Her shape was all that thought can form Of elegance and grace, While heaven the beauties of her mind 66 Reflected in her face. My daughter, lay aside thy fears!" "The Danish spoiler comes not here!” The abbess saw,-the abbess knew, And thus, in accent soft and mild, 66 My daughter dear! as to thy friend, I see 't is love disturbs thy mind, "Yet hark!—I hear the vesper-bell! But now the sympathising Muse, That gallant youth befell.— Fast journeying by the bank of Esk, He took his lonely way; And now through showers of driving rain, His erring footsteps stray. At length from far, a glimmering light, Trembling among the trees, And entering soon a moss-built hut, A holy man he sees. "O father! deign a luckless youth "I fear no robber, stranger! here, "And thou art welcome to my hut," The holy man he cried; "Still welcome here, is he whom fate 66 Has left without a guide. Whence, and what art thou, gentle youth?”— The noble Edwy said, "I go to rouse Earl Osrick's power, And seek Lord Redwald's aid. "My father is a wealthy Lord, Who now with Alfred stays; And me he left to guard his seat, Whilst he his duty pays. But, vain the trust!-in dead of night The devastator came; And o'er each neighbouring castle threw "To shun its rage, at early dawn I with my sister fled; And Whitby Abbey now affords A shelter to her head: "Whilst I, to hasten promised aids, Range wildly through the night, And with impatient heart expect The morning's friendly light." So Edwy spake; and wondering, gazed For in his form beam'd manly grace, The hermit sighing, thus he said, "But luckless love dejects my soul, Thou see'st the wretch of woman's pride, "I once, amid my Sovereign's train, Ranked a distinguished youth; But blighted is my former fame, "When Ethelred the crown did hold, I to this district came, And then a fair and matchless maid First woke in me a flame. "Her father was a noble Lord, Of an illustrious race, Who joined to rustic honesty The court's transcendent grace. ""Twas then I told my artless tale, By love alone inspired; For never was my manly speech "At first she heard, or seemed to hear, The tender voice of love; But soon-the ficklest of her sex, Did she deceitful prove! 283 "She drove me, scornful, from her sight Rejected and disdained: In vain did words for pity plead! In vain my looks complained! How could the breast that pity filled, How could the face that smiled on all, "Since that drear hour, within this cell And twice ten months have passed, since I "O, stain to honour!" Edwy cried; 66 'O, foul disgrace to arms! What, when thy country claims thy aid, And shakes with war's alarms "Canst thou, inglorious! here remain, All for a woman's pride?" With louder voice, and warmer look, His hermit host rejoined— "Think'st thou, vain youth! the chains of fear Could here a warrior bind? "Know, then, thou see'st Hermanrick here! A name not once unknown to fame, "O, Athelgiva!-yet too dear! Did I thy danger know, Yet would I fly to thy relief, And crush the invading foe." With flustered cheek, young Edwy turned At Athelgiva's name ; And, "gracious powers! it must be he!" He cried; " it is the same! "I know full well, I have not now More of thy tale to learn ; "T was heard this morn, ere from the wave You could the sun discern. My sister loves thee, gallant youth! She wept last night, when thy hard fate "Forgive her, then, and in her cause, "It was-it was!" Hermanrick cried: Then Edwy sprang to his embrace, "But now let honour fill thy mind, "She, with impatient anxious heart, Expects my quick return; And, till again she sees me safe, The hapless maid will mourn. |