Her maidens came, and strove to cheer, They rais'd her from the danky ground, But the coldest water from the spring And now came horsemen from the town, For, when the hapless Prince did fall, Bravely they rescu'd that noble Prince, Fair Alice the wondrous tidings heard, The tears that her fair maidens shed, The page he saw the lovely Alice And at her head a green turf laid, Then, with many a tear and many a sigh, And he hath come to Carlisle town, And now he hath come to the Prince's hall, And lowly bent his knee. "And how is the lady Alice, so fair? My page, come and tell to me." "Oh! the lady Alice, so lovely fair, And at her head is a green grass turf, "The lady Alice is dead and gone, And the worms feed by her side; And all for love of thee, O Prince! That beauteous lady died. "And where she's laid the green turf grows, And a cold grave-stone is there; But the dew-clad turf, nor the cold cold stone, Is not so cold as her." Oh! then Prince Henry sad did sigh, That hapless Prince he beat his breast, "And art thou gone, my sweet Alice! And art thou gone?" he cried : "Ah! would to Heaven that I with thee, My faithful love, had died. "And have I lost thee, my sweet Alice? And at thy dear head a green grass turf, "The turf that's o'er thy grave, dear Alice! And the stone at thy feet shall melt, love! And when the news came to merry England, Oh, then King Stephen and his nobles And they have had justs and tournaments, But many a sigh adds to the wind, And many's the widow all forlorn, The lady Alice is laid full low, And her maidens' tears do pour; And many's the wretch with them shall weep, For the victory of Cuton Moor. The holy priest doth weep, as he sings His masses o'er and o'er; And all for the souls of them that were slain At the battle of Cuton Moor! DURANDARTE AND BELERMA. M. G. LEWIS. SAD and fearful is the story There fell Durandarte; never Clos'd in silence, thus exclaim'd : "Oh, Belerma! oh, my dear one! For my pain and pleasure born! Seven long years I serv'd thee, fair one; Seven long years my fee was scorn. "And when now thy heart, replying To my wishes, burns like mine, Cruel fate, my bliss denying, Bids me every hope resign. "Ah! though young I fall, believe me, "O my cousin, Montesinos! By that friendship firm and dear, Which from youth has liv'd between us, Now my last petition hear : "When my soul, these limbs forsaking, Eager seeks a purer air, 66 From my breast the cold heart taking, Say, I of my lands possessor Nam'd her with my dying breath; "Twice a-week, too, how sincerely "Montesinos, now the hour Mark'd by fate is near at hand: Lo! my arm has lost its power; Lo! I drop my trusty brand! "Eyes, which forth beheld me going, "Thy kind hands my eye-lids closing, "So shall Jesus, still attending Gracious to a Christian's vow, Pleas'd accept my ghost ascending, And a seat in beaven allow." |