XXXIV. O'DONOGHUE came to the hermit's cell; He climbed the ladder, he pulled the bell; The Hermit hasted my first to fill And "Drink," quoth he, "of the juice, brave Knight, The Hermit hasted my Second to spread Hasty and hungry the Chief explored My Whole with the point of his ready sword, XXXV. THE night was dark, the night was damp: Wine he brought him, such as yet Weary and faint was the holy man, But he crossed with a cross the Tempter's can, And saw, ere my First to his parched lip came, That it was red with liquid flame. Jewels he showed him-many a gem Dazzled, I trow, was the anchorite : But he told his beads with all his might; A Lady at last he handed in, With a bright black eye and a fair white skin: The stern ascetic flung, 'tis said, A ponderous missal at her head: She vanished away; and what a smell Of my Whole she left in the hermit's cell! XXXVI. UPON my First's blue stream The moon's cold light is sleeping; Is wandering there and weeping. His boat should cleave the water; The shroud her marriage vest— Go solemn Song, to chide him ; (AUGUST, 1829.) XXXVII. He hath seen the tempest lower; He hath dared the foeman's spear; He hath welcomed death on tide and tower: How will he greet him here? My First was set, and in his place You might see the dark man stand, With a fearful vizor on his face, And a bright axe in his hand. Short shrift, and hurried prayer: And let my Second be bound and bare The dark man grinned in bitter scorn; "Rise! thou art pardoned !"-vain! Lift up the lifeless clay; On the skin no scratch, on the steel no stain,— But the soul hath passed away. |