^ ROMANCE, 
 IN SIX CANTOS,
 
 LOTHAIRE; 
 
 A ROMANCE, 
 
 IN SIX cantos: 
 
 WITH 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 B Y 
 
 ROBERT GILMOUR. 
 
 Most wri'tcbc'd n);ui who lioju's in \ar\s; disguise 
 To veil hi.s evil iiii.-(i< ("k.'UI mortii! cyos ; 
 Till)' all ut'ic s 1( 111 il-c, the ^o'lii.-r.ii^ flir, 
 The conscious caitli, his trespass shall di-ciare. 
 
 U dole's Arios'IO. 
 
 LOSDON : 
 
 Printed by W. Wilson, 4, Greville-Strect, 
 FOR GEORGE COWfE A\'D CO, IN THE POULTRY, 
 
 1815,
 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 Thk following Romance is founded upon 
 a Tale that I have read In prose, but the 
 name of the novel which contains it, I for- 
 get. The story in prose, as far as I can 
 recollect it, is simply this : " Lothaire sleeps 
 in a cave, and is disturbed with visions. 
 He finds he had slept upon a grave, and 
 discovers a battle-axe upon it. He takes 
 it up and leaves the cave. He is met by 
 a hermit, who conducts him to the castle 
 of a Baron, and then opening his garment, 
 discovers nothing but a human skeleton 
 inside." This is all I remember of the 
 prose, so that I may justly claim the merit
 
 VI 
 
 of oriL^lnality in (lie following Ronumcc. 
 After 1 had finished ir, I was informed l)y 
 Ensign French, of tiic I si West India re- 
 giment, since deceased, thai he liad seen a 
 Melo-drama performed at Astlev's, called, 
 "Blood will have Blood ; or, the Battle of 
 the 'i'wo Bridges," whieli, nj)on my read- 
 ing him ilie mamiscrij)!, he said, resemhled 
 this Jlomance in some parts. However, 
 as 1 have neither s(-en performed, nor read 
 the Entertainment aho\e-inentioned, 1 can- 
 not he snppjostvl to have horrowed froni it, 
 except in the circumstance mentioned in 
 the !ith, lOih, and Ilth lines of the \'.)[h 
 vi'rse of the 5lh Canto, wr.ich J afterwards 
 insorleci on luaiing a desciip'.ion of the 
 y)icce from the rnouth of Mr. JMcnch.
 
 CONTENDS. 
 
 Prefatory Poeui ix 
 
 LoiHAiKE. Canto J. The Caveni 1 
 
 Canto II. Tlie Dung'con ... 31 
 
 Canto III. The r>loi.k Gl 
 
 Canto IV. The ViMon 91 
 
 Canto V. Tl;e Arraignnicnt T21 
 
 Canto \']. Tlie Consbat 151 
 
 Vina'e 1S3 
 
 AoUs Ibv
 
 PREi^ATORY POEM. 
 
 iVlusE of the South ! that hngering long 
 In Northern Britain's colder shore. 
 
 Struck to the harp thy wildest song. 
 That harp which Scotia's poet bore. 
 
 O let thy kindred clime again 
 
 The blessings of thy presence know ! 
 
 In Albion wake the deathless strain. 
 Or wake at least no worthless glow ! 
 
 So shall the lands, around whose shore 
 The foamy waves of ocean boil. 
 
 Be by the world held evermore. 
 
 One muse, one people, and one isle !
 
 mxt ; 
 
 A ROMJXCIC, 
 
 IN SIX CANTOS.
 
 M^OttfHm. 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 THE CAVERN.
 
 L T H A I R E. 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 THE CAVERN. 
 
 I. 
 
 h A.ST as the light of day decayed 
 So fast the tempest's clamour ceased; 
 The w inds in gentle murmurs played, 
 .And softly swept the ocean's breast: 
 Tlic Uiunder ceased its sullen sound. 
 The lightning stopped its angry glare, 
 'J'hc waves in murnmrs rolling round. 
 No longer drenched with foam the air. 
 Serene and calm the evening smiled 
 On green Calabria's lonely shore. 
 And with the wood dove's song beguiled. 
 The tempest tliuudered death no more !
 
 4 
 
 But inauy a gallant breast was cold 
 That saw the morning's purple ray. 
 O'er whom the broken billows rolled. 
 Their vessel wrecked within the bay ! 
 
 II. 
 
 Alone had sca[jed the young Lothairc, 
 Who thi'o' the boiling flood, all bare. 
 
 When sunk the seaman band. 
 Had boldly ploughed his dangerous way. 
 Lashed with strong arm the foamy spray. 
 
 And safely gained the land. 
 
 III. 
 
 Naked and cold upon the shore 
 
 With weed and white foam covered o'er.
 
 Pensive awhile the warrior stood, 
 And eyed the broad-extended flood : 
 There, mast and cordage floated wide. 
 And icattcr'd planks o'erspread the tide. 
 And many a body void of breath 
 Came rolling" to the beach in death. 
 Deep was the sigh that sudden broke 
 As from the wave he turnM his look. 
 And round surveyed the lonely coast. 
 In fading- twilight almost lost : 
 1 iir on the leff a dreary wood 
 Of soicuui pines, umbrageous stood. 
 And to the right, where bladed grass 
 Shewed level space for foot to pass, 
 Clu^e to the meadow's ample way 
 A ioft y, caverned mountain lay. 
 Tbe Sun was sunk from mortal sight. 
 The >kies had lost their crimson light : 
 D.irkness drew wide her curtain round. 
 And lonely silence reigned profound.
 
 High in mid Heaven her orb of light 
 The cloudless moon revealed to sight. 
 And casting on the scene her ray. 
 Illumed it with a silver day. 
 The wood-dove slept beneath the gleam, 
 And left the owl alone to scream,. 
 And thro' the shade, intent on prey. 
 The forest- savage stalked his wav. 
 
 IV, 
 
 Lothario, when the trumpet's peal 
 Mixed with the dinted clash of steel, 
 And javelin-tempests, like a cloud 
 Covered the sun with flying shrowd. 
 Had undismayed, in battle's ytU 
 Fronted the storm that round him fell. 
 Tint now his heart confessed a fear - 
 The forest savage j)rowling near.
 
 Ami in his grasp no trusty brand 
 His headlong' onset to withstand. 
 But wrecked, and naked on a shore. 
 Where ne'er his feet had trod before. 
 Wild woods and desart mountains nigh- 
 No wonder anxious beamed his eye ! 
 Cautious and silent on he passed. 
 And reached a yawning cave at last. 
 Which in the mountain's shaggy side 
 Its gloomy shelter opened wide 
 
 Here stopped the young Lothaire : 
 He listened his attentive car 
 JSo sound within the cave could hear; 
 He looked no olycct met his sight. 
 And he resolved to sleep the night 
 
 in dreary darkness there !
 
 8 
 
 He entered in the gloomy cclF^ 
 
 And on an earthern mound's rude swtH, 
 
 Which in the cavern lay. 
 Stooped down his head, and soon his eye> 
 Did slumber's sudden death surprise 
 
 With irresistless sway. 
 But dreadful dreams disturbed his rest, 
 For round his lowly bed 
 Appeared, in shadowy armour drest, 
 To stalk the buried dead ! 
 Slowly they waved their dim pale steel' 
 As l>y the knight they passed ; 
 Their vizards lifted, did reveal 
 Eiicli countenance item and ghast '
 
 9 
 
 VI. 
 
 iilad was Lothario when the ray 
 
 Of morning shewed approaching clay^ 
 
 As glimmering through the cavern's night, 
 
 8hot the first beams of orient hght. 
 
 Disturbed and unrefreshed he rose, 
 
 iVud wiped the cold sweat from his brows. 
 
 Then gazing round the ample cell. 
 
 Saw that the cartheru mound's rude swell, 
 
 Wliere naked from the stormy wave 
 
 .Sleepless he stretched him was a grave I 
 
 Struck with amaze, his countenance fell. 
 
 When, in a corner of tlie cell, 
 
 Jle saw a cloak, moth-eaten, lie. 
 
 Stained with dark spots of gory dye. 
 
 And near it, streak'd with sanguine crust, 
 
 A niassy wav-axe, browu with rust!
 
 10 
 
 VII. 
 
 " No doubt/' the musing uarrior said, 
 " The blood upon thy steel, dark blade ! 
 " Was drenched from hlnij who in this grave 
 " Now moulderinglics some warrior brave ! 
 " And thou, damp, torn, and gory cloak, 
 " Hid with dark veil his murderer's look ; 
 " No wonder thus disturbed I lay, 
 " This cave has witnessed unfair play ! 
 " IjV hcav'ns ! in righteous battle's strift', 
 " I sought with zeal each foeman's life; 
 " But ere my hand, by malice led, 
 " Should dye itself in murder red, 
 " I'd forfeit all a hero's claim, 
 " And brand me with eternal shaine ! 
 " However, thus txpos'd and liare, 
 " This cloak will shield me from the air;
 
 11 
 
 '' And this huge axe from beasts of prey, 
 " Defend me on my lonely way/' 
 He said, and wrapped him in the cloak. 
 And iu his grasp the war-axe took. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Soon as he left the gloomy cell 
 Soft on his cheek the 3ea-bree2:e fell. 
 And mildly from th' ethereal way 
 Flamed the broad golden orb of day. 
 The skies with morning glories spread, 
 Blush'd like a virgin-bride with red. 
 And })leasing from the moinitain nigh 
 Murmured the bee while passing by. 
 The wild flower shed its fragrance sweety 
 And echoing from the wood-retreat. 
 From every leafy shrub and tree, 
 NVild swelled the choral harmony.
 
 The bladed grass was dropped with dew. 
 And all the landscape fair to view ; 
 But vainly to the grief-struck heart 
 Does nature all her charms impart ! 
 
 IX. 
 
 Slow thro' the meadow's grassy way. 
 To anxious thoughts and cares a prey, 
 Lothario bent his lonely pace. 
 And long time had he strayed j 
 When from a narrow dell was seen 
 A figure of unusual mien. 
 
 Almost concealed from sight liis face, 
 la monkish cowl arrayed !
 
 13 
 
 X. 
 
 " Hail, father !" so the youth hegun; 
 Who, turnhig, answered, " Hail, my son I" 
 
 But in an accent strange ! 
 Xcver did brave Lothario's ear 
 A sound before so solemn hear. 
 
 He felt his colour chang-e ! 
 Jlarnrst he gazed the figure tall 
 And gazing, i'clt cold awe appal 
 I lis troubled bosom more and more 
 Tor he no human countenance bore ! 
 Down to his eyebrows fell the cowl. 
 And gave his eyes a sullen scowl, 
 While peering from their sable veil. 
 His half-seen lips were deadly pale ! 
 Recovering soul, again he spake 
 " 1 pray thee, father ! shew the track
 
 14 
 
 *' That leads unto some village road, 
 
 " Or lordly baron's proud abode ; 
 
 " Nor wonder at my strange attire, 
 
 " Or this rude battle-axe admire ! 
 
 " Both 1 discovered in a cave, 
 
 " When wrecked on ocean's stormy wave, 
 
 " The sole survivor of" a crew, 
 
 " Naked, I there for shelter drew ."" 
 
 XI. 
 
 The monk with awful answer tpakc, 
 While half Lothario started back, 
 Dismayed at the unearthly sound 
 *' My son ! you tread unfriendly ground . 
 " What round you view, the whole doman?. 
 " Close bordering to the rufBed main, 
 " Is by imperious Albert owned, 
 *' A baron, for his power renowned.
 
 15 
 
 " A little farther and your eyes 
 
 " Shall see his lordly castle rise, 
 
 " With battlements and turrets crowned, 
 
 " And guarded by a fosse around ; 
 
 " Fain to our abbey would I lead 
 
 " Your footsteps to supply your need, 
 
 ' But that from hence is far remote, 
 
 '' And so is every shepherd's cot ! 
 
 " But go, my son ! tho' tyrant power 
 
 " Proud lords it in yon distant tower, 
 
 " That Providence, no mortal eye 
 
 " Can mark, beholds tlue from on high ! 
 
 " ^Tis there that now my footsteps bend, 
 
 " And I am sent thy guardian friend ! 
 
 " Yet not together must we go, 
 
 '' Nor should the hauglity baron know 
 
 " That I, who come in church's claim, 
 
 " With one of thy strange figure came ; 
 
 " Else the hoped gift he might withhold, 
 
 " And lie has found had way to gold !"
 
 16 
 
 xri. 
 
 Lothario ope'J his Ujis no more, 
 
 For thro' his soul the accents ran, 
 But silently his proji;ress bore 
 
 With speedier steps across the plain. 
 Till from an eminence, his eyes 
 Beheld the stately castle rise. 
 With battlements and. turrets crowned. 
 And [guarded by a fosse around. 
 Glad at the sight, with speed of wind 
 
 The level mead he bounded o'er. 
 And casting a short glance behind, 
 
 Saw the mysterious monk no more ! 
 The sun had gained the midmost space 
 Of his opponent daily race.
 
 17 
 
 And shone with fervid smile. 
 When at tlic castle portal stood 
 Lotliario, and at leisure viewed 
 
 The vast embattled pile. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Broad was the fosse, and well supplied 
 With water from the river's tide. 
 Which near the lofty ramparts strayed. 
 And of the fosse a fourth part made. 
 At south, and north, and east, and west. 
 Each angle to defend tlie best, 
 A lofty loopholed turret stood. 
 Commanding river, plain, and wood. 
 The battlements were broad and tall. 
 And many a buttress to the wall 
 Its massy strength and aid supplied, 
 And broke the river's flowing tide, 
 c
 
 18 
 
 The mansion in the midst ai)pcaicd : 
 High the stiipeudcus fabric reared 
 It.s .'-|)iry head, \vitli many a row 
 Of])i!lars set in stately shew : 
 Casement and gallery spreading bold. 
 Redet'teil hack the sun-like gold : 
 High on its lordly head displayed. 
 Loose to the wind, the banner played, 
 Where the baronial arms appeared, 
 In azure, or, and argent reared : 
 The country round was fair to see 
 On plain, by stream, and tufted tree. 
 The vassal village rose to view. 
 Where crops of fertde plenty grew ; 
 And interspersed the goat and deer, 
 With shei'p and cattle grazing neai', 
 Shewed nature of her bounty free, 
 Exet [)t her best gift Liberty !
 
 19 
 
 KIV. 
 
 The ceutinel, from his high post. 
 Beheld, in straiig-e amazeiaent lost, 
 
 Lothario staml below ; 
 " llo 1 wlio art thou ?" he loudly cried. 
 While the dread shaft his hand applied 
 
 Into his steel cross-bow. 
 Lothario found his axe and cloak 
 (^avc to his form no friendly look. 
 And to the centinel thus spoke. 
 ' A stranger I, from Holy Land, 
 " Aiid one of the Ci'usader band 
 '' Wrecked by a temjiest on your coast. 
 ' Survivor to a whole crew lost. 
 ' This strange attire I shall explain, 
 ' If but your noble lord will deign 
 " To givt! admittance to his sight 
 " To oi\e. who bears the name oi'kniirht."
 
 20 
 
 XV. 
 
 The ccutinol gave sudden call 
 To the chief warder from the w all 
 Who to the baron bent his way, 
 Who bade iiim to his sight convey 
 The stranger knight. The leader flew. 
 And wide the inner portal threw. 
 And the portcullis huge updrew : 
 He next the outer gate displayed. 
 And o'er the fosse the drawbridge laid 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Not long lie made Lothario wait. 
 Who entered at the castk' gate, 
 lint earne.-t was the warder's ga/e 
 .At hih strange tlress and sun-burnt face
 
 21 
 
 Scarce had he entered, Avhca again 
 
 The portals were made last, 
 And with the chieftain of the train 
 
 Forward Lothario passed : 
 They left the guard that kept the fort 
 Left outer and the inner court 
 Scaled the stone steps with liasty tread 
 That to the central mansion led ; 
 Next through the lofty pillared hall. 
 Passed thro' an arched passage small 
 And last the private closet gained. 
 Where oft the baron sole remained. 
 
 XVIL 
 
 Tiie monk flashed o'er Lothario's mind 
 
 \\ 111 II he the Baron saw, 
 l-or, saving h\<, no face inclinetl 
 
 Jli> ur< ast to ieel such awe:
 
 32 
 
 He fccmed of forty Aviii!cr> liunitdj 
 
 His hair wtis red of hue. 
 Hi; small grey cycs suspicious burned, 
 
 And hollow lustre threw ; 
 Half-worn with keen corroding- care, 
 
 To sight, he seemed to he ; 
 Fixed on his forehead sat despair. 
 
 And wrinkled misery: 
 Yet cunning, criulty, and pride. 
 
 With rays together blent. 
 Half-seen, were in his glance descried, 
 
 With restless discontent. 
 His stature of superior size 
 Seeni'd fit for hardy enterprize. 
 And stretclied across his ^inewy length, 
 Ajtpcaied the signs of wond'rous strength. 
 Not tight the hattlc-fixc or brand 
 Tliat suited his s^icrmuic hand '
 
 23 
 
 XVIIl. 
 
 .Scarce had the leader introduced 
 
 Lothaire unto his sight. 
 When his strong hinbs their aid refused^ 
 
 His eyel)alls lost their light. 
 With reeling feet and giddy head, 
 lie tumbled, to the sight, as dead. 
 And uttering forth a dreadful groan. 
 Lay pale and .-enseless on the stone ! 
 
 XIX. 
 
 The warder rliief and youthful knifrht, 
 Astonished at the vvond'rous sight. 
 
 Called loud th' attendant train. 
 Who soon, by proper care applied. 
 And sprinkling of the river tide, 
 
 Matle lite return auain.
 
 24 
 
 J5ut scarce erect the baron stood. 
 Scarcely again Lothario viewed. 
 When ready he a])peared c>nce more 
 I'o sink upon the marble floor. 
 
 Till in his servants' arms u|)staid 
 " Ho ! \va^der^ 1 to the castle hall 
 " Lead forth this vvrelch who caused my Hill," 
 
 With treuibliiio- voice he said : 
 " 31 ysclfAviil follow, and arraign 
 ' liim guilty of dark 7nurdtr's stain !" 
 
 XX. 
 
 Lach eye was turned with piercing glance 
 
 (>n young Lothario's face, 
 \s gathering round, with sword and lance, 
 Swift did the warder-band advance 
 
 To guard him to the place.
 
 S.5 
 
 ihit every eye beheld appear 
 Amazement, and no mark of fear 
 
 L'pon his countenance fall, 
 As he his j)onderous axe re-igned. 
 And, followed by the ouard behind. 
 
 Bold soughi ine castle hall. 
 The castle hall was vast and wide. 
 And high adorned in gothic pride ; 
 Strong- fluted pillars lined the wall, 
 (Supporting galleries broad and tall ; 
 The easements were of ample size, 
 And richly stained with painting's dyes: 
 'I'he portals were of ^olid oak, 
 'I he hinge,' brass, ;md brass each lock; 
 Of oak the seats and tables round, 
 T'ie fir>t with azure cushions bound : 
 The pa\ement was of varied stone. 
 And like a mirror smoothly shone : 
 Paintings displayed around were seen, 
 < !f (lames and knights with frowning mien ,
 
 26 
 
 And statue?, in each niche's space, 
 .Stood pale upon their marble base. 
 
 XX 11. 
 
 The i'urthcr end, the chair ot'.-tate 
 Shewed where the lordly baron ^ate 
 When judg-ment he ])ronounced, or ju'oud 
 Harangued the trembling vassal crowd. 
 High over this were seen displayed 
 Escutcheon, trophy, shield, and blade. 
 That glimmering forth a sullen light. 
 Seemed remnants of some tattered fiu'ht. 
 
 XXHI. 
 
 ost in conjecture strange, the knight, 
 Girt by tile guard and va>--al band.
 
 'i7 
 
 Bei'ore the judgment chair stood bold ; 
 Meanwhile^ his person to behold. 
 The castle tenants took their stand 
 Within the lofty galleries' height. 
 The baron entering, on his state 
 Did part of the attendants wait. 
 And stood on either side his chair 
 As down he sat with frowning air; 
 but Twas a frown whose dark disguise* 
 Concealed the terror in his eyes. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 ' 'Tis known to all my vassal train," 
 With stifled accent he began, 
 " That wlien my brotiier lost his life, 
 " I'oul murdered by a ruffian's knife "
 
 28 
 
 lU\x j)aUiR diiiiincd his couiitf iiaiicc o'er. 
 
 And his voicf; ticinhkd more and more , 
 
 " ' r'is known but scarce can 1 relate 
 
 " Tile tale of Ids uidia|)])y late, 
 
 " I'or of his murder when 1 sjtcak 
 
 " The colour changes on my check 
 
 " iaultei's my tongue, and swims my Jiead, 
 
 " So dearly did 1 love the dead ! 
 
 " 'Tis known that w itii the Count J was, 
 
 "And by his murderers held in chase, 
 
 " When, fearful to be overtook, 
 
 " I dropt yon axe and well-known cloak, 
 
 " liui fir>t stretched two upon the plain, 
 
 " W'hinee come those sj)(;ts of gory stain I 
 
 ' When I admitted to my sight 
 
 " This wretch, 1 deemed hiin some bold 
 
 " knight ; 
 ' JJul when the axe and cioak 1 viewed, 
 ' I'-y recollect iouV [aiig subdued.
 
 29 
 
 " 1 fainted on the marble floor, 
 
 " And feel tb' effects, ev'n now, not o'er. 
 
 " No doubt of the assassin train 
 
 ' This wretch was one, and I arraign 
 
 '< JJijn guilty of dark murder's stain ' 
 
 ZHU OF CANTO i.
 
 CANTO 11. 
 
 THE DUNGEON
 
 L O T H A I R E. 
 
 CANTO ir. 
 
 THE DUNGEON 
 
 I. 
 
 All cyfs were tunied on young Lothairc, 
 }>ut chief the baron's, with a glare 
 
 Suspicious and dismayed : 
 But he, in conscious virtue bold^ 
 His easy narrative thus told, 
 While silence, reigning still around. 
 Attended to the manly sound 
 
 Which fearless truth displayed. 
 ' Lord Albert ! that a murderer's name 
 "' Should brand my long unsullied fame
 
 54 
 
 ," Would rouse my soul to firr, 
 Did not I know williin ihy bnust. 
 ' Suspicion only came a guest 
 
 " From this my strange attire : 
 " Hear then my tongue the truth uuIoIl 
 
 " In language plain and clear ; 
 " I trust my ^tory, when ^tis told. 
 
 '' Will satisfv thine car 
 
 II. 
 
 '' My name, O Baron ! is I.othaire, 
 
 " Of humble parents born, 
 ' And fir.-.t in Gallia's confines fair 
 
 " 1 saw the light of morn. 
 '' My charge fur many a year it wa- 
 
 " To tend my father's flock, 
 '' A swain of no illustrious race, 
 
 " I^ut vet of honest stock ;
 
 35 
 
 " But when the sovereign Pontifrbadf 
 
 " The trump of war to sound. 
 " And Europe bared her vengeful blade, 
 
 " To rescue holy ground j 
 " Beneath the sacred cross I stood 
 
 " A champion for my God, 
 *' And under Philip's care soon viewed 
 
 " The land whereon he trod. 
 
 III. 
 
 In happy time we reached the coast, 
 
 " For Sion's ancient lord. 
 
 And Frederick's son, with all his jiosf 
 
 " Were yielding to the sword 
 
 Of Caracos, who led the van 
 
 '' Of Acre's sons of fame. 
 
 Before him tumbled man on man, 
 
 " And wrapped the teats m llanie.
 
 36 
 
 *' Our warlike numbers soon compelled 
 
 " The Pagan to retne, 
 ' With slaughter strewed the sanguine field, 
 
 " And saved the camp from fire. 
 " A private soldier's rank I bore 
 
 " Alone amidst the fight, 
 " But Philip, when the fray was o'er, 
 
 " Ennobled me a kniabt. 
 
 IV. 
 
 " Soon after, Cocur de Lion came, 
 
 " With England'ii host along, 
 " His brazen armour flash'd like flam< 
 
 " The chief was tall and strong. 
 " Soon did the towers of Acre yield, 
 
 " Soon Europe's force prevail, 
 " When raging thro' the battle field 
 
 " He poured his blows like hail
 
 37 
 
 " With Caracos I saw him meet, 
 
 " And dreadful was their strife, 
 " Till gasping at the monarch's feet, 
 
 " The Pagan gave his life. 
 " Then Acre fell, and Gallia's lord, 
 
 " With secret envy fraught, 
 *' Feigning pale sickness, sheathed his sword, 
 
 " And his own kingdom sou2'ht. 
 
 V. 
 
 '' Ten thousand men alone he left 
 
 " With England's king to stay, 
 " That he might fall, of France bereft, 
 
 " To Saladin a prey. 
 " But the famed plains of Askalon 
 
 " Put to his hopes a close, 
 " Which saw, by Richard overthrown, 
 
 '' Three hundred thousand foes
 
 38 
 
 " S( were we told, when under sail 
 
 " We steered for France our way, 
 " By a strange bark, whose passing hail 
 
 " Informed us of the fray. 
 " Tho' Philip be my liege, I own 
 
 " His meanness I desj)iscd, 
 " And mourned my own hopes ovf rthrowji 
 
 " Of glory that I prized. 
 
 Vl. 
 
 ' When near this isle, a dreadful storm 
 
 " O'crtook our numerous fleet 
 " The (lay assumed of night the form, 
 
 " Till' w avcs wild round us heat^ 
 " We from the r(!sl were >cattered wide, 
 " And driven o'er tlie mountain tide; 
 " The thunder rolled with a^ful sonijd^ 
 " The lightning herctly Hashed arouu'l
 
 S9 
 
 * And such a roar irom wind and wave 
 
 " Arose, as might have sUmned the grave.. 
 
 " Our pilot skill and coiu'age lost, 
 
 " For on Calabria's rocky coast 
 
 " He Ibund we drove with dreadful shock 
 
 " That moment on a lurking rock 
 
 '' The vessel split the drowning cries 
 
 ' Of gasping wretches reached the skies 
 
 ' I, on a plank, my limbs and breast 
 
 "' Quick disengaged of mail and vest, 
 
 " i\nd naked, shot the seas along, 
 
 " Made by the sight of land more strong, 
 
 " And reached at last the lonely shore, 
 
 " A spot I ne'er had trod btfore. 
 
 " The whitej'oam trickled down my form 
 
 " And round me rattled all the stornj. 
 
 " I 'thanked my (iod with grateful heart. 
 
 " Yet pity in my breast took part 
 
 -' For those who underneath the wave 
 
 " Had found so soon a watery ar-^ve
 
 40 
 
 Vll. 
 
 " But when the parting light decayed, 
 
 " The tem[)cst's clamorous fury ceased, 
 " The evening sim-beam pierced the shadcj 
 
 " And sunk the raging seas to rest; 
 " With lonely steps 1 trod the shore, 
 " And heard the forest-savage roar^ 
 ' Tiil in a mountain's shaggy side 
 " A gloomy cavern T espied 
 " The moon was up, and chill the air, 
 " And I resolved to shelter there. 
 I stretched me on an earthen mound, 
 " And svidden sunk in sleep profound, 
 " But gladly saw the day confest, 
 " For dreadful dreams disturbed my rest, 
 " When by the light that morning gave, 
 " I found I slumbered on a i^ravc .'
 
 41 
 
 ' And, gaziiif^^ all the cavern round, 
 " Saw in a corner, on the ground, 
 " This mouldered cloak, moth-eaten, lie, 
 '' And yonder axe of sanguine dye. 
 " Naked, I wrapped me in the cloak, 
 " x'\nd, for defence, the war-axe took. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 ' I left the cave, and Ihro' a mead 
 
 '' lj<;ni fajt my solitary speed ; 
 
 ' 'Twas pleasant;, as I strayed along, 
 
 " 'i'o hear the \vood-dove tune her song, 
 
 " Whicn from a narrow dell I saw 
 
 ' A form, ihitt tilled my breast with awe; 
 
 " hi a n"iO!ik's <:owl he stood arrayed, 
 
 " Which wrapt his form in sable shade, 
 
 "" /iiid Only left his face to view 
 
 '' }^.l!.tilllt was like the grave in hue !
 
 42 
 
 " Strange lustre lightened IVom his eye*, 
 " And more than liuman seemed his voice 
 " 'Tuas him that pointed out the way 
 " To where your distant eastle lay ; 
 " He said himself would soon pursue, 
 " For that in church's claim to you 
 " He came, but wished not to be .seen 
 " With one of my unwonted mien. 
 " Such is my tale, and had this hand 
 
 " Thy brother giv'n the mortal stroke, 
 " Think'st thou I would l)efore thee stand 
 
 " With witness, like thy axe and cloak ?' 
 
 IX. 
 
 i.othario marked not, as lie ^poke. 
 Lord Alt)crt's change of hue and look. 
 When he described the gloomy cave. 
 The axe, and cloak, and earthen grave-
 
 43 
 
 And niavkcd not how encreased the changr 
 
 When speaking of the cowled monk strange. 
 
 ills liead turned round, his heart wild bear. 
 
 And scarcely could he keep his seat. 
 
 A murmur ran around the hall 
 
 A> finished young Lothaire his tale. 
 
 X. 
 
 'I'was long ere from his sudden traucf 
 
 The trembling Count recovery found, 
 
 When, arming up his fearful glance, 
 
 And lifting up his voice around 
 
 " Thy tale is ])lausible he said, 
 
 " Ap.d tlicrefore be thy doom delayed 
 
 " Till come the monk so strangely drawn 
 
 *' But, ]f he comes not by the dawn, 
 
 " Thy head shall from thy neck be hewed^. 
 
 " oo shalt thou render blood tor blood !
 
 44 
 
 *' Ho ! to the northern dungeon straight, 
 " Chief Warder ! on thy prisoner wait !" 
 So speaking, from the hah he strode. - 
 Lothaire with indignation glowed. 
 And had the axe but armed his hand 
 Fewer had been the warder-band. 
 Attended by the armed train 
 He reached the outer court again. 
 Where, sudden chained by tyrant power. 
 They led him to the nortlicrn tower ! 
 
 XI, 
 
 Tine warders here withdrew from siglit. 
 And their commander sole remained, 
 
 Down many a flight of steps, the knight 
 Who led, in clanking iron chained ; 
 
 Winding and turning as they went. 
 
 As if down some sleep hill's descrnl,.
 
 45 
 
 ^Tvvas long ere halt they made. 
 When to a door the chief applied 
 A massy key, which opening wide. 
 
 With smiling glance he said : 
 " Enter, Sir Knight ! your only fare 
 " Will be the dungeon's stagnant air, 
 
 " No other is decreed ! 
 " And that old cloak, when stretched alone 
 *' You slumber on the flinty stone, 
 
 " For couch must serve your need ! 
 ' Fear not grim goblins to survey, 
 " For never here comes down the day, 
 " Since where. Sir Knight! you now residt? 
 *' I> uudcvneath the river's tide!"
 
 46 
 
 XII. 
 
 Here on Loth aire he turned the lock. 
 
 That gave a sullen sound. 
 Who heard, as back his course he took. 
 
 His distant steps resound. 
 The leader scaled the narrow >1air 
 And gladly sa\v the upper air. 
 
 XHI. 
 
 Left in the dungeon's gloom aloiie^ 
 f^othario flung him on the stone ; 
 His shackles rattled as he fell. 
 And echoed awful round the cell ; 
 Tho' high above burned brightest day, 
 Yi't liere in deepest night he lay,
 
 4T 
 
 While (Iruppinsj; (.'old the cieliug- thro.^ 
 
 Ft;ll on his head th' unwholesome dew. 
 
 The darkness round, and silence drear, 
 
 Mic,dit quell the boldest heart with fear, 
 
 Eut indignation's swell alone 
 
 Wrung from Lothaire the bursting groan 
 
 Stretched on th' uneven floor he lay. 
 
 To torturing thought and doubt a prey 
 
 Now thinking of the Baron's szvoon. 
 
 Now of the ij;rave where he laid down. 
 
 Mysterious to him seemed the whole. 
 
 But chief recurring to his so\d 
 
 The monk's strange words " Tho'' tyrmu 
 
 " puiver 
 '' Proud lords it in yon distant ton'cr, 
 " That Providence, no mortal eye 
 -' ('(I't mark-, beholds tJiec from on /ri<^h .' 
 *' 'Tis there that noiv my footsteps bend, 
 " And I am sent thy guardian friend .'" 
 i'liis and what latterly he told 
 ' And hi- has found had v.'aij t > cold '"
 
 48 
 
 Perplexed him long, ami half he .said 
 " This monk is neighbour to the tlead !' 
 
 XIV. 
 
 While thus in restless thought he rolled 
 Sleep on his weary lids laid hold, 
 But the same visions that his eyes 
 Saw in the gloomy cave arii^e 
 
 Again disturbed his rest ! 
 For round him, as he lay outspread. 
 Appeared to stalk the buried dead 
 
 In shadoicj/ armour drest ! 
 Slovcly they -juaved their dim pale steel 
 
 As by the knight tJiey passed ; 
 Their vizards lifted, did reveal 
 
 Each countenance, stern and ghast !
 
 49 
 
 XV. 
 
 Trembling, he woke with sudden start. 
 But what cold terror thrilled his heart 
 When shining thro' the dungeon's night 
 He saw appear a ray of light ! 
 AikI standing o'er his flinty bed, 
 A figure, with a cowl o'erspread. 
 Whose right hand held an axe's blade. 
 The same that in the cavern's shade 
 Spotted with blood, himself had found. 
 Huge, massy, and with rust embrowned ! 
 " Mysterious form ! how cam'st thou here !" 
 Lothario cried, appalled with fear : 
 " The dungeon's massy door is fast 
 " At what strange entrance hast thou passed ? 
 " Or art thou not the monk I viewed, 
 " Some phantom to ensnare the good ?" 
 
 F.
 
 50 
 
 XVI. 
 
 ^' No phantom I !" returned a voice 
 
 Soft as the breeze that sighs in spring, 
 Sweet as the music of the skies 
 
 When angel forms their anthems sing I 
 " But one of earthly mould like thee, 
 
 " Who hither comes, by pity led, 
 *' At this dark hour to set thee free, 
 
 " And from the axe preserve thy head ! 
 " Rise, knight ! and to thy hand receive 
 
 " This blade arise to liberty ! 
 " 'Twas this that made my father grieve, 
 
 " And I restore it back to thee ! 
 " 'Twill serve to guard thee, on thy way, 
 " From ruffian power and beasts of prey ! 
 " Thy spirits also to restore, 
 " Take with thee this a slender store !"
 
 51 
 
 XVII. 
 
 The silver sound, the soul sprung strain 
 
 At once dispersed Lothario's fear ; 
 He vaulted up in clanking chain. 
 
 And gazed the speaker's person near- 
 And saw, amidst the cowl's dark shade. 
 Before him stand a beauteous maid ! 
 Her dark eye made his bosom move. 
 
 Fringed by the silken lash's shade. 
 In whose bright softness, kin to love. 
 
 Compassion's melting lustre played. 
 Much of her form he could not view. 
 So deep the cowl its foldings drew. 
 Save where the light's uncertain glare 
 Dwelt trembling on her bosom fair. 
 And shewed its gently heaving swell 
 As each white orb now rose, now fell.
 
 52 
 
 Her graceful arms of milky hue 
 Distinct their polish shewed to view. 
 As by the streaming glare revealed 
 The one, a lamp and basket held. 
 And in the other, bore with pain 
 The well-known axe of sanguine stain. 
 
 xvin. 
 
 These on the damp cold floor she laid. 
 And from her bosom drawn, displayed 
 
 An iron key to sight ; 
 With this, she turned the screw-lock round 
 That held the chains together bound. 
 
 And soon released the knight. 
 When she beheld the warrior free, 
 Back in her breast she placed the key-
 
 53 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Lothario, as with rattling sound 
 
 His falling fetters touched the ground. 
 
 The offered basket in his hand 
 
 Took with the war-axe, blood-distained; 
 
 Then raising his astonished look. 
 
 Thus to his fair deliveress spoke : 
 
 " If 'tis no vision cheats my sight, 
 
 " Or thou art not some form of light 
 
 " Descended from its heav'nly sphere, 
 
 " In pity for the wretched here ! 
 
 " Tell, generous maid ! thy unknown name ; 
 
 " Say, hither by what means you came ? 
 
 " So may I from amazement wake, 
 
 " Nm' this for some fond dream mistake I"
 
 54 
 
 XX. 
 
 Speaking, the virgin fixed he eyed. 
 
 Who, blushing rosy red, rephed, 
 
 " Time presses if I tarry here 
 
 " I justly may discovery fear : 
 
 " 'Tis fit, however, thou should' st know 
 
 " Enough, the mystery to shew. 
 
 " Edwina is the name I bear, 
 
 " Baron Alberto's only heir ; 
 
 " Concealed within the galleries' height, 
 
 *' I marked thee in the hall, young knight ! 
 
 " When as a wretch, with murder stained 
 
 *' I heard thee by my sire arraigned ; 
 
 " But both thy story and thy look 
 
 " Strong to my soul, in secret, spoke, 
 
 '' That thou wast guiltless of the crime 
 
 '* Anxious I waited for the time
 
 55 
 
 " When the expected monk should call 
 " At our embattled castle-wall. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 " 'Tis night he has not yet appeared 
 
 " Much for thy safety then I feared ; 
 
 " I wrapped me in our chaplain's hood, 
 
 " By none within the castle viewed ; 
 
 " Unseen I glided thro' the hall, 
 
 " And took thy chain's key from the wall ; 
 
 " Took also that huge axe of steel, 
 
 " And placed of food, a scanty meal 
 
 " And flask of wine, in wicker band, 
 
 " Next snatched a lamp within my hand : 
 
 " But how with these I gained thy sight 
 
 " Follow, and I will shew thee, knight !"
 
 56 
 
 XXII. 
 
 So speaking, in her hand she took 
 
 The lamp, whose trembhng hght 
 Around the rugged dungeon broke. 
 
 And shewed its gloom to sight. 
 Lothario silently pursued. 
 And in a corner, fashioned rude, 
 
 Beheld a small trap door. 
 Which lifted up, stood wide displayed, 
 .Not seen before, so thick the shade. 
 
 With eartli all covered o'er. 
 Its inside was unshaven wood. 
 Where two large bolts, drawn backward, 
 
 stood : 
 Beneath, the lamp's reflected light 
 Revealed rough steps of stone to sight !
 
 57 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Here turned the maid " How first I found 
 
 " Til is gloomy passage under ground 
 
 " Was strange : one day, in pensive mood 
 
 '' Alone I roamed the castle wood ; 
 
 " 'Twas after my dear mother died, 
 
 " Sad victim of my father's pride, 
 
 " When, overgrown with brambles rude, 
 
 " An opening in the ground I vieived, 
 
 ' By curiosity impelled, 
 
 ' Entering, my steps I forward held ; 
 
 " Descending long, at length I found 
 
 ' That gently upwards sloped the ground ; 
 
 ' Still 1 advanced, till in my way 
 
 " Appeared those steps your eyes survey ', 
 
 ' These I ascended, and soon found 
 
 ' 'i'lie trap-door by its hollow sound;
 
 58 
 
 " The iron bolts I back withdrew, 
 " When this dark dungeon met my view, 
 " (For when the eye is long in shade, 
 " Faintly can objects be surveyed) ; 
 '* With beating heart I forward passed, 
 '' But found the massy portal fast. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 " Down I descended, closed the dooi', 
 ^' And back again my footsteps bore; 
 " Returning, sudden on my right 
 " Another opening met my sight : 
 " (My heart has ever scorned the dread 
 " By superstitious folly bred) 
 " And I resolved this passage new 
 " T' explore, and boldly forward drew. 
 " It winded upwards long, and led 
 " To other stairs my cautious tread, 
 " Closed by a trap-door o'er my head.
 
 59 
 
 " This opening in a loop-holed room 
 " I found myself (escaped the gloom) 
 " Filled with, of rusty arms, a pile 
 " Which passing, thro' a narrow aisle, 
 " To the south turret's gate I came, 
 ' And saw the day around me flame !" 
 
 END Of CANTO 1!,
 
 CANTO HL 
 
 THE MONK,
 
 L O T li A I R E. 
 
 CANTO III. 
 
 THE MONK. 
 
 I. 
 
 XiDWiNA ceased, and down the dark 
 
 Descent, the warrior passed ; 
 She followed and, lest eye should mark, 
 
 Again the door made fast. 
 Down the rough steps of unhewn stone. 
 On which the lamp's broad lustre shone. 
 
 They both together sped 
 Then in the narrow passage stood, 
 l,ow, dreary, dark, and damp, and rude, 
 
 r.ikf vaults where sleep the (K-ad
 
 64 
 
 As on with silent speed they went, 
 It winded down in rough descent 
 
 Beneath the river's tide. 
 While from the lamp reflected bright. 
 In scattered rays, the streaming light 
 
 Flashed red on either side ! 
 
 II. 
 
 At length upon the right sva< seen 
 
 An opening rude and bare ; 
 Here stopped the maid with smiling nueii. 
 
 And thus addressed Lothaire : 
 " Now, Warrior! I must quit thy sight, 
 ' And leave thee in the gloom of night 
 
 " Thy journey to pursue : 
 " Bend straight thy course, and soon thine eye 
 " The stars, that spangle midnight's sky 
 
 " And castle wood shall view.
 
 6*5 
 
 ' Go, Warrior ! go to liberty ! 
 
 " But think that it is owed to me I'" 
 
 A rosy blush suffused again 
 
 The smoothness of her cheek 
 She ended, but her dark eye plain 
 
 Appeared her soul to speak. 
 (Jlose to her form the cowl she drew 
 Thai hid her lovely face from view, 
 And with concealing mantle pre:-t 
 Th(; softness of her snowy brea;-!, 
 
 Xor stayed she for reply 
 liuL waving her white arm to view 
 The gazing warrior, bade adieu, 
 
 And vanished from his eye. 
 
 HI. 
 
 U love ! the soul tliat knows no fear. 
 That glows the trumpet's blast to hear 
 
 F
 
 6 
 
 i\in\ calmly the imjjetuous sea 
 
 Turned IVom its bottom I)}' tlie blast, 
 Behokls tho^ rag-ing dreadfully. 
 
 Its billows overwhelm the mast ! 
 O wond'rous love ! that stubborn soul 
 Shall bow unto thy s-oft controul. 
 Such beauty's powei-, and feel the dart 
 Shot from the bright eye to the heart ' 
 
 IV. 
 
 Lothario for a moment stood 
 
 Speechless, and rooted to the ground ; 
 In fancy still the bright ibrrn viewed. 
 
 And hi ard the voice of silver sound. 
 At length the silence still and lone. 
 And sudden darkness round him thrown.
 
 67 
 
 Awoke him^ thus entranced ; 
 Pensive along the dreary way 
 That now led upwards to the day, 
 
 His progress he advanced. 
 Long' had he walked at last a light 
 (ilimmered at distance on his sight, 
 7\nd further on, he saw appear 
 An opening- to the passage drear. 
 Tiiis gaining, thro' the brambles round 
 lie speeded, and, emerging, found 
 [limself beneath tiu: open sky, 
 And hailed the hour of liberty '. 
 
 V. 
 
 Amidst a spacious wood he found 
 Himself, and cautious gazed around : 
 The castle's lofty towers were seen 
 Pale rising o'er the tree-toj)s green.
 
 68 
 
 And thro' tlie mingled pine and oak. 
 Apparent to the warrior's look. 
 The moon upon the fosse slione bright 
 That trembled with her silver light. 
 'Twas still save where embowered abovf 
 The night-bird tuned her song of love, 
 And, murmuring thro^ tlie branches light. 
 Cold j-iohed the solemn breeze of night. 
 The warrior, screened from prying eye, 
 
 Soft on a green bank sat him down ; 
 And many a lonely wild-flower nigh 
 
 Brightened the forest's sullen frown. 
 From the twined basket forth he drew 
 
 The viands and sustaining br( ad, 
 And, ^-heltered from the midnight dew.. 
 
 With hung( r's savoury relish fed : 
 Next from the flask Edwina brought 
 Took the enlivening purple draught. 
 
 And found his strength restored ; 
 Imperious nature's cravings fled,
 
 69 
 
 With footsteps bare and naked head 
 Hi? journey he exploretl. 
 
 VI. 
 
 For many a mile the youth pursued 
 
 The footpath in the dreary wood, 
 
 Cautious, lest any beast of prey 
 
 Or robber should obstruct his way, 
 
 Tho' many a chase had cleared the shade 
 
 Of beasts that once beneath it strayed. 
 
 At last he reached a spacious plain 
 
 Beyond the baron's wide domain. 
 
 And turning, glanced along the night 
 
 Nor tower nor cottage met his sight. 
 
 Elated, thro' the moonlight field 
 
 His progress, fired with hope, he held. 
 
 While from his figure slanting back 
 
 The lengthened s-hadow marked his trmk.
 
 70 
 
 TIic \vi(le plain ended in a road 
 Fajl by a craggy jutting rock. 
 
 Beneath whose brow liis dark abode 
 Lothario till the morning took, 
 
 And soon did slumber's influence shed 
 
 Its p(.)j)pic;s round iiis weary head. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Sweet was his re^t, his shnnbers light, 
 
 Tso dreadful vi^i()ns met his sight. 
 
 But golden dreams, in pleasing ring. 
 
 Around him fluttering spread the wing : 
 
 He seenied to roam Elysian meads. 
 
 Where, roses on ddightful beds 
 
 With purple amaranth did twine. 
 
 And bloom of balmy jessamine : 
 
 Till re bieezy hills and lawns displayed 
 
 Their smoothness, with soft green arrayed.
 
 71 
 
 .'ind groves of choicest fruit were seeu 
 iMirl:3t tliickcts formed of myrtle green: 
 There, over sands of gems and gold 
 Transparent streams their waters rolled.. 
 And lulling murmurs ceaseless made 
 Or trembling gleamed amidst the shade i 
 With iair lidwina, hand in handj 
 He seemed to roam this Eden land. 
 And raptui'c thrilling all his breast, 
 Oft to his heart the maiden prest, 
 Whoe cheek, witVi blushes sweet arrayed. 
 The purple light of love displayed. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Near to raid-noon had verged tlie day 
 lire slumber dried its dews away. 
 
 When woke the youth from rest : 
 Mild was the morn, and cool the air. 
 And, strengthened and refreshed., Lolliairt 
 
 I-'elt hope inspire his breast.
 
 72 
 
 Fiom a wild ash that overhung 
 
 The dark-projecting rock, 
 A branch with sudden force he wrung. 
 
 From which a spray he took. 
 This round his naked liead he twined. 
 And at the front together joined, 
 
 To fence him in its shade ; 
 Ere vertical the solar glare 
 Drank the moist dews thro' fervid air. 
 
 And on his temples played. 
 
 IX. 
 
 This done he traced the lonelj road, 
 Altho' his feet severely glowed, 
 
 Sore with the length of way 
 His right hand held the axe of blood, 
 His Icit th' unfinished wine and food 
 
 That in the basket lav.
 
 73 
 
 Had any stranger's passing glance 
 I.othaire's appearance seen by chance, 
 I le would have deemed him either ghost 
 ()v hapless wretch to reason lost. 
 And, fcarirg such wild form to meet, 
 \\:\i\ made no sliirht use of his feet. 
 
 X. 
 
 Fur many a rnile along the road 
 r>en(r;'li tlie sun that sultry glowed 
 
 llis ])rogress had he took, 
 V.'lien a green bank his eyes surveyed 
 Deftntled hy an oak's dark shade, 
 
 Whcii' gujlied a limpid brook. 
 Here re>u(l for a while Lothaire, 
 Ana >\v(.cilv oa hi^ humble fare 
 
 CoTitcuicd did he dine; 
 Tlicn wkh long draught allayed his thirst
 
 74 
 
 Fiom the clear current, mingling first 
 
 The cold wave with his wine. 
 Then with fresh hope and strength renewed, 
 Ilis solitary course pursued. 
 But left Edwina's gift behind. 
 Against the spreading oak reclined. 
 
 XL 
 
 Juat as he turned a winding maze 
 
 Formed by the varying road. 
 Sudden before his startled ga^e 
 
 A well-known figure stood 
 A coxvl its tall form covered o'er 
 
 And li.alf concealed its face, 
 But that no human aspect bore, 
 
 Unlike the earthly race : 
 Down to his ej/ehrotus fell the coivl. 
 And gave his eyes a sullen scqvjI,
 
 7o 
 
 li hile, peerijig front their sable veil. 
 The half-seen lips were deadli/ pule ' 
 Lothario's soul within him sunk 
 When he beheld again the monk ! 
 " Hail, ?ou \" so awful he began^ 
 (Villi tone unlike the voice of man ; 
 " !low comes it still, in such array;, 
 ' Alone you tread tins rugged way r" 
 
 XII. 
 
 'J'o t!!0 knip,ht's heart his accents struck. 
 
 And iuute awliile he stood 
 At length rccovcving, with glazed look 
 
 Tiie rail pule form he viewed 
 ' Say. who wxi thou, to death and wor 
 
 " That nearly hast my footstejjs led .: 
 " Links itiirchief in that saintly shew, 
 
 " Or art thou neifjlibour to the dead
 
 76 
 
 '^ Why did not gloomy Albert's eye 
 " Thy person yester-evc survey ; 
 
 " So was thy promise pledged, or why 
 " Dost thou for ever cross my way r" 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Deep groaned the Monk, and seemed tostand 
 
 Impassioned, as the knight he viewed ; 
 Then from his head, with solemn hand 
 
 Pulled back the covering cowl and hood. 
 Dreadhcav'u I what horrorseized the knight, 
 flow shook his inuiost oul with fright ! 
 When pale and ghastly as the grave 
 
 A countenance was >eeu 
 Whose bloodless lips, dread token, gave 
 
 He saw no human mien ! 
 Deep m the head, an inch and more, 
 
 A hideous gash appeared,
 
 77 
 
 With spattered brain and clotted gore. 
 
 All horribly besmeared ! 
 Silent awhile the spectre stood. 
 And earnestly Lothario viewed ; 
 Then lifting up its death-pale hand, 
 
 Thus spoke with accent dread 
 The sound made high erected stand 
 
 The locks upon Lothario's head ' 
 
 XIV, 
 
 lilood will have blood! the vvralh of 
 
 *' heav'u, 
 " Tlio' tardy in its doom. 
 Leaves first a space for mercy giv'n, 
 " Ikit soon or late wiU come ! 
 The lightning from the livid cloud 
 ' (.'onies not so sudden down 
 I'or what the guilty wretch can shrowd 
 " Kroni <iod'5 avenuiuii; frown '
 
 78 
 
 '' Thou viewest things with earthly siglit 
 
 " But when its clay embrace 
 " Thy soul forsakes, thou then aright 
 
 " Wilt know how fills the Deity all space 
 " Attend my tale know I was he 
 
 " Who owned that fair domaiii 
 ' But yester-eve I made thee see 
 
 " Round bordering on the main ; 
 " That castle and its tenantry, 
 " Young Warrior, once belonged to me ; 
 "' For know, an elder brother's claim 
 "' I bore, and Rosmond was mv name. 
 
 XV. 
 
 " Ambition I by thy intluence led 
 " The soul becomes to virtue dead ; 
 ' And losing every thought beside, 
 " Swells up in its own selfish pridt:.
 
 79 
 
 The towering city, once so fair, 
 
 Tumbled in ruins, lone and bare, 
 " Marks wild ambition's lust ; 
 
 " Thro' which, where once did plenty wave, 
 ' Wide devastation spreads her grave 
 
 " O'er thonsands laid in dust I 
 ' O 'tis a crime, well worthy hell ! 
 * A crime by which the angels fell; 
 " A crime, that in his brother's blood 
 " IMade Albert's murderous hand be dewed! 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Full twenty summers now have fled 
 Since lovely Emmtlinc was dead ! 
 Slu; was my spouse, and ceased to brcatlu 
 " The life-sustaining air ; 
 \'\ iicn, cause of her untimely death, 
 ' She oave my arms a heir.
 
 80 
 
 " My brother oh I that sacred nanu 
 
 " How foul has he betrayed ! 
 " Lived with me, and by all the sauit- 
 
 " Respectful care was paid : 
 " Whiite'er my castle could aflord 
 
 " Was open to his hand ; 
 " It scarcely seemed that I was loiti, 
 
 '' Or held the chief connnan!]. 
 " O ! of atfection's dearest clahii 
 
 " Within my sccrtt heart, 
 " Warm with the truest, brig-htest flame 
 
 " How great was Albert's part ! 
 
 XVll. 
 
 " Dissimulation ! uliu can know 
 " The cunning of thy smile ? 
 
 " .Smooth as the stream thy accents flow 
 " Yet poison hide the while I
 
 81 
 
 ' I thought aftection equal bright 
 
 " Within my brother glowed, 
 " But mark the grateful way^ young knight! 
 
 " He that atlectioii shewed ! 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 '' f)iic morning he a wall: proposed 
 
 " Towards the boi'dcring main^ 
 " Wliich lay with all its biUows rlosed 
 
 " Smooth as a level plain : 
 " So from the battlements we viewcil 
 " That round eommandcd hill and flood, 
 " Cool blew the breeze the opening flower^ 
 
 " Perfumed the balmy air, 
 ' While glancing on the castle towers 
 
 '' 'V\\c sun-beaui;^ tr( ml'ied fni:-.
 
 82 
 
 " My son had then two summers seen., 
 
 " A l)old and sprightly boy, 
 " And him I took, with smihng miii, 
 
 " The ramble to enjoy. 
 " Robes, with sky-eoloiired azure dyed. 
 
 " And crimson plumes we wore, 
 *' And on our vests, our arms descried, 
 " Revealed an argent steed whose priile 
 
 " Tram{)letl a snake of or : 
 " And both, de[)ending at our side, 
 
 " Defensive weapons bore. 
 " Mine was a golden-hilted brand, 
 
 *' The beasts of prey to quell 
 " Mis, was that axe witlnn thy hand. 
 
 " But bright was then its steel.
 
 83 
 
 XIX. 
 
 " Slow, thro' the green o'crhanging shade 
 
 ' Spangled with dew drop?, long we strayed, 
 
 " While fluttering- from the leafy spray 
 
 '' The wood-dove tuned its morning lay. 
 
 " My son, like every artless child, 
 
 '' Plucked as he went the flowerets wild 
 
 '' And lausrhed with innocent delight 
 
 '' To see the cuckoo wing his flight. 
 
 " So pleasant was the walk, the day, 
 
 " When verged to noon, still saw us stray, 
 
 " Till on the rigJii a dreaiy ivooU 
 
 " Of solemn spreading pines tre vieived ; 
 
 *' And on the left, where bladed grass 
 
 " Shelved level space for foot to pass, 
 
 " Close to the meadow's ample uv/// 
 
 ' A loft;/ cavcrncd inounlain hn/ '
 
 84 
 
 *' Here I proposed our walk to end 
 
 " And to the castle back to bend, 
 
 " When over heav'n's expansion blue 
 
 " Spread a dark cloud of sable hue, 
 
 " Whose sullen look and loweruig frown 
 
 " Threatened to pour the tempest dmvn ! 
 
 '' This seen, the meadow quick we passed, 
 
 ' And readied a yaiLuing cave at las/., 
 
 " lllilch ill the tnouiitain's -shaggj/ side 
 
 " lis gloomy shelter opened ividc! 
 
 ' Lotha.il. ! thou hast viewed the scene, 
 
 " Thou in the cave of blood hast been ! 
 
 XX. 
 
 *' Scarce had we gained the murky cell, 
 *' When down the rattling tempest fell 
 " The thunder shook the air ;
 
 85 
 
 "'' Whistled the wind ; the rain poured fast, 
 " And thro' the cavern's darkness, cast 
 " The litjhtnino; its red glare. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 " During our walk, my brother seemed 
 
 " Absorbed in gloomy thought ; 
 " His eye strange lustre often beamed 
 
 " When mine by chance it caught. 
 ' Often did he behold my child, 
 
 " And oft the dreary wood ; 
 " Three times he stopped with gesture wild 
 
 ' And his enormous war-axe viewed. 
 " I deemed he feared the beasts of prey, 
 " And smiling, still pursued my way.
 
 8() 
 
 XXII. 
 
 " IIow hardened is the luimaji brcasi 
 
 " When it becomes to vice a prey ! 
 " The hand to murder dark addressed, 
 
 " Fearless can wield the axe's sway, 
 " Tho' o'er his head, with solemn sound 
 
 " The thunder utters its command, 
 " And cries from heav'n's remote profound, 
 
 " Hold, Villain ! hold, thy sanguine hand ! 
 " As unsuspicious o'er my boy 
 
 " 1 bent, to soothe his childish dread, 
 " With fury hissing down from high, 
 
 " The murderous axe dtcp reft my Ixad 
 " Ambit icu to possess my laud 
 
 " And rule my castle'^ v. idc domain 
 " Impelled his mirelenting hand 
 
 " To drive the death-blow to mv biain
 
 87 
 
 " Streaming' red blood with dying groan 
 
 " Ere yet I gave my soul to air; 
 " Fixed on my child oh ! hadst thou known 
 
 " Deep in my breast the heart-pang there ! 
 " See how a brother's grateful hand 
 
 " Requited my unbounded love : 
 " But everlasting does it stand 
 
 " In heav'n's recording book above. 
 '' Prone-gasping, at his feet I rolled, 
 ' As the cave's marble, pale and cold 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 There lay my corpse, an earthevn cloii, 
 " (Life's crimson current ever fled;) 
 My mounting soul before its (iod 
 ' Mush ! 'tis the mystery of the dead !
 
 88 
 
 " < ) \voiidrous <]cath ! No t'roun appeared 
 
 " Darkening the Saviour's glorious face 
 " Ye parted souls ! }e angels ! heard 
 
 " Mis lips pronounce the doom of grace ! 
 " But I besought him not to rest 
 
 " Till he should his dread wrath fulfil ; 
 " ov vho (and just the high behest) 
 
 " Kills ivith the stxord, the sivord shall kilL 
 " These eighteen years my spirit's sight 
 
 " Has lookeil on earthly storm and jar, 
 '' And welcomed not the keen delight 
 
 " That sight of hcav'n inspires from far. 
 " But htay thou art but dn.>t as yet 
 " Let me my horrid tale repeat. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 Scarce given was tlie mortal .-troke 
 
 " When M ild with terror shrieked mv t.'oy
 
 89 
 
 And Ihro' the storm hi> progress took; 
 
 " AlLcmplinii^, but in v;iin, to fly. 
 " The nnii-dcrcr i:i u corner ihmg 
 
 " Iliii cloak and xvaipon dyed in blood, 
 "' 'VvA w, thro' the gloomy cavern sprung-^ 
 " And fast the screaming boy pursued. 
 ' Ilim on the shore he overtook, 
 
 " Who to his knee with terror chuig, 
 ' But heeding not its infant look, 
 
 " The cluld into tlic deep he flung. 
 * Wild was the storm wave after wave 
 
 " ]?ur.-t dreadful on the groaning sliore 
 ' One fearful scream the infant gave 
 " And he beheld its form no more I" 
 
 END OF CANTO III.
 
 %otfinivt* 
 
 < AN rO IV, 
 
 Til K VISION
 
 LOTH AIRE 
 
 CANTO IV. 
 
 THE VISION. 
 
 1. 
 
 11 ERE paused the spectre, and appeared 
 With agitation loftier reared. 
 His sunken eyeball's faded beam 
 Flashed w ith a brighter, deeper gleam, 
 As uttering forth a second groan. 
 Thus it resumed, with hollow touf. 
 Back to the cave, the fatricide 
 
 " Deaf to remorse and nature spe<l 
 " And with his axe, in murder dyed, 
 
 " Dug in the hollow cave a bed :
 
 94 
 
 " There, with my vesture on and sword 
 " He laid me, hid from mortal sight, 
 " Thou to the corner back restored, 
 " The fatal axe, no longer bright. 
 " But from that hour, his guilty breast 
 " Ne'er knev7 the sweets of hope or rest. 
 
 11. 
 
 " The tempest ceased the air was cahn, 
 
 " Again the birds resumed their lay, 
 " The purple flowers diftlised their balm 
 
 " And glorious smiled again the day. 
 " All nature was serene and bright, 
 " But Albert's bosom still was night : 
 " Wilh ruffled look and seeming- fear 
 " He drew unto iny castle near, 
 '' And loud upon the guard did call, 
 " To uaiu admittance in the wall.
 
 95 
 
 llow lie deceived my vassals round, 
 
 ' \\'arrior ! Iiiniselt' has let thee know 
 " 'Jliat ill the forest's shadi' profound 
 
 " I sunk beneath a ruffian's blow; 
 " That by the same hands fell my son, 
 " And he escaped by flight alone ! 
 '' Panting, as if from loss of breath, 
 
 " He bade the guard explore the wood 
 T' avenge his dear-loved brother's death 
 
 ' But thou mayest guess that nought they 
 " viewed. 
 
 HI. 
 
 Ten years a wretched life he led 
 Ere fixed his gloomy mind to wed. 
 That to a son, his ill-got power 
 Might be be<|ueathed at death's dread 
 
 " lioiir!
 
 96 
 
 " His vassals deemed that giief lor me 
 
 " Clouded his brow with misery, 
 
 '' When heav'n's itill monitor within 
 
 " Reproached him for his deadly sin, 
 
 " And goading him by day and night, 
 
 " Filled him with care and pale allright. 
 
 " Close bordering upon my domain 
 
 " A neighbouring baron held his reiiin, 
 
 " Kqual unto Uiyself in power, 
 
 " And lord of an extended tower : 
 
 " At his decease, he left behind 
 
 " A widow of exalted mind, 
 
 *' Of noble birth, and young and fair, 
 
 " A daughter eight years old, her heir. 
 
 " INIy brother, tlnV ambition's ])ride 
 
 " Made court to her, nor wa; dc nied 
 
 '' But in the marriage terms agreed 
 
 " His own heirs male sliould sole succeed 
 
 " To either cai^^tle fond and vdiri 
 
 " His hopes, successors to obtain.
 
 m 
 
 " Almira, tlio' the Count she loverl, 
 '' His pride defeating, barren proved. 
 " More fretful year succeeding year 
 " lie grew, to find she bore no heir ; 
 " At last, devoid of all remorse, 
 " Threatened the Countess to divorce, 
 " Who daily losing all her bloom 
 " Sunk broken-hearted to the tomb ! 
 '' Six months she has not yet been dead, 
 " And even now 'tis in his head 
 " Again some titled fair to wed. 
 " Vain thought ! for heav'n's protecting care 
 Has sent him an unwelcome heir. 
 
 IV. 
 
 *' The infant his unfeeling hand 
 
 " Dashed headlong in the roaring deej), 
 
 ' J'loating at heaven's supreme command 
 " \V;is rescued by a merchant ship : 
 u
 
 98 
 
 " This, uhen the tempest's rage was o'er, 
 
 " In safety reached the Gallic shore. 
 
 " To Sicily a shepherd swain 
 
 " Had voyaged in pursuit of gain, 
 
 ^' And for fair price his flock had sold 
 
 " And back returned with needful gold. 
 
 " A Frank was he, but little known, 
 
 " Yet virtue claimed him for her own. 
 
 " He, when the rich with scornful eye 
 
 " Passed the unheeded orphan boy 
 
 " Abandoned to the world's wide stage^ 
 
 " Took pity on his helpless age, 
 
 " And brought him to his cottage lone 
 
 *"' And reared him as he would his son. 
 
 V. 
 
 Lolhano! when from Pagan hands 
 " The javelin on thy breastplate rung,
 
 99 
 
 " Such was eternal fate's commands, 
 
 " The weapon but in vain was flung. 
 '' When perished a whole crew beside 
 
 " Deep swallowed in the gulphy main, 
 " Thou, safe upon the surging tide 
 
 " Heardst the wild billows roar in vain. 
 " In neither storms, nor murderous war 
 " Wert thou without thy angel's care. 
 " Thy mind retains, when slumbering low 
 
 " Thou saw'st the visions in the cave : 
 *'' No wonder they appeared for know 
 
 ' Thou slep'st upon thj/ father's ^rnve ' 
 
 VL 
 
 Start not for interposing heav'n 
 " That justly tried thy opening youth 
 Thee now in wondrous sort has giv'n 
 '' To know this unexpected truth.
 
 100 
 
 " A tempest did thy form survey 
 
 " Cast helpless in the ocean's roar ; 
 " In the same spot a stormy day 
 
 " Has brought thee to thy native shore. 
 " Haste to the king Messina soon, 
 
 " Where now he stays, thine eyes shall 
 " greet ; 
 " There, lowly-bending at his throne, 
 
 " The story I have told, repeat. 
 " If this he doubts a train demand 
 
 " To search the dark-concealing cave, 
 " And soon my skeleton and brand 
 
 " Shall be beheld within the grave. 
 " Go, and Lord Albert bold arraigu 
 " Guilty of foulest murder's stain '
 
 101 
 
 VII. 
 
 ' Fear not the Providence whose care 
 " Preserved thee from his fatal snare, 
 '' Also in this thy hfe shall tend 
 " And give thy suit a happy end : 
 ' For never can my spirit rest 
 
 " Till thou shalt justly hold thine own, 
 ' And vengeance from thy arm addrest 
 
 " Falls on my murderous brother down. 
 * Go, prosper tho' unseen of thee, 
 " I ever near thy form will be." 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Scarce finished was the sound. 
 
 When where the grisly spectre stood
 
 102 
 
 Lothario in amazement viewed 
 Nought but the landscape round. 
 So hghtning- in the stormy sky 
 
 With sudden tla?h appears. 
 And then as sudden from the eye 
 
 In darkness disappears. 
 Lothario stood with kindhng eye 
 
 in thought, beyond controul 
 He found himself in birtli as high 
 
 As he was high of soul, 
 lie gave a stride, and in his hand 
 Shook the huge axe like some light brand. 
 
 As if to war addrest 
 *' My murdered father I no by heav'n ! 
 " Till vengeance to thy ghost is giv'n 
 
 " I will not kiiow of rest. 
 " Albert ! weil might this axe and cloak 
 '' Alter to pale tiiy guilty look 
 
 " And throw thee to the floor;
 
 103 
 
 ' These, with thy brotlicr's slaughter red, 
 " From the dark cave where lay they spread, 
 
 " His son unconscious bore. 
 ' Tremble, thou wretch ! the storm scowls 
 
 " o'er 
 " And hcav'n will bear thy crimes no more." 
 
 IX. 
 
 He ceased but passion^s sudden rise 
 
 Still swelled along his frame 
 He clenched his axe, and from his eyes 
 
 The flashings sparkles came. 
 Full to the soul in wrath, yet sad. 
 
 Striding he gained the distant town. 
 Ere in his evening glory clad 
 
 The sun unto the west sunk down.
 
 104 
 
 X. 
 
 McaiiUnie, crc yd the rosy day 
 
 From ocean reared her locks of gold^ 
 What tune within the wood, his way. 
 
 Beneath the dews of midnight cold 
 Lothario took, when wine and food 
 ills drooping spirits had renewed. 
 Escaped the dungeon's gloomy bound, 
 
 The star-light glittering o'er his head 
 That time, outstretched in sleep profouiwl 
 
 Lord -\lbert {jrchsed his weary betl. 
 For He\er can the guilty breat 
 
 The sweets of (-juiet slumbui' know 
 To toil it gives the bahn of rest, 
 
 But stands the lordly culprit".'- foe.
 
 105 
 
 The castle all around was still. 
 The watchman silent on the wall. 
 
 The moon-bcani silver'd stream and hill 
 And ?himbercd on the turrets tall. 
 
 XL 
 
 Then, in the awful dreams of night 
 Appeared before the Baron's sight 
 Almira, his forgotten wife. 
 In the same image as the life. 
 Who late in riper beauty's bloom 
 Sunk broken hearted to the toml). 
 The plianlom o'er the Baron's bed 
 Low seemed to bend its mournful head : 
 Her faint eyes cast a watery ray. 
 Her check was like the yellow clay. 
 Long ou her slumbering lord she gazed, 
 Tlicii like the breeze her accent raised.
 
 106 
 
 Which feebly in a summer's sky 
 Is heard amonnr the reeds to si<?h. 
 
 XII. 
 
 " Lord Albert ! see thy buried wife 
 " By thy unkindness robbed of life I 
 " Oh ! how unfeeling was thy doom 
 
 " Me from thy presence to remove, 
 " Because th^ Almighty closed my womb^ 
 
 " The' true and tender in my love. 
 " No son could thy Almira bear 
 " For heav'n beheld thy rightful heir ; 
 " Yet him, unconscious sucli, the time 
 " Thou wouldst have sentenced for thy crime> 
 " Doomed innocent unto the grave 
 ' Thyself from thy own fears to save. 
 " Oh ! thou hast added crime to crime 
 ' And now draws near th' ajjpointed time ;
 
 107 
 
 " Think of the fouhiess; of thy deed 
 " To make thy noble brother bleed, 
 Ambition's lust to satisfy; 
 " Ytt M hat to thee did he deny r 
 
 XIII. 
 
 ' But human cunning oh ! how vain, 
 
 " Against protecting hcav'n's decree 
 " For know the child, in savage vein 
 
 " Thy liand dashed lieadiong in the sea 
 " That very child, thy kindred blood, 
 
 " Nov' grown toman, and blooming fair, 
 " Saved by his angel from the flood, 
 
 " Tlune eye> have seen in young Lothaire ! 
 " Deem not, l)y dark ambition led, 
 
 " The axe with his pure blood to stain, 
 " Far from thy power the youth is fled 
 
 ' \ (;t >iialt tliou cce hmi soon again %
 
 108 
 
 " When the unrighteous sentence late 
 " Thy lips })ronounced should he his fate, 
 
 " i)hall justly on thyself he turned 
 " Thij head shall from thy neck he hcivctl 
 '' jind thou sh(dt render blood for blood .' 
 
 " So thall thy evil pride he spurned ! 
 " And know the axe shall ^ive the blow 
 " That laid tliy murdered brother low ! 
 " Awake nor scorn the vision giv'n, 
 " Implore for grace, oi!endcd heav'n 
 " Save thy immortal part, ere death 
 " Shall rob thee of repentance' breath !" 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Tiie spirit fled with mournful cry. 
 
 Lord Albert, starting, woke 
 Round the dark room he bent his eye 
 
 But nothing met his look.
 
 109 
 
 He listened all was still cold fear 
 Made rise in bristly locks his hair ; 
 His eyeballs with expanded ray 
 
 Strained on the night-shade brown, 
 And from his forehead in dismay 
 
 The cold drops trickled down. 
 O gladly did Lord Albert vievr 
 
 The morning's dawning ray, 
 Transform the heavens to liquid blue 
 
 And lead the siolden dav. 
 
 XV. 
 
 He quelled the terror in his breast 
 
 And sought the hall below, 
 And as the judgment chair he prest. 
 His face in feigned composure drcst 
 tVo mark of dread did shew.
 
 110 
 
 Around him thron?ed the tenant band 
 And warders armed with spear and brand ; 
 The rest, expectant of the sight. 
 Stood in the galleries' lofty height. 
 Edwina, with her maidens then; 
 
 Looked leaning in the hall. 
 Fearful, if absent, upon her 
 
 Suspicion's glance might fall, 
 " Lead forth thy captive to his fate, 
 
 " Chief warder !" so the Count began, 
 " No monk has reached the castle gate, 
 
 " Which proves his falsehood, clear and 
 " plain." 
 
 XVL 
 
 The chief before him took his stand, 
 Fear and amazement in his look.
 
 Ill 
 
 (The keys and fetters in his hand) 
 
 And thus unto the Baron spoke: 
 " Forgive me. Count ! and let thy grace 
 
 " Thy vassal from tliy wrath protect, 
 " Since of Chief Warder I held place 
 
 " Thou never didst my zeal suspect ; 
 '' Yet when this morn I sought the hall 
 " To take the chain's key from the wall^ 
 " Tlio' there it hanging stood unmoved, 
 '' 1 found the rusty axe removed : 
 '' A)id when the dungeon I drew nigh, 
 
 " Tlio' safe and fast the door I found, 
 " Yet entering, nothing met my eye 
 
 " Except these fetters on the ground. 
 " The wai'ders that on watch did wait 
 " Can vouch that no one passed the gate, 
 ' And I believe he was in truth 
 ' Some fiend in4ikeness of a youth ]"
 
 112 
 
 XVII. 
 
 A> hoarded powder, when it feels 
 
 By chance, a sparkle's glimmering rays. 
 At once its nature dread reveals 
 
 By bursting into sudden blaze; 
 So from the furious Baron's eyes 
 Flashed kindling anger and surprise 
 " IIo, Warders ! to the same dark cell 
 
 " Conduct your leader's pace, 
 " There, closely fettered, let him dwell 
 
 " And fill his captive's place ; 
 " Whom do I not discover soon 
 " The sentence shall on him fall down!" 
 He said, and found the visio/i tine. 
 And, raging, from the hall withdrew.
 
 113 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 While thus the castle was at jar 
 
 Fearing- the angry Baron's frown, 
 He whom they searched (escaped them far) 
 
 Had gained Messina's distant town. 
 Close to the sea, whose billows beat 
 The marble of its stately feet 
 
 Messina circled vast ; 
 It? ample squaies and streets of stone 
 Bright in the pur{)le glory shone. 
 That, seated on his western throne. 
 
 The sun of evening cast. 
 The city to I-othaii-e was known, 
 For when a soldier's rank alone 
 
 In Philip's host he bore. 
 He, with the Gauls, was quartered thcrt 
 \\'luit time dissention's artful snare 
 
 Threatened the town with gore.
 
 J 14 
 
 lor m the .-ulnrli> and the foil 
 i'iic EngiisI) held tlicir niLdi rooi't. 
 And injured by the Me:>snu>i, 
 Threatened their citadel to seize. 
 Sicihans and tlie Gauls in vain 
 
 Their hoa-iegions; would a])pa], 
 "vVho routing' soon th* opposing' train 
 
 Their standard planted on the wall. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Where his broad palace stretched its tower: 
 The king now passed his festive hours. 
 And with his lords carousing, (piahid 
 The rul)y wine's luxurious draught ; 
 'Vheu at th;.' pillared entrance stood. 
 Lothario, v\honi no sooner viewed. 
 The centinel with threatening .-{)ear 
 |[)enuu\ded ofliis business there ;
 
 115 
 
 Wiiilc at, .'O stiar.ge a figure's view 
 A t'rowii around tlie vvanioi" drew. 
 
 XX. 
 
 i'taiino- his entrance to retard. 
 
 The Caotain of the Royal Guard 
 
 He a'-ked to see who straigiitway caaie 
 
 Of' niaitial ])ort, and manly frame. 
 
 " i v.oi'.dcr ho'l," the knight begun. 
 
 " I\ly figure thi.- amazement draw? ; 
 '' Yet pce in me a baron's sua 
 
 " Come to the king on pressing cause 
 ' Late wrecked on tlie Caiabrian shore, 
 " l^scaned tlie stormy ccean's roar-- 
 ' These in a cavern 1 bclield 
 '' And, 1)3' neee>sity couipelled 
 '' Took np, my naked form to i!id( , 
 " And (juell the. forcst-monstci'? j.iidt.
 
 116 
 
 " Permit me Tancred to survey, 
 " My suit admits ot'no delay." 
 
 XXI. 
 
 The Captain shook his plumed head 
 
 A moment, as if lost in doubt, 
 At length unto the palace sped 
 
 And called the lord in waitin<T out. 
 To him he told what said the knight 
 And brought him to Lothario's >ight. 
 The nobleman in fixed amaze 
 Long at his strange attire did gaze, 
 Examined well his mien and air 
 And ([uesliontd many a time Lothaire- 
 Then bade him with the ("aplain stay 
 
 i'ill Tanered's pleasure should be known 
 To whom he bent his instant way 
 
 ;\nd told him what the youth had shewn
 
 iir 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Ivack lie returned " His Majesty 
 
 " (i rants to thy suit thy entrance here ; 
 ' But ere his person thou canst see 
 
 " In other garb thou must appear !" 
 He spoke at once the guard withdrew ; 
 Lothario passed the gateway thro', 
 And to the palace, circling wide. 
 Quick followed his illustrious guide; 
 Who passing many a stately dome 
 ('onducted him within a room. 
 And turning short, the knight addrest 
 " Here stay, the monarch's royal guest ! 
 " Who on thy person gives to wait 
 " His servants with a robe of" state. 
 " These will serve up a prompt repast^ 
 - For well I giie>-; tniwilling fast
 
 118 
 
 ' lias bet-n tby lot wiieii comcs Ihc night 
 
 " I will admit rbee to bis sig^bt, 
 
 " Nor need rccal unto tby mind 
 
 " To have tby axe and cloak btbnid, 
 
 '' Since tbou niay'st after, it' of use, 
 
 " These, as tby witnesses produce," 
 
 XXlli, 
 
 ilert- he withdrew lbs axe and cloak 
 
 IjOLiiario ni a closet placed. 
 And iVoni bis bead the green sj<ray took 
 
 And wub a better covering graced. 
 in iHirjde robe and crimson ve.-t 
 lie ate of the inij'.crial feast, 
 ibit tlio' liefore bini spread it lay 
 His absent thoughts ^verc far away.
 
 119 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 .\ow V, LIS tlic world obscured in night., 
 But still the palace walls were bright. 
 For many a lu.-tre's branciiinc^" row 
 Displayed the waxen taper's ojow, 
 Uetkctiuij,- upon yold its rays 
 Arid [laier silver's virgni blaze. 
 Lothario, as he sat in trance 
 Jieard I'ootsteps suddenly advance. 
 And sa'V the lord-in- waiting;' stand 
 l;tiure iiini;, cap and plunie in hand 
 " iiise, kni;iiit 1 I come thy >ti ps to \j\\> 
 " W here waits to hear thy talc the kinir 
 J.otiiario ro. e, raid i'oilowini;- parsed 
 I.oii'4 raiiue of chambers wide ;ind \;j-;
 
 120 
 
 Adorned with sumptuous tapestry 
 And every mark of royalty ; 
 Till where the king alone remained 
 The private audience room they gained. 
 
 tNI> OF CANTO IV,
 
 ^otfiuivt. 
 
 CANTO V, 
 
 THE ARRAIGNMENT,
 
 
 CAMTO V. 
 
 I'llE ARUAIGNMKN'!- 
 
 I. 
 
 i A\( ,;f.i), tlio' virtn.c in !ii> !;ra;-t 
 \',o[-c -(Avcdy hut tlic b.'.tti-r jni;! - 
 Vt I i;ua'!oiis to hi- noble* \va<, 
 'i'!:o' >lvi!i he ruled the vulgar race. 
 V\':tliiii !i)s <c)iuitenance was descried 
 Ambition and despotic pride, 
 'i'.-t tVoui hi< e}(^< with kintlHng gleam 
 '1 he nii>!i:ueh-\\ ;uTiur's soul would beam. 
 Tho' li:' L-ci'u--ed in !ii>!y striie 
 
 To r.. >- '.-.i; (r.vu nr p' oplp's life.
 
 V24 
 
 Conscious of his unsettled sway. 
 Yet feared he not the sanguine fray. 
 A cap with gems entwined around 
 His kingly head in s})lendour crowned : 
 Ilis mantle was of Tyrian dye 
 
 And bordered with a fnuge of gold 
 Close seated on his royal thigh 
 
 The dagger lay of richest mould : 
 His vesture was of crimson stain. 
 His sandals of Morocco's grain. 
 
 H. 
 
 Low on his knee Lothario fell. 
 
 The monarch courteous bade hun rise 
 And what his suit at full to tell. 
 
 Who fixing on the king his eyes 
 " Monarch of Sicily," he said, 
 
 " lit hold Count Ros)iiond's Son .'
 
 " A baron ere untimely tlead, 
 
 " Not (listunt I'loni thy tlnone. 
 " In wond'rous sort protecting lieav'a 
 '' Me my descent to know has giv'n I 
 " Lord Ali)crt, who now feigns to own 
 
 '' j\Iy father's wide domain, 
 " With solemn charge before thy throne 
 " Of murder I anai<rn .'" 
 
 ill. 
 
 flere to the king Lothaiie displayed 
 What his dead i'aiher's spirit, said 
 How in the sea himself was flung 
 And bred a she|)hefd's oti^pring long; 
 How he diseo\ertd in the cave 
 The cloak, and axi, and earthen grave ; 
 How in a dnngeon he was thrown. 
 And savi'd from death bv fli"ht alone:
 
 126 
 
 Eacli ou'cmnstance at full he gave. 
 And aJded, it' explored the L^rave, 
 IIU father'^ skeleton and blade 
 Vv'^ould prove the truth of what he said. 
 
 i\ 
 
 The inonai-(li sctnieii awhiio to nni.-i.', 
 
 Til; a thus >j,'a\c forili \u> inwa'.d ihouiiht : 
 " ''i'i- c'.'^litt.',!! year-^ a^'o^ ttie iicv.s 
 
 " Of !!<>>uiO!id's death io eourt wa- 
 " hrou-lit ; 
 " 'Tuas said him elf and (.tuly ^ou 
 ' While ramhlin;j,' m a forest lone, 
 "' iiuillaiis attacki^d, and by their steei 
 " They both as^as-Zmated fell ! 
 " 'Twas a!.-o said that Albert's ilighj 
 
 " Saved him al'iuc from erpial late 
 '' Both tatolock fair, i)ut uhicli is rii;h' 
 
 ' Is dillieult for man to stale.
 
 127 
 
 " Lord Albert is a powrrful peer 
 ' Respected \n our lu'.rons here, 
 "' And since bis Connlc.''--'s decease 
 ' His power bas had no ^^nrail iucreose 
 '' ibnvevei-, hv ArM stroit^bt a{>pear 
 
 "' And i-u thy cburi^-e re])!y " 
 riien turning' to tjr' attendant peer. 
 He addid, coiuteousiv 
 
 \ . 
 
 To thee we trust our royal guest, 
 " Thou take him to thy care ; 
 Let liinv within our palace re?!: 
 " And pay ihni iionoars t'air. 
 We ;i!so \t) thy care eonrinend 
 Out- Lord Hi.u,i) ('onstable to senfi 
 T(; l)id the i)dVoii to attend. 
 Anil al-o to cxuiore the cave 
 And o))vii tlie iiua'4"in('d [;ra\r.
 
 128 
 
 " Buried in which should he survey 
 " Tlie skeleton and falchion lay, 
 " Our will is, he shall bring Ihcm here 
 " As witness 'gainst ih' arraigned peer." 
 
 VJ. 
 
 .So Tancrcd sjioke ; obeisance low 
 
 Lothario made, and left the dome. 
 Then fired with hope and vengeful glow 
 
 Returned to his allotted room. 
 There, in the visions of the ni'jht 
 His faiher's spectre rose to siglit, 
 And pointing to his ghastly heatl 
 Where the sharp axe had driven led, 
 Called vengeance on iiis murderer down. 
 Then disapj)eared with sullen frown. 
 Tho' guiltless was I,<4liario's l)reasi 
 That night he never knew of rest.
 
 129 
 
 VII. 
 
 Scarce did the morn its gleam unfold. 
 Scarce lip the mountain-tops with gold. 
 When the Lord Constable prepared 
 Attended by a numerous guard 
 
 Tancred's high pleasure to fulfil ! 
 With golden rod and blazoned crest 
 In all his haughty costume drest. 
 The spear-points glittering at his back. 
 He spurred his steed the nearest track 
 
 And crossed the city hill. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 'T\vas noon ere he beheld arise 
 The Baron's towers before his eyes 
 
 K
 
 130 
 
 He halted here his train. 
 Short rest to give each panting steed 
 That afterwards with better speed 
 
 The town they might I'cgain. 
 Himself towards the castle rode 
 To enter sole the Count's abode. 
 The centinel beheld afar 
 Steel glittering like impending war 
 
 And quick alarmed the guard, 
 ^Vho on the ramparts took their place 
 In armour that diflused keen blaze 
 
 The threatened storm to ward. 
 Their chieftain to the Count reveakd 
 What coming squadron he beheld. 
 
 IX. 
 
 The Constable beside the gat' 
 His fiery courser reined,
 
 131 
 
 Revealed the rod that shewed his state. 
 
 And called unto the band 
 " Ho ! set your castle portals wide, 
 
 " The Lord Hi^rh Constable am 1 1 
 " Sent by the king, I hither ride 
 
 " Open, and no reply !" 
 These accents scarcely had he said 
 \\'hcn wide the portals stood displayed ; 
 Along the drawbridge swift he rode 
 Where due res];ect the warders shewed. 
 Tiien ill tlie court-yard did di.-^rnounl 
 And souii'ht the mansion of the Count. 
 
 X. 
 
 The Baron at the hall- door stood 
 To welcome his high guest, 
 
 But from his face soon fled the blood 
 Wlien thusi he was addre^t :
 
 132 
 
 " Lord Albert, at the sovereign's thronr 
 " A noble stranijer now remains, 
 
 " Who calls himself Count Rosmond's son 
 " And tJiee of murder bold arraigns ' 
 
 " I am commissioned by the king' 
 
 '* Thy person to his throne to bring-. 
 
 " I pray thee then make little stay, 
 
 " His will admits of no delay." 
 
 XI. 
 
 The Count recovering from surprise . 
 Armed with a haughty glance hi.- cyci 
 " Lord Constable ! the royal will 
 
 " I (juickly shall obey 
 " But ere the mandate 1 fulfil 
 
 " Permit me first to say 
 " The reptile who has dared arraign 
 
 '' Lord Albert at the throne
 
 133 
 
 " Guilty of murder's foulest stain, 
 " This sham Count Rosmond's Son ! 
 
 " Shall soon upon the gibbet rue 
 " The licence of his tongue; 
 
 " Or mouin in streams of sanguine hue 
 " This strange and daring wrong ! 
 
 " Ho, pages ! bring my coal-black steed, 
 
 " So shall I know the truth with speed I" 
 
 XII. 
 
 The coal-black courser soon was brought. 
 To all the arts of battle taught. 
 With eye of fire and arching mane 
 Prancing, it seemed to scorn the rein. 
 Of xVlbert 'twas the favourite steed 
 And matched the rapid gale in speed. 
 The bai'on on the saddle sprung ; 
 To the steed's hoof the archway rung
 
 134 
 
 As o'er the drawbridge pranced its pride 
 
 The Lord High Constable beside. 
 
 Soon did they join the distant train 
 
 And there, their mettled coursers rein. 
 
 To the commander of the band 
 
 Beckoned the Constable his hand. 
 
 And whispering', said, " With half the train 
 
 " While 1 the palace walls regain, 
 
 " Take thou the other half, and ride 
 
 " Towards (he cave, \vhere leads the guide j 
 
 " Dig up the grave, and quickly bring 
 
 " Whate'er thou vicvvest to the king." 
 
 He spoke divided was the train. 
 
 And soon did part the city gain. 
 
 XHI. 
 
 J he other half the road pm-sued 
 That led unto the cave of blood j
 
 135 
 
 Lothario to the leading guide 
 Ihid carefully its site descried. 
 Soon came the band to where the wood 
 Of solemn pines umbrugeoics stood. 
 And next across the jneadoiu's way 
 To ivhcTc the lofty mountain lay ; 
 Deej) yawning in its holloiu side 
 The gloomy cavern they espied, 
 And entering in the dreary cave 
 Beheld the grass-groivn earthen grave ! 
 This opening (rotted half the bone) 
 They saiv a human skeleton, 
 And in its sheath beneath it laid. 
 With golden hilt, a rusty blade ; 
 With thc^e the band the city gained 
 As eve the skies with purple stained.
 
 136 
 
 XIV. 
 
 When on the orient's cheek the hght 
 Gleamed Hkc the ruby's glow to sight 
 And trembled on the city spires 
 What lime the morning star retires. 
 The Lord High Constable arrayed 
 
 In all his oflice' pride. 
 Lord Albert to the throne conveyed 
 
 Lothario by his side. 
 The skeleton, the cloak, and brand 
 
 And axe besmeared with gore, 
 As evidence, his following band 
 
 Before the monarch bore. 
 
 XV. 
 
 Lord Albert started, when his eye 
 The mouldered cloak surveyed;
 
 137 
 
 And turned his cbcek to a^hen dye 
 
 When setn the axe's blade. 
 JBiit w en the falchion so well known 
 He saw, and gliastly skeleton I 
 Lord Albert ! then, thy utmost pride, 
 Thy guile, and tear of shame beside, 
 The unexpected sight before 
 Scarce kept thee upright on the floor. 
 His robe unto his front he drew 
 And wiped the cold convulsive dew 
 
 That sudden gathered there. 
 Wild beat his heart, his head swam round, 
 And half he muttered forth some sound 
 
 That mingled with the air. 
 At la>t, with eHbrt great, to rest 
 He hushed the thioi.'iirigs of his breast 
 And all nis wonted pride renewed. 
 Haughty before his sovereign stood,
 
 138 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Tancred high-seated on his throne 
 
 In all his ree;al splendour shone; 
 
 The }Hn-j)le yohe bri|^ht fringed with gold 
 
 Fell to his feet in glittering fold. 
 
 The collar of prond knighthood prest 
 
 His neck, the star adorned his breast 
 
 The crown upon his awful head 
 
 Rich lustre from its jewels shed 
 
 The golden sceptre filled his hand^ 
 
 jMarking the ruler of the land, 
 
 Topped with a ruby's sparkling glow 
 
 His vesture was as white a> snow. 
 
 The utmost silence reigned ])rofound 
 
 The public audience room around. 
 
 Where barons ]M-oud and knights ap})eared. 
 
 When thus the sovereign's voice was heard r
 
 139 
 
 " Now, knight ! b'^fore Lord Albert shew 
 " la what appears his honour stained ! 
 
 *' Vouch to tlie truth, so may he know 
 " Before us why he stands arraigned.'" 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Lothario paused, then fixed his eye? 
 On Alb':rt, and with solemn \oice 
 
 That reached to every ear 
 " Baron ! dost thou my person know, 
 " Or do tlieac icitnsyses not shew 
 
 " Why thou art suairnoned here:' 
 ' Knovc I am he, ivho, iv/isn a child 
 " Thy (iri:i in ocean's bi/ioiis ivild 
 
 " Hurled htudloiig to (lef.troy ! 
 " But (;o<i, ivoni hi; eiU!)Yreal sphere 
 " Bent dou n his r.^er-open far, 
 
 " And iicard my infant cry.
 
 140 
 
 " Saved by a ship, a peasant's care, 
 " O peers ! sustained me as Lolhaire, 
 
 " And long I kept liis flock, 
 " Deeming- myself his son ; at last 
 " To Syria's sacred soil I passed 
 
 *' And joined the mortal shock ! 
 " My actions in the sanguine fi<'ht 
 " Caused Gallia's kin"- to make me knight. 
 
 XVIII, 
 
 " Soon after from the battle pluui 
 " The royal chief withdrew, 
 
 " And ploughing ocean's fields again 
 " Calabria rose to view. 
 
 " The vessel where myself remained 
 
 " Struck on a rock, not far from land.
 
 141 
 
 Urged by a tem})est's force 
 " How I escaped, and found this cloak 
 ' And gory axe, and with them took 
 
 " Unto thy towers my course, 
 " Lord Albert ! well to thee is known, 
 " And how within a dungeon thrown 
 
 " Lest eye thy bai^eness should explore, 
 " I lay to die at morning's glow 
 " But what thou never yet could'st know, 
 
 " I 'scaped by a trap-door. 
 ' Near mid tlay as with toil I sunk, 
 ' I met the strange, mysterious monk. 
 " Lord Albert ! he threw back his cowl 
 ' Judge, peers ! the horror of my soul, 
 " When, dashed with spattered brain and 
 
 " blood, 
 " Deep in his head a gash I viewed I 
 Barons ! it was my father's ghost ! 
 
 " Who to my ear the tale of blood 
 " Revealed, as in amazement lost 
 
 '' Trembling with rage and grief I stood.
 
 142 
 
 '*' He told me in the cave were laid 
 " His buried skeleton and blade." 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Lothario here marked out to view 
 The cloak and axe's sanc>uinc ])ue. 
 And shewed upon the skeleton 
 The cloven skull's dissevered bone. 
 Which with the axe exact did fit 
 When placed its blade within the split. 
 Then from the sheath he drew the brand 
 Which lono- withstood his straining hand. 
 And g-raven on the ru^ty blade 
 Count Rosmond's arms to sight displayed. 
 
 For with his garment rubbing o'er 
 Tlie steel, to every eye descried 
 Was seen, an ar'^ent steed, ivhosc pride 
 
 Trampkd a snake of or.
 
 143 
 
 He added then " These shewn to sight 
 " I claim, O king ! my lawful right ; 
 " I claim my father's just domain, 
 
 " And Albert of his denth arraign .'" 
 
 XX. 
 
 A sullen murmur filled the dome 
 
 And every face was dark with gloom; 
 
 The king on Albert fixed his eye 
 
 ' Lord Albert, thou may'st now reply." 
 
 Pride overcame the Baron's fear 
 
 *' Is this the cause that brings me here ? 
 
 " Forgive, O king ! my warmth of tongue, 
 
 " But ill my soul can brook this wrong. 
 
 " This villain's tale is all a lie 
 
 " 1 savv' myself the young Count die, 
 
 " Strtjtclied bleeding by his father dead 
 
 " While fnr my life perforce I fled.
 
 144 
 
 " That axe and cloak I flung" away 
 
 " The belter to insure my flight, 
 " Which when my eyes did first survey 
 
 " On this pretended robber knight, 
 " I charged him with my brother's blood, 
 " And from his neck his head had hewed 
 
 " But for ih' unkiiouii trnp-door. 
 " However, ere my {"uo'stcp- flod 
 " Two of th' assa-siiis I laid dead, 
 
 " Whence eoiiie those spot,-- of gore. 
 ' Surely, my iieoe ! this bandite's talc 
 " Will never on thy ear prevail ; 
 " As h(^ and his colleagues no doubt, 
 " Fearing their crime would be found out, 
 " Ijuried the body in the cave 
 " Together with tlie well-known glaive, 
 " And ihere my cloak and axe concealed 
 " Le.^t they the track they took revealed.'"
 
 145 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Lothario's eyeballs sparkled flame 
 
 " Think' s-t thou to hide thy head from shame 
 
 " Thou fratricide and worse than fiend, 
 
 " And dar'st thou innocence pretend ? 
 
 " Did'st thou not say a ruffian's knife 
 
 " Thy noble brother robbed of life r 
 
 " Look, where an axe's rift is shewn 
 
 " Ev'n now upon his skeleton. 
 
 " But twenty springs have passed my head, 
 
 '' And eighteen years has he been dead : 
 
 " IIow could I then his murderer be ? 
 
 " This proves thy tale a forgery. 
 
 " But ev'n the deed did robbers do, 
 
 " That gold had not escaped their view : 
 
 " That falchion's hilt of massy ore 
 
 " Tiieir booty they had gladly bore.
 
 146 
 
 " Besides, why in the cave alone 
 " Was found Ihy brother's skeleton, 
 " Where did they bury then his son ?" 
 
 XXII. 
 
 O Truth ! when on the countenance bright 
 Burns thy divine exalted light j 
 When like a flood thy accents roll 
 Indignant, from th' impassioned soul ; 
 Guilt stands abashed, its purpose crost. 
 And all its hardened front is lost. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 This Albeit felt as drives the gale 
 
 Now stormy loud, now murmuring- weak,
 
 147 
 
 Successively so red and pale 
 
 Sufllised the guilty Baron's cheek. 
 The vision once again employed 
 His thought, but it was checked by pride. 
 " Villains are always smooth of tongue," 
 
 Feigning composure, thus he spoke ; 
 " And therefore to revenge this wrong 
 
 " To more than words I now must look. 
 " Tancred, to shew what artful lie 
 
 " Is levelled at my spotless fame, 
 " Him that arraigns me I defy 
 
 " And with him knightly combat claim. 
 " To-morrow, girt with hclniet/s shade, 
 
 " Buckler, and hauberk's iron coat, 
 " I trust my sharp-avenging blade 
 
 " Shall thrust his falsehood down hi* 
 " throat!"
 
 148 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 *' Thy combat I accept," replied 
 Lothario, roused with kindling pride, 
 " And trust, altho' my words be few 
 " This arm will give thy crimes their due- 
 " And thus revenge my father dead !" 
 He ceased, and thus the monarch said ; 
 " To-morrow be the combat tried, 
 " The cause, I grant it, to decide. 
 " Lord Constable ! be thine the care 
 " The lists and barriers to prepare. 
 " Lothario, we will all things grant, 
 " Armour and steed unto thy want. 
 " Now with the challenged person's claim 
 " Thy weapons for the combat name." 
 The warrior to the king returned. 
 While all his soul within him Inirned ;
 
 149 
 
 ' Since then it with thy will accords, 
 " To-morrow, before all the?e lords 
 ' With axe and spear the strife 1 try, 
 " And heav'n the guilty doom to die [" 
 He said, and Tancred gave assent, 
 And froni the dome, th' assembly went. 
 
 !..XD OF CANTO V.
 
 CANTO VI. 
 
 THE COMBAT
 
 LOT II AIRE. 
 
 CANTO VI. 
 THE COMBAT. 
 
 I. 
 
 OOON as the rosy gleam of day 
 
 Purpled the glowing ocean's breast, 
 A crowd, the combat to survey, 
 
 Tumultuous from the city pressed. 
 The Constable had placed a guard 
 Around the lists his care prepared 
 
 Th' intruding vulgar to repell : 
 Spears glittered there in threatening wood. 
 And where the royal seat was viewed 
 
 Strong archers leaned on bows of steel.
 
 154 
 
 In rear of these, in mail arrayed, 
 
 The horsemen grained ihc sjitamy blade. 
 
 In royal garb the i^overeigu came 
 
 Followed by knight, and peer, and dame, 
 
 And pressed the awfiil judgment seat, 
 
 A silver footstool at his feet. 
 
 The nobles sat around m row 
 
 On crimson seats, a sjUendid show. 
 
 Beauty and valour tliere combined 
 
 By far the pomp of dress outshined. 
 
 II. 
 
 Now at the monarch's high command 
 Around the lists deep silence reigned. 
 The Constalile before the throne 
 In his insignia, mounted, shone. 
 Where gold and purple's mingled glow 
 Adorned a raiment white as snow j
 
 155 
 
 ilii^li ou his Jiead three pU'iiics advanced 
 l.inht tu the sportive bree ^-s danced; 
 111;, left hand had the bridle's hold. 
 His right di-[)!ayed the rod of gold. 
 With the king's arms emblazoned round 
 f lij courser's tra[)j)ings touched the ground; 
 A haruiered trumpet stood beside. 
 Its silk^ adorned with equal pride. 
 M'ith voice distinct he read aloud 
 The cause of combat to the crowd : 
 '' A stranger kniglit Lotliaire his name, 
 " Lays to (^ount Rosmond's castle claim; 
 ' And styles him^elf that baron's son 
 " His right demanding at the throne. 
 " The ]>rcsent lord he does arraign 
 " Guilty of foulest murder's stain ! 
 " Ho, warders ! set the barriers clear, 
 " And give th' arraigner to appear."
 
 156 
 
 III. 
 
 The barriers were unclosed with speed. 
 
 The thronging crowd withdrew. 
 And mounted on a milk-white steed 
 
 Lothaire appeared to view. 
 Far different was the warrior's look 
 To when he bore the thread-bare cloak 
 High on his casque, by breezes swayed. 
 
 The lofty plume waved white ; 
 In polished steel his limbs arrayed. 
 
 Diffused a glorious light. 
 The axe was at his saddle-bow. 
 But that revealed no fulgent glow, 
 'Twas that by which his father fell 
 Still rusty and blood-da.>hed its steel ; 
 For he the self-same weapon vowed 
 Should reek with his foul murderer's blood
 
 151 
 
 Grasped in his hand the glittering spear 
 
 A glancing light displayed. 
 And eager of the stern career 
 
 His charger boldly neighed. 
 The warrior entering in the ring 
 Low bowed his head unto the king, 
 And many a lady^s breast of snow 
 Throbbed at his siaht with secret glow. 
 
 IV 
 
 The Lord High Constable next read 
 The challenge, and resuming said ; 
 " Lord Albert does the crime deny 
 
 " Which makes him murder-stained, 
 " And lirands with foulest falsity 
 
 " The knight, by whom arraigned ; 
 '' And in his honour's sacred cause, 
 
 " Ut^fore hii sovereign'b sight.
 
 158 
 
 ' Lothario, by the knis^htly laws 
 
 " Defies to mortal fij;ht. 
 " IIo, warders ! Kt the harriers clear, 
 " Ami let the challenger appear !" 
 
 V. 
 
 The harriers were unclosed witli speed. 
 
 The throngin;,^ crowd withdrew. 
 And mounted on his coal-black steed 
 
 Lord Albert rode to view. 
 His vizor closed, with sombre shade 
 
 Concealed his face's gloom. 
 Loose over wliich terrific played 
 
 In air, a blood-red plume. 
 The polished axe lieside his thigh 
 
 A broad refulgence beamed 
 But dusky to tlie gazer's eye 
 
 His sable armour irleamed.
 
 159 
 
 I le wore those arms of sullen glow 
 Grief for his brothei's death to shew. 
 But 'twas his ardent hope, in fray 
 His arm his liatfd >on would slay. 
 Before the throne he stooped his crest 
 And fast the heamy :^pcar corapreit. 
 
 VI. 
 
 The Constable resumed again 
 The formal, eeremonious strain : 
 " Tancred, unable to decide 
 
 " In such important cause, 
 " Wills, that the matter fair be tried 
 
 " By arms, and knighthood's laws. 
 " The challenge is accej)ted bold, 
 '' The challenged does his weapons hold, 
 " And who subdues in mortal fight 
 " Sliall be proclaimed henceforth as rijht,
 
 160 
 
 " And to the baronies succeed, 
 " So has the law of arms decreed. 
 " Sound trump the sii^nal to contend, 
 " And heav'n the better cause defend I" 
 
 VII. 
 
 The trumpet pealed a gallant sound, 
 And from the barriers with a bound 
 
 The steeds impatient sprung ; 
 Scarce could the keen spectator's eye 
 Their fiery rapid course descry 
 
 The earth beneath them rung. 
 With rested spear, and crest declined. 
 The adverse champions fiercely joined 
 
 And dreadful was the shock 
 Stao-o-cred before the headlong force 
 Back on his crupper fell each horic ; 
 
 The splintered lance* broke.
 
 161 
 
 Eve >l!ivere(l by the titern carter ' 
 
 It sparkling' touched the ground, 
 True to its aim Lothario's spear 
 
 The hostile helmet found. 
 But tho' the point was firmly sent 
 Albert endured the storm unbent. 
 Not so the knight his foeman's stroke 
 Sustained the lance, altho' it broke, 
 
 By the tough plates repelled. 
 Yet from his steed, tho' seated fast. 
 Six paces back it headlong cast 
 
 Lothario on the field. 
 
 vin. 
 
 Lord Albert soon with spur and rein 
 Recovered his war-steed again. 
 And distant on the listed ground 
 Saw lie his adversary stunned.
 
 162 
 
 Joyed at the sight, his axe he drew, 
 And svvifl to lake th' advantage flew ; 
 
 But by the shouts awoke. 
 The gallant knight his danger viewed. 
 Nor failed to raise his axe of blood 
 
 It met the Baron's look ! 
 In time to meet \\\> rushing foe 
 He seized it from the saddle bow. 
 For frighted by the flourished steel 
 
 In Albert's lifted hand. 
 His courser that so lately fell 
 
 Had scarce its feet regained. 
 When round the lists it urged its course 
 With fiery speed and madding force. 
 And iiad he not from its fixed stand 
 Snatched the broad axt; into his hand. 
 The weapon ii had borne away. 
 And left him to sure death a jirey.
 
 163 
 
 IX. 
 
 As when a swain, whose trembling eye 
 Sees ui his path a serpent he. 
 
 Recoils with wild affright ; 
 So Albert when his eyes surveyed. 
 Not seen before, the well-known blade. 
 
 Back started at the sight. 
 His axe, high lifted o'er the foe, 
 Dropt to his knee without a blow : 
 And " Cursed fiends of hell," he cried. 
 
 Half raving with amaze, 
 " Is not the world sufficient wide 
 ** But that fell axe in murder dyed 
 
 " Must ever blast my gaze ? 
 " Daemons, avaunt ! 'tis not my time, 
 " Nor will I yet confess the crime.
 
 164 
 
 " Tho' from my neck jny head be hewed 
 " And I must render blood for blood .'" 
 
 X. 
 
 He scarce had ended here, 
 
 When thundering on his plated thigh 
 
 The hostile axe, first brandished high, 
 Came down with stroke severe. 
 The strong greaves yielded to its force. 
 
 And deep was driv'n the wound 
 Lord Albert scarcely kept his horse. 
 
 While streamed his blood around. 
 
 XI. 
 
 As thunder ere it spends its force 
 Stamps ill the rifted rocks its course ;
 
 165 
 
 So rousing at the sudden wound, 
 His axe the Baron whirled around. 
 
 And urged it on his foe. 
 Lothaire I thou neededst then to wield 
 The breadth of a protecting shield 
 
 To save thee from the blow. 
 Sidelong his tempered helm it took. 
 
 And rent the crashing steel. 
 And then with loud resounding shock 
 
 Upon his shoulder fell. 
 The ringing plates in splinters broke. 
 But there was spent the lightning stroke. 
 The furious steel just grazed his head 
 
 And shared the hair around. 
 Then on his shoulder blade lay dead 
 
 Lothario felt no wound. 
 The Baron with the headlong sway 
 
 To his right foot below 
 Was sudden brought, where bent he lay. 
 
 So fierce he swung the blow.
 
 16'6 
 
 XII. 
 
 Lord Albert I o'er thy fated head 
 Death's angel shook his pinions dread. 
 And offered mercy, spurned before, 
 To thee returned from heav'n no more. 
 Not idly did Lothario see 
 The offered opportunity : 
 With either hand upraised on high 
 He swung the axe of fatal dye. 
 And urged it hissing down the wind. 
 As low the Baron lay reclined. 
 Tlae gorget's steel opposed in vain. 
 
 In vain the spkial bone withstood. 
 Thro' both the ^veapon ploughed amain. 
 
 And from the neck his head it heued. 
 Out gushed the life-stream on the plain. 
 While the scared steed with loosened rein
 
 167 
 
 Scoured the wide lists, and at its I'eet 
 Dragged the cold body, lost its seat. 
 The severed head, as on the ground 
 It fell, sprung upwards with a bound 
 Unclosed its eyes the conqueror viewed. 
 And gasping, muttered, " Blood for 
 
 "Blood!" 
 Then sunk upon the gory field 
 With countenance pale and eyelid sealed. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 A shout of horror swelled around 
 
 As touched the ghastly head the ground. 
 
 While to himself Lothario said 
 
 " yVt last behold the vengeance paid, 
 
 " O Father i to thy honoured shade. 
 
 " And thou, lost wretch ! tho' pale and cold 
 
 ' Thy headless corpse on earth lies rolled.
 
 168 
 
 " May penitence before thy death 
 
 " Have saved thee, tho' with dyiiig breath." 
 
 The Constable, the steeds at large 
 
 Gave to th' attending warders' charge. 
 
 Himself dismounting, to the throne 
 
 Conducted Rosmond's valiant son. 
 
 The monarch rose with gracious air 
 
 " Hail Rosmond's now undoubted heir : 
 
 " Possess henceforth thy lawful right 
 
 " Bold victor in unequal fight. 
 
 ' The loyalty thy sire has shewn 
 
 " May'st thou possess towards the throne. 
 
 " Ourself and Peers heard Albert's breath 
 
 " Plead guilty to his brother's death ; 
 
 " His body to the birds a prey 
 
 " Shall on the conunon d\uighiil lay. 
 
 " But eve both baronies thou share, 
 
 " Before us thou must first declare 
 
 " To wed the Ladv Countess' heir."
 
 169 
 
 XIV. 
 
 " To her my liberty I owe ;" 
 Lothaire returned with kintUing glow, 
 " Would she consent my hand to bless 
 " 'Twould consummate my happiness. 
 " But yet permit, my liege, a tomb 
 " Yon headless body to inhume, 
 " Since kindred binds me to the dead 
 " And tor his crimes his death has paid. 
 The king his generous suit admired. 
 And granting, with his court retired. 
 
 XV. 
 
 T;i;u very day to his domain 
 Lolbario by a speedy train
 
 170 
 
 Sent the proud corpse in death low laid. 
 The skeleton and fatal blade. 
 Tog-ether with the axe and vest. 
 Then staid the monarch's royal guest. 
 But wh( n the morn with vermil stain 
 Brightened the face of heav'n again. 
 Alone he sought his sire's abode 
 Following his former lonely road. 
 In musing thought the warrior passed, 
 Tho' his w hite charger speeded fast ; 
 For this the monarch, as his gift. 
 With the brave heir of Rosmond left. 
 Sv\eet was the scene the morning shewed. 
 And far along the rugged road 
 
 His })rogress had he took. 
 When the gfetn hunk his tyc surveyed 
 Defended hy (in oak's dark shade 
 
 Where gushed the limpid brook ; 
 Alighting, to a bough he tied 
 Mis steed, and by the oak espied
 
 171 
 
 Edwina's wicker gift ; 
 A wild rose had entwined it round. 
 And gently from the flowery ground 
 
 The basket diS he lift. 
 What pleasure did his bosom prove. 
 How panted all his heart with love 
 
 To find it there still rest ! 
 Again he mounted on his steed. 
 And prest, amidst the courser's speed, 
 
 The trifle to his breast. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Soon did he reach the jutting rock. 
 Above whose summit, torn and broke. 
 The v:i[d ash broad-projecting spread 
 'i'iiat formed a covering for his head. 
 Tiien tlu'o' the plain his course pursued 
 i owards the distant castle-wood.
 
 172 
 
 Scarce had he gained the Ivvihght shade. 
 When midst the trees his eye surveyed 
 A figure in a coivl arrayed. 
 Scarce could his hand the steed restrain 
 That starting, struggled with the rein, 
 And snorting, shewed the signs of fear 
 As at some strange appearance near. 
 The pathway the tall figure crossed. 
 He saw it was his father's jrhost. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 ' .loy to my Son," thus solemn spoke 
 The Spectre with erected look ; 
 " God's high decree has been fulfiUed- 
 " The killer has in turn been killed. 
 " With thee thy rightful titles rest 
 " And now my soul shall know of rest.
 
 173 
 
 " Angelic music greets my ear, 
 
 *' 1 may not longer tarry here. 
 
 " Farewell ! to better realms I fly 
 
 " And never more shall meet thine eye, 
 
 " Till the last trumpet's final sound 
 
 " Summons the world to judgment round, 
 
 " When once more I shall join my clay, 
 
 " Then, of a substance bright as day 
 
 " As spring transforms at winter's close 
 
 " The seed unto the balmy rose. 
 
 " Then virtue's fiery trials past, 
 
 " All shall be hapi)iness at last, 
 
 ' And thro' eternity's wide year 
 
 " Never again be known a tear." 
 
 He ceased the cowl and visage pale 
 
 Changed like the fickle ocean-gale. 
 
 The first assumed a shining glow 
 
 And turned as white as winter snow. 
 
 The next with rays of glory crowned 
 
 Diffused a dazzling light around.
 
 174 
 
 And midst a strain whose cadence sweer 
 No mortal music can repeat. 
 The Vision vanished from his sight 
 Veiled in a cloud of purple light. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Lothario gazed awhile entranced 
 Tlien slowly to his towers advanced. 
 While thoughts beyond the sphere of earth 
 Took ill his lifted soul their birth. 
 The watchman from the ramparts high 
 Told that Count Rosiiioiid's Son drew nigh ; 
 At which the gates were wide displayed 
 And o'er the fosse the drawbridge laid ; 
 While he, attended by the guard, 
 Dismounted in tiie castle-yard. 
 The vassals gathered round in crowd 
 And fealty in due form vowed, 
 As to their new-made lord thcv bowed.
 
 175 
 
 Lothairc forgot not in his joy 
 
 Tlae Warder Chief, who shut from hght. 
 They told him did imprisoned he, 
 
 But bade him be brought forth to sight. 
 " I hope, Sir Chief! your only fare 
 '' Was not the dungeon's stagnant air 
 
 " But better teas decretd ; 
 " I also hope, that when alone 
 " You slumbered on tlie fiinty stont 
 
 " A couch you did not need ; 
 " And that your eyes did not survey 
 " Old goblins, being shut from day; 
 " And t/iat 'twas pleasant to reside 
 " So fir beneath the river's tide. 
 "Such words, Sir Warder ! once were thine;** 
 lie added, " But they are not mine. 
 ' Again thy former office fill 
 
 " But henceforth be thou taught to know, 
 " The feeling heart will never smile 
 
 " When bleedsanother's breast with woe,"
 
 176 
 
 Then waiting no reply, he sped 
 Towards Edwina's room his tread, 
 But first within the basket set 
 His baron's golden coronet. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 No muffling cowl with envious shade 
 Then hid from sight the beauteous maid, 
 Her slender form was plainly seen 
 As clusters swell thro' vine-leaves green; 
 And on her face the crimson glow 
 Contrasted to her forehead's snow. 
 Seemed like the ro e's ardent twine 
 Around the fairer jessamine. 
 Her silken locks of raven shade 
 Dark on her neck of ivory played : 
 So seems on spotless ermine set 
 The artful foil of sable jet.
 
 177 
 
 When first Lothario trod tlic room 
 Slic ^tarleil from her pensive yloom, 
 -But wiicn he caught her dark bright eye 
 Fhu>hid on lier cheek a deeper dye. 
 
 XX. 
 
 Tlie ]'aron on a table set 
 
 The ba>k(:t with the coronet. 
 
 Ami [xjinting to them, wliile his look 
 
 (iaz( (1 on lier beantcou'^ face, thus spoke : 
 
 " Edwiiia, see tliy gii't again 
 
 '' Vv'iiich in the dungeon thy fair hand 
 '' Gave me, life's spirits to sustain, 
 
 '' Against proud Albert's slern command. 
 " lie stained him with my father's gore 
 " And, such lieav'n's doom, is now no more. 
 ' Vxc this thou nni>t my tale have known, 
 ' And that I am Count Rosmond's Si-u.
 
 178 
 
 What, my Deliverers ! unto thee 
 Can I return for liberty ?" 
 
 XXI. 
 
 lie paused" See there my coronet I 
 
 " With this to thee I gladly part. 
 " But with it, offered not as yet, 
 
 " Ah ! say, wilt thou accept my heart 
 '' To thee I owe prosperity, 
 ' Crown it by holy matrimony ! 
 The melting radiance of her eyes. 
 
 The blushes glowing on her cheek. 
 Her swelling bosom's frequent rise 
 
 Was all the answer she could speak. 
 What transport did the warrior prove, 
 ilow did he bless the signs of love '
 
 171) 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Liv canu' tlie Baron'?^ bridal day, 
 
 Wiiiiin a marble tomb 
 lie placed Lord Aibert'.s breathless clay 
 
 Amidst the forest gloom. 
 All iron railing" fenced it round, 
 Vii urn the lofty summit crowned. 
 fhc (liaplain many masses said 
 ' )v('r lh(j dull unheeding dead. 
 Whose spirit at the death-pang's close 
 No mortal prayer> could give repose. 
 But in the castle-vaults, where lay 
 
 ills ancestors exposed in stone, 
 lie placed, remote iVoni glaring day, 
 
 lli> fatlur's honoured skeleton. 
 IliLii! ill the castle-hall displayed 
 !!< hung the golden-hilted blade,
 
 180 
 
 But the red cloak and axe's <Tlalvc 
 He buried in Lord Albert's urave. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Each noble lord and lady fair 
 
 That round the neighbouring country \\erf 
 
 Attended at the bridal day. 
 The vassals shared the general joy. 
 And frolic, mirth, and revelry 
 
 The moments charmed away. 
 And when the skies were lost in night 
 The castle turrets still blazed bright. 
 For jovial feast and cheering uine 
 Did uilh the merry dance combine; 
 And sounding harp and trumpet's clang 
 Throughout the lofty gallerits rang 
 
 In mingled chorus long : 
 But when the pair retired, to prove
 
 181 
 
 I'he sacred joys of virtuous lovo 
 The Minstrel raised tlu-; son^- : 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 S ON G. 
 
 " How sweet is the rose when she peers o'er 
 " the earth, 
 " The (jueen of the garden confest ; 
 " Heaven drops with chaste tears in delight at 
 " her birth, 
 " And the breeze fans her beautiful breast. 
 
 " How majestic the oak when his broad head 
 " he rears, 
 
 '' The king of the wide-spreading wood ; 
 ' Nor the tempest's nor cataract's fury he fears, 
 
 ' Vet H>on by the ivy is wooed.
 
 18)2 
 
 " So lovely the virgin, who niclting- at woe, 
 " Shews virtue combined with her charms ; 
 
 Peace holds her still home in her bosom of 
 " snow, 
 '' And happiness dwells in her arms. 
 
 " So noble the hero, midanntcd who bears 
 " The >;torms with atlvtrsity iVauL;ht; 
 
 " Who stoops not his crest in tiie whirlwind 
 " of wars, 
 " Yet bends when by nKr< y bi '^Tl^ill '"
 
 183 
 
 FINALE. 
 
 Muse of the South ! on western shores 
 Such song- thy influence did inspire, 
 
 There, where the foamy ocean roars 
 Round islands scorched with solar tire. 
 
 Dread Islands ! where the Briton's breast 
 
 Is ever lost to cahn dehght ! 
 Wliere tyranny ui sanguine vest 
 
 Threaten the wretch tliat is not xiliitc ! 
 
 Aia- I how many a gallant breast 
 On vou is cold in kindred clay, 
 
 Nut on bright iionour's couch at rtst. 
 But victim <if di^caif-'s sway !
 
 184 
 
 I too, on your unhappy isles 
 
 Have long experienced fortune's turn 
 Deceived by hollow fiiendship's snniles. 
 
 And learnt that " Man was mads to 
 " mourn .'" 
 
 And yet this heart has never known 
 From pride of rank to crush the v/eak i 
 
 Tho' there, it was a crime alone 
 The language of the soul to speak. 
 
 (Oppression ! how I hate thy rod ! 
 
 How burns my soul at slavery ! 
 O Man ! thou noblest work of God, 
 
 Hold fast, thy birthright. Liberty ! 
 
 True Liberty its king respects. 
 And rank, its due attention draws. 
 
 But still its jealous eye protects. 
 
 More dear, its country'^, sacred laws !
 
 185 
 
 And now e>ca])e(i Oppre-ision's reign 
 
 liscaped the isles cil' miseij'^ 
 Dear laud ! I welcome thee again 
 
 Welcome, lliou land of liberty ! 
 
 Tho' tliy white coasts I claim not whole. 
 Thou rear'dst me in life's early morn- 
 
 Thou art the birth-place of my soul ! 
 Tho' far in distant India born I 
 
 Adieu ' the noisy di'um and fife ! 
 
 Ve liarhor too much guile for mc : 
 I fear not for a i'-ekle life, 
 
 Bui fear to lose my Liberty .' 
 
 In generous Britain's warlike land 
 To lead a peaceful life I choose. 
 
 And woo from frtedom^'s holy hand 
 Tile ^u)!les oi the forgotten muse I
 
 J? 
 
 i^
 
 NOTES. 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 Ver. \1I. 'lilt: last mdinttled piif. 
 
 I'liis line is borrowed from a Metrical Tale, entitled the 
 ' (niiii," \vritteti by Ensign Hubbard, of tbe 1st West 
 India regiment. Tlie line from which it is borrowed, 
 runs thus 
 
 *' A (lark monastic i)ile 1" 
 
 The " (unii" lias not yet been jinblisbei!, l)Ut will 
 shortly appear, with " A 'J'our through the Islands of the 
 Western Archipelago," by the same author, who is already 
 Lnown to th(^ public, by several pieces in prose and verse, 
 lie coniposi'd the " (ienii" in iinitatiim of " (ionzalvo," 
 a Tale of C hivalry, published by me in a ( 'olliclion of Tales 
 ill \'irse, printed in Kdinburgh, in 181(1. The " (ienii," 
 IS however much superior to the oriiiir.al ; and it was in 
 conseiiuencc of perusintr it, that the idea tirst struck me i>t 
 wiitiiit: " Lotlialri'
 
 IQO 
 
 CANTO II. 
 
 V'lT. III. Far SIdii'x tnicl: III Jjonl. 
 llii'i was (iiiy of Lusii^iiau, \\\\u, with hi'i i;i()!hci-, 
 GeotlVey, laid .siegu to Acit*, or Ptolt-'iiiais, a-- it v.'as tlicn 
 callfil, in revenge of liis being i]iNjiii-.i.es>^eil of the thicii,- nt 
 -Tcni^aleiii, or Sion, by .'^aiaLiii!, (aliiih of l-'.i^vpt, wlio \\;i- 
 theii extAiKhiig hi-. (<)ni|iie>ls ovi r '. h; uiioh' of ihr I'ia'-'. 
 
 \'er. III. ..!iul Frahi-iCi. St,it tvilli all I'li.s Im.s! . 
 Conrad, the .'>on of Frederic Harl)aro>;sa, Kiiijieror of 
 (iermany. Fre(h'ric wa^ thi' !> ader of tiie Second Crusade, 
 and iii\aiK'd Syria l.'y html, at tiie head of an immense 
 aniiv. The tu-achi-ry of the (ir( el; Ijiiperor ei:il)arras.se(l 
 him v<ry much on his march ; but, ijowever, in spite 
 of all oi)staeh;s, he reached the lliver I'elus (supposed 
 li> he the ancient ( yduu> , wiiicii runs within hve hundred 
 '.ards of the. walls of Acre. lmpru(h iitly liathing himself 
 in this river, affei- the heat of Itattle, like his predc- 
 iissor, .Mexanih r the dnat, he was seized with a violent 
 distemper, of which he dud. At liis death, the couniiand 
 of the army devolved n)ii)n his son Conrad, who, Joining 
 l.ii--ignan, carried on the -.lege of .Acre. 
 
 \\\. III. (H Ciirncos-, irfw lid the .an. 
 ''In- di>liiit;iiidied hero 1-- mentioned ill Fuller's Iii>loiy
 
 191 
 
 wi tlif Holy Wars, as having taught Saladiii the Art of 
 War, wlio gave liim the coiuniuiul of the garrison of Acre, 
 MS it was the key to Jerusalcui, anil a city (ni that account 
 threatened with the united attack of all the powers of 
 Europe, What made it still more important to tlic 
 Crusaders, was, tliat it was supposed that the wood of the 
 Trui Cross was in tliis city, C^aracos held out the defence 
 of it, for nearly five years, against ten times his number, 
 lill it was at last taken by storm on the arrival of the 
 Knglish army, which did not arrive till about a month 
 iitter that of the French. 
 
 \'tr. IV'. fVitk iixi'ct ciivy fraui>hL 
 I'iiilip, suruamed Augustus, King of France, after liav- 
 ]wz lauded in Palestine with 00,000 men, was so jealoub 
 i.i the gloiv acquiied by Richard the First, commonly 
 Iwu.wn as Ctiur de Lion, that after the reduction of Acre, 
 he pretended to be sick, and rctunied to France with iiis 
 army, only leaving 10,000 men with Richard, under the 
 rummand of Odo, Duke of Burgundy, 
 
 Wr, V. Hut the famed plains of Askuloii. 
 
 ^alaJin, not arriving soon enough to the relief of Acre, 
 
 f iicampcd with his army, consisting of .'J00,000 men, on 
 
 ihe plains of Askalou, to pre\ent the progress of Richard 
 
 u JerusiAleui. 'I'he aniiv of Kicli.ird did not amount t^
 
 19^ 
 
 snore than 70,000 men, of which, upwards of l(i,(u'.i wfic 
 his own suljjecls. He however engaged, and routed Sala- 
 din, after a bloody hattle, in which hotli wings of liis army 
 were defeated, tliougli liis centre was victorious, wliere he 
 commanded in person. Saladin, after the battle, made 
 liinj a present of two beautiful Arabian chargers, in com- 
 piimciit to his valour, and soon after concluded a two gears' 
 truce with Richard. 
 
 Ver. XVII. lite sUicr mmnd, the son! xpnnisr str/iiit. 
 The idea of this, and the three subbi-quent lines, together 
 with the 4th line of the 4th vcr.^e in the -id Canto, weij 
 suggested to me by the perusal of " The M(rfiiaiil," a 
 Legendary Ballad, comjiosed by Leydcn, the Author of 
 " 'J'iie Scenes of Infancy," who dieil in Ja>a. The manu- 
 script copy that I read was lent to me Ijy Assistant-Sur- 
 geon \oble, of the 1 st West India regiment, since deceased, 
 a gentleman of great erudition : he was the author of a 
 poj)ular Song, jmblislied some time ago, being at that timt 
 in the ti'Jih regiment. The Song begins thus 
 
 " Our king sends us notice he wants our assistance, &c.'' 
 
 I have been bold enough to alter and Kriirthen LeyJeti's 
 I'allad of " The Mermaid," which I subjoin lor the rea- 
 der's perusal. The lines in italics an.- those that 1 have 
 'Uiitated.
 
 193 
 
 THE MERMAID, 
 
 On' Jura's lieath how sweetly swell 
 
 The murmurs of the mountain bee, 
 How >oftly mourns the writhed shell 
 
 Of ,!ura's shore, its parent sea. 
 But softer, sweeter, o'er the deep 
 
 Arose the Mermaid's soothing; lay, 
 Who in her Syren grot would keep 
 
 The eonsiant Chief of Colonsay. 
 In youth's gay bloom, the brave Mac Phail 
 
 Still blamed the lingering bark's delay, 
 For her he chid the flagging sail, 
 
 'i'he lovely maid of Colonsay ! 
 Aloft the pur|ile penarjts wave 
 
 As parting gay from Orcna's shore, 
 riielr gallant Chief, the seamen brave 
 
 From Lurn's dread combat homeward bore. 
 '' And raise," he cried, " the Song of Love 
 
 " The maiden sung with tearful smile, 
 " When first o'er Jura's hiils to rove 
 
 ' Afar we left the lonely is'e. 
 " I saw the tear-drops on her cheek, 
 
 " Her eyes with dewy lustre shine, 
 " And as she spoke, with pressure weak 
 
 " Her hand she fondly clasped in mine 
 O
 
 194 
 
 " When from this ring of ruby red 
 
 " Fades the pellucid crimson hue, 
 " Tiiy fair is numbered with the dead, 
 
 " Or proves to thee and love untrue. 
 Now lightly poised, the rising oar 
 
 Disperses wide the foamy spray. 
 And echoing far o'er Orcna's shore 
 
 Resounds the ^>ong of Colonsay. 
 
 SONG 
 
 Softly blow tliou Western brec/iij* 
 " Softly kiss the rnslling sail! 
 While my Love is on the seas 
 " Softly blow thou Western gale ! 
 
 ' Where the wave is tinged with red 
 " And the russet sea-weeds grow, 
 
 Mariners '. devoid of dread, 
 " Shun the shelving reefs below. 
 
 As you i)ass tlno' Jura's sound, 
 
 " Bend your course by Scarpa's shore, 
 
 " Shun ! oh, shun I the gulpb profound 
 " Where Corachtin's surges roar '
 
 195 
 
 " 1; I'lom that unbottonied detp, 
 
 " Dn.'ad his form, an<l vast liis train, 
 
 '' O'er the vcT;e of Scarpa's steep 
 
 Fierec the sea-snake rear his mane :, 
 
 " Sea-a;ieen sisteis of the waves 
 " Wiile his oozy eoiis uinviiiil ; 
 
 " Far wliere boihng ocean raves 
 " Fast th' unwieldy monster bind. 
 
 ' Ne'er, my Love, in combat fierce 
 " Shrink from the opposing lanct, 
 
 ' Tho' it hostile bosoms piertt; 
 " Uajiiii as the lover's glance. 
 
 "' Ne'er, my Love, in fields of light 
 '' Viild thy tempered keen claymovif. 
 
 -' Till tiie splinters sparkle bright 
 " Koiind thee in the battle's roar ! 
 
 '' Ne'er, my Love, by foes o|)\.'resso(). 
 
 " From thy grasp the dirk forego^ 
 " Till, deep plunired in foenian's bita^t 
 
 " i'.ik he sink beneath the blow ''"
 
 196 
 
 'Ails all to sootli tlif Chieflain's ot, 
 
 Far from the luaid lie loved so dear, 
 Tlip song arose so soft and slow, 
 
 He seemed her j)artiui; sii;li to hear, 
 riie lonely deck he paces o'er 
 
 Impatient for tlie rising day, 
 And still from Orcna's moonlight shorf 
 
 He turns his eyes to Colonsay ; 
 y\)r night liad shailed all the surge 
 
 Thnt strer.ked with foam the ocean green. 
 When forward as the rowers urge 
 
 'I heir course a female form is seen ! 
 '1 hat Seamaid's form of pearly light 
 
 Was V. liiter than the doivny spray, 
 And o'er lier bosom heaving bright 
 
 Iler glossy yellow ringlets play. 
 Borne on a foamy-crested wave 
 
 She reached amain the bounding prow. 
 Then clasping fast the chieftain brave. 
 
 Plunged in the roaring deep below ! 
 Oh ! long beside (by feigned bier 
 
 'i"iie Monks their prayers of death shall sii\, 
 Anil long for thee, the fruitless tear " 
 
 Shall \veej) tht: maid of C(ilon>ay ! 
 Rut cl(/wnv.anl, like a powerless corse 
 
 Tht eddying waves the Cliieftain beur^
 
 19? 
 
 ilf only liears tlie nioaiiins; hoarse 
 
 Of waters luunmiring in hii car ! 
 I'lu' niunmirs sink by slow degrees, 
 
 No more the surges round him rave, 
 Lulh'd by the music of the seas 
 
 lie lies Iieneath a Coral Cave ! 
 (a dreaming mood, he lying long 
 
 Dares not his dazzled eyes unclose, 
 fill warbling wild, the Seamaid's song 
 
 Far in the inmost cavern rose. 
 Soft as that Harp's unseen eontroul 
 
 In morning dreams, that Lovers hear, 
 \Vlu)>e sirains steal sweetly on the soul. 
 
 But never reach the waking ear , 
 ^ol'r a-> the beam in gentle Spring 
 
 That glitters thro' the tepid air, 
 When birds their wildest woodnotes sing, 
 
 And flowers display their colours fair , 
 So melting soft the music fell, 
 
 It seemed to sooth the fluttering spray 
 -iiiy, heard'st thou not the Vi'iltl notes swe! 
 
 Ah ! 'tis the ^ong of C'olonsay ! 
 I.ikf one that from a fearful dream 
 
 Awake.-?, the morning light to view, 
 \n:i joys to .^ee tlie pinple beam, 
 
 ) 1-1 fi' u'^ lofirul the vision true,
 
 19B 
 
 111 liearil that sfrain, so wildly swctt, 
 M'hich back' his torpid languor ily ; 
 He feared some spell had bound his teet 
 
 And scarcely dared his limbs to try. 
 " These yellow sands, this sparry cave 
 
 " Shall bend thy soul to Beaut y\-> sv.ay f 
 " Canst thou the Maiden of the Wave 
 
 " Compare to her of Colonsay ?" 
 Jloiisi'd by that voice r,/ iilvo- kiuhiI 
 
 From thr pnvid floor lu ligliU;/ .^pyni;, 
 .liul glancing irilil his (yfs around 
 
 IFhtre the Sea Nymph sedncini>- sung- 
 No form he saw of mortal mould ; 
 
 it shone like Ocean's snowy foam 1 
 Her ringlets waved in living gold. 
 
 Her mirror, chrystal pearl her comb 
 Her pearly comb the Syren took. 
 
 And careless bound her tresses wild, 
 Still o'er her mirror stole a look 
 
 As at the wondering youth she smiutl. 
 Like music from the greenwood tree 
 
 Again she raised the melting lay 
 " Fair Warrior ! wilt thou dwell with ni'- 
 " And leave the maid of Colon'^ny .-'"
 
 199 
 
 MERMAID'S SONG 
 
 '' BuiciiT is the Ocean Hall for me 
 " With sapphires and with rubies set, 
 
 '"' And sweet the music of the sea 
 
 " Shall sound, where we for love are met ! 
 
 ' How sweet to (lance with gliding feel 
 " Aloii^ t!ie level tide so green, 
 
 ' Responsive to the zephyrs sweet 
 
 " Tliat whisper tiiro' the midnight scfiie. 
 
 '' And .^(jit the lllu^ic nf liie main 
 
 '' Rings from tlie motley tortoise shdl, 
 
 ' Whilst moonljeams o'er the watery plain 
 " Seem tremi)!ing in its fretful swell 1 
 
 '' How sweet, when billows lu-ave tlu h- :tA 
 " And shak..' their foamy crests on lii.'h. 
 
 ** Serene in Oeca^'^5 sapphire bed 
 
 " Ikneath tin tumblini; .iirire tn lie !
 
 200 
 
 ' To trace with tranquil step the deej/ 
 " Where pearly drops of frozen dew 
 
 *' lu concave shells, unconscioua sleep, 
 " Or shine with lustre's silvery hut. 
 
 " Then shall the Summer sun from far 
 " I'oiir thro' the wave a softer ray, 
 
 " While diamonds in our bower of spar^ 
 " At eve bhall shed a brighter day : 
 
 '* Nor stormy wind, nor wint'ry jjale 
 " That o'er the angry ocean sweep, 
 
 " Shall e'er our coral groves assail, 
 " Calm in the bosom of the deep. 
 
 " Thro' the green meads beneath tlie sea 
 " Enamour'd we shall fondly stray, 
 
 " Then, gentle warrior, stay with nje, 
 " And leave the maid of Colonsay !'* 
 
 " 'J'ho' liright thy locks of glistering gold, 
 " Fair Syren of the foamy main, 
 
 '* Thy life-blood is the water cold, 
 
 " While mine beats warm thro' every reii:
 
 201 
 
 If I wlUiiii thy sparry cave 
 
 " Sliould ill thy snowy arms recline, 
 I iKi instant a> tlie restless wave, 
 
 ' My heart woulil grow as cold as thine, 
 " Jn youth's hrst dawn I loved the maid, 
 
 " 1 know lier gentle heart is mine, 
 ' And could my vows of rapture fade, 
 
 " My heart would grow as cold as thine I' 
 As eyi;net down, proud swelled her i):east, 
 
 Her eye confest the peaily tear 
 Her hand she to her bosom i)rest, 
 
 " Is there no heart for rapture here ? 
 *' Tiiese limbs, spruni^ from the fostering sea, 
 
 " Does no warm blood their currents fill? 
 *' No heart-pulse riot wild and free 
 
 " To joy, to Love's delicious tiirill ?'' 
 -' Tho' all the sjilendour of the sea 
 
 ' Around thy s()otless beauty shine, 
 " That heart tliat riots wild and free 
 
 " Can hold no sym[)athy \\ith mine ! 
 " Th(.-ie spirklin-; eyes so wild and t;ay, 
 
 " They sv.iui not in the light of Love 
 ' '1 lie :;entle maid of (olonsay, 
 
 ' Her I yes are milder than the dove. 
 '' I'.v'n now. witinn the lonely I'^le, 
 ' i!er ev,'>aie dim with tears tor me.
 
 202 
 
 ' And canst tliou tliinktlmt syren smile 
 
 ' Can loose my soul, to dwell with tliee : 
 An oozy film her limbs o'erspread 
 
 Unfolds Irt lent;tliening scaly train, 
 She tossed in ])roiul disdain her head 
 
 And lashed with webbed lin the main. 
 *' Dwell licre alone," the Mermaid cried, 
 
 " And view far otVthe ^ea Nymphs jilay. 
 " Thy jirison wall, tlie azure tide, 
 
 " Siiall l)ar thy su-ps iriiiu ( oloii^ay I 
 ' If e'er with (ins, like Ocean's broo.l 
 
 " Tiuiu scest me cleave the glassy wa\( . 
 " Far from the dauu'hter of the iiood 
 
 " fonceal tliee, in the irnnost cave ! 
 " I feel my f(jrraer soul revive, 
 
 " -My heart resi nts thy prond disdain, 
 " Nor shall a mortal boast alive 
 
 " lie scorned a daughter of the main !" 
 She fled around the coral cave 
 
 'J'he rolling waves resume their ri'ad, 
 Around tiie mortal idly rave, 
 
 Bnt enter not the Nymph's abode! 
 And many a weaiy night went by 
 
 Ai in the lonely cave he lay. 
 And many a sun rolled thro' the sky 
 
 And poured its beams on Colonsay.
 
 203 
 
 r\ml oft bcneatli tlic silver moon 
 
 Me lu'anl afar the Mermaid sing, 
 Anil oft to many a meltins; tune 
 
 The shell formed lyres of Ocean ring 
 And when the moon went down the sky 
 
 Still r(He in drean;s his native plain, 
 \nd oft he thought i/is Love was by, 
 
 And charmed him with some tender strain 
 And JRart-sitk, oft he waked to weep 
 
 JJ'hcn cea.'ivd that voice of silnr ivund : 
 And tiioutjht to pluiiire him in the deep 
 
 That wailed his chrystal cavern round 
 I5ut slill the rinicof ruby red 
 
 Retained its vivid crimson hue, 
 And each despairing accent fled 
 
 To (ind his gciule love was true. 
 i\ hen .>even loU'.; lonely montlis were gon;. 
 
 The Mermaid tn tiie cavern came, 
 Xo more mishapcn Irom the zone, 
 
 I'ut like a maid of mortal frame ! 
 '' Ciive thou (o me that ruby ring 
 
 " That on thy linger gkmces gay, 
 And thou -hall luar the Meimaid .iiij.' 
 
 " The song thou lov'st of Colonsay '," 
 l hi-, ruby ring id' crimson grain 
 ^hall on il.y iin^er glitUv gay
 
 204 
 
 ' If thou wilt bi'ar me thro' the main 
 
 " Once more to visit Colonsay." 
 " So thou but quit thy formir Ikmc 
 
 " And live contented aye witii nie ; 
 " If not incensed, my finny frame 
 
 " Shall tear thy limbs amidst the sea I" 
 " Then bear me swift along the main, 
 
 " I burn the lonely isle to see, 
 " And wlien thou brin:r'st me litre ;iG;ain. 
 
 " I pliicht my failh to dwell with tiiee.'^ 
 Proud swelled her heart she deemed at ] 
 
 To charm him with her syren strain. 
 To keep him in her cavern fast, 
 
 And Love's pellucid ruby gain ! 
 Her mortal form she swift forsook 
 
 To bear the Cliieftain thro' the main 
 .loyful her webhi^d hns she sliooli. 
 
 And spread at large her scaly strain. 
 This done, she clasped tiie Chieftain fast. 
 
 And quickly cut the foamy ^)u'a}, 
 And as the shelving rocks slie jiassed 
 
 She rai^ed the song of Colonsay. 
 Trembling upon the wave, a]ip<:ars 
 
 The midnight moon's unccrt.iin smile, 
 As lliro' the surge the Si a-Maid steers 
 
 tier (our'-i- nnto tin. lonelv isle.
 
 ^05 
 
 111 soltiT, swt't'ter strains she sunjr, 
 
 As by the shore they bent their way, 
 Whoii lij^ht to land the Chieftain spriinsj, 
 
 Ami liailec! tlie maid of C'oU)nsay ! 
 O sad! the Mermaid's gay notes fell 
 
 And (iied in phiintive harmony 
 "^o sadly mourns tiie writhed shell 
 
 0{ Jura's shore, its parent sea ! 
 \nd when the cirelina; year returns 
 
 The Sailors know the fated day, 
 For sadly still the Mermaid mourns 
 
 The constant Chief of Colonsnv. 
 
 CANTO III. 
 
 \ I'l. \'. That tVLiiilAdl irith her si/rc; /(g.'i'. 
 This is borrow<'d from Uryden's translation of Virgil, Booi. 
 rii. ver. 1 1 . 
 
 '< 'I'iu' moon was briijbt, 
 
 ' And the sea trembled with her silver ligiit." 
 
 Ver. VII. Thv purple Hs(lit of I, d re diiplai/cd. 
 I ar.i iiidi:bted to Ciriiv for this idea, Ode V. 
 
 ' O'l r her warm cheek and rising bosom, move 
 
 " Thf bloom of young desire, and purple light of Love."
 
 ^06 
 
 CANTO IV. 
 
 VcT. 18, JFIiut timi- the rf/i>c of civil war. 
 Alter the English and French armits liad rc'ndczvou>eii 
 111 the plains of Vezelay, preparatory to the second Crusade, 
 the tombincd Kings, pn account of the diihculty of a uiartli 
 by land, aj^reed to proceed to I'ak ^tine, liy sea. Their lleels 
 v,tre liowevcr drivf'ii l)y stress of weather into Port Messina, 
 in Sicily, where they staid some tiiiK^ to refit their vessi Is. 
 Taiicred, Usurper of Sicily, did every thing in his power to 
 foment the jealousy existing hetween the two kings, as not. 
 lieing himself one of the Crusaders, he wished to get rid of 
 so formidable and troublesome an ainiauicnt. Richard h^id 
 promised to marry Adelais, the .sister of Pliilip, but suspecting 
 lur virtue, he (ieclined the alliance. This was the bi ginning 
 of tlu.'se feuds tiiat subsisted between the two m>,'uarchs. 
 Jvichard had quartered his army in the subuilis of Messina, 
 <ind taken po.ssession of a fort, thai eonnnanded the liarbour, 
 while Philip I. u! billetted his army In the town. The Mes- 
 .sinese having insulted the Knglish, aiul being joined by the 
 French, the English in n;venge attaeked the Messinese, de- 
 feated them, and in splie of tlieir allies the French, jiianted 
 the British standard on the walls of Messina. Philip in lug 
 ?old of this, ordered some of his ofiieers to take It down, but 
 '^rieiiard mad'' them desist, and addeil, ijuit " he would h'li:
 
 20? 
 
 ;;tlf orilor the standard to be taken down, to preserve a gooil 
 understaiuiliif; between two powers engaged in tlie same eoin- 
 jiiun caiisi', but that no othi r [lersons but his own sulijects 
 should attempt to take down the standard, witliout the ut- 
 most illusion of bhiod." This silenced tlie French l<ing, and 
 llicliard aetortiingly ordered liis standard to be talien down. 
 
 CANTO V, 
 
 \i;r. VII. Scant: tip the muiintain tops v;ifJi gold. 
 I lir.d I have liorrowed tiiis line from Pitt, who in his 
 Tran-'ation of \'iri:ll, has tlie foUowina; similar verses. 
 
 ' Now had the morn, all-beauteous, to beliolu, 
 
 ' 'i'i-i]!i d the blue mountains with a gleam of gold.'' 
 
 \:r. IX. Hi) .' sfl t/ijitr Caxt/r porta/s ividc. 
 The Lord High Constable of Sicily, in those times had 
 threat powers vcsttd in him, and was the next man in the 
 reahii to ilie king. 
 
 \'i r. XV. .iiid irlprd lite void cnnvulsU-c dew. 
 1 find, frijin genera! reading, that I have been borrowing 
 again. Soulhcy, in his beautiful tale of Kudiger, has tlicst 
 
 'nt's
 
 208 
 
 " Anil 1)11 his clammy forehead stuoil 
 " The cold convulsive dew. 
 
 \'er. XXI. But tivcntrj springs have passed mi/ head. 
 
 The idea of making Lothaire refute Lord Albert's accusa- 
 tion, by a mention of his age, did not occur to me, till put in 
 mind of it by Ensign French, of the 1st West India regiment, 
 to whom I was reading the manuscript. Though only 18 
 years old when he died, he had written a line poem on 
 Friendship. 
 
 \'er. XXIII. Ifim that nrrnii;-.s mr 1 drft/. 
 In cases of ariaignment In'tween Peers, in those days, the 
 iu-tice of their cause was left to the decision of arms, how- 
 ever convincing the proofs might be against citlier of the 
 parties. 
 
 CAXTO VI. 
 
 \"er. IX. -ts ir'wn ii swain irhn-se /y iiil)litii( <\i/i , 
 Homer and X'irgil have siiuiiar con)parisons. 
 
 As when some shepherd from tlie rustling trees 
 
 Shot forth to view, a scaly serpent sees, 
 
 Trembling and pale he starts with wild affright 
 
 And all confused precipitates liis fligiil. 
 
 Poll.', Hdmicr.
 
 209 
 
 As wiuMi sonic peasant in a bushy biaku 
 Has with iinwarv lootin;; ])i-cssL'tl a snake, 
 He .)tait> a.iidi.', a5t<)lii^!a'j xvlien hf spii's 
 His ri^in;,' cif->t, blue neck, and rolling eyos, 
 
 Vur. XI. ^7.> thunder ere it sjicnu's itsjhrce. 
 
 So lightning- tlic-j, 
 
 And uni'xpccted falls, and instant dies, 
 But lays in rifted rocks with furious force, 
 TIk- tokens of its luunientary course. 
 
 Hoolk's T.\s-<o. 
 
 \'er. Xlll. Ottrst!/ aud Ptrrs heard .-I'iKrt'ii breath. 
 'i'aniTcd alludes hr-re to the words of I>ord Albert, at sight 
 of the axi', with which he had iiiurik'red his brother, in the 
 ha.d^ of Lolhiire, who he supposed h<id met him with a new 
 and blight axe, not taking notice uf the axe when at his 
 addle-how. Tancred aUo alludes to the after exprcbsiiia of 
 I.onl Albci t. 
 
 Ver. XIII. 'J'u ii'td the /.ad// Coa/itax' hdr. 
 As I'aIv. ina was the heir of her deceased mother's domains, 
 and a^ Lord .\ibert had no heirs niah', she of course claiuu'd 
 hei father's barony, at the d- ath of the (ouHt, which Lothairi,; 
 oiiid not claim w.thout aa alliance by uiauiagf.
 
 210 
 
 Ver. XXIV. How sweet is the Rose, l(c. 
 How sweet is the Hose, what a beautiful flo^ver, 
 
 The glory of April and May '. 
 
 Watis' Hymn's. 
 
 IHF. ENH. 
 
 W. VViNon,Vrinter,4,CireviUe..S1r.ot.Lo,uh-..
 
 aaic suinipea oeiow. 
 
 lOM-11-50 2^5 470 
 
 REMINGTON RAND
 
 nn \jyj\j uu i uuvj o 
 
 PR 
 
 386 1