LEGEND OF THE DRACHENFELS. BY WINTHROP M. PRAED, ESQ. "LEAD me away! I am weak and young, Captive the fierce and the proud among; But I will pray a humble prayer, That the feeble to strike may be firm to bear. "Lead me away! the voice may fail, And the lips grow white, and the cheek turn pale; "Lead me away! oh, dear to mine eyes They clothe her in such rich array And set on her neck a golden chain- Over her head her doom is said; And with folded arms and measured tread, In long procession, dark and slow, Hymning their hymn, and crying their cry, Mary, Mother! sain and save! The maiden kneels at the Dragon's cave! Alas! 't is frightful to behold That thing of Nature's softest mould, From lips that were to her most dear. |