afflicted mortals ; 
 She would pour her golden mercy 
 In the lap of want and sickness — 
 And though she in humble bounty 
 Sought to hide her works of kindness ; 
 Yet the people knew their helper, — 
 Blessed the Princess Amarantha. 
 
 Bright the bursting bloom of morning 
 Oped upon the far horizon ; 
 And the glowing east unfolded 
 All the beauties of the city : 
 Showed great towers dimly rising 
 From the girdling mists of twilight ; 
 Showed her hierarchal temples, 
 Solemn in their shadowy grandeur ; 
 Showed her crags stupendous outline 
 Dark above her streets of silence.
 
 XI. ISLE OF DEATH. /jy 
 
 Silent now, and chained in slumber ; 
 
 But a few departing hours 
 
 Would behold her thronging people 
 
 Crowding through her squares and causeways, 
 
 Hear the restless hum of commerce 
 
 Rising from her busy nations. 
 
 Now at length the beams of sunlight 
 Robe the sky in gold and sapphire. 
 And display the bowery beauties 
 Of the lake of Amalyi-ac. 
 Show its richly peopled borders, 
 Graced with fair and stately cities, 
 Show the fanes of Almodira 
 Rising purple o'er the water. 
 All her bright and palmy islands 
 Gleaming like the crowns of Amaranth, 
 Cast upon the crystal pavement 
 Of the palaced courts of Heaven. 
 
 Wrapt in thoughts of varied import, 
 Lay the ruler of Islanda, 
 Gazing on the fairy vision. 
 Now his eyes in mournful memory 
 Rest upon the towering altar, 
 Crimsoned with his comrades' slaughter ; 
 Now he tux'ns with gentler feelings 
 To the grove embowered palace 
 Of the famed Epiromenes ; 
 Now he views the lake in splendour, 
 Roll its waters to the Eastward, 
 And his mind, in fleetest swiftness. 
 Soars along the wide Eurotas. 
 
 Thoughts of far and unknown regions. 
 Of the armies of Larissa ; 
 Of the fate of brave Gon salvo, 
 Crowd tumultuous in his bosom —
 
 138 ISLE OF DEATH. XI. 
 
 But a sudden shock awakes him, 
 Calls him to the sterner present, 
 And he sees the boat is resting 
 'Neath the isle's funereal shadow — 
 Sees a rock-hewn staircase leading 
 To an ancient ruined portal ; 
 And impatient of surveying 
 All that scene of awful wonder, 
 Springs upon its solemn death strand. 
 
 They whose favoured feet have wandered 
 O'er the sands of Misraim's deserts ; 
 They whose eyes have seen the glories 
 Of the pyramids of Gizeh ; 
 They whose souls have felt the pressure 
 Of the mighty past upon them ; 
 Even they can scarce imagine 
 All the feelings of Alonzo 
 As he stood beneath that portal — 
 Scarce conceive the clear conception 
 Of the nothingness of mortals 
 That o'erspread Islanda's ruler. 
 Round him rose the tombs of ages ; 
 Round him slept the mouldering relics 
 Of the proudest kings and monarchs. 
 All their pride and all their splendour 
 Long entombed in vaults beneath him ; 
 And the end of all their striving 
 After deathless fame and glory 
 Lost in nothingness and ruin. 
 Here an age'd pile majestic, 
 Firm amidst the lapse of ages. 
 Mocks the memory of its founder ; 
 For the slow effacing finger 
 Of the never-tired destroyer 
 Spared the tomb, but shrouds its history,
 
 XI. ISLE OF DEATH. fsg 
 
 Shrouds the monarch's name in darkness. 
 Here a monument, whose towers 
 
 Rose to brave the darkest tempests ; 
 
 Rose to stand a fit memorial, 
 
 To a far extended future 
 
 Of some sovereign prince of Empire, 
 
 Lies all prostrate and forgotten — 
 
 Lies a wreck of moss-grown ruins. 
 In the centre of the island, 
 
 Coronalled with rays of sunrise, 
 
 Stood a pyramid, whose basement 
 Formed of mighty squares of granite 
 Groaned beneath the forest foliage, 
 Heaped by desert ages, — round it : — 
 No inscription showed its story, 
 But the legends of the people 
 Told how, hid within its chambers. 
 Lay the founder of their city. 
 Lay the ancient King Almodad — 
 He the offspring of the Wargod — 
 He who first beheld the Altar 
 Frowning o'er the trembling water ; 
 Saw it rise above the summits 
 Of the astonished hills around it. 
 
 Now Alonzo's hastening footsteps 
 Threaded through the crumbling mansions 
 Of the long race of his children ; 
 Sculptured o'er with forms and cyphers, 
 Vainly boasting of their greatness ; 
 For they spoke a hidden language. 
 Lost in dark oblivion's shadow. 
 O'er those streets of desolation 
 Hung a cloud of awful silence ; 
 Nothing moved save creeping lizards, 
 Gliding o'er the lonely ruins.
 
 f40 ISLE OF DEATH. XI. 
 
 Nothing stirred, save when his footfall, 
 Echoing through the halls of darkness, 
 Scared the death-bat from its slumber. 
 
 But he now had readied the precincts 
 
 Where the later race of monarchs 
 
 Rested 'neath their classic marble, 
 
 And he felt the weight of sadness, 
 
 That had spread its wings above him, 
 
 Leave him as their forms of whiteness, 
 
 Shone around his lonely pathway. 
 
 High above in stately grandeur. 
 
 In its pride of solemn beauty, 
 
 Bright with freshly fashioned carvings. 
 
 Stood the tomb of Philolaos. 
 
 Slow he climbed its polished staircase, 
 
 Gazing on the lofty columns — 
 
 Lost in thought : nor viewed the shadows 
 
 Of the mute retiring watchmen. 
 
 For Epiromenes Avarned them 
 
 That they should not stay his entrance. 
 
 Long he mused upon the sculptures 
 
 Ranging round its lengthened friezes ; 
 
 Long upon the graceful figures, 
 
 'Neath its pediment of marble, 
 
 Where the glorious Philolaos 
 
 Poured his blessings o'er the nations. 
 
 Filled with awe and solemn feelings. 
 Hark ! he treads the gloomy pavement, 
 And the echoing vaults around him 
 Mock the mournful funeral stillness. 
 On each side the growing dimness 
 Scarce revealed the tall pilasters 
 Bearing up the hidden ceiling. 
 Yet beyond a ray of daylight,
 
 XI. ISLE OF DEATH. 7 -' 7 
 
 Piercing through the thickening shadows, 
 Showed the genins of the Monarch 
 Wliite amid surrounding blackness : 
 Wide it spread its marble pinions, 
 Soaring from a brazen altar — 
 One hand marked the silent entrance 
 Of the last abode of sorrow, 
 While the other, raised to Heaven, 
 Pointed to a crown of glory- 
 Beaming in the stream of sunshine. 
 
 Now the gate of death and mourning 
 Moves upon its creaking hinges. 
 And Alonzo stooping downwards — 
 Entering to the inmost chamber, 
 Stands before the shi'ouded figiire 
 Of the great departed Monarch — 
 Stands before the throned presence 
 Of the corpse of Philolaos. 
 
 None can tell the solemn feelings 
 Of that ne'er forgotten moment, 
 None can tell the chilling coldness 
 Thrilling through the hero's bosom, 
 As his sudden entrance placed him 
 Face to face with the departed. 
 
 It was long before he ventured 
 To disturb the awful silence. 
 Long before he gathered spirit 
 To approach the ghostly Monarch. 
 
 From the vault a lamp of silver 
 Shed a dim light through the chamber, 
 And revealed the royal armour 
 Laid on the funereal altar. 
 
 Few had owned such splendid weapons 
 As the glorious Philolaos ;
 
 f42 ISLE OF DEATH. XI. 
 
 Few had known so well to wield them 
 In the deadly field of battle. 
 Some were made by cunning workmen, 
 At the order of the Monarch — 
 Some were handed down for ages 
 As an heirloom of the kingdom. 
 
 Here reclines the full circumference 
 Of the broad field of his buckler ; 
 Round its orb the circling figures 
 Shadow forth the constellations. 
 While a mighty diamond rising 
 High above its swelling centre 
 Imaged forth the Daystar's glories. 
 
 Here the tall imperial helmet, 
 With its plumes of waving whiteness, 
 With the golden crown around it, 
 Bears the dove with spreading pinions ; 
 Here is laid the ample breasti^late, 
 Studded o'er with sparkling jewels, 
 Each the symbol of a nation. 
 
 Here his long and beamy javelins 
 Rest against the altar's cornice, 
 And his tried and trusty falchion. 
 Glittering with its ruby handle, 
 Sleeps neglected in the scabbard. 
 
 But apart, and raised above them, 
 Placed upon a crimson cushion, 
 Shone, unsheathed, a mightier weapon ; 
 From its hilt of sparkling diamond 
 Darted forth reflected radiance, 
 And its blade of keenest metal 
 Glowed like silver in the dimness. 
 It was one, that e'en the Monarch, — 
 E'en the glorious Philolaos 
 Could not wield in single combat. 
 O'er it hung a veil of mystery.
 
 XI. ISLE OF DEATH. -f^g 
 
 And the voice of ancient legends 
 Whispered how that sword had glistened 
 By tlie side of old Almodad ; 
 How the eternal Daystar gave it 
 To the offspring of his brother — 
 Bid him keep it, till the season 
 Of the times before appointed 
 Should fulfil the words revealed 
 In the Holiest of Holies : — 
 Till his children should requii'e it 
 To regain their rightful kingdom. 
 Now Alonzo, bending forward, 
 Lifts it from its couch of crimson, 
 And delighted at its beauty — 
 Gazing on its edg(3d sharpness, 
 Wields it round in easy motion. 
 
 But a slowly measured footstep, 
 
 Moving from a hidden portal, 
 
 Strikes his ear ; his straining vision, 
 
 Piercing through the vaulted darkness. 
 
 Sees a form approaching towards him ; 
 
 And a voice in solemn accent, 
 
 Thus arose above the stillness ; 
 
 " Blessed be the Powers of Heaven 
 
 " Who have bowed their ears and listened ; 
 
 " Blessed be the solemn hour 
 
 ' ' That has seen my prayers accomplished ; 
 
 "That has given my agdd eyesight 
 
 "To behold the dawn arising, 
 
 " Doomed to roll the night of bloodshed 
 
 "From the Altar of the Unknown. 
 
 "Lo! the offspring of the Daystar 
 
 "Stands confest before my vision; 
 
 " For his niighty hand upraised,
 
 ^^^ ISLE OF DEATH. XI. 
 
 "Wields the sabre of his father— 
 "Wields the sacred sword Phlegathron. " 
 
 Then Alonzo knew the features 
 
 Of the High Priest of the Unknown ; 
 
 And thus reverently addressed him : 
 
 "Surely dews of heavenly wisdom 
 
 "Have thy secret soul anointed, 
 
 "For to me the fates have given 
 
 "Powers by them concealed for ages. 
 
 * ' And I will not rest from striving 
 
 "Till I bid the hated Altar 
 
 " Cease to flow with streams of crimson. 
 
 ' ' But I pray thee, reverend Father, 
 
 " Tell me why thy joy was raised — 
 
 "Why thou blessed the powers of Heaven 
 
 "When thou sawest me wield Phlegathron." 
 
 Then the High Priest, moving nearer, — 
 Told him all the ancient legend 
 Told him how the Powers of Heaven 
 Had decreed to give the kingdom 
 To the children of Almodad, 
 Till the course of countless ages 
 "Shall enthrone a tyrant monarch 
 Ever hated by the people." 
 How the haughty Leonarchon, 
 Careless of the coming vengeance. 
 Had fulfilled the words of ages ; 
 How he ever from that moment, 
 When he first assumed the empire. 
 Sought to aggrandize his power ; 
 How he slew the kings and rulers 
 Who had loved great Philolaos, 
 And xrarsued the patient people
 
 XI. ISLE OF DEATH. f ! 5 
 
 With the blood-hoiinds of oppression. 
 Till at length the Gods beholding, 
 Looked in anger from the Heavens, 
 And inspired Larissa's nations 
 To assert the rights of freedom. 
 "Now I warn thee, warrior Stranger," 
 Thus the aged man continued : 
 "Now I warn thee, great Alonzo, 
 "Not to trust the wily Monarch ; 
 "For I know his secret spirit 
 " Sees in thee the dread Avenger. 
 " Even though thou stand victorious 
 ' ' O'er the Elements of Nature, 
 "Yet he will attempt to slay thee; 
 "Yet will seek by deep devices, 
 " Still to lead thee to the Altar. 
 " Biit I pray thee what has led thee 
 "To the tomb of Philolaos ; 
 " ^\^lat has caused thee thus to wander 
 ' ' To the homes of the departed ?" 
 
 Then the great Alonzo answer'd : 
 
 " I have come to bear the weapons 
 
 "Of that princely hero with me; 
 
 ' ' Come to take them from the presence 
 
 "That is throned in death before us; 
 
 "For his daughter bids me wear them 
 
 "In the destined hour of combat." 
 
 Then the reverend priest responded : 
 " Blessed be the Gods eternal, 
 " ^\^lO direct the ways of mortals ; 
 "Blessed be the Powers, whose wisdom 
 ' ' Raised the thought in Amarantha, 
 " For these arms will make the people 
 " View in thee the favoured champion
 
 ^46 ISLE OF DEATH. Xf. 
 
 ' ' Of their much adored Princess, 
 
 "Make them rising seek to save thee 
 
 "From the treachery of the tyrant. 
 
 " Welcome be the day of blessings 
 
 " That shall see the crown of Emi>ire 
 
 ' ' Rest on Amarantha's forehead ; 
 
 " Welcome be the happy hour, 
 
 "Though it bring on me misfortune! 
 
 ' ' Blessed be the solemn moment 
 
 " When no High Priest shall be needed 
 
 ' ' To direct the sacrifices 
 
 ' ' Hateful to the Power celestial ! 
 
 "It may cast me forth all helpless, 
 
 ' ' All forgotten by the people, 
 
 ' ' It may leave my age to perish 
 
 "In the darkness of misfortune, 
 
 ' ' But the swift departing seasons 
 
 ' ' Soon will free me from my trouble ; 
 
 " While a throng of crowding nations , 
 
 ' ' Bowing down in adoi-ation, 
 
 "Shall behold the sun of Mercy 
 
 "Breaking through the clouds of error; 
 
 ' ' But we may not longer tarry, 
 
 ' ' F( )r the swift winged day is rising, 
 
 "And its beams will wake the city 
 
 ' ' Ere thy mission is accomplished, 
 
 ' * For the tyrant must not see thee 
 
 "Bear away the royal weapons." 
 
 Then the two in silent reverence 
 Moved the armoiir from the presence 
 Of the still and ghostly monarch ; 
 Moved it from the dismal precincts 
 Of that isle of death and sorrow ; 
 And the joyous boatmen gaily 
 Bore Alonzo to the city.
 
 XI. ISLE OF DEATH. f41' 
 
 But the High Priest of the Unknown 
 Sought again the funeral chamber, 
 There to pour his supplications 
 For the friends of the departed.
 
 THE CAMPAIGN 
 
 15 
 
 The Revolt spreads through Larissa, the 
 North Eastern Province of the Empire. — 
 Go7isalvo besieges the Castle of Vielma, 
 which at leiifjth Capitulates, and the Army 
 Marches to the Eurotas. — Anselmo with his 
 Fleets assists the People of Larissa, and aids 
 Gonsalvo at the Battle of the Causeway. — 
 The Victorious Armies inarch toicards 
 Ardoc, hut the Forces of Araxes being arrayed 
 171 their path, the Battle of Sargano ensues. 
 — Gonsalvo enters Sargano in Triumph.
 
 XII, 
 THE CAMPAIGN. 
 
 Scarcely had the imperial ensign 
 Of the royal Amarantha 
 Waved above the towers of Aclan : 
 Scarcely had the Sun of Freedom 
 Gilded all her thousand summits, 
 Ere the eagle-pinioned rumour, 
 Soaring o'er the wide Eurotas — 
 O'er the vales of fair Larissa, 
 O'er the mountains of CLrcano, 
 Spread afar the welcome tidings 
 That the seat of Northern Empire — 
 That the greatest of the cities 
 Of the realms of Amalyrac, 
 Had defied the tyrant's power. 
 And had dared to be the foremost 
 In the pathway of his vengeance. 
 
 Long had all those lovely kingdoms 
 Groaned beneath the yoke of bondage, 
 Long had waited for the blessing 
 Of the joy illumined hour 
 That should see the cloud of thraldom 
 Rolled away from their horizon. 
 And they scarce had heard how Aclan 
 Raised the Standard of Rebellion, 
 Ere from all their fields of verdure
 
 f.-,2 2"^^ CAMPAIGN. xrr. 
 
 Rung an answering cry for Freedom — 
 Ere the streams of war and discord 
 Crimsoned all her flowing rivers. 
 
 VTELMA. 
 
 But again the rising nations 
 
 Heard of still more glorious tidings ; 
 
 Heard how warriors armed with thunder, 
 
 Offspring of the billowy ocean, 
 
 Led the joyous hosts of Aclan 
 
 On Vielma's mountain fortress. 
 
 How the people of that city 
 
 Gladly hailed the coming warriors, 
 
 And arousing from their slumber. 
 
 From the sleep of lingering vengeance, 
 
 Filled her sounding squares with tumult. 
 
 Hurled to earth the tyrant's statue, 
 
 Piled uj) barricades and ruins, 
 
 Barred the entrance from the castle — 
 
 And descending to the ramparts, 
 
 Opened wide lier threatening portals — 
 
 And with pomp and acclamation. 
 
 Welcomed in the friendly army. 
 Then Gonsalvo spread his forces 
 
 'Neath the hostile bannered castle. 
 
 And arrayed the dreaded cannon, 
 
 Darkly frowning at its entrance. 
 
 But the favoring hand of nature 
 
 Had displayed her woaderous power. 
 
 As she reared her mountain bastions 
 
 High above the surging breakers : 
 
 As she hurled her rocky fragments 
 
 To defend the massive portal ; 
 
 As she formed the sloping roadway,
 
 Xri TEE CAMJ'AIGS. 753 
 
 Dark impending o'er the city, 
 
 Winding up the dizzy steepness 
 
 Of the crag-encircled fortress. 
 
 And though small, when viewed in contrast 
 
 With the mightier works of Nature, 
 
 Yet the castle on its summit 
 
 Seemed to emulate her grandeur, 
 
 As it crowned the brows of granite 
 
 With the circlet of its towers. 
 
 Solemn was the evening prospect 
 From the cliffs along the ocean, 
 As that rampart crested mountain 
 Rose in all its misty vastness 
 O'er the tumult shaken city ; 
 As it shed a sombre shadow 
 O'er the waveless bay of silver, 
 As its battlements in blackness. 
 Lowered acnainst the gentle beaming 
 Of the sacred evening planet. 
 
 Twice the sun in highest Heaven 
 Saw the forces of Gonsalvo 
 Lie beneath her lofty bulwarks. 
 Twice the star-encircled Luna 
 Shone on the united ai'mies, 
 As they rested from their labours — 
 Rested from the wearying efforts 
 Of their unavailing valour. 
 
 Yet the dimly dawning morrow 
 Cheered the long enduring heroes. 
 As it showed the western mountains. 
 Gleaming with a stately army ; 
 Tinged the Dragon of Dahcotan, 
 Waving o'er the groves of olive ; 
 Hailed the gallant Amphilonin, 
 Leading on his glittering legions.
 
 154- THE CAMPAIGX, XII. 
 
 But the castle guarding warriors 
 
 Viewed with other thoughts the future, 
 
 Wlien they saw the mystic strangers 
 
 Crowding to besiege the fortress ; 
 
 And their lessening ardour showed them 
 
 All the dangers of the struggle ; 
 
 Showed them how the jaws of famine, 
 
 Grim with horrors, gaped upon them ; 
 
 Showed the distant goal of triumph. 
 
 Reared upon the wreck of freedom ; 
 
 And before the winged chariot 
 
 Of the brightly beaming Daystar 
 
 Had ascended to the summit 
 
 Of the crystal hills of Heaven, 
 
 All the people of Vielma, 
 
 Filled with triumj^h and rejoicing, 
 
 Saw the flag of Philolaos 
 
 Grace the crag encircling towers — 
 
 Proudly paid their vows of fealty 
 
 To the Empress Amarantha. 
 
 But the great united army 
 Staid not long within the city, 
 And before that day had ended, 
 Helmed thousands, bannered myriads. 
 Marched along the imperial roadway. 
 That extending o'er the kingdoms. 
 Stretched afar o'er hills and forests. 
 Till it reached the wonderous causeway, 
 Built across the wide Eurotas — 
 Leading to the groves of perfume, 
 Ranged by Lai'issana's rivers. 
 
 For they now had heard the rumour 
 Of her freedom striving cities, 
 And they hasted on to aid her. 
 Ere the tyrant's banded legions
 
 XII. THE CAMPAIGN. 
 
 Trod that odorous land of roses 
 'Neath their mail invested power. 
 
 ANSELMO. 
 
 But while thus the Star of Fortune 
 Guided them in paths of triumph, 
 Other deeds of noble daring 
 Were performed by young Anselmo ; 
 By the chief, whose able wisdom, 
 Led Cruzatlan's cloudy vessels 
 O'er the wave resounding ocean. 
 He, the friend of great Alonzo, 
 He, Gonsalvo's loved companion, 
 Sought to emulate their glory ; 
 And his ardour breathing spirit 
 Proved him worthy of his comrades, 
 As his rising genius placed him 
 In command of Island's navies. 
 
 Scarcely had the sous of Aclan 
 Watched the great united armies 
 Leave her lofty towered gateways, 
 E'er the fleet of young Anselmo 
 Sought the shores of Amarantha. 
 
 But he leaves her hills behind him. 
 Blessed by her delighted people, 
 Aa he glides along the current 
 Of the broad and deep Larrissa ; 
 As he aids her bordering cities. 
 Crimsoned witli the deadly struggle. 
 
 Now he sweeps along the seashore. 
 Driving forth the tyrant's armies. 
 Freeing all her marts of commerce ; 
 Till the flag of Amarantha 
 Waved on Araxeia's towers,
 
 156 
 
 THE CAMPAIGN. ^U- 
 
 Till the mountains of Circano 
 
 Saw Larissa's storm-tried seamen 
 
 Join the banner of the Empress. 
 Gladly then, the young Anselmo 
 
 Stretched the hand of friendship to them, 
 
 For although they ne'er had ventured 
 
 O'er the boundless plains of ocean ; 
 
 Though they ne'er had steered their vessels 
 
 O'er the blue encircling sealine ; 
 
 Yet they were a hardy people, 
 
 Ever loyal to the daughter 
 
 Of the kingly Philolaos. 
 
 But the chief of ships returning, 
 
 Sails along tlie broad Eurotas, 
 
 Hastening to assist Gon salvo 
 
 As he marches on Larissa. 
 
 And he showed his noble proAvess 
 In that dismal hour of slaughter, 
 When Larissa's haughty ruler 
 Vainly sought to stay the passage 
 Of Islanda o'er the river. 
 
 Then his ever ready cannon 
 Freed the hostile guarded causeway, 
 Then he led Cruzatlan's seamen. 
 Bearing back the strength of forces ; 
 Till the legions of the Empire, 
 Waiting for the favoring moment. 
 Wheeling round in lines rebellious. 
 Joined the standard of the nations ; 
 Till their despot hating warriors. 
 Panting for a day of vengeance. 
 Turned on their astonislied leaders. 
 
 Then the King of Larissana 
 Felt the sword of retribution ; 
 Then Circano's tyrant sovereign 
 Fell before his mail-clad armies ;
 
 XII. THE CAMPAIGN. f S'T 
 
 And the lines that still unshaken, 
 Battled for their haughty rulers, 
 Fled disheartened from the struggle ; 
 Till the great victorious armies 
 Blessed by crowds of joyous people. 
 Marched in glory o'er the archways 
 Of the far extended causeway ; 
 Till the war-ships of Anselmo, 
 Midst the sounds of martial music, 
 Glided through the spacious passage 
 Of the mighty iron drawbridge. 
 
 But Gonsalvo saw the siimmits 
 Of Ardocan's hoary mountains 
 Frowning o'er the teeming valleys, 
 And he led his victor forces 
 To their crag encircled precincts. 
 For the sons of Aclan told him 
 How that bold and generous people, 
 Had with bravery scarcely equalled 
 In the annals of the nations. 
 Saved their country from the thraldom 
 Of Alloria's restless monarch ; 
 And remembering all the terrors — 
 All the sorrows of oppression, 
 Gave their freedom nurtured powers 
 To restore Larissa's kingdoms — 
 Land of perfume, land of sunshine, 
 To their ancient state of splendour. 
 
 SARGANO. 
 
 But meanwhile the young Araxes 
 Lay encamped in strong Sargano,
 
 158 
 
 THE CAMPAIGN. 
 
 XII. 
 
 Vainly had that princely hero 
 Sought by swift descending marches, 
 To support Lai-issa's sovereign, 
 As he warred against the nations. 
 But he scarce had left the precincts 
 Of Eurota's favored province. 
 Ere the hardy sons of Ardoc, 
 Breaking from their cloudy valleys, 
 Forced him to regain the shelter 
 Of Sargano's battled towers. 
 
 Fame, the never wearied Goddess, 
 Daily whisi)ering fresh disasters, 
 Swiftly spread the gloomy tidings 
 Of the foe-commanded causeway. 
 Told how Larissana's sovereign 
 Fell amidst revolted armies, 
 How the victors, flushed with triumph, 
 Sought the pine o'ershadowed Ardoc. 
 
 Then the son of Leonarchon, 
 Thirsting to display his valour. 
 Spread the order for advancing. 
 And arrayed his helmed armies. 
 Moving towards the hostile legions. 
 
 Wlien Gonsalvo knew the approaching 
 Of Almodad's gallant ofi"spring ; 
 Though he deemed his forces numbered, 
 Island's thousands twice recounted ; 
 Yet he felt the deadly combat 
 Must decide the fate of Empire, 
 Ere he gained the rocky safeness 
 Of Ardocan's stately mountains ; 
 For he heard how Theron's army 
 Led in long encircling marches — 
 Camping in the fertile champaign, 
 Lowered upon the Northern roadway ; 
 Heard how from the far Phoceia,
 
 511. THE CAMPAIGN. /S9 
 
 Many a mjaiacl of her people, 
 Sent to aid the brave Araxes. 
 Passed beneath Lorana's towers. 
 
 And again the anxious evening 
 Brought more clear the baleful tidings, 
 As his breathless spies returning, 
 Told how they beheld the moonbeams, 
 Glittering on the moving masses 
 Of oppression's range'd legions. 
 
 Then Gonsalvo weighed the dangers 
 That on every hand assailed him ; 
 But he thought of great Alonzo — 
 Of the injured Amarantha ; 
 And his courage beamed the brighter 
 In that hour of dark foreboding, 
 As he waited with impatience 
 For the cheering rays of daylight. 
 
 Now at length the rising sunbeams 
 Robed Ardocan's lofty summits, 
 In the purpled glow of morning. 
 Now they pour etherial radiance 
 Through her mighty mountain portal, 
 And display the teeming numbers 
 Of the hosts of AmaljTac. 
 
 Wonderous was it to behold them 
 Stretching far, beneath the shadow 
 Of those forms of rocky grandeur ; 
 " Like that glorious golden river 
 
 That divides the realms of midnight 
 
 From the Empyrean splendours 
 
 Of the noon enthroned Daystar. 
 
 Then Gonsalvo spread his forces, 
 
 Waiting for the shock of battle. 
 
 On the left, the lords of Aclan, 
 
 Larissana's valorous chieftains —
 
 760 
 
 THE CAMPAIOy. XII. 
 
 Stood amidst their dauntless people. 
 On the right wing, Amphilonin 
 Led the haughty ranks of Dahco ; 
 While the chosen sons of Island, 
 Skilled in every art of warfare, 
 Stretched their long and narrow column 
 All along the lengthened centre. 
 Gaily o'er their gleaming bayonets 
 Danced the standard of Zorayda, 
 And before them dark and sombre, — 
 Gloomy like unearthly monsters. 
 Lay the lines of dreaded cannon. 
 
 But the sounds of martial music, 
 Echoing from the hills of Ardoc, 
 Warn them of the coming foemen. 
 
 It was glorious to behold them 
 As they moved along the champaign, 
 As their tens of thousand lances. 
 Shone like stars of light above them. 
 As their panoplies of splendour 
 Darted back the flashing sunbeams ; 
 As the dark cloud of their banners 
 Floated o'er the warrior masses. 
 
 In the front, the young Araxes, 
 Glittered in his golden armour ; 
 And the hosts of sturdy Theron, 
 Surging like a luminous ocean. 
 Dashed their numbers on the rearward, — 
 On the gallant Amphilonin. 
 
 Then began the deadliest battle 
 That Eurota e'er had witnessed. 
 Then the thunder of the cannon 
 Pealed along the flowery valleys ; 
 Then the flashing of the rifles 
 Lit the lurid smoke around them. 
 And the clouds of flying missiles
 
 XII. THE CAJilPAIGN. J67 
 
 Hid the beaming of the Daystar. 
 Then the shrieks of rage and anguish 
 Drowned the arousing martial music, 
 As the hosts of AraaljTac 
 Rolled upon the sons of Freedom. 
 
 All that day the Islesman army 
 Fought with fierce undaunted courage, 
 And the great revolted nations 
 Long withstood the countless numbers 
 That were chafing, surging round them. 
 
 But in vain the great Gonsalvo 
 Dared the extremity of danger ; 
 And in vain his charging columns 
 Checked their forces for a moment ; 
 All in vain the sons of Dahco 
 Braved the fury of the Phalanx ; 
 And the gallant Amphilonin 
 Raised their wonder at his valour ; 
 All in vain Zorayda's horsemen. 
 Dealing death blows with their sabres, 
 Si>read mysterious terror round them. 
 For the hosts of Amalyrac 
 Slowly bore Islanda backward. 
 
 Then inevitable fortune 
 Seemed to be impending o'er them, 
 And the gloom of dark ambition 
 Gathered o'er the Sun of Freedom, 
 When a spirit stirring vision 
 Filled the armies with amazement ; 
 All the hills behind Araxes, 
 Sudden burst into a glory, 
 As the clouds of smoke unfurling, 
 Showed a grandly ordered army. 
 Blazing in the glowing sunbeams. 
 Then a thrill of desparation
 
 162 THE CAMPAIGN. XII. 
 
 Trembled through Gonsalvo's bosom, 
 For he deemed increasing forces 
 Swelled the numbers of the Empire. 
 
 But a moment raised his feelings 
 From despair to hopes of triumph, 
 As he saw the Raven standard 
 Spreading wide its wings of midnight, 
 As the cry of "Ardoc!" ''Ardoc!" 
 Rose above the roar of battle. 
 
 Then the hosts of Amalyrac 
 Wondered at the mighty cheering ; 
 Then they felt the shock behind them, — 
 Armed shock of warrior thousands — 
 Felt the strength of high Ardocan 
 Sweep adown her lofty mountains ; 
 And their helmed legions wavered 
 As they heard the gathering foemen 
 Closing round their wearied army. 
 
 Then Gonsalvo hailed the moment 
 To regain the lost advantage. 
 Then he snatched the flag of Freedom 
 From the standard-bearer by him. 
 Waving high the folds of silver 
 Oer his lofty plumed helmet : 
 As he spread afar the signal : 
 ' ' Comrades charge on Amalyrac ? " 
 Then the darkly heaving army. 
 Bending down their gleaming lances. 
 Raising loud their dreaded war-cry. 
 Surged in long impetuous billows 
 On the ranks of Leonarchon. 
 
 Then the legions of Zorayda 
 Hurled again the bolts of thunder ; 
 Then the army of Araxes 
 Felt the victor sword of Ardoc, 
 And o'ercome with growing terror,
 
 XII. THE CAMPAIGN. Y63 
 
 Wavered backward, wavered forward ; 
 Till the warriors of Phoceia 
 Shrunk beneath the coming slaughter, 
 And the children of Almodad 
 Saw the serried Phalanx broken — 
 All their mightj'' armies failing. 
 
 Yet in vain their princely ardour 
 Labored to restore the battle ; 
 For the horsemen of Islanda, 
 Led by Amphilonin's valour, 
 Dashed again in fury on them : 
 Then their panoplies of brightness 
 Darted back the evening radiance. 
 Then their godlike ranks descending, 
 Filled the foe with consternation. 
 As they bended from their saddles — 
 Hurrying on the scattered legions. 
 Trampling down the flying masses ; 
 Till Ardocan's forest mountains 
 Answered the triumphant war-cries 
 Of the two united armies ; — 
 Echoed back the thundering cheering 
 For the child of Philolaos, 
 As Islanda and Ardocan 
 Entered the forsaken bulwarks 
 Of the well entrenched Sargano. 
 
 Then the noble chiefs of Ardoc 
 
 Felt the grateful hand of Island, 
 
 As Gonsalvo and his leaders 
 
 Thanked them for their generous succour, — 
 
 Told how war arrayed Misfortune, 
 
 Standing at the Lion Gateway, 
 
 Barred the pathway to performing 
 
 What their willing heai'ts had promised.
 
 -164- THE CAMPAIGN. XII. 
 
 But it was not long they tarried 
 
 'Neath the shelter of the fortress, 
 
 For they knew how fortune's favors 
 
 Hang upon the passing moment. 
 
 Now already Amphilonin, 
 
 Following, tracks the young Araxes, 
 
 While Gonsalvo on the morrow, 
 
 Marches with his chosen warriors 
 
 To the ever bright Eurotas : 
 
 Where the vessels of Anselmo 
 
 Filled her trembling shores with wonder. 
 
 For the friendly sons of Ardoc, 
 Resting 'neath Sargano's towers, 
 Told him of the mighty Pylos, — 
 Told him how the giant fortress 
 Watched the crag o'ershadowed entrance 
 To the sajiphire floods encircling 
 All the quays of Amalyrac ; — 
 Told him how their southern army, 
 Marshalled by the sage Leascar — 
 By their aged, honore'd ruler. 
 Hovered o'er the blooming valleys, 
 Stretched beneath its rampired bulwarks. 
 
 Thus as oft the golden sunbeams, 
 Shine in brighter, fairer glory. 
 When they pierce the sable tempests, 
 Rolled in solemn night before them. 
 
 So the glory of Islanda 
 Burst into a greater splendour 
 As it rose again victorious 
 From the shades of woe that dimmed it 
 At the gates of Amalyrac.
 
 
 LEONAECHON. 
 
 
 
 The Temple of the Darjstar. — Leonarchmi 
 in a Secret Chamber behind the Altar, 
 consults with his three Confidants. — He 
 relates the progress of the Rebellion. — 
 The High Priest advises the Death of Alonzo: 
 Orontes, the removal of the Guards of 
 Amalyrac. — Leonarchon promises the Honors 
 of Epiromenes to the latter, should he fid- 
 fil his Promise of seizing Alonzo. — The 
 Hierarch's counsels concerning Amarantha. 
 
 
 

 
 LEONARCHON. 
 
 Terraced on <i spacious pavement, 
 Vast above the mighty city, 
 Rose the glorious Daystar's temple. 
 Stately towers of awful grandeur, 
 Lofty spires of airy lightness, 
 Pointed upwards to the mansions 
 Where He sits enthroned in Heaven. 
 Endless rows of pillared arches. 
 Endless tiers of flowing tracery. 
 Endless forms of classic sculpture, 
 Cotmtless pinnacles and turrets 
 Graced the beauty of its outline ; 
 While the giant eastern portal. 
 Guarded by its four-fold towers — 
 Emblems of the four-fold seasons, 
 Tranced the astonished eye in wonder, 
 As it gazed upon the shadowing 
 Of the widely spreading archways. 
 
 But the vision screened behind it, 
 "N^Tien the marvelling votary entered, 
 Filled his soul with deeper reverence ; 
 As it showed titanic columns, 
 Ranged in majesty of order, 
 Showed them four by four progressive,' 
 Bear on high the vaulted roofing ; 
 As the dim light of the windows
 
 ■jQg LEOXARCHON. XIH. 
 
 Shed a solemn glow around it, 
 Casting richly colored shadows 
 O'er the carvings and mosaics. 
 
 But that dimness too was shaded, 
 As the pavement wrapt in darkness. 
 Rose in flights of granite upwards 
 To the elevated precincts 
 Where the sombre veil descending 
 Hid the Holiest of Holies. 
 
 But the folds of broidered tissue 
 Scarcely screened the blazing splendours 
 Shrined within its gorgeous shadow ; 
 Scarce could hide the dazzling radiance 
 Of the semblance of the Daystar, 
 That on days of solemn worship 
 Shone before the adoring people. 
 'Neath a canopy of crystal, 
 Borne on shafts of heavenly sapphire, 
 Flamed the figure of the Godhead 
 Formed of ever burning brightness ; 
 Showing forth the golden altar, 
 Graven with the words of wonder — 
 Dark against its pure resplendence. 
 
 Close behind the holy places 
 Rose a lofty arche'd chamber. 
 Where the haughty Leonarchon 
 Oft retired to sit in council. 
 With the few to whom the secrets 
 Of his inmost soul were opened. 
 It was 'neath its gloomy vaulting 
 That the conclave now assembled 
 To advise the wavering monarch. 
 
 Few of all his kings and princes 
 Knew the mind of Leonarchon ; 
 Few indeed had he entrusted
 
 :ii. 
 
 LEOyARCHON. 
 
 169 
 
 With the secrets of his bosom. 
 But upon this dark occasion 
 Three, alone were seated with him. 
 
 Here the High Priest of the Daystar 
 Lent upon his sacred sceptre : 
 Here the Hierarch of the Wargod, 
 Bending forward, whispered to him ; 
 While obsequiously smiling, 
 On the left hand of his sovereign 
 Sat the wily fawning favorite, 
 Ruler of the wide Orontes : — 
 She who mourned her princely hero 
 Slain in battle by Alonzo. 
 
 But the vengeance brooding monarch 
 Chains them all in deep attention. 
 As he thus with shameless freedom 
 Tells his tyrant thoughts and sorrows. 
 ' Thirty suns have rolled their courses 
 ' Since the troublous tidings reached us 
 ' Of Larissa's rebel armies. 
 ' Then the vague and floating rumours 
 ' Scarcely traced the wide misfortune ; 
 ' Only whispered of the falling 
 ' Of the city of Vielma — 
 ' Of the loss of towery Aclan. 
 * Now more certain news afflicts me, 
 ' Sent by Araxeia's monarch ; 
 ' Tidings that the northern nations, 
 ' Talking of tlieir rights of freedom, 
 ' Have refused to pay the tribute 
 ' Layed by Empire law upon them : 
 ' And forgetful of allegiance, 
 ' Raise the standard of rebellion, 
 ' Boasting soon to place the diadem 
 ' On the brows of Amarantha.
 
 f/O LEONARCHON. XIII. 
 
 ' ' Who has ever seen a ■woman 
 
 "Born to rule a mighty nation ! 
 
 " O ! that, that ambitious Princess, 
 
 " With her wiles and winning presence, 
 
 "Long had gone to greet her father! 
 
 "For her very form reminds me 
 
 ' ' Of the day when Philolaos 
 
 "Fell before the creeping poison. 
 
 "There will be no strength of Empire 
 
 " Till she too is laid to slumber, 
 
 "Till she too has sought the mansions 
 
 ' ' Of the ancient kings and heroes. 
 
 "But my wandering mind has led me 
 
 " From the deeds of the rebellion. 
 
 ' ' Scarcely had the rising people 
 
 "Filled the province with their uproar, 
 
 ' ' Ere an army borne by ocean, 
 
 "Lands upon the shores of Aclan ; 
 
 "Scarce had they approached the city, 
 
 " Ere the rebels, lost to reason, 
 
 ' ' Pray the assailants of their country 
 
 * ' To unite with them in battle. 
 
 "They at once delighted listen, 
 
 " Smiling at the nation's folly, 
 
 "And the invaders banner flaunteth 
 
 " On the second seat of Empire. 
 
 " Now the two united armies 
 
 ' ' March upon the strong Vielma : 
 
 "There again the hckle rabble 
 
 "Rising lip, expel their rulers, 
 
 "And deluded by the strangers, 
 
 "Think they fight for Amarantha. 
 
 " Other rumol^rs daily tell us 
 
 " Of some fresh revolted city, 
 
 "While the treacherous sons of Ardoc, — 
 
 "Whom alas ! AUoria's monarch
 
 Xm. LEONARCEON. - Y'/t 
 
 " Could not long retain in thraldom, 
 
 ' ' Pour from all their lofty mountains, 
 
 ' ' Preying on the wounded kingdoms 
 
 ' ' With such fury, that Araxes 
 
 "Has advancing, left the shelter 
 
 * ' Of Sargano's rampired city. 
 
 "Such the perils of the Empire, 
 
 * ' Sprung from our untimely mercy 
 
 ' ' To that haughty restless Princess . 
 
 "Not sufficed with wars and bloodshed, 
 
 "Now she scorns the Powers of Heaven, 
 
 " Seeking to defend that captive 
 
 ' ' Seared with sacrilege and slaughter. 
 
 "I shall never rest in quiet, 
 
 "Ne'er enjoy a peaceful slumber, 
 
 "Till I know that death has silenced 
 
 "All those prophecies and bodings 
 
 ' ' That would make the impious Stranger 
 
 ' ' Offspring of the glorious Daystar ! 
 
 "Well, we know he is but mortal, 
 
 "Yet the people, in their folly, 
 
 "Credit all the basest falsehoods. 
 
 "Now I ask you to advise me, 
 
 ' ' With the wisdom of your counsels, 
 
 "How I best may free my kingdom 
 
 "From the dangers striding o'er it." 
 
 For a season, thoughtful silence 
 Reigned within the vaulted chamber, 
 Till the High Priest of the Daystar, 
 Slowly thus addressed the Monarch : 
 "Leonarchon, all these troubles, 
 " All this discord and rebellion, 
 "Rise from one great fount of evil — 
 ' ' Rise around thee for neglecting 
 "To avenge the profanation
 
 fi^2 LEONARCHON. XIII. 
 
 "Of Xilocan's sacred altars. 
 "No! the Gods will never bless thee, 
 * * Ne'er confirm thee in thy kingdom, 
 * ' Till their anger is appeased 
 "With the heart blood of that stranger 
 ' ' Who has sought to spread dishonor 
 "On the -worship of the Unknown — 
 " On the holy sacrifices 
 " That have been decreed for ages. 
 "For when all the powers of Heaven 
 " Gave the kingdom to Almodad, 
 "To the ofl"spring of the Wargod, 
 "They to stay the raging anger 
 "Of the Spirit of the Midnight— 
 * ' Envious of his mighty brothers, 
 ' ' Laid a vow upon the Monarch, 
 "In the name of all his children, 
 "That the blood of every captive, 
 ' ' Vanquished on the field of battle. 
 " Shall be offered up in darkness 
 "On the altar of the Unknown; 
 "Made him call down imprecations 
 " On the Heaven despising sovereign, 
 ' ' Who shall dare to break the compact 
 "Ere the Time before appointed. 
 "Even should this child of darkness 
 "Conquer all the varied dangers, 
 "All the terrors of the challenge; 
 "Yet no peace will rest upon thee 
 "Till his blood hath dyed the granite 
 ' ' Of the sacrificial altar. " 
 
 Thus the priest, with artful language, 
 Fanned the Monarch's superstition, 
 But the ruler of Orontes, 
 As he watched his sovereign's features,
 
 XIII. LEOXARCHOX. -{73 
 
 Knew the signet of approval, 
 
 And submissive, thus addressed him : 
 
 "Mighty Monarch, who can question 
 
 ' ' That the venerable Pontiff 
 
 * ' Speaks the words of truth and wisdom. 
 
 "First of all the thrones of Heaven 
 
 " Must behold their wrath appeased ; 
 
 ' ' Though Alonzo dares the challenge, 
 
 "All in vain he wards their vengeance. 
 
 "Even should the powers of Darkness 
 
 "Aid liim in the hour of danger, 
 
 "Yet command thy guards to bind him 
 
 "As an offering for the Unknown. 
 
 ' ' For the fickle-minded people, 
 
 "Even though they praise his valour, 
 
 ' ' Will by eloquence persuaded — 
 
 " Think the combat only gave him 
 
 "Respite from impending justice — 
 
 " Only gives him longer season 
 
 "To repent, and seek forgiveness. 
 
 " But, illustrious Leonarchon, 
 
 "Listen to my earnest counsel. 
 
 "Is it not forbid by wisdom, 
 
 ' ' That the Guards of Amalyi'ac, 
 
 "Bound to that Epiromenes, 
 
 " Should behold us seize Alonzo. 
 
 "Rather let them spend tlieir powers 
 
 "In the aid of gi'eat Araxes, 
 
 ' ' While I fill the imperial city 
 
 " With the legions of Orontes 
 
 "Ever faithful to their Sovereign. 
 
 "Give me then thy royal mandate, 
 
 " And the sunrise shall behold him 
 
 "Lifeless on the mystic Altar — 
 
 " ShaU behold this cliild of sunlight 
 
 "Gone to seek his Father's mansions."
 
 n4 
 
 LEONARCHON. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Then tlie "willing Leonarclion, 
 Thus approvingly assented : 
 
 Faithful friend, thy timely counsel 
 
 'Has relieved my burdened spirit, 
 And shouldst thou perform thy promise, 
 
 'Nations envying shall behold thee, 
 For I give thee all the honors 
 Of the famed Epiromenes. 
 Well I know his knightly prowess, 
 Know his patriotic ardour : 
 E'en the cause of Amarantha 
 Scarce could make him rise against me, 
 For he shrinks from all the horrors. 
 Crowded in the train of Discord. 
 Yet he stands the great Protector 
 Of the house of Philolaos, 
 And while he remains in power, 
 Wliile he leads the hosts of Empire, 
 It will never be forgotten 
 That another house is seated 
 On the throne of Amalyrac. 
 When the General knew the tidings 
 Of the great revolted cities. 
 When he heard how my Araxes 
 Had departed with the army, 
 Then he came at once and offered 
 Aid to calm the Empire's troubles ; 
 But I chid him as a traitor^ 
 
 • As associate of the rebels ; 
 Bade him to depart my presence, 
 Lest my vengeance overtake him. 
 But he stood as if unheeding. 
 Speaking with intrusive boldness — 
 
 ■Told me how the burdened people 
 Long had borne the weight of bondage— 
 
 'Urged me to restrain resentment, —
 
 SIII. LEOXARCHOX. /^S 
 
 "Urged to ofter grace and pardon — 
 
 "Warning that despotic power 
 
 "Could not curb tlie Northern Kingdoms; 
 
 " And conjured me by my Fathers, 
 
 "If I sought to reign in glory, 
 
 "Blessed by all the subject nations, 
 
 " To remove the yoke of iron 
 
 "Laid upon the sinking Empire, 
 
 "But again my rising anger 
 
 " Bid him cease his ill-timed counsels, 
 
 "Bid him haste and join the rebels 
 
 "If he loved their cause so dearly. 
 
 ' ' Then he slowly left' my presence, 
 
 " But before he reached the portal, 
 
 " Thus insultingly addressed rae : 
 
 " ' Leonarchon ! when the people, 
 
 ' ' ' Bvirsting all the chains of reverence, 
 
 " ' Rush on their anointed sovereign, 
 
 ' ' ' Then remember how I warned thee, 
 
 "'How of all thy kings and leaders, 
 
 "'One alone was faithful to thee, 
 
 "'One alone has braved thine anger, 
 
 " 'As he spreads the truth before thee.' 
 
 "Thus he dared with fearless language, 
 ' ' To upraid me in my palace, 
 "And though I allow his valour, 
 "I detest him for his freedom, 
 "And my vengeance shall not tarry 
 "Till I see Epii-omenes 
 "Stripped of all his boasted laurels. 
 "Yet the Princess Amarantha, 
 "First of all must be removed, 
 " First of all the people's darling 
 "Must be hid for ever from them : 
 " Vainly have Phoceia's forests 
 "Veiled her in their robes of verdure,
 
 ■f>/6 LEOyARCHON. XIII. 
 
 * ' Vainly have the palace gardens 
 "Spread their lonely stillness round lier ; 
 " We must choose a surer pilot 
 "If we would attain the haven, 
 "We must tind a straighter pathway 
 ' ' If we would relieve the city. " 
 
 Then with dark and stern expression, 
 
 Spoke the Hierarch of the Wargod : 
 
 " Let it not be told I pray thee, 
 
 " That the Lordly Leonarchon 
 
 "Faltered, when a faithless Princess 
 
 "Checked him in the path of glory. 
 
 " Philolaos fell before thee, 
 
 ' ' Wherefore shoiild'st thou sjjare his daughter. 
 
 " Vaulted dungeons lie concealed 
 
 "'Neath the temple of the Wargod, 
 
 "Known to me alone of mortals; 
 
 "Hide her in their dark seclusion, 
 
 "And if still she rouses tumults, 
 
 ' ' Still disturbs the peace of Empire, 
 
 ' ' There are dismal cells besides them, 
 
 "Buried in their walls of granite; 
 
 "They will give thee final respite 
 
 "From the dark designs she fosters." 
 
 Thus his gloomy spirit counselled, 
 And the Monarch, blind to mercy, 
 Gave the nod of approbation, 
 As the Hierarch thus continued : 
 " Leonarchon, should the people, 
 "Calling for her rise against thee, 
 "Should the nations from Sorardo 
 "To the mountains of Circano, 
 "Seek to wrench the sceptre from thee; 
 "Even then thou need'st not tremble, 
 "Need'st not fear their fiercest raging,
 
 XIII. LEOXARCHON. /^^-^ 
 
 " For the Monarch of Alloria 
 " Long has formed the compact with thee. 
 " Ironama's Prince shall aid thee 
 "With his serried strength of warriors, 
 *' And the dark King of Mediro 
 "Haste to join thee with his armies." 
 
 But the ruler of Orontes, 
 
 Bowing low addressed the Monarch : 
 
 " Think not, O ! my King ! I pray thee, 
 
 "That because the Northern Kingdoms, 
 
 "Thus revolting, rise against thee, 
 
 " Oro's wide extended nations 
 
 " Look with sjnnpathy upon them. 
 
 ' ' No ! they ever will be loyal 
 
 * ' To the offspring of Almodad ; 
 
 "Ever faithful to their Monarch, 
 
 ' ' They will crowd to fight his battles ; 
 
 " Even now her veteran legions 
 
 ' ' Gather by the great Orontes, 
 
 "And the lord of Agrigano, 
 
 ' ' And the ruler of Armoura, 
 
 ' ' Joy to raise the golden eagles 
 
 ' ' Of the kingly Leonarchon. " 
 
 Thus the Prince, with seeming courage, 
 Knew to hide his coward feelings. 
 Knew with smoothly ordered language, 
 To delight the Monarch's hearing. 
 
 Thus the four in secret conclave. 
 Careless planned of blood and vengeance, 
 Thus they sat with thoughts unholy, 
 Warring with the people's freedom. 
 Till the ghostly hour of midnight 
 Saw their shrouded figures gliding 
 'Neath the darkly shadowing columns 
 Of the dim deserted Temple.
 
 
 PYLOS. 
 
 
 
 The Fleets sail up the Eurotas. — The Isles- 
 raen join the Armies of Ardoc in the Attach 
 of Pijlos. — The brave defence of the Fortress. 
 — Anselmo attempts the Passage of the 
 River, his Vessel is crushed hij a falling 
 Fragment, and the young Hero slain. — The 
 Fall of Leascar, and Retreat of the Besiegers. 
 — Gonsalvo's sorrow. — Depression of the 
 Islesmen. 
 
 
 

 
 X5Vo 
 PYLOS. 
 
 Swift the squadron of Islanda 
 Sweeps before the favoring breezes, 
 Moving on in rapid courses 
 Up the current of Eurotas. 
 Sparkling waves of gold and amber 
 Dash around in playful antics, 
 As the fleet, with martial music, 
 Glides along the mighty river. 
 
 All around the changing prospect 
 Glowed with varied charms before them, 
 Wlien the morning shed its brightness 
 From the golden eastern portal, 
 Wlien the sun's meridian splendour 
 Poured redundant glory o'er it, 
 Or when gently fading twilight 
 Tinged it with its depths of purple. 
 
 Groves of feathery x^alm trees waving. 
 Traced their broidery on the moonlight ; 
 Lofty woods of hoary pine trees 
 Rose above the flowing waters; 
 Fairy gardens spread their fragrance 
 From the jewelry of their flowers, 
 Golden fruits in rich pi'ofusion, 
 Hung luxuriant o'er the river ; 
 Stately piles of marble beauty
 
 182 PTLOS. XIV. 
 
 Smiled upon its shores of emerald ; 
 
 Terraced walks adorned with sculpture 
 
 Led along its banks of verdure; 
 
 Sylvan fanes embowered in forests 
 
 Shed a sacred calm around them, 
 
 While the domes of peopled cities, 
 
 Swelling o'er arcades of columns, 
 
 O'er long porticoes of granite, 
 
 Rose above the playful billows. 
 
 Yet at times the changing landscape, 
 
 Showed the wilder scenes of nature. 
 
 Rugged hills in craggy steepness. 
 
 Beetling o'er the lonely hamlet, 
 
 Or displayed the great Eurotas, 
 
 Spreading oiit a placid mirror, 
 Smiling with the gay reflection 
 Of her hundred flowery Islets. 
 Mighty stream whose strength meandered 
 Through the plains of violet verdure, 
 That resounded with the lowing 
 Of her countless herds of cattle. 
 Foamy rills of ivory whiteness, 
 "Warbling brooks of sparkling crystal, 
 Darker floods of ebon blackness 
 Sweeping from the distant mountains, 
 Swelled the fulness of its waters ; 
 Wliile the nobler flowing torrents. 
 Dashing on through fairy archways, 
 Darting on o'er rocky barriers. 
 Flung the thunder of their falling 
 Far along the peaceful valleys. 
 
 Thus the fleet in gliding swiftness 
 Passed before the awe-struck people, 
 Thus it swept along Eurotas, 
 Till the radiance of Aurora
 
 XIV. PYLOS. fS3 
 
 Glowed behind the hills of Pylos ; 
 Till she showed the arrowy river 
 Surging 'neath the granite moimtains, 
 Showed the heaven-as^^iring fortress, 
 Darkly grand amidst the sunbeams. 
 There it lay beside Eurotas, 
 Like a stately crouching lion, 
 Battled w^alls and donjon towers. 
 Lofty bulwarks, frowning ramparts, 
 Rose before the astonished Islesmen ! 
 
 But the swdftly moving vessels. 
 As they bear them nearer, nearer, 
 Show the forms of huge balistte, 
 Ranging all along the siimmit ; 
 Misty forms of wonderous engines, 
 Built to guard the narrow passage. 
 Built to hurl unmeasured fragments 
 
 On the hostile masts beneath them. 
 
 And they saw a stately army 
 
 Camped around the frowning castle, — 
 
 Saw the rising sun illumine 
 
 One by one its lofty standards ; 
 
 Till it tinged the Raven banner. 
 
 Floating proudly on the breezes ; 
 
 Till it blazed upon the ensign 
 
 Of the generous sons of Ardoc. 
 Now Gonsalvo lands his forces, — 
 
 Lands Zorayda's mystic warriors ; 
 
 Now Leascar, moving doAvnwards, 
 
 Hastes to meet Islanda's heroes. 
 
 And their rising shouts of greeting. 
 
 Tell the friendship of the armies. 
 
 But that day the siin in sorrow. 
 Hid his face in purple tempests, 
 As he saw the war tried legions
 
 184- 
 
 PYL08. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Gleam beneath the rampirecl fortress, 
 As the glory thirsting veterans 
 Rolled their darkling lines upon it ; 
 As Anselmo's rapid vessels 
 Poured their clouds of miirky vapours 
 Down the deep flood of Eurotas. 
 
 Amalyrac ! then thy waters 
 First resounded with the roaring 
 Of the loudly booming cannon. 
 Then thy lake of purest azure 
 First re-echoed to the thunder 
 Of the war-cry of Zorayda, 
 Then the guardian ranks of Pylos, 
 Thronging to defend her towers, 
 Glittered like the Southern Morning, 
 Rising o'er Antarctic mountains, 
 As their lances, streaming upward. 
 Flashed above her battled bulwarks. 
 
 Then along the bright Eurotas 
 Rose the cries of war and tumult ; 
 Then her peaceful floods arising. 
 Writhed beneath the showering granite, 
 Then the groves of tall acacias 
 Trembled at the hail of iron, 
 And the red avenging lightnings 
 Seared the verdant meads around them. 
 Then the never shaken bulwarks. 
 Built by demigods and heroes. 
 Reeled and crumbled, crashing downwards. 
 Shedding cataracts of ruins. 
 And the valleys rocked with terror 
 When Islanda's darkling columns. 
 Careless of the blazing flrebrands. 
 Careless of the falling missiles. 
 Careless of the molten torrents.
 
 XIV. PYLos. rss 
 
 Poured in flaming floods upon them. 
 ]\Iarched upon the battei'ed ramparts 
 Of the tower-encircled Pylos. 
 
 Ranks of escalading warriors, 
 Planted flrm the assailing ladders, 
 Ardent sons of stately Ardoc, 
 Shielded by their shadowing bucklers, 
 Swarmed ai'ound her lofty gateways ; 
 Stern Zorayda's angry rockets 
 Fell among the huge balistfe. 
 
 Yet the lordly hosts within her, 
 Guarded well her ruined bastions, 
 As they hurled assaulting forces 
 D(jwn into the girdling waters ; 
 As the sudden opening portals 
 Poured their legions to the sallj^, 
 And their vast machines of warfare 
 Wracked with whelming rocks Eurotas. 
 
 Vainly did the young Anselmo 
 Dare the gloomy paths of waters. 
 Vainly had Cruzatlan's seamen 
 Dauntless braved its thousand terrors. 
 Yet again their noble leader 
 Cheered them on amidst the dangers, 
 And again the fleet of Island 
 Swept beneath the crags of Pylos. 
 But the cruel fates arising, 
 Cut the golden thread of triumph, 
 . And a storm of crashing ruins 
 Fell upon Anselmo's vessel ; 
 All around in scattered splinters. 
 Dart her towering masts and rigging, 
 And a dismal cry of horror 
 Rose around her shattered bulwarks. 
 As the foUomng ships beheld her
 
 186 PYLOS. XIV. 
 
 Sinking 'neath the surging water, 
 Saw the form of young Ansehno 
 Floating on the blood-stained billows. 
 
 But that dismal cry of anguish, 
 Rising o'er the din of battle, 
 Reached the army of Leascar, 
 Reached the forces of Gonsalvo ; 
 Then their wearied legions gasping, 
 Maddened at the hero's slaughter. 
 Rushed with unresisted fury 
 On the titan towered city. 
 
 Over ruins, over bastions. 
 Rolls the tempest of their vengeance, 
 Till the outer walls of Pylos 
 Bow before Islanda's banner. 
 Till the exulting troojas behold it 
 Floating on the gory ramparts, 
 Till the sons of Amalyrac 
 Flying back, regain the shelter 
 Of the crag defended castle. 
 
 Yet ! alas ! a faded glory 
 Was that fleeting hour of triumph, 
 For the people-blessed Leascar 
 Lies among the shattered ruins. 
 Darkening shades of shrouded evening 
 Checked the long protracted struggle ; 
 And the mournful sons of Ardoc, 
 Slow retiring, bore their ruler, 
 Midst the sounds of lamentation, 
 From that direful held of conflict. 
 
 Then Gonsalvo, sad and weary, 
 Led his Islesmen to the vessels — 
 Ah ! no more the young Anselmo's — 
 For he knew how coming foi'ces,
 
 XIV. PYLOS. tSy 
 
 Tlironging from the great Orontes, 
 Lay beneath the stately temples 
 Of the ancient Almodira. 
 And he saw how vain the daring, 
 Thvis repelled and spent with battle, 
 To again assail the fortress. 
 
 Sad and weary was Gonsalvo, 
 As he gazed in mournful silence 
 On the calm and marbled features 
 Of his loved and honored comrade ; 
 As he saw the young Anselmo, 
 Saw the lordliest son of Island 
 Lie a senseless corpse before him. 
 
 Weary was the noble hero — 
 Weaiy with the lengthened struggle, 
 For upon that day of sorrow. 
 He had wrought heroic wonders ; 
 He had made the foemen tremble 
 As they saw his white pluming waving. 
 As they saw his brandished sabre 
 Cheering on Zorayda's warriors. 
 When they saw the black Arabia 
 Bear his master through the combat. 
 
 But he too, the generous charger, 
 Had been parted from the hero. 
 As he foremost scaled the rampaii, 
 Planted there the starry standard. 
 And was now, midst shouts of triumph, 
 Led along Eurotas' borders. 
 Doomed by the exulting captors, 
 As an offering to the Godhead. 
 
 All alone, the lordly leader 
 Stood beside Anselmo's body, 
 Mourning o'er the brave departed, 
 Mourning o'er the changing fortune
 
 1S8 PYLOS. XIV. 
 
 That had dimmed the brightening future, 
 Seared the hopes that he had fostered, 
 That the Heavens might yet decree him 
 To again behold Alonzo. 
 For he knew the second sunrise 
 Rose upon the direfvil combat. 
 Knew that then the mystic number, 
 Mystic fifty would be ended. 
 
 Dank and drear the night arising. 
 
 Spread a dismal darkness o'er him. 
 
 Darker still against the flaming 
 
 Of the fiery beacon summits, 
 
 Lit to spread the news of triumpli 
 
 To the great imperial city. 
 
 Far along the echoing river 
 
 Rose the loud victorious shouting 
 
 Of the victor hosts of Pylos, 
 
 As the vanquished army slowly 
 
 Passed into the shrouded distance. 
 
 Down the dark stream of Eurotas, 
 'Neath the canopy of darkness. 
 Moved the shattered Islesman vessels. 
 
 But a heavier weight of sorrow 
 Hung impending o'er the heroes, 
 And disaster, snake enrobed, 
 Wound her coils still closer round them. 
 Hark ! a voice of mournful boding 
 Pierces through the gloomy stillness. 
 But the rising of the night wind 
 Drowns its accents in its moaning. 
 Yet the faintly struggling moonbeams 
 Show a rider siiurring onward. 
 Dashing downwards to the river, 
 Heated, panting, and dishevelled.
 
 XIV. PTLOS. fSP 
 
 Scarce he waits the range of speaking, 
 Ere again his broken accents 
 Sound across the darkened water. 
 ' ' Fellow comrades, I have brought you 
 "Anxious tidings from Lorana ; 
 " There I saw the wearied army 
 ' ' Of the vanquished Amphilonin. 
 "For the guards of Amalyrac, 
 " Leonarchon's chosen veterans, 
 " Led by the imperial Princes, 
 "Overpowered the chief in battle. 
 "And they march by domed Lola, 
 ' ' On Sargano's fenceless fortress. " 
 
 Then the veil of consternation 
 
 Sunk uj)on Islanda's warriors ; 
 
 Then despair and dark despondence 
 
 Spread their sombre shield above them. 
 
 For irrevocable fortune 
 
 Seemed for ever to pursue them. 
 
 Seemed for ever to arrest them. 
 
 As they trod the path of glory. 
 
 But as the mysterious shadow 
 
 Cast at seasons o'er the Daystar, 
 
 Circles round itself the glories. 
 
 Sprung Eternal from the Godhead ; 
 
 So the blasting gloom of sorrow 
 
 Rolled upon the lone Gonsalvo, 
 
 Borrowed grandeur from the greatness 
 
 Of the cahn enduring hero, 
 
 As he bowed in trustful reverence 
 
 To the wise decrees of Heaven.
 
 
 THE COLISEUM. 
 
 
 
 The Amahjrican Heavens. — The Chariot 
 of the Daystar. — The Choral Praise of the 
 Sons of Glory tells the assembled Deities of 
 the approaching Morning. — The unchange- 
 able Decree has been sent forth, fixing the 
 Fate of the Empire. — The Daystar having 
 displayed his portentous Falchion, ascends 
 the Clmriot. — He views the Crowds entering 
 Amalyrac to witness the Challenge. — The 
 different Provinces described. — Leonarclwn 
 enters. — The Song of the Sword. — The long 
 line of Procession. 
 
 
 

 
 XV. 
 
 THE COLISE UM. 
 
 Now at length the winged hours 
 Hasten on the time apx^ointed ; 
 Now at length the mystic number — 
 Mystic fifty is accomplished ; 
 And the seraph sons of Heaven, 
 Spreading wide their snow-white pinions, 
 Fly to ope the shadowy portals 
 That at night enveil the wonders 
 Of the Daystar's iiery chariot. 
 
 Scarcely had their angel fingers 
 Touched the bolts of glowing silver, 
 Ere the cloudy gates retiring, 
 Turn upon their bronzed hinges. 
 And display the glorious beaming 
 Of the orb that bears the Daystar 
 Through the maze of universes ; 
 Of the orb that daily rising 
 O'er the bastions of Heaven, 
 Sheds around the bright reflection 
 Of the ever radiant Godhead ; 
 For the feeble eyes of mortals 
 Cannot view the pure resplendence 
 Of the offspring of the Unknown ; 
 Cannot view the Power celestial, 
 Who controls the hosts immortal.
 
 ■{g^_ THE COLISEUM. XV. 
 
 Glorious is tliat car of wonder, 
 Shedding flaming beams around it, 
 Winged wheels of living lire 
 Bear it o'er the paths of ether ; 
 Mighty pinions, self progressing, 
 Spread afar their four-fold grandeur, 
 As they slowly move in splendour 
 Through the boundless constellations : 
 Dimly shadowed forth to mortals 
 In a cone of roseate fire, 
 As their plumes of folded sunlight 
 Rise amidst the calm of evening, 
 O'er the slowly sinking Daystar. 
 
 Now the dawn's increasing radiance 
 Tinges all the eastern Heavens, 
 As the chariot, gliding onwards. 
 Sheds the dewy showers of blessing 
 O'er the silent zones beneath it : 
 As the wheels of living fire 
 Rest within the vast enclosure 
 Of the Empyrean palace. 
 
 Then from all the sons of glory 
 Thronging all her crystal bulwarks. 
 From the armies of the heroes 
 Moving o'er the sapphire pavement. 
 From the starry hosts of Heaven 
 Ranged along the paths of brightness, 
 Rose the sweet symphonious music 
 Of their morning adoration. 
 
 Then the strains of countless lyres 
 Swelled the long melodious cadence, 
 Till the ecstasy of pleasure. 
 Rolling on in waves of rapture, 
 Bade the diamond domes re-echo 
 To the chorus of their praises ;
 
 XV. THE COLISEUM. -fg^ 
 
 Till the harmonies celestial, 
 Flowing through the flaming portals, 
 Fill the thousand halls of sapphire — 
 Tremble 'neath the fiery towers — 
 Play among the ruby columns 
 Wreathed with Amaranthine flowers^ 
 Linger round the rainbow fountains — 
 Round the springs of endless being ; 
 Till the sounds with faltering reverence 
 Enter o'er the solemn threshold — 
 Through the gates of living fire, — 
 Enter to the awful presence 
 Of the ever glorious Daystar ; 
 Wliere in splendour unconceive'd. 
 In the blaze of full refulgence 
 Rests the Heaven delighting Godhead ; 
 Where -he holds the wonderous converse 
 With the great Unknown, his Father. 
 
 O'er him hung the dismal shadow 
 Of the Spirit of the Midnight, 
 By him rose the giant terrors 
 Of the Father of Destruction, 
 While above the domed vastness 
 Shone the glory of the Unknown. 
 
 For the Gods, in solemn conclave. 
 Met to rule the fates of Empires, 
 And that hour had sealed the future 
 Of the queenly Amalyrac — 
 Sealed the fortunes of Alonzo — 
 Of the lordly Leonarchon, 
 And the dread unchange'd mandate, 
 Had gone forth to be fulfilled. 
 
 Purely sweet the reverent music 
 
 Of the choral adoration. 
 
 Swelling through the courts eternal,
 
 796 THE COLISEUM. XV. 
 
 Told of the approaching morning. 
 Then the Spirit of the Midnight 
 Shrunk into his caves of darkness, 
 Then the carnage-loving Wargod 
 Hasted down to blood and slaughter ; 
 But the fair seraphic semblance 
 Of the ever glorious Daystar 
 Glides along the trembling palace. 
 As he moves, the gates of fire 
 Ope before the awful presence ; 
 And the countless hosts of Heaven, 
 Bowing down in adoration, 
 Cast their coronals of starlight 
 On the pure translucent pavement. 
 Yet before his sovereign footstep 
 Treads the fiery winged chariot, 
 Lo ! his warning hand prophetic. 
 Raised afar, displays the terrors 
 Of his redly flaming falchion ; — 
 Of the sword whose lurid gleaming 
 Shadows forth the woes of nations. 
 All the Empires stretched beneath it 
 Paled before the awful symbol, 
 As it blazed in deadliest brightness 
 O'er the fanes of Amalyrac — 
 O'er the gilded roofs and spires 
 Of the proud imperial palace. 
 Filling all her crowded people 
 With a boding fear of evil 
 As they gazed upon the crimson 
 Of its blade of flaming redness ; 
 As they saw its glare reflected 
 On the waves of the Eurotas. 
 
 Yet not long the Power eternal 
 Held on high the sign of terror,
 
 XV. THE COLISEUM. fg'}' 
 
 Slow he sheathed the blazing portent, 
 And assumed the golden lyre, 
 To whose notes the Hosts of Heaven 
 Sweep along in mystic dances. 
 
 Now he mounts the living chariot, 
 Trembling at the present Godhead, 
 And the harp's celestial music 
 Leads along the sons of glory. 
 Grandly from the courts of azure 
 Rose the winged orb's resplendence. 
 Pouring beams of dazzling daylight, 
 Tempered with the clouds of blessing. 
 O'er the Adamantine bulwai'ks 
 Of the Empyrean city : 
 Till they tinged the towery grandeur 
 Of the Daystar's acient temxjle, 
 Sjjreading forth their genial influence 
 O'er the beauties of creation. 
 
 Then the eye of the all-seeing. 
 In the fulness of refulgence, 
 Rested on his own loved city, 
 On the queenly Amalyrac. 
 
 Through her gates the thronging nations 
 Crowd to see the wonderous combat. 
 All along her streets of columns 
 Pour the multitudes of peoj)le, 
 Surging upward to the summit. 
 Where the Coliseum's grandeur 
 Rears its tenfold rows of arches, 
 Rears its tower-encircled precincts ; 
 Casting wide a mighty shadow 
 O'er the lakes' cerulean water. 
 
 But though awe o'ercamc the stranger. 
 As he viewed the vast exterior. 
 Wonder filled his throbbing bosom
 
 ■jgS THE COLISEUM. XV. 
 
 Wlien he scaled the lofty turrets, 
 As he saw the crowding nations 
 Rolling like a living ocean 
 Through her hundred giant porches, 
 As he marked the lengthened ranges 
 Of her festive seats of marble 
 Rising tier on tier around him ; 
 Saw a myriad snow-white columns 
 Hung with gold embroidered drapery, 
 Bearing up the graven friezes, — ■ 
 Bearing up the polished brightness 
 Of her balustrades of beauty, 
 Gay with veins of varied colour, 
 Graced with wreaths of odorous flowers. 
 
 Glancing up, the eye bewildered, 
 Climbed the rows of circling couches. 
 Till it saw the reddening richness 
 Of the toi^most range of arches 
 Traced against the clear refulgence 
 Of the azure vaults of Heaven. 
 In the centre, broad extended, 
 Lay the sand bestrewn arena, 
 Where the sons of Amalyrac 
 Wont to strive in manly daring. 
 
 Circling round it stood the legions 
 Of the warriors of Orontes, 
 With their gaily floating banners, 
 With their lances gleaming brightly — 
 Guardians of her stately portals. 
 
 Save along the southern barrier 
 Wliere the famed Epiromenes, 
 With the veterans of his army — 
 All the troops of Epidanrus — 
 Held the foremost post of honor 
 At the great imperial entrance.
 
 Xy. THE COLISEUM. -(99 
 
 To the nortliwaixl on liis chariot, 
 Close beneath the imperial shadow 
 Of the throne of Lconarchon 
 Stood the ruler of Orontes. 
 High above in solemn grandeur, 
 In their richly broidered vestures 
 Sat the Hierarch of the Wargod — 
 Sat the High Priest of the Daystar ; 
 Wliile between, in calm composixre, 
 Robdd in the sacred garments, 
 Rests the mighty sovereign Pontift", 
 Rests the High Priest of the Unknown. 
 To the right hand, to the left hand, 
 Stretch the colleges of learning ; 
 Wliile beneath, arrayed in order. 
 Wait the ivory thrones prepared 
 For the rulers of the people. 
 
 But the destined hour approaches. 
 And the spacious pile is crowded 
 With the nations of the Empii-e — 
 With the beauty of her daughters— 
 With the prime of all her manhood, 
 With the wisdom of her sages. 
 Youth and age alike impatient. 
 Line the balconies of marble ; 
 Haughty kings and lordly princes 
 Fill her stately seats of honor ; 
 Subject kingdoms, mighty cities. 
 Pour their sons to view the combat. 
 
 From the crowded streets and causeways 
 Of the ancient Aliuodira : 
 From the looms of golden tissue 
 'Neath the domes of Megalasca ; 
 From the dark and cloudy regions
 
 200 THE COLISEUM. XV. 
 
 Of the coal producing Carzan ; 
 
 From the hirid midnight redness 
 
 Of the flaming springs of Jerah ; 
 
 From the land where lonely Sephar 
 
 Sees the sun's meridian brightness 
 
 Blazing o'er the peaks of Ardoc ; 
 
 From the province of Armoura, 
 
 Bordering on Alloria's kingdoms ; 
 
 From the i^alaced pride of Oro, 
 
 Frowning o'er the inland ocean ; 
 
 From the Islands of Zaurana, 
 
 Rich with mines of gold and silver ; 
 
 From the bright and happy kingdom 
 
 Of the Queen of Epidauriis ; 
 
 From the deep and solemn stillness 
 
 Of Dolona's ancient temples, 
 
 Where the heaven delighting Daystar 
 
 First beheld his father's glory ; 
 
 From the lake whose placid beauty 
 
 Sees the forests of Phoceia 
 
 Waving o'er the "Diamond Mountain;" 
 
 From the woody land of Lara, 
 
 Where the broad stream of Eurotas 
 
 First beholds the Empire's borders ; 
 
 From the rich metallic passes 
 
 Leading to the far Ancyra ; 
 
 From the wide and fertile champaign 
 
 Of the plains of Agrigano, 
 
 Whose Pelasgic towers in wonder 
 
 View the awe inspiring vastness 
 
 Of the peaks of Zon Sorado — 
 
 Of the long gigantic outline 
 
 Of the mighty southern mountains 
 
 That defend the sacred empire 
 
 From the icy rage of winter, 
 
 Whose eternal, changeless summits,
 
 XV. THE COLISEUM. 201 
 
 Veiled in snow from everlasting, 
 Look in calm unbroken silence 
 On the ever restless ocean — 
 On the isles of floating crystal, 
 Moving o'er the azure water. 
 On the full luxuriant verdure 
 Of the kingdoms of Orontes — 
 
 From the nations, who rejoicing, 
 First behold the orient Daystar, 
 To the people, who in sorrow. 
 Watch his eve-departing splendour, 
 From the whole extended greatness 
 Of the realms of Amalyrac — 
 Came that rich and crowding concourse 
 To behold the mystic challenge ; 
 For the fame of Xiloc's conqueror 
 Spread afar to distant regions. 
 And the wondering people hailed him 
 As the offspring of the Daystar. 
 
 Now the sounds of solemn music 
 Tell of the approaching pageant. 
 And the crimson rob^d heralds 
 Loud proclaim the coming Monarch, 
 Low the troops of Epidaurus 
 Bend to earth their gleaming ensigns. 
 As the blazoned eagle banner 
 Soars beneath the giant portal. 
 
 And the legions of Orontes 
 Hail with shouts the gorgeous standard. 
 As it floats beneath the shadow 
 Of the Coliseum's vastness — 
 As it leads the long ijroccssion 
 O'er the wide outstretched arena. 
 In its pathway youths and maidens 
 Strew the ground with odorous flowers,
 
 202 THE COLISEUM, XV. 
 
 Wliile the martial ranks of music 
 Follow, each in destined order. 
 
 Till before that great assembly 
 Moved the high commanding figure 
 Of the King, whose haughty sceptre 
 Sways the regions of Phoceia ; 
 Who enrobed in regal vestments, 
 Glittering midst his subject i^rinces, 
 Bears on high the imi^erial radiance 
 Of the crown of Anialyrac, 
 Proudly bears the gleaming brightness 
 Of the diadem of power — 
 Of the ancient jewelled circlet 
 That had shone upon the forehead 
 Of a hundred mighty monarchs, 
 That had blazed in beams celestial 
 On the brows of old Almodad ; 
 When the everlasting Daystar 
 In the dimness of Dolona 
 Gave it to the generous offspring 
 Of his war-delighting brother. 
 And commanded him to keep it, 
 And to charge his sons and daughters 
 That they wield the sceptre lightly, 
 Lest a day of retribution 
 Hasten on the destined hour ; 
 Lest their Emiiire be o'erwhelmed 
 Ere the time before appointed. 
 
 Still the long line of procession 
 Sweeps before in stately measure, 
 Till the lordly Leonarchon 
 Treads the stairs of polished marble, 
 Till he mounts the throne of ivory 
 That had seen him first invested 
 With the emblems of his i)ower.
 
 XV. THE COLISEUM. 203 
 
 lu his hand the emerald sceptre, 
 Glitters in the glancing snnbeams, 
 And the gems of his tiara 
 Gleam nj)on his noble forehead. 
 Now his haughty eye majestic, 
 Ranges o'er the vast assembly. 
 And a flush of conscious power 
 Glows across liis manly features, 
 As he sees arrayed before him 
 All the glory of his Empire ; 
 Sees liis proud aspiring wishes 
 Hastening to a sure fulfilment ; 
 As he muses on the tidings 
 Brought liim on that welcome morning, 
 Of Lorana's field of triumph. 
 Of the fall of great Leascar, 
 Vanquished 'neath victorious Pylos. 
 As he knew no common mortal 
 Could maintain the unequal struggle, 
 Doomed upon the stranger warrior ; 
 For he feared the mystic fable 
 Of the Sun's avenging offspring, 
 And he longed to see the hour 
 Fatal to the great Alonzo. 
 
 Still the long line of procession 
 Sweeps before in stately measure ; 
 Here the Empress Cleopatra 
 Moves amidst her robes of ermine ; 
 Here the Empire's maiden daughters 
 Glide along in youthful beauty. 
 
 First the tall and graceful Hera 
 Emulates her queenly mother, 
 With her veil of golden tissue 
 Flashing back the rays of sunlight ; 
 Then Chrysothemis, the lovely,
 
 204 THE COLISEUM. XV. 
 
 Leaning on the fair Irene, 
 Scarcely daring to look upward 
 At the multitudes around her. 
 
 Then the King of Old Dolona 
 Sprung from Cleopatra's father ; 
 Foremost in the rank of jarinces — 
 Basking in imperial favour ; 
 Then the kinsmen of the Monarch, 
 Then the train of ancient sages ; 
 Till before that great assembly- 
 Glides the long imposing order 
 Of the solemn priestly systrum. 
 In whose centre, high upraised. 
 Borne upon its couch of crimson, 
 Beamed the brightly polished splendour 
 Of the sacred sword Phlegathron. 
 As they pass, an awful silence 
 Spreads arovmd the thronging nations, 
 And the chorus of their voices 
 Rises o'er the death-like stillness. 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 Who shall be able to wield the great falchion ? 
 Who shall be able to bear it in battle ? 
 None but the Brother of the red Wargod — 
 None but the Offspring of the bright Daystar. 
 
 See ye its hilt, one diamond of beauty. 
 Plucked from the gardens of Heaven in its glory ; 
 See ye its blade all radiant with sunbeams. 
 Wrought in the caves of the Spirit of Midnight.
 
 XV. THE COLISEUM. 205 
 
 So it beamed bright in the hand of the Godhead, 
 Beamed in the hand of the Father of Sunlight, 
 As the huge form of the Giant of Ouran 
 Fell like a meteor, shaking the planets. 
 
 And when the terrible Spirit of Darkness 
 Sought to enveil the world with its horrors, 
 Then at the sight of its blazing refulgence, 
 Fled the vast shade to the caverns of ocean. 
 
 But it now sleeps the long slumber of ages. 
 Resting in silence the symbol of power, 
 Waiting the season, all dimly foreshadowed — 
 When it shall Avake to the thunder of battle. 
 
 Rise then, ye Nations, rise and adore it I 
 Rise and adore it, the symbol of Power ! 
 None shall e'er wield it, but the bright Daystar, 
 None shall e'er bear it, but his great Offspring, 
 Rise then, ye Nations, rise and adore it, 
 Rise and adore the symbol of Power. 
 
 Then the whole of that assembly, 
 Filled with awe and reverent feelings. 
 Rose before the sacred falchion ; 
 While the priests in mystic order. 
 Placed it by the crown of Empire — 
 Placed it on the ancient altar, 
 Built beneath the solemn shadow 
 Of the throne of Amalp'ac. 
 
 Still the long line of procession 
 Sweeps before in stately measure, 
 Till the sons of Epidaurus
 
 206 THE COLISEUM. XV. 
 
 Hail their loved imperial mistress, 
 Raising loud the clang of armonr, 
 As they strike their burnished bucklers. 
 
 Till the eyes of the assembly 
 Rest upon her lovely daughter — 
 On the peerless form of beauty, 
 On the star of Amalyrac. 
 From her coronal of crystal 
 Fell the envious veil that ever 
 Hid her fair and perfect features 
 From the vision of the people : 
 For the haughty Leonarchon 
 Feared the power of her enchantment. 
 But in vain the cruel Monarch, 
 Sought to hide it from the nation ; 
 For the mystery shed o'er her, 
 And her graceful, queenly bearing — 
 As she moved in robes of whiteness, 
 Girdled with a band of jewels — 
 Spread a holy charm around her. 
 Made her seem some purer being 
 Nurtured in the courts of Heaven. 
 
 Long and loud had been the greeting 
 That received the lordly Monarch, 
 As he passed in kingly pageant 
 Through the giant Coliseum. 
 Yet a fuller voice of welcome 
 Hailed the entrance of the Princess, 
 Thrilling through the envious spirit 
 Of the Master of the Eagle. 
 Now in rich and gorgeous vestures 
 Sweeps along the Queen of Oro. 
 Here is seen the dark eyed beauty 
 Of the daughter of Zourana ; 
 Here the proud commanding glances 
 Of the sovereign of Eurotas
 
 XT. THE COLISEVil. 207 
 
 Brooding o'er palatial cities 
 
 In the power of Island's armies. 
 
 Here the Princess of Ancyra, 
 
 With her rich and golden tresses, 
 
 Who had left her father's towers, 
 
 Frowning o'er the wild Phialla ; 
 
 Gazing on the forms gigantic, 
 
 On the grandest works of Nature ; 
 
 Gazing on the snow-clad mountains 
 
 Rising in aspiring vastness 
 
 Straight above the lake's dark water 
 
 Closing in its awful wildness 
 
 With their Heaven assaulting summits ; 
 
 Gazing on the Avonderous vision 
 
 Of the falls of the Phoceia ; 
 
 Where the broad and foaming river. 
 
 Thundering far along the valley, — 
 
 Roaring thr<mgh the riven chasm — 
 
 Leaps a thousand cubits doAvnward, 
 
 Hurling its stupendous torrent 
 
 To the stillness of Phialla. 
 
 Here is seen the haughty sister 
 Of the Monarch of Sargano, 
 Wlio beheld the sons of Ardoc 
 Ruling in his stately palace. 
 Here the lord of Araxeia, 
 Here the chief of Ismanutha, 
 Here the ever fi'owning features 
 Of the tyrant of Armoura. 
 
 Still the long line of procession 
 Sweeps before in stately measure. 
 
 Now enrobed in purple garments, 
 Move the envoys of the kingdoms ; 
 Move tlie ambassadors and princes
 
 ^08 THE COLISEUM. XV. 
 
 From the mighty neighbouring Empires, 
 From the distant Heahns and Nations 
 Throned upon the boundless ocean. 
 
 First the haughty Lord of Manca 
 Shadows forth AUoria's greatness, 
 Shadows forth the gay profusion 
 Of his lord's barbaric splendour ; 
 Of the King, whose yoke of iron 
 "Weighed upon the fertile Mora, 
 Of the King, whose dark ambition, 
 Raged along the hills of Ardoc, 
 And insatiate, poured his terrors 
 O'er the groves of Parasmana. 
 Here the chieftain of Lodargo, 
 From Mediro's mountain valleys. 
 Spread beneatli the sacred shadow 
 Of Dolona's snow-clad summits. 
 Here are seen the stately legates 
 Of the powerful western kingdoms ; 
 From the dark embattled grandeur 
 Of Chrysaor's sea-girt borders ; 
 From the vales of Ironama, 
 Sinking to the stormy ocean, 
 Crowndd with the rugged outline 
 Of Dinorma's misty Islands ; 
 From the fairy Almanula, 
 From the land of smiling waters, 
 Far behind the solemn valleys. 
 Where the Oracle of Wisdom 
 Tells the destinies of nations ; 
 From the hills of Constellara, 
 From tlie kingdoms of Moskella, 
 From the golden fields that glitter 
 O'er the queenly land of Leila. 
 Each had sent its noblest princes 
 To the great imjperial city ;
 
 XV. THE COLISEUM. 209 
 
 Each had sent its lordliest envoy 
 To the Court of Amalyrac. 
 
 Still the long line of procession 
 Sweeps before in stately measure, 
 Till the Ruler of the city, 
 In the pride of civic honor ; 
 Till her Senators of wisdom, 
 In their sable robes of office, 
 Close the grand imposing semblance 
 Of the power of Amalyrac.
 
 
 THE CHALLENGE. 
 
 XVL 
 
 • 
 
 
 Leonarchon summons Alonzo, who enters 
 in the Arni'i of Philolaos — The High 
 Priest of the JJtiknown warns Leonarchon 
 to stay the Challenge. — He, unheeding, bids 
 them unloose the Eagle. — Alonzo over- 
 comes in the first three Combats, but has 
 only a BroJcen Sivord to defend him from 
 the Giants. — Tet he slays the first : when the 
 Entrance of Arabia checks the Advance of 
 the others. — Alomo, Master of tJte Bolts 
 of Thitnd-jr, obtains the Victory. 
 
 
 

 
 XVL 
 THE C HALLE NGE. 
 
 Now the Nations of the Empire 
 Resting on their seats of marble, 
 Wait with scarce restrained impatience 
 For the coming of the hero. 
 
 Thrice ten myriad eyes are turne'd 
 Towards tlie lordly Leonarchon, 
 Eager for the appointed summons 
 That shall call the wonderous warrior 
 To the great unequal combat. 
 
 Lo ! the offspring of Almodad, 
 Rising from his throne of ivory, 
 Stretches forth the emerald sceptre 
 Towards the ancient granite Altar ; 
 And his accents, clear and stately. 
 Sounding through the Coliseum, 
 Reach the famed Epiromenes : 
 "Bring the stranger Champion forward ! " 
 
 All the multitudes were silent. 
 Bending down in expectation, 
 As they gazed in anxious longing 
 On the high imperial entrance. 
 Now the troops of Epidauriis 
 Seem to turn in still amazement ;
 
 214 2'ifJJ CHALLESGE. XVI. 
 
 Now the legions of Orontes 
 Waver backward, filled with wonder, 
 And the lance of car-borne Oro 
 Quivers with its master's terrors. 
 
 Now a cold and deadly pallor 
 Creeps o'er Leonarchon's visage, 
 As he sees Epiromenes 
 Enter with the stranger Champion ; 
 And the eager expectation 
 Of the nations of the Empire 
 Changes too to thrilling wonder 
 As they gaze upon the figure — 
 On the armour of the hero. 
 
 Till when words and faltering whisjiers 
 First gave utterance to their feelings, 
 "Philolaos! Philolaos ! " 
 Rose from all their countless thousands, 
 "Philolaos! Philolaos!" 
 Rang around the mighty precincts ; 
 For they see the white plume waving 
 O'er the crown-encircled helmet ; 
 See the semblance of the Daystar 
 Flaming on the golden buckler ; 
 Know the ruby handled falchion 
 That had led them on to triumph ; 
 And the figure of Alonzo, 
 As he trod the wide arena, 
 Brought to mind the great departed, 
 In his days cf youthful valour. 
 When the Gonfanon of Xiloc 
 Waved above the Empire's armies. 
 
 But the leader of Islanda 
 Moved with a yet statelier bearing, 
 And from 'neath his kingly forehead 
 Darted forth a fiercer fire. 
 And his countenance seemed beaming
 
 XVI. THE CHALLEXGE. 275 
 
 With a still more godlike presence. 
 
 But a flush of deeper feeling 
 Seems to tinge the warrior's features, 
 As his eye, in darting swiftness, 
 Ranges o'er the throne'd powers ; 
 As it rests in lingering rapture 
 On the Heavenly Aniarantha. 
 Even she, the lovely Princess, 
 Started when she saw Alonzo 
 In the panoplied resplendence 
 Of her long lamented father ; 
 And a tear of sad remembrance 
 Glistened in her eyes of azure, 
 As he seemed to stand before her 
 In the pride of youthful ardour. 
 Oh ! how welcome was the covering 
 Of her veil's embroidered tissue. 
 As she felt the rising blushes 
 Answering to the frowning glances 
 Cast upon her by the Monarch. 
 For he knew that none could glitter 
 In the arms of Philolaos, 
 Ere he had obtained the favor 
 
 Of his fair and queenly daughter. 
 
 • 
 
 Then the multitudes of people, 
 Rousing from their deep amazement. 
 Saw how the imperial helmet 
 Gleamed upon the stranger Champion, 
 And they shuddered at the daring 
 That had led the great adventurer 
 Thus to gather hopeless dangers 
 Round the terrors of the combat. 
 For they knew that he who blazdd 
 In the arms of Pliilolaos, 
 Stood revealed the stern accuser
 
 2-J6 THE CHALLENGE. XVI. 
 
 Of the mighty Leonarchon, 
 And. arraigned the haughty Monarch 
 As usurper of the kingdom ; 
 Then their sympathy arising, 
 Thought of all the days of blessing, 
 When the Father of his people 
 Led them on the paths of triumph ; 
 Thought how all the Northern nations 
 Rose against their despot ruler — - 
 Thought of all the pride and glory 
 Of an Empress Amarantha. 
 
 But meanwhile the armdd warrior 
 Strides the Coliseum's vastness. 
 As he moves, the noon-day radiance 
 Blazes on the diamond umbo, 
 And his cuirass, gemmed with jewels^ 
 Flashes back the streams of sunlight ; 
 Till he seems indeed the Offspring 
 Of the ever beaming Daystar. 
 Proud he moves, till at the centre 
 Of the wide outstretched arena : 
 Stern he rears his steely javelin, 
 Resting on his burnished buckler. 
 And his lordly voice arises 
 Clear amidst the gathering stillness : 
 " Mighty King of Amalyrac ! 
 " I demand the lawful Challenge — 
 "I demand the mystic Challenge 
 "With the Elements of Nature." 
 
 Then the High Priest of the Unknown, 
 Rising with the sacred college. 
 Spake in slow and solemn measure : 
 "Monarch ! Kings ! and wealthy nations 
 "Of the realms of Amalyrac !
 
 XVI. 
 
 THE CEALLESGE. 
 
 '// 
 
 ' Lo ! the mystic time appointed 
 
 'By the oracle of Wisdom, 
 
 ' Has fuliilled its destined courses. 
 
 'And thy voice, O ! Leonarchon, 
 
 ' Now alone can free the Champion. 
 
 ' Hearken to my words, I pray thee, 
 
 ' Ere the changeless fate be spoken ; 
 
 ' For the dreadly flaming falchion 
 
 ' Of the ever glorious Daystar, 
 
 ' That dire portent that foreboding 
 
 ' Tells of woes and coming slaughter, 
 
 ' Blazed this morn in lurid redness 
 
 ' O'er the great imperial j^alace, 
 
 ' Gleamed in crimson rays of bloodshed 
 
 ' O'er the waves of the Eurotas. 
 
 ' I beheld it, and its meaning 
 
 ' Shone before my age'd eyesight, 
 
 ' I beheld it, but I may not 
 
 ' Tell the omen to the i)eople ; 
 
 ' But do thou, O ! mighty Monarch, 
 
 'Hear the ancient Pontiff's counsel, 
 
 ' Weigh the words of timely warning, 
 
 ' While I charge thee, Leonai'chon, 
 
 'That thou stay the mystic Challenge." 
 
 Thus he spake, and for a season 
 Hope o'erspread the great assembly, 
 Till the ruler of the Empire, 
 Frowning towards the reverend Pontiff, 
 Bids them not delay the combat, 
 Bids them loose the warrior Eagle. 
 Then the solemn priestly systrum, 
 Circling round the ancient altar^ 
 Raised the chorus of their voices, 
 Sounding o'er the tiers of marble.
 
 218 2^^-^ CHALhESGE. XVI. 
 
 CHOKUS. 
 
 Bring forth the Eagle — the First of Creation, 
 Bring forth the Storm-bird, the Lord of the 
 
 Mountain, 
 Born on the whirlwind, cradled in tempests, 
 Emblem of Ether. 
 
 Wlien the dark world is rolling in thunder. 
 When the red lightning is darting around it. 
 Then he soars calm in tlie azure of Heaven, 
 Gleaming in Sunlight. 
 
 For he has founded his palace of crystal. 
 High on the fanes of the mighty Sorardo, 
 Where he sits throned on the snows everlasting, 
 Gazing on Heaven. 
 
 Bring forth the Storm-bird, Sovereign of combat. 
 Lord of the air and emblem of Ether ! 
 He who o'ercomes him, hurls at his footstool 
 Nature's first Power. 
 
 As they ceased, a j)lumed shadow 
 Sweeps oJong the great arena, 
 And the nations, gazing upwards. 
 See the golden-pinioned eagle 
 Soaring high above the towers ; 
 Poised in air, now o'er the people, 
 Hovering now above the helmet 
 Of the ruler of Islanda — 
 So he hovered o'er his quarry 
 In his own majestic valleys,
 
 XVI. THE CHALLEXGE. 219 
 
 Where the sources of Orontes, 
 Pouring from the icy portal — 
 From the clear cerulean archway, 
 Roll their dark and gloomy waters 
 Througli the dread impending chasms ; 
 Through the huge unmeasured vastness 
 Of the overshadowing mountains ; 
 Through their bastions of granite 
 Crowned with never ending winter. 
 
 But no more the powerful pinions 
 
 Of the bird of Leonarchon, 
 
 Rest all motionless in ether : 
 
 See he stoops, and swooping downwards, 
 
 Darts upon the crested hero, 
 
 Like the shaft of vivid fire, 
 
 That descending from its palace 
 
 In the wracking clouds of Heaven, 
 
 Falls upon a lonely column, 
 
 Sole memorial of its city. 
 
 Yet as still, the sage's wisdom. 
 
 Knows to stay the threatening ruin, 
 
 So Alonzo, calm and stately. 
 
 Watched, unawed, the mighty eagle. 
 
 High he raised his beamy javelin, 
 
 Bending back his godlike figure — 
 
 Waiting for the coming danger. 
 
 Dark he sees the shade above him, 
 
 Hears the whistling of its pinions, 
 
 And with firmly guiding power, 
 
 Hurls the swift ascending weapon. 
 
 Then a chill of anxious boding 
 Crept through Amarantha's bosom. 
 And her eyes, with dimness shaded.
 
 220 THE CHALLENGE. XVI. 
 
 Saw no more the great Alonzo. 
 
 But the sound of shouting people, 
 
 Echoing o'er the Coliseum, 
 
 Broke the mazy spell that bound her, 
 
 And she saw the helme'd Champion, 
 
 Scatheless from the primal contest. 
 
 Draw the death-directed javelin 
 
 From the lifeless form before him. 
 
 Gloomy scowls of indignation 
 
 Darkened Leonarchon's forehead, 
 
 As he saw the Lord of Ether, 
 
 In whose strength he viewed the emblem 
 
 Of his own imperial greatness. 
 
 Fall so soon before the hero ; 
 
 And his sovereign voice arising, 
 
 Hastens on the hoped-for vengeance. 
 
 As he gives the mighty mandate 
 
 For the second deadly combat. 
 
 Then again the priestly systrum, 
 Robed in their sacred garments. 
 Raised the chorus of their voices. 
 Sounding o'er the wide arena. 
 
 CHOKTJS. 
 
 Bring forth the Alligator, 
 
 Ranger of Rivers, 
 Bring forth tlie dreaded beast. 
 
 Terror of Nations. 
 Slow he moves onward 
 
 In grandeur and silence, 
 Gliding along 
 
 In the glory of Power.
 
 XVI. THE CHALLENGE. 221 
 
 See him arraye'd 
 
 In adamantine armour, 
 See his red eyeballs 
 
 Irradiate with fury. 
 Thus he stalks proud on 
 
 The banks of Eurotas, 
 Thus rules her deep floods, 
 
 Monarch of Waters. 
 
 He who shall vanquish him, 
 
 Victor in the combat, 
 Stands the great Lord 
 
 O'er the powers of the Ocean. 
 Bring then the dreaded beast. 
 
 Fearful to gaze on, 
 Bring forth the terror 
 
 Of the children of Lara. 
 
 Ere they cease, the giant Lizard, 
 Moving slowly o'er the arena. 
 Glided towards the stately Champion ; 
 Wide he oped his gulphy vastness. 
 Bristling with serrated terrors, 
 Shook his tail in rising fury. 
 Whirled the clouds of dust ai'ound him, 
 And his eyeballs darting tire 
 View with joy the certain victim. 
 On he glides, his scaly harness 
 Rattles as he hastens forward, — 
 As he sees the great Alonzo 
 Poising his uplifted javelin : 
 Brightly gleamed the steely weapon. 
 While the hero's steady vision, 
 Aimed it at the Dread of Rivers ; 
 And it blazed a darting meteor.
 
 22Z 2'if£ CHALLENGE. XVI. 
 
 As it cleft the fields of Heaven. 
 
 Down it falls with force impetuous, 
 
 Falls upon the maile'd body ; 
 
 But the adamantine armour 
 
 Hurled the ponderous weapon backward, 
 
 Broken, shattered into shivers. 
 
 Then the crowds of anxious people, 
 Fearing for the lonely warrior — - 
 For the champion of their Princess, 
 Bent in anxious silence forward. 
 Still the gliding beast moves onward, 
 Shrieking in its horrid pleasure ; 
 Till it grasps Islanda's ruler, 
 Rearing high its scaly breastplate ; 
 Till it holds the kingly hero 
 In its slimy, cold emln-aces. 
 Now its giant tail is wreathed, 
 Bending in the golden armour, 
 Now its ghastly jaws are gaping. 
 Closing o'er the plumed helmet. 
 
 Then Ahnizo felt endurance 
 Sinking 'neath the crushing monster, 
 Then a deeper thrill of terror 
 Ran througli all that great assembly ; 
 Then the haughty Leonarchon 
 Smiled to see his wish accomplished. 
 And the Princess Amarantha, 
 Sunk upon her mother's bosom, 
 Hid her lovely face in mourning. 
 
 But behold the Lord of Island, 
 Straining all his utmost powers. 
 Frees his right arm from its bondage. 
 And a sudden cry of gladness 
 Sounds around the pillared precincts, 
 As the ruby falchion flashes
 
 XV i. THE CHALLEXGE. 223 
 
 O'er the crown-encirclecl helmet 
 Like tlie sunbeam on a billow, — 
 As he sheathed the steely azure 
 'Neath the Alligator's eyebrow, 
 And the lifeless body sinking, 
 Fell a mass of helpless ruin, 
 Making all the great arena, 
 Trembling answer to its slaughter. 
 
 Yet Alonzo, scarce arising, 
 Freed him from the scaly lizard, 
 Ere again the solemn priesthood 
 Woke the measure of their chorus. 
 
 CHORU.S. 
 
 Loose ye the terrible Lion, Lord of the hills of 
 
 Deserta, 
 Bring forth the Emblem of Earth, Prince of the 
 
 Beasts of the plain. 
 Woe to the stranger, who heedless, rouses him 
 
 vip in his anger. 
 Woe to the sons of the chase, who shall disturb 
 
 his repose. 
 Then all the oaks of the forest shake at the 
 
 sound of his roaring, 
 Then the full voice of his wrath echoes afar 
 
 from his lair ; 
 But when the shades of the evening tell of the 
 
 coming of midnight, 
 Then he goes forth in his pride, roaming the 
 
 liills for his prey. 
 Then he spreads fear o'er the valleys, prowling 
 
 along in the moonbeams, 
 Showing his mighty shape, dark on the brow of 
 
 the hill.
 
 1 oA THE CHALLENGE. XVI. 
 
 Yet still fiercer he roves, through the endless 
 
 woods of Phoceia, 
 And still vaster his form, tilling the nations with 
 
 fear ; 
 Glory to him whose valor, shall tame the pride 
 
 of his anger, 
 He who shall lay him low, rules o'er the spirits 
 
 of earth. 
 Loose then the terrible lion, symbol of strength 
 
 and of greatness, 
 Bring forth the forest king, Lord of the beasts 
 
 of the plain. 
 
 But an awful sound rebounding 
 
 From the myriad marble columns, 
 
 Breaks upon the priestly chorus, 
 
 Sending an unwilling shudder 
 
 Through the crowd of kings and nations ; 
 
 And an anxious thrill of terror 
 
 Blanched the dames of Amalyrac 
 
 As they saw the tawny monster — 
 
 As they viewed the vast proportions 
 
 Of Phoceia's fiercest Lion. 
 
 On he moves in devious courses, 
 
 Seeking his accustomed victim. 
 
 Now he glares upon the assembly, 
 
 Springing at the circling barriers. 
 
 Now at length his glowing eyeballs 
 
 Rest upon the great Alonzo, 
 
 And a louder roar resounding. 
 
 Echoes forth its awful thunder, 
 
 As he seems to hail a champion 
 
 Worthy of his lordly prowess. 
 
 And the Princess Amarantha 
 
 Clasped her hands to stay her feelings.
 
 XVI. THE CHALLENGE. 225 
 
 As she watched his mane arising, 
 Bristling up with gathering fierceness, 
 As slie saw him bounding forward, 
 Straining all his giant muscles — 
 Saw him crouching down in silence, 
 Gazing grimly on Alonzo ; 
 Till she shudders from the vision, 
 As she liears the , direful death-spring. 
 
 But the Champion, ever watchful, 
 Leaps aside with agile swiftness. 
 And the forest king in fury, 
 Lashes round his tail in anger. 
 For he feels the ready warrior, 
 Wound him with the ruby falchion, 
 Sees his destined prey uninjured. 
 Stand in all his pride before him ; 
 Yet again he dashes onward. 
 And again, with straining ardour, 
 Springs ^vith fiercer, deadlier raging. 
 Grappling with Islanda's ruler. 
 
 Then the Princess, lost in horror. 
 Gazed in fixed and eager anguish. 
 As she saw her loved Alonzo 
 Vainly seek to ward the danger. 
 Heard the ringing plates of armour 
 Clash upon the great arena. 
 As she thought she saw the Lion 
 Rend his mangled form to pieces. 
 
 Silence ! sad and mournful silence, 
 Reigned around the Coliseum, 
 As the nations watched the combat — 
 As they viewed the unequal struggle — 
 As they saw the hero wrestling
 
 226 THE CHALLENGE. XVI. 
 
 With the terror of Phoceia. 
 
 Vainly did the golden .buckler 
 Shield him from the tawny monarch, 
 For his teeth, with grinding harshness, 
 Wrenched the burnished plates of armour. 
 
 But a direful howl arising. 
 Breaks the spell of strained attention — 
 Ends the joy of Leonarchon. 
 And Alonzo the victorious, 
 Wields around his broken falchion, 
 As he looks with mien triumphant 
 On the vast and lifeless monster. 
 Looks upon tlie gory forehead. 
 Gleaming Avith the shivered fragment 
 Witness of that desperate struggle. 
 But the never daunted leader 
 Knew the overpowering effort, — 
 Felt the feeble hope of conquering, 
 Thus unarmed and spent and wearied, 
 All the four-fold strength of giants. 
 And the lovely Amarantha, 
 Rousing from her fearful dreaming. 
 Boded that each fleeting moment 
 Was the last for her Alonzo. 
 
 But again the cruel monarch 
 Hastens on the direful combat, 
 And again the priestly systrum 
 Raise the long and solemn chorus. 
 
 CHORUS. 
 
 Lo ! their are Fires — above us — beneath us — 
 Sprung in their forms from the hand of the 
 
 Godhead, 
 Fires celestial beaming in brightness,
 
 XVI. THE CHALLEyOE. 2 27 
 
 Fires terrestrial — blessing and cursing, 
 
 Fires of Midnight — ever destroying, 
 
 Fires of Judgment — flaming from Heaven. 
 
 Where shall we find the Emblem of Fire ? 
 Where on the earth ? or where in the water ? 
 Where in the far stretching fields of the ether ? 
 Which of the beasts of the dark waving forest ? 
 Which of the wild birds, that soar o'er the 
 
 mountains 1 
 Which of the sons of the wide rolling ocean 
 Boast to resemble the oflspring of Heaven ? 
 None can assume the primal distinction, 
 None represent tlie essence of Being. 
 
 Man is the Lord of Creation — 
 His spirit the Emblem of Fire ; 
 Man, when he walks in his glory. 
 Shines like the sun in the zenith ; 
 Man, with his changing affections, 
 Glows like the flame of a furnace ; 
 Man, when he rises in anger, 
 Flames like the river of Midnight ; 
 Man, when he moves the avenger. 
 Strikes like the arrows of Heaven. 
 
 Come then, ye Giants, to battle and slaughter, 
 Cume to the awful and mystical combat. 
 
 Lo ! they have come from the kingdoms, 
 The farthest realms of the Empire ; 
 Come from the mighty shadow ! 
 The snow-clad peaks of Sorardo ; 
 Come from the northern mountains, 
 The deep blue hills of Circano ; 
 Come from the golden isles.
 
 2,28 THE CHALLENGE. XVI. 
 
 The joy of the ocean of Oro ; 
 
 Come from the evening land, 
 
 The fertile region of Lara. 
 
 He who shall break their power, 
 
 Their four-fold strength in the challenge, 
 
 Reigns in the realms everlasting. 
 
 Lord o'er the powers of Nature. 
 
 Come then, ye Giants, to battle and slaughter — 
 Come to the awful and mystical combat. 
 
 As the solemn priestly chorus, 
 Slow retiring, leave the Altar, 
 All the eyes of the assembly 
 Gaze upon the towering figures 
 Of the chosen sons of Empire, — 
 Gaze upon their limbs of iron ; 
 None but raised his armed shoulders 
 High above Alonzo's helmet. 
 
 By the circling northern bvilwark, 
 'Neath the throne of Leonarchon, 
 Stood the gloomy crested Geiro. 
 O'er his head, his arms enormous, 
 Swing his jionderous flail in menace ; 
 To tlie south, the huge Diospur 
 Rests uiDon his weighty javelin — 
 On his spear, a single pine tree. 
 Rooted from the gi'oves of Lara. 
 Here upon the western circuit — 
 Moves the giant of Sorardo — 
 Moves Helion's swarthy figure ; 
 On his shoulder rest the terrors 
 Of his boss-enibi"onzed war-club ; 
 While beside the Eastern barrier 
 Rose the form of haughty Thonor ;
 
 XVI. THE CHALLEXGE. ^29 
 
 He, the tallest of the children, 
 
 Of Circano's mountain valleys ; 
 
 By his side is seen the glitter 
 
 Of his axe's whetted sharpness, 
 
 On his casque the flaming dragon, 
 
 Red with furnace glowing brightness. 
 
 Such the foe whose strength gigantic. 
 
 Threatens to overwhelm Alonzo, 
 
 Such the last and greatest danger. 
 
 Dread impending o'er the hero. 
 
 And the ruler of Islanda, 
 
 As he weighed the hopeless striving. 
 
 Felt his ardent spirit failing, — 
 
 Felt the shadow of Destruction 
 
 Darkening all his hopes of glory. 
 
 Then the night of desperation 
 
 Soon had wrapt him in its mazes. 
 
 Had not undeflnt^d feelings 
 
 Led his eyes in sorrow xipwards 
 
 To the beauteous Amarantha, 
 
 As then- long and lingering glances 
 
 Seemed to say "Farewell for ever." 
 
 But when he beheld his loved one — 
 
 When he saw the veile'd figui'e 
 
 Sinking 'neath her growing anguish, 
 
 Wlien he viewed the tyrant glances 
 
 Of the frowning Leonarchon, 
 
 When he tliought of her unaided, 
 
 Victim of a direful vengeance — 
 
 Bvirning ardour glowed within him. 
 
 Flaming into desperate courage, 
 
 And then, Woe ! to him whose daring 
 
 Leads him in the Champion's pathway. 
 
 But not long the boastful Gcii'o 
 Waits to join the easy combat.
 
 230 TEE CHALLENGE. XVI. 
 
 See he strides along majestic, 
 Swinging round his flail of iron, 
 And in mockery prays Alonzo 
 Not to slay his helpless victim. 
 
 Then the lord of great Islanda 
 Felt the furies raging in him, — 
 Then he snatched the broken fragment 
 Of the sword of Philolaos, 
 And arousing all his forces, 
 Flung it fiercely at the boaster. 
 
 Wonder tilled the Kings and Princes, 
 
 As they saw him thus unheeding, 
 
 Hurl away his only weai^on, — 
 
 Hurl away in desperation, 
 
 All the hope that chance had given him. 
 
 But a dumb amazement followed, 
 As the congregated jiowers 
 Saw the deeply dented falchion 
 Strike the giant's bronzed forehead : 
 As they saw the haughty Geiro, 
 Trembling drop the threatening iron, 
 As they heard his armed figure 
 Clanking fall upon the arena. 
 
 Then the great Alonzo, even 
 Scarcely owned the easy triumph 
 As he gazed upon the vastness 
 Of the mail-invested warrior. 
 
 Yet he knew each winged moment 
 Carried fate upon its pinions, 
 And he hastes to gain the succour 
 Of Armoura's ponderous weapon. 
 As he stoops, the giant brethren. 
 Joining in barbaric laughter, 
 Vowing vengeance for their comrade. 
 Rush upon the lonely hero.
 
 XVI. THE CHALLEXGE. 231 
 
 But a deeper sound arises 
 
 From the spacious outer precincts, 
 
 Like the roar of tossing ocean 
 
 Rolling to the imperial portal ; 
 
 And Alonzo, turning towards it, 
 
 Hears it swelling, louder, louder. 
 
 Till the stately Coliseum 
 
 Echoes back the mighty surging ; 
 
 Sees the whole assembly breathless, 
 
 All forgetful of his danger, 
 
 Wait amazed the coming uproar. 
 
 Till the upper ranks of people 
 
 Raise a cry of fear and wonder, 
 
 Till the three advancing champions 
 
 Stand entranced like graven statues. 
 
 Onward rolls the approaching tumult, 
 
 Pealing in discordant thunder. 
 
 E'en the guards of Epidaurus 
 
 Seem to shrink unwilling backward ; 
 
 Clouds of dust— pursuing people 
 
 Fill at once the lofty entrance. 
 
 And an undefined terror 
 
 Spreads o'er all the sons of Empire. 
 
 Lordly Oro's gleaming warriors. 
 
 Lost to order leave their stations, 
 
 Springing o'er the circling barriers 
 
 Crowding towards the Northern bulwark; 
 
 For they see a gloomy charger 
 
 Darting wildly thro' the gateway ; 
 
 From his wide distended nostrils 
 
 Pours the tempest of liis snorting. 
 
 From his eyes inflamed redness 
 
 Seems to ghnv unearthly fire, — 
 
 From his bridled mouth in showers 
 
 Shoots the white spray of his foaming. 
 
 O'er his arched neck dishevelled
 
 232 THE CHALLENGE. XVI. 
 
 Flies his sable mane disordered, 
 While his tail in flowing blackness 
 Streams afar its grim profusion. 
 On he comes, the sand ai'ising 
 Rolls like clouds of smoke around him ; 
 On he comes, the maddened courser 
 Laying low the rash pursuers, 
 Throwing back the polished roundness 
 Of his shining hoofs in anger ; 
 In he darts, his sinewy power 
 Bounds with unrestraine'd swiftness 
 O'er the far outstretched arena, 
 Filling all the awe-struck people 
 With a superstitious terror. 
 Some exclaimed with trembling accents 
 "Lo! the Spirit of the Midnight," 
 Some affrighted, shrieking, crushing. 
 Vainly seek to fly the vision. 
 
 Yet he dashes on unheeding. 
 Charging straight upon Alonzo. 
 
 Then the Pontifi* of the Daystar, 
 Stretching forth his ivory sceptre. 
 Cries aloud above the tumult : 
 " See the vengeance poured by Heaven, 
 "On the imjMous son of slaughter." 
 
 But the words were scarcely uttered, 
 Ere the hero, striding forward. 
 In the pride of godlike presence. 
 Laid his hand uj^on the courser. 
 Prancing in careering wildness. 
 
 Were they words of hidden magic 
 That the stranger Champion whispered ? 
 Are they spells of dark enchantment
 
 XVI. THE CHALLENGE. 233 
 
 That have stayed the heavenly vengeance ; 
 See at once the furious war-horse 
 Checks the thunder of his charging, 
 And the astonished concourse see him, 
 Cahu and motionless as marble, 
 Standing by the great Alonzo. 
 
 Awed they watch the godlike hero, 
 Gazing at the well-known courser ; 
 See the steed in conscious safety. 
 Answer back the fond caresses 
 That the hope inspired Alonzo 
 Pours upon the black Arabia. 
 Yet a sudden thought arising, 
 Weighed upon his anxious spirit. 
 Boding of his brother dying, 
 Lonely on a field of battle. 
 
 And in vain the faithful charger, 
 Looking whistfully upon him, 
 Seeks to tell the mournful story 
 Of the bloody day of Pylos. 
 How he saw his noble master 
 Climb the lofty bulwarked vessels ; 
 How the exulting victors dragged him 
 All along the grassy meadows, 
 Till the second morning brought them 
 To the great imperial city ; 
 How he reared and started backwards, 
 Striving with his wearied captors. 
 As they urged him on in triumph 
 Through the granite-ijaveu forum, 
 All along the streets and causeways, 
 Up the capitolian roadway ; 
 How at length he battled with them. 
 Striking down the astonished leaders.
 
 234 ^-^-^ CHALLENGE. XVI. 
 
 Plunging fixrioiis through the people, 
 Who, affrighted, flying, fainting, 
 Made a spacious road before him. 
 Leading to the towery portal 
 Of the mighty Coliseum. 
 
 But again the giant warriors, 
 Rousing from their tranced silence. 
 Thirsting to avenge their comrade — 
 Move impetuous on Alonzo. 
 
 Swift he hastes the girths to tighten, 
 Swift he springs into the saddle. 
 And he sees a ray of promise 
 Piercing through the gloomy future, 
 As his kingly eye delighted, 
 Glancing o'er the stately trappings 
 Rests upon a sleeping weapon. 
 
 Yet, before Islanda's ruler. 
 Raised on high the bright revolver — 
 Threatening shouts, ironic tauntings. 
 Warn him of a foe approaching. 
 For the stalworth Thonor following, 
 Swings his axe with deadly power ; 
 Aiming its xmblemished sharpness 
 At the crest of Philolaos. 
 
 But, Arabia starting forwards 
 Bears his master from the danger, 
 And the haughty giant tottering 
 Neath his own unwieldly weapon 
 Falls upon the blood stained centre 
 Of the direful field of combat. 
 Then the trembling Leonarchon 
 Saw Gonsalvo's sable charger 
 Prancing on Circano's offspring ; 
 Saw it plunging, break the firmness 
 Of the rugged weight of armour —
 
 XVI. . THE CHALLENGE. 235 
 
 Saw the vanquished spirit trampled 
 Neath the hoof encu-clins; iron. 
 
 But, meanwhile the lonely warrior 
 Wrestled in the storm of combat ; 
 From the hand of huge Diospur 
 Darts his forest shaking-javelin, 
 Wracking tliro' the fields of ether — 
 Tearing down the princely honours 
 Of the lofty plumed helmet , 
 And the lordly hero bending 
 Scarce escaped the dread destruction, 
 Ere Helion darkly frowning 
 Raised his sheathed club to battle. 
 
 Hark ! a sudden peal of thunder 
 Thrice resounding o'er the nations 
 Echoes from the circling towers 
 Spreading fear and death-like paleness. 
 Clouds of smoke surround the champion, 
 Lightnings seem to flash around him, 
 And the Giant of Sorardo, 
 Groaning in his dying anguish. 
 Falls to earth a lifeless ruin. 
 Yet Diospur, son of Lara, 
 Thought to wreak a mighty vengeance, 
 But again the wondrous warrior 
 Pours the dreaded shafts of anger, 
 And he feels the fatal missiles 
 Enter tlrrough his bronzi^d armour. 
 
 ■o' 
 
 Then an awful fear impelled him. 
 And he shunned the great Alonzo, 
 Flying with gigantic swiftness
 
 236 THE CHALLENGE. . XVI. 
 
 To the great imperial portal. 
 Then the hero bade Arabia 
 Dai-t along with arrowy fleetness ; 
 All the wide arena trembles 
 As they circle round its barriers. 
 Yet in vain the speed of terror, 
 Wildering horrors roll upon him, 
 And again the crashing thunder 
 Rises from the godlike stranger. 
 Dark Diospur's faltering footfalls 
 Tell of the mysterious power. 
 Brighter, deadlier, gleams the flashing, 
 Flaming in the lurid smoke wreaths. 
 Till the vanquished strength of Fire 
 Sinks amidst the answering pealing. 
 Till the half adoring nations, 
 Lost in long and solemn silence, 
 See the lone Alonzo, victor 
 O'er the elements of Natvire ; 
 Hail in him the promised offspring 
 Of the ever glorious Daystar.
 
 
 ALONZO. 
 
 xvn. 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 Leonarclion orders Alonzo to be hound. 
 — Uproar in the Coliseum — The Hierarcli 
 seizes Amaravtha — Alonzo lifts Plilega- 
 thron from the Altar — Ancyra hastens to 
 cut dotvn the Eagle Standard — Rescue of 
 Amarantha, and Death of the High Priests 
 — Struggle around the Standards — Leon- 
 archon leaves the Throne — Advance of Gon- 
 salvo's Fleet— The Fall of Pylos~The 
 Islesnien enter Amalyrac — The Fall of 
 Leonarchon — Alonzo claims the Crown for 
 Amaranth i — Gonsalvo sees the Coronation 
 of the Empress — The Joy of the Nations. 
 
 
 
 ■ 

 
 xvn. 
 ALONZO 
 
 Brightly shone the gay refulgence 
 Of the sun's nieridan splendour, 
 Brightly beamed the irradiate beauty 
 Of the Daystar's dazzling glory, 
 As it blazed uxjon the armour 
 Of the great triumphant hero ; 
 As it gleamed upon the breastplate. 
 Glittering with the jewelled semblance 
 Of the realms of Amalyrac. 
 
 Proudly, mid the solemn silence. 
 Moves along Islanda's ruler. 
 As his hand with gentle guidance 
 Bids Arabia bear him onward ; 
 Bear him onward to the Northward, 
 Where the lordly Leonarchon 
 Sits entlironed among his princes. 
 Deep and solemn was the silence — 
 Like the stillness of the midnight, 
 That o'erspread the Coliseum, 
 As the whole of that assembly 
 Waited for the longed-for moment, 
 When their mighty Lord arising, 
 Sliould release the stranger champion, 
 Should command the gathered concourse 
 To depart in peace and blessing.
 
 240 ALONZO. XVII. 
 
 But no smile of approbation 
 Gleamed upon the chief of Empire. 
 As his frowning glances told them 
 How his cherished hoj^es had failed him. 
 And a stern and dark expression 
 Lowered o'er his kingly features, 
 When at length his noble figure 
 Turned towards the anxious nations. 
 As he stands, his robes of ermine 
 Flow around in gorgeous fulness, 
 And his royal arm extended 
 Lifts on high the emerald sceptre. 
 
 Hark ! he speaks. No sound, nor whisper 
 Breaks upon the sovereign mandate, 
 As it rises clear and stately 
 O'er the giant Coliseum. 
 "People of the first of Empires! 
 "Ye have seen the mystic challenge, 
 "Ye have seen the stranger Champion 
 "Victor o'er the Powers of Nature. 
 ' ' Unto hina the gods have given 
 ' ' Respite from a swift destruction, 
 "And their goodness has decreed him, 
 "Time to seek for pardoning mercy; 
 "But that time has passed unheeded, 
 "Still he scorns the holy places, 
 ' ' Still he boasts with impious triumph 
 "Of the fate of ruined Xiloc. 
 " Lo ! the Heavens have decreed it, 
 "And it must be now fulfiUe'd, 
 "That a day of wrath approacheth, 
 ' ' That a day of retribution 
 "Hangs in clouds of terror o'er him. 
 " They decree it, and we may not 
 ' ' War against the thrones of glory : 
 "Therefore bowing to the Immortals,
 
 XTII. ALONZO. 241 
 
 ' * I command tliee, great Orontes, 
 
 * ' That thou lead this son of Midnight 
 
 ' ' Up the winding stairs of granite, 
 
 "To the everlasting Altar, 
 
 " And that there his soul be poure'd 
 
 " In oblation to the immortals, 
 
 "Lest that day of retribution 
 
 " ^Vlielm us in its awful sorrow. 
 
 ' ' But alas, a deeper shadow 
 
 ' ' Dims the crown of Amalyrac. 
 
 "For the oracle of Wisdom 
 
 " Has pronounced a dread commandment. 
 
 " It has seen a taint of evil 
 
 "Nestling in the Empire's bosom; 
 
 " And the bud that we have cherished, 
 
 "Opes a deadly poisoning flower. 
 
 " It decrees that Amarantha 
 
 "Dwell within the solemn temple 
 
 " Of the nation-guarding Wargod. 
 
 "There to join the virgin daughters 
 
 " Who perform the sacred ofiice ; 
 
 " There to tend the rites ordained 
 
 " By the triumph giving Godhead. 
 
 " Amarantha ! I resign thee 
 
 "To the Heaven anointed Hierarch ; 
 
 "He will guide thee by his counsels, 
 
 "He will teach thee with his wisdom, 
 
 " Till again the Powers of Glory 
 
 "Own the child of Philolaos." 
 
 Here he ceased, but half unwilling, 
 For his secret soul insatiate. 
 Longed to gain another victim. 
 Longed to bid the dark Armoura 
 Seize the High Priest of the Unknown.' 
 But he dared not : for the people
 
 242 AL ONZO. XVII. 
 
 Loved the venerable Pontiff, 
 
 And he knew that none would venture 
 
 E'en to touch the sacred garments. 
 
 But a sullen, restless movement 
 
 Stole around the seats of marble, 
 
 Half suppressed groans and whispers 
 
 Told the mind of the assembly. 
 
 As they heard their haughty Monarch 
 
 Careless of the words of ages, 
 
 Give Alonzo to destruction. 
 
 But it rose in hoarser murmur, 
 
 As the people, all impatient, 
 
 As the nations scarce restrained. 
 
 Listened to his treacherous language, 
 
 To his subtly wH:)ven pretexts. 
 
 Wrought to screen his thirst for Empire ; 
 
 As they heard their matchless Princess 
 
 Doome'd to the Pontiff's power — 
 
 To the power of the Hierarch, 
 
 Of the carnage -loving Wargod. 
 
 And Alonzo wondered deeply. 
 When the princely Leonarchon, 
 Bid Orontes', ruler, lead him 
 To the bloody place of slaughter ; 
 But he staid his sable charger. 
 Bending forward with amazement, 
 As he heard the cruel fortune 
 Of his beauteous Amarantha. 
 And though now the carborne Oro, 
 Leaping from his brazen chariot. 
 Waving round his gleaming javelin, 
 Orders on his troops to seize him ; 
 Though his followers rush upon him
 
 XVII. ALOXZO. 243 
 
 Yet he recks not of his danger, 
 Knows not of the rising temxDest. 
 For he sees the Wargod's Pontiff 
 Hastening to enthrall his victim : 
 Sees her gentle hands outstretched ; 
 Hears her feeble cry for succour, 
 Yiews the priest with ghastly triumph. 
 Drag her from the throne of ivory — 
 Sees her fall in fainting terror. 
 
 Then he rose all wild with fury. 
 Maddened with his loved one's danger : 
 Onward darts the black Arabia, 
 Charging through the hostile legions. 
 But how shall the Lord of Island 
 Aid the Star of Amalyrac ! 
 How without some faithful weapon, 
 Hope to save the weeping Princess ? 
 All unarmed against a thousand. 
 One amongst a host of wariiors. 
 Vain his eye, with lightning swiftness. 
 Seeks the glance of friendly visage, 
 But he views a sunlike radiance 
 Shining on the ancient altar ; 
 Sees the diamond hilted sabre 
 Beam beside the crown of Empire. 
 
 Not a moment does he linger, 
 Plunging through opposing masses — 
 Dashing on through ranks arranged ; 
 See the Prince of wide Orontes 
 Hastes to gain his brazen chariot, 
 E'en the troops behind the altar, 
 Filled with superstition, tremble ; 
 As he comes, their steely arrows 
 Rattle on his golden armour. 
 But he stays the black Arabia — 
 Standing by the ancient altar —
 
 244 
 
 ALOKZO. XVII. 
 
 And the amazed people see him 
 Bending to its graven summit, 
 Raise unawed the polished splendour 
 Of the sacred sword Phlegathron. 
 
 All was still — the tumult ceased — 
 All that great assembly trembled, 
 For they thought they felt the presence 
 Of a more than mortal power, 
 And Alonzo stood revealed. 
 As the Offspring of the Daystar. 
 Then the Master of the Eagle 
 Dropt in fear the emerald sceptre ; 
 Then the High Priest of the Daystar 
 Felt a chilly cold run through him : 
 But the mighty sovereign Pontiff 
 Slowly rose in calm composure ; 
 From his venerable visage 
 Seemed to gleam i^rophetic fire. 
 As he thus addressed the people. 
 
 "Lo! the Times before appointed, 
 ' ' Hasten on to their fulfilment. 
 ' ' Lo ! the solemn day approacheth, 
 "When the earth in bending reverence 
 " Shall obey the Daystar's Offspring. 
 ' ' For behold he stands before us, 
 " See he wields the mystic falchion, 
 "And the shade of dark ambition 
 "Now must fade before his glory." 
 Other words and times prophetic, 
 Had the aged man revealed, 
 But as oft a spai'k of fire. 
 Falling on the parched herbage. 
 Wraps the far extended prairie 
 In one quenchless conflagration —
 
 XVII. ALOXZO. 245 
 
 So the sons of AmaljTac, 
 Long enduring, slow to vengeance, 
 "Wlien they saw the great Alonzo 
 Lift on high the bright Phlegathron, — 
 Wlien they heard" the ancient Pontiflf 
 Tell them of the time fuliilled— 
 ■\Vhen they saw their weeping Princess 
 Dragged away to caves and darkness — 
 Could no more restrain their anger, 
 Broke the chains of long allegiance, 
 Burst the bondage of subjection. 
 Till the giant turrets trembling, 
 Answered back their curbless fury. 
 
 Fearless shouts for Amarantha, 
 Haughty cries for Leonarchon, 
 Echo to the vaults of heaven ; 
 Tumult, rage, and wild disorder 
 Rise in louder, louder thunder ; 
 All along the marble columns 
 Throngs the crush of crowding nations. 
 Shrieks of women, groans of dying, 
 As the multitudes press on them : 
 Words of wrath and iron vengeance ; 
 Curses on the cruel Hierarch, 
 Menaces against the IMonarch ; 
 Deadly combat, shouts of triumph. 
 Mighty war-cries, jaiTing music. 
 Whirled in one terrific chaos. 
 Startled all the astonished city. 
 Woe to him whose venturous boldness 
 Dares to check the people's anger : 
 Rich adornments, marble fragments, 
 Broken balustrades and benches, 
 Ivory footstools, shattered statues — 
 All that rage could seize for weapons, 
 Showered upon Orontes warriors,
 
 246 ALONZO, XVII. 
 
 As they strove to stay the uproar. 
 
 Epidaurus, then arousing, 
 Led by her chivah'ous hero, 
 Rushed to save the Empire's jewel. 
 High the dark bh;e banner waveth, 
 Studded with the stars of silver, 
 With the azure winged symbol. 
 And tumultuous shouts ascending, 
 Hail the bird of Philolaos. 
 
 Then the heir of wild Ancyra, 
 Leaping from his place of honor. 
 Drew his whitely flashing falchion, 
 And impetuous cut a pathway 
 Through the armed troox:)s of Oro ; 
 Till he reached the Eagle standard. 
 For he sought to hurl it broken, 
 Tattered on the red arena. 
 
 Wildly raged the gathering combat 
 'Neath its gorgeous folds of purple : 
 There the chieftain of Phoceia 
 Hastes to aid his master's legions ; 
 By him moves the valorous ruler 
 Of the plains of Agrigano ; 
 He, the noblest and the bravest 
 Of the sons of Southern Empire : 
 He, the first in every danger, 
 Foremost in the din of battle. 
 Here Armoura's frowning tyrant, 
 Flies upon the young Ancyra ; 
 Araxeia's king advances, 
 Acrolara's stately ruler. 
 But the famed Epiromenes 
 Toils to aid the youthful warrior, 
 While the veterans of his army, 
 Sternly battle for their Princess.
 
 XVII. ALOSZO. 247 
 
 Where art thou, O ! boastful Oro ? 
 Where is now thy vaunted valor ? 
 Is it thou, who, shrinking, flyiug, 
 Seek'st the rear of ranks for shelter ? 
 See the miscreant, pale and trembling. 
 Dead to honor, dead to glory ; 
 Careless of his sovei'eign's favor. 
 Hides him from the storm of battle. 
 
 Ah ! how diflerent, how heroic, 
 Were thy deeds, O ! chief of Deiro ! 
 As thou cleftst a bloody pathway 
 To the heart of Epidaurus ; 
 As thou ledst thy helmed phalanx 
 Down into the depths of tumult. 
 
 But the upper ranks of people, 
 Gaze in wonder on the actions 
 Of the Lord of Island's armies. 
 
 Little recked the victor Champion 
 Of the deed that he performed. 
 When his arm exulting raisi^d, 
 High in air the bright Phlegathron. 
 Scarce he heard the Pontiff's language, 
 Scarce awaits till he has ended ; 
 On again Arabia bears him 
 Through the wrack of rising tumult. 
 
 Vainly did Eurota's Monarch 
 Seek to bar his ardent progress, 
 He has felt the maiden sharpness 
 Of the Daystar's diamond falchion. 
 
 High above the girdling barrier, 
 Bounds the charger of Gonsalvo. 
 Cleopatra and her daughters — 
 All the beauty of the Empire, 
 Starting from their thrones affrighted.
 
 24-8 
 
 ALONZO. XVII. 
 
 Crowd the circling halls of marble. 
 Swift he comes, his fiery glances 
 Quench the hope of sparing mercy. 
 Swift he comes, the hated Hierarch, 
 Filled with fury leaves his victim : 
 Wide his clenched hands are stretched, 
 As he utters imprecations — 
 As his dark distorted features, 
 Swelled with wrath and hideous anger, 
 Glare in rage upon Alonzo. 
 Ha ! he grasps the knife of slaughter ; 
 Down it plunges, bright with sharpness, 
 Dashed at Amarantha's bosom ; 
 But the Heavens forbade the slaughter, 
 And decreed a sudden vengeance ; 
 For the sword has woke to battle, 
 Rousing from the sleep of ages, 
 And its second work of judgment 
 Lays the heavy headless body, 
 Bleeding on the polished pavement. 
 
 Then the noble chief descending. 
 Leaves awhile the black Arabia, — 
 As he springs, his golden armour 
 Rings upon the varied marble. 
 
 Bending down, the anxious hero 
 Gently lifts the lovely Princess, 
 Fondly bears her fainting iigure. 
 Light as crystal snow in winter. 
 Bears her up the stairs of granite. 
 Sad behind him, pale and mournful. 
 Moves the Queen of Epidaurus. 
 For no danger, — not the greatest, 
 Could divide her from her davighter ; 
 Nought dissolve the tender union 
 Of a mother's deep affection.
 
 XVII. ALOXZO. 249 
 
 Now he gains the graven platform, 
 
 AMiere the High Priest of the Unknown 
 
 Rests amidst the sacred college ; 
 
 And he gives his Amarantha 
 
 To their holy — sure protection. 
 
 For he knew an ancient reverence 
 
 Hung around the sacred office : 
 
 Knew that none had aye adventured 
 
 To assail the robed presence 
 
 Of the consecrated priesthood. 
 
 Slow the sable circle closing, 
 
 Shadows round the snow-white figure 
 
 Clasped upon her royal mother, 
 
 And their silent ranks have veiled her 
 
 From the eyes of her Alonzo. 
 
 Then the hero, all impatient. 
 
 Hastens to regain his charger. 
 
 For he views Epiromenes 
 
 Struggling with the troops of Oro : 
 
 Sees Ancyra's youthful valor 
 
 Vainly warring with Armoura ; 
 
 Sees how few the sons of Freedom, 
 
 Ranged beneath the starry standard, 
 
 And he thirsts to aid the contest. 
 
 Fearless of the steely barrier. 
 
 Stretched in serried ranks between them. 
 
 But how oft the life of mortals 
 Hangs upon the passing moment : 
 Then Alonzo, Death unshrouded, 
 Glided nigh thy lonely pathway ! 
 For the Daystar's vengeful Pontiff, 
 Following stealthily and noiseless. 
 Seeks to thrust his deadly poignard. 
 Deep betwixt the plates of armour.
 
 250 ALONZO. XVII. 
 
 See ! liow he, with ghastly smiling, 
 Gazes on his certain victim, 
 See ! how his deceitful weapon 
 Glances 'neath the imperial helmet : 
 In a moment it had entered. 
 And the hope of nations fallen, 
 But he sees the shade and starting — 
 Sudden tuniing, checks the slaughter. 
 
 Then the unholy man beholding. 
 Groaning for his blighted triumph, 
 Sprang with rage impurpled visage, 
 Like a viper on Alonzo. 
 ' ' Take the vengeance poured by Heaven, " 
 Shrieked aloud the frantic High Priest, 
 As he madly dashed his poignard 
 Through the richly jewelled bi'eastplate. 
 
 But though from Islanda's leader. 
 Gushed the gory stream of crimson, 
 Still the blow had spent its fury 
 Ere it reached his fenceless bosom ; 
 Scarce he felt it — ere he wrenched it 
 From the thickly plated ctiirass ; 
 Ere he drove its rugged bluntness 
 Deep into the Pontiff's forehead. 
 "Lie thou there, thou son of darkness," 
 Cried the wrong-avenging hero. 
 " Lie thou there a dread memorial 
 "Of the righteous wrath of Heaven." 
 
 Now again he mounts Arabia, 
 Now again he leaps the barrier. 
 Now again the keen Phlegathron 
 Flames a firebrand o'er his helmet. 
 Bound him spread disordered legions. 
 Round him rings the clash of armour, 
 Round him crush the thronging numbers
 
 XVII. ALONZO. 257 
 
 Of the troops of wide Orontes : 
 All in vain her valorous princes 
 Seek to bar the threatening progress, 
 See they fall beneath the terrors 
 Of the Daystar's sacred falchion. 
 
 O'er Islanda's kingly ruler 
 Hung a veil of superstition, 
 And the sons of Amalyrac 
 Shrank unwilling from his pathway. 
 On he burst through ranks opposing ; 
 Through the legions of Chrynella ; 
 Through the hardy troops of Xantha — 
 To the throbbing depth of tumult, 
 Where the dove af Philolaos, 
 Where the bird of Leonarchon, 
 Tangled with their hostile pinions, 
 Seem to wrestle for the Empire. 
 
 But the noble lord of Deiro 
 Saw Alonzo unrestrained. 
 Dashing towards the imperial standard ; 
 Swift he sprang to meet the hero — 
 Curbed Arabia in his prancing — 
 Wards the sharpness of Phlegathron 
 With his buckler's silver borders ; 
 And his skillful hand upraised, 
 Threatens with his ponderous war-axe. 
 Long endured the doubtful combat. 
 Long the chieftain's desperate courage 
 Battled fiercely with Alonzo ; 
 But at length the mystic sabre 
 Enters through the plates of silver, 
 And the sorrowing sons of Deiro 
 Bear away their wounded Monarch, 
 Crimson 'd witli the flowing life blood.
 
 252: ALONZO. XVII. 
 
 But the victor sees Ancyra 
 Sinking 'neatli Armoura's power : 
 Low in dust is laid the helmet 
 Of the sovereign of Phoceia ; 
 And the young and dauntless hero, 
 Grateful hailed Alonzo's succour, 
 As he saw the frowning tyrant, 
 Groaning, sent to realms of Midnight. 
 
 Now at length, Epiromenes, 
 Toiling through the troops of Oro, 
 Brought to bay her coward Monarch. 
 Then was tried the boaster's prowess, 
 Then was shown his vaunted valour, 
 Down he knelt and prayed for mercy, — 
 Trembling craved for lengthened life-time. 
 Told of dark and hidden secrets, 
 Known to him alone of mortals ; 
 Told of death and dark devices, 
 That he would reveal hereafter. 
 Scornfully the stately leader 
 Listened to the cringing monarch, 
 Scornfully he gazed upon him. 
 As he bade his warriors bind him. 
 
 Then he turns again to battle, 
 Turns again to direful combat, 
 As he sees the great Alonzo, 
 Warring 'neath the imperial standard. 
 Warring with the sturdy boldness 
 Of the Lord of Agrigano ; 
 Of the chief who bears the banner 
 Of the princely Leonarchon. 
 
 But the golden Eagle trembles, 
 
 Agrigano falters forward. 
 
 Staggers backward, sinking slowly.
 
 XVII. ALONZO. 253 
 
 For his glazing eyea no longer 
 See the cheering light of Heaven, 
 And his powerless arm refuses 
 To sustain Ms master's ensign ; 
 For Phlegathron's edge has entered 
 To the source of life and being, 
 And his soul has joined the spirits 
 Of departed chiefs and heroes. 
 
 Then the gorgeous eagle falling 
 
 Sunk upon the red arena. 
 
 And its silken folds were tattered. 
 
 Trampled 'neath the armed warriors. 
 
 Then Alonzo raised the banner 
 
 Of the glorious Philolaos, 
 
 Waved it high above the arena. 
 
 As he led the joyous legion 
 
 Of the queenly Epidaurus. 
 
 Onward dashed Epiromenes, 
 
 Spreading fear around his pathway, 
 
 Onward sprang the young Ancyra, 
 
 Darting on the hostile Phalanx. 
 
 Amarantha ! Amarantha ! 
 
 Swelled above the mighty tumult ; 
 
 Amarantha ! Amarantha ! 
 
 Answered back the dark red towers, 
 
 As the exulting sons of Empire 
 
 Saw the hero lead the battle. 
 
 Thus the King of Amalyrac 
 Saw amazed all his bravest — 
 Noblest princes fall around him. 
 Saw the doom of impious Hierarchs, 
 Saw the treacherous deeds of Oro, 
 Saw his own imperial standard
 
 254 ALOXZO. XVII. 
 
 Bow before the deep blue banner, 
 And his haughty spirit rising, 
 Could no longer rest inglorious. 
 Stern he left the throne of ages, 
 Casting off the robes of ermine ; 
 Drew his gold emblazoned falchion, 
 And majestic in his ardour, 
 Strode to stay the gathering evil. 
 
 But the people on the turrets. 
 On the topmost tiers of marble, 
 Gazed no more ujion the conflict ; 
 For a solemn sound of thunder 
 Boomed afar o'er hill and valley, 
 And before their wondering eyesight 
 Towered a fleet of lofty vessels ; 
 High upon the foremost, glittering 
 In the dazzling beams of summer. 
 Danced the lions, flamed the dragon, 
 Soared the sombre pinioned raven : 
 Clouds of smoke enwreathed their canvas 
 As their giant forms approaching 
 Swept across the troubled water. 
 Hark ! again the pealing thunder 
 Bursts upon the trembling city. 
 Tall upon his arrowy vessel 
 Rose Gonsalvo's lordly figure 
 Crowned again with victor laurels : 
 For the bounteous hand of Heaven 
 Had descended rich with favours. 
 And had veiled the night of Pylos 
 In the rainbow beams of triumph. 
 
 O ! how welcome was the morning 
 To the deep desponding Islesmen,
 
 XVri. ALOXZO. 2.55 
 
 As it streamed upon the beauties 
 Of the flowery banked Eurotas ; 
 
 Yet a vision still more cheering 
 Shed a brighter joy around them, 
 As they saw a friendly squadron 
 Gliding up the sj)reading river, 
 As they saw Cruzatlan's ensign 
 Waving o'er the tall bananas. 
 
 Then the coming day of glory 
 Dawned upon the sorrowing Islesmen, 
 And the sun of Hope illumined 
 All Islanda's blazoned pennons, 
 As again Gonsalvo led them 
 Up the fair translucent river. 
 
 Who shall tell the midnight conflict 
 On the beetling steeps of Pylos ! 
 Muffled oars, unbroken silence. 
 Landing troops, assailing legions ! 
 Who shall tell the unequalled dangers 
 Of the slippery rocks of granite ; 
 Tell how suddenly her armies 
 Started at the warrior shadows 
 Gathering on her topmost bulwarks — 
 Saw the landward portals opened. 
 Heard the war-cry of Zorayda — 
 Felt the vengeful sword of Ardoc, 
 Till the banner of Islanda 
 Floated proudly o'er her towers ; 
 Till the fleets in festive order 
 Swept beneath her misty forehead. 
 And the rising sun beheld them 
 Move in triumph and rejoicing 
 O'er the clear pelucid water 
 Of the lake of Amalyrac.
 
 256 
 
 ALONZO. XVII. 
 
 Thus the nations wondering see them 
 Bearing down upon the city, 
 Darkly shading o'er the archways 
 Of the ancient granite causeway ; 
 See the throng of crowding people 
 Hail with shouts the stately squadron, 
 See the guardians of the city 
 March to stay their hostile entrance. 
 
 All around the iron drawbridge 
 Raged the roar of civil battle ; 
 Shouts and screams and dashing water, 
 Boom of cannon, ring of armour : 
 Here the legions of the Monarch 
 Strive to close the widening passage, 
 Here the people, bold, determined, 
 Seek to force a broader oj)ening, 
 Till a deafening cry ascending. 
 Tells the ending of the struggle ; 
 TUl the sable fleets majestic. 
 One by one in silent grandeur, 
 Enter through the spacious drawbridge- 
 Enter the imperial city. 
 
 Then the lordly sons of Island, 
 
 Landing 'neath the impending shadow 
 
 Of the mighty Coliseum — 
 
 Prancing on their stately chargers — 
 
 Ranged round the dai'k blue banner. 
 
 Pass before the awe-struck j)eople. 
 
 Now they wind the gradual steepness 
 
 Of the capitolian roadway — 
 
 As the great Gonsalvo leads them 
 
 To the vast imperial portal. 
 
 O ! that hour had well repaid him 
 
 For his long enduring troubles ; 
 
 For he heard Alonzo mov^d
 
 XVII. ALoyzo. 25'r 
 
 Still among the sons of mortals ; 
 And his thankful eyes upraised, 
 Owned the mighty power of Heaven 
 That in goodness had decreed him 
 Thus to see his wish accomplished ; 
 Had decreed the time of parting, 
 Time of sorrow should be ended, 
 And that he again rejoicing, 
 Should behold his godlike brother. 
 
 But as oft the howling tempest, 
 Stirring up the ocean's billows, — 
 Dashing wdld their foaming whiteness, 
 Sudden sinks in breathless silence ; 
 So the thundering roar arising 
 From the tumult shaken towers — 
 From the crowded Coliseum, 
 Died away in funeral stillness. 
 And a voiceless calm succeeded. 
 To that jarring clang of discord. 
 
 Lo ! the striving sons of Empire 
 Slow retiring leave the centre — 
 Slow retiring cease the conflict — 
 For a mighty chief has fallen, 
 Fallen from his throned grandeur ; 
 For the oflfspring of Almodad, 
 Motionless and pale as marble. 
 Lies outstretched upon the arena. 
 
 Solemn, deep, and awe-struck reverence 
 Spread its pinions o'er the nations ; 
 For they felt a kingly spirit 
 Had departed from their borders, 
 And though hatred and rebellipi^
 
 258 ALONZO. XVII. 
 
 Rose against liis dark ambition ; 
 
 Yet the people in the stillness 
 
 Of that aye remembered moment, 
 
 Half forgot the days of sorrow, 
 
 All the mourning he had brought them, 
 
 As they gazed upon the figure 
 
 Of the fallen Leonarchon. 
 
 There he lay, his noble forehead 
 Glittered with the high tiara, 
 By his side the broken falchion — 
 In his breast the deadly javelin 
 That had closed the scene of combat. 
 None had viewed the hand that ventured 
 To assail the imperial presence, 
 None e'er knew whose eye unerring. 
 Aimed the messenger of vengeance. 
 There he lay, the haughty Monarch, 
 Pale and dead among his people ; 
 Pale and dead — no tear of sorrow 
 Dewed the urn of Lamentation 
 For the soul of the departed. 
 
 There he lay, a solemn warning 
 Of the end of dark ambition, 
 Of the gloomy end of striving 
 To enthrone a Tyrant Empire 
 On the ancient seat of Freedom. 
 
 But the Priests around the altar. 
 Moving on in sable ordei', 
 Spread the tattered eagle banner 
 O'er the form of the departed. 
 
 Then the great victorious Champion, 
 Bearing the unconquered ensign
 
 XVII. ALOXZO. 259 
 
 Of the House of Philolaos, 
 
 Guides Arabia to the altar ; 
 
 And his kingly voice arising, 
 
 Spake unto the assembled concourse : 
 
 " Nations of the tirst of kingdoms ! 
 "People of the Daystar's city! 
 * ' Pale in death upon the arena, 
 "Lies Almodad's regal offspring: 
 " Leonarchon's hand no longer 
 * ' Holds the sacred reins of power. 
 " Therefore I demand the Empire — 
 " Claim the throne of Amalyrac 
 " For the Hoiise of Philolaos ; 
 "Claim the gleaming diamond circlet 
 "For the Princess Amarantha." 
 
 Then from all the answering nations, 
 Thundered forth their loud rejoicing ; 
 Then the starry standard wav^d 
 From the Coliseum's towers. . 
 But the lovely Amarantha, 
 E,ising from her fainting terrors. 
 Heard amazed the Lord of Island, 
 Claim for her the diamond circlet : 
 And she thought she still was dreaming, 
 Aa the venerable Pontiff 
 Led her down the stairs of granite — 
 Down unto the ancient altar. 
 Deeply did she love Alonzo, 
 Proud of all his deeds of valour. 
 And though, when slie heard her hero 
 Tell the toils that he had mastered. 
 She had wondered at his j)rowes3 : 
 Yet as now herself beheld him, 
 
 OJ
 
 260 ALONZO. XYII. 
 
 WaiTing with superior dangers — 
 Victor in the deadliest combats — 
 Deeper admiration tilled her ; 
 And she too had hailed her champion 
 As the offspring of the Daystar. 
 
 But meanwhile the troops of Island 
 Pass along the imperial city : 
 Pass beneath the giant vastness 
 Of the dark red Coliseum : 
 Gaze upon the dizzy archway — 
 On the frowning southern portal. 
 Eagerly Gonsalvo leading 
 Hastens 'neath the sombre shadow ; 
 And his darting eye astonished 
 Views the silent throng of nations, 
 Sees the wide arena stained 
 With the wreck of recent battle ; 
 Broken armour, shattered fragments, 
 Fallen warriors, slaughtered giants, 
 And among them, huge and shapeless, 
 Monster sons of former nature. 
 
 In the centre, 'neath the covering 
 Of a shivered, tattered banner, 
 Lay the javelin pierced body 
 Of some great departed hero. 
 
 He had thought it was Alonzo, 
 But he saw no Monarch seated 
 Midst the princes of the nations ; 
 Saw a black and fiery charger 
 Prancing 'neath a stately warrior. 
 Who empanoplied in armour, 
 Bearing high a starry standard. 
 Rode along the Northern bvilwark
 
 XVII. ALOyZO. 267 
 
 Of the barrier circled precincts, 
 Aiid at once his lightning glances 
 Knew the form of his Arabia. 
 And the -welcome truth embraced him, 
 That at length his godlike brother 
 Stood again before his vision. 
 
 Then his ardent joy had led him 
 O'er the place of recent combat — 
 Led him instant o'er the arena 
 To the side of the Dictator. 
 But he sees a dark robed systrum 
 Ranged beneath the throne of ivory, 
 Sees a reverend man descending 
 Lead a snow-white form of beauty 
 Down the sovereign trodden staircase — 
 Down unto the ancient altar. 
 
 O'er his venerable forehead 
 Shone a gold enwreathed serpent 
 On its scaly crest upraised 
 Glowed a glittering star of sapphire ; 
 Round her youthful brows encircling, 
 Beamed a gem enriched tiara ; 
 But a veil of broidered tissue 
 Hid her features from the hero. 
 
 Then the venerable Pontiff 
 Raised his holy hands in blessing ; 
 And his voice in tones melodious. 
 Filled the crowded Coliseum. 
 
 '* Blessed be the solemn hoiir 
 ' ' Of the times bef oi-e appointed ! 
 ' ' Happy are the favored i^eople
 
 262 ALOSZO. XVII. 
 
 "Who behold the days prophetic; 
 
 ' ' Who behokl the words f ulfiUe'd, 
 
 "Graven on the golden altar. 
 
 "For dark ages rolling onward, 
 
 ' ' Bring the circling cycles round us, 
 
 "And the footsteps of the seasons 
 
 ' ' Have attained the mystic number ; 
 
 "For the oflfspring of the Daystar, 
 
 ' ' Armed with thunder, armed with lightning — 
 
 "Moving swifter than the Eagle— 
 
 ' ' Fiercer than the raging Lion, 
 
 "Has required his father's kingdom. 
 
 "Amalyrac, thou has trembled, 
 
 "And thy mighty king has fallen — 
 
 "All the words have been accomplished; 
 
 "And the daily sacrifices, 
 
 "And the mystical processions 
 
 "Winding up the sacred temj)le, 
 
 "Have for ever — ever ceased. 
 
 "Glorious truths of highest Heaven 
 
 "Shall be now revealed to you; 
 
 "And the veil of times prophetic 
 
 "Be removed from before you ; 
 
 " Till the hidden words emblazoned 
 
 "In the Holiest of Holies, — • 
 
 "Till the mystery of the Daystar 
 
 "Burst in light celestial on you — 
 
 ' ' Till ye know the Powers immortal 
 
 " Love not blood of slaughtered victims, 
 
 "Till ye learn no more to worship 
 
 "At the altars of the Midnight,— 
 
 * ' Till ye turn away in horror 
 
 "From the carnage-loving Wargod. 
 
 " Lo ! the Heavens have poured their bles- 
 sings
 
 XVn. ALOSZO. 2C3 
 
 " On the child of Philolaos ; 
 " They have given to her a guardian, 
 "Nearer, dearer than her father, 
 "And the Oflspring of the Daystar 
 " Has required for her the kingdom. 
 " He requires it ; he demands it ; 
 ' ' And we must obey the mandate. 
 "Lo! we give the diadem to her; 
 " Give to her the emerahl sceptre, 
 " Give to her to be enthroned 
 "O'er the reahns of Amalyrac : 
 " And we hail Thee as our Sovereign- 
 " As our Empress, Amarantha ! " 
 
 Ere he ceased tlie aged PontiflF, 
 Bending slowly o'er the altar, 
 Raised the ancient diamond circlet 
 High above its sacred cornice ; 
 And enthroned its beaming radiance 
 On the gently blushing" forehead 
 Of the Rose of Amalyrac. 
 
 Then the veil of broidered tissue 
 Hid no more her queenly beauty : 
 Then Gonsalvo, lost in wonder, 
 Gazed upon her i^erfect features ; 
 Then the princes and the nations, 
 Filled with ecstasj'^ and rapture, 
 Hailed the child of Philolaos. 
 Till the myriads of her people 
 Raised their choral exultation 
 Far along the mighty city. 
 While above them blazed the glories 
 Of the everlasting Daystar.
 
 264 ALONZO. XVII. 
 
 CHOKUS. 
 
 Long live the Empress, the peerless in beauty ! 
 Long may she flourish ! Long may she prosper ! 
 Long may the diadem'd pride of the Empire 
 Beam on the brows of the bright Amarantha. 
 
 HaU to the Empress ! beloved by her j)eople ! 
 Hail to the Hero ! the son of the Daystar ! 
 Long may the Amaranth, twined in a garland 
 Wreathe the tall form of the Lord of Phlegathron. 
 
 Hail ! to the Heaven-born days that are coming, 
 The orient splendour of ages of Freedom, 
 Bursting in all their radiant refulgence 
 O'er the wide realms of the first of the Kingdoms. 
 
 Hail to the hour, whose hallowed presence 
 Ends the long line of the mournful i>rocession, 
 Ends the red stream of slaughter and sorrow, 
 Poured from the heights of the Altar of Darkness. 
 
 Hail to the Standard, the Emblem of Mercy ! 
 The far spreading pinions arising to Glory. 
 Long may they soar in the pathway of triumph, 
 Blest by the sons of the High Amalyrac.
 
 
 THE EMPIRE. 
 
 XVHK 
 
 
 
 Meeting of the Brothers — The Chiwrds 
 of Amalyrac declare for Amm'antha — 
 Death of Theron — Flight of Araxes and 
 Marrriage of Chrysothemis — The Great 
 Bay of Rejoicing — The Deliverance of 
 Elcorada — Fall of Alloria, and growing 
 Olortj of the Empire. 
 
 
 

 
 XVJ55, 
 THE EMPIRE. 
 
 Who shall tell the joyous meeting 
 
 Of the two victorious brothers ; 
 
 Wlio the shouts of acclamation 
 
 Rising round Islanda's heroes. 
 
 Wlio shall tell the sounds of triumph 
 
 Echoing from the domes of Lola, 
 
 When the great united army 
 
 Heard that Amarantha reigned ; 
 
 "Wlio the shade of deep despondence 
 
 Cast upon the Empire's leaders, 
 
 Wlien they knew that Leonarchon 
 
 Rested with departed monarchs — 
 
 Knew their sovereign's deed of darkness, 
 
 Whispered by the base Orontes ; 
 
 Who the terror that o'erspread them, 
 
 When they saw the golden splendour 
 
 Of the Guards of Amalyrac, 
 
 Raising proud the starry standai'd. 
 
 Leave the camp, and join the forces — 
 
 Join the armies of the Empress ; 
 
 Tell the mournful day of slaughter, 
 
 When the brave Araxes warrdd 
 
 With Dahcotan's daring leader ; 
 
 Tell the deeds of the young heroes, 
 
 Worthy of Almodad's offspring : 
 
 Tell the tears of Cleopatra,
 
 268 ■ THE EMPIRE. XVIII. 
 
 When she heard her son had fallen, 
 When she heard the noble Theron 
 Slept the sleep of countless ages ; 
 When she heard her loved Araxes 
 Fled an exile to the palace 
 Of Alloria's haughty Monarch. 
 
 But the Powers above beholding 
 Locked in mercy on her sorrow ; 
 When they gave a son to soothe her — 
 Gave to her a greater offspring — 
 When Alonso's stately brother 
 Led Chrysothemis the lovely 
 To the lofty tower'd portal, 
 To the gleaming golden altar. 
 
 Who shaU tell the classic splendour 
 
 Of the pompous day of triumph, 
 
 When the generous sons of Ardoc 
 
 Hail'd the reign of Amarantha ? 
 
 Wlien they bore the starry standard 
 
 Thro' the streets of Amalyrac ; 
 
 When the famed Epiromenes 
 
 Led the Kings of far Orontes ; 
 
 When Ancyra, midst his princes. 
 
 Moved the Monarch of Phoceia ; 
 
 When the sovereigns of the kingdoms 
 
 Swept along in regal order ; 
 
 And the lordly Amphilonin 
 
 Tower'd amidst Dahcotan's warriors — 
 
 Rode amidst the imperial greatness 
 
 Of the realms of fair Xilocan ; 
 
 When the High Priest of the Unknown — 
 
 Ever honour'd by the nation — 
 
 Second father to the Empress, 
 
 Led the long and grand procession
 
 XVIII. THE EMPIRE. ■ 269 
 
 Up the solemn Via Sacra, — 
 
 Up the ancient graven staircase, — 
 
 'Xeath the heaven aspiring towers, — 
 
 'Xeath the domes of vaulted granite, — 
 
 All along the aisled vastness 
 
 Of the consecrated precincts. 
 
 To the Holiest of Holies. 
 
 When the whole united empires 
 
 Filled with joy and exultation. 
 
 Saw the Amaranth wreathe its flowers 
 
 "Round the Offspring of the Daystar. 
 
 Who shall tell the wondrous story 
 Of the glory of the kingdom : 
 How again the sun of Freedom 
 Gilded all the fanes of Mora ; 
 How AUoria poured his armies 
 In the cause of young Araxes ; 
 How the fertile plains of Cona — 
 All the sources of Orontes 
 Bowed before the great Alonzo, 
 Till the swelling waves of Empire 
 Dashed aroiind on subject mountains. 
 
 How the sons of wealthy Aclan 
 
 Saw the gathering fleets and legions 
 
 Leave the waters of Eurotas ; 
 
 How the long and desperate combat 
 
 Raged beneath Zorayda's towers. 
 
 Till the double headed Eagle 
 
 Quailed before the dark blue Lions, 
 
 Till the starry flag triumphant. 
 
 Waved o'er Elcorada's valleys, 
 
 And her verdure crowne'd islands 
 
 Hailed with smiles their lovely Empress.
 
 oi/O THE EMPIRE. XVIII. 
 
 But the splendour of the Empire 
 Flows around in fuller radiance, 
 And its blazing beams redundant 
 Pour in dazzling brightness round me. 
 Dim I see its growing grandeur 
 Fill the gazing world with wonder — 
 See the fall of dark Mediro — 
 See the mighty western kingdoms 
 Fade before the Sun's resplendence. 
 
 Till at length Alloria's greatness 
 
 Sinks before the Daystar's Offspring ; 
 
 Till at length the giant Empire 
 
 Sleeps beneath the shado-wing olive, 
 
 And its branches dewed with freedom, 
 
 Sjiread luxuriant to the ocean. 
 
 From the borders of the river, — 
 
 From the borders of Eurotas 
 
 To the long resounding circuit 
 
 Of the ever rolling azure ; 
 
 All the nations, all the people, 
 
 All her joyous sons and daughters, 
 
 Joined in one united chorus. — 
 
 One united song of blessing, 
 
 As 'they hailed the orient glories 
 
 Of the child of Philolaos. 
 
 O ! that every favored Kingdom 
 Had a ruler like Alonzo ; 
 O ! that every dauntless Hero 
 Had a brother like Gonsalvo ; 
 O ! that every earthly Empire 
 Had an Empress Amarantha.
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 But the wondrous vision ceaseth ; 
 
 All the scenes of beauty vanish ; 
 
 Rolling clouds have spread their darkness 
 
 O'er the Eden smiling prospect, 
 
 O'er the long majestic outline 
 
 Of the mighty southern mountains, 
 
 O'er the wide extending champaign 
 
 Of the realms of Amalyrac, 
 
 O'er the forest hills of Ardoc, 
 
 O'er the ancient fanes Xiloc, 
 
 O'er the myriad piles of mai'ble 
 
 Gleaming round tlie lake of sajiphire, — 
 
 Gleaming 'neath the solemn grandeur 
 
 Of the Temple of the Daystar. 
 
 All has ceased, and nought remaineth, 
 Nought remains but dear remembrance, 
 Nought remains but silent wonder 
 At the mighty power of Fancy.
 
 y 
 
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