To blush through every season? Blight and chill With a strange smile, a glow of sunshine's realm. One spring-morn rose, And found, within that tomb's proud shadow laid,— From the fierce noon,- Yet there her shrine had been!—she grasped a wreath- AN EVENING MEDITATION. I love to watch yon little western cloud, Oh! grant my soul, kind heaven, a doom like this- THE SCARF OF GOLD AND BLUE. A BALLAD. BY H. G. BEll, esq. "GOD speed thee, Eustace D'Argencourt,-be brave as thou art true, And wear the scarf I've wov'n for thee-this scarf of gold and blue!" He bent his knee, he kissed her hand, and fervently he swore,That till his sword had lost its might, till life's last pulse was o'er, That scarf should never leave his arm, in tournament or fight; That scarf should be his pride by day, his dream of joy by night:— Then bounded he upon his steed, and with one parting glance, Forth rode Sir Eustace D'Argencourt-the bravest knight in France! Scarce had he ridden one short week-one short week and a dayWhen he saw twelve Spanish knights approach, all bent to cross his way; And his squire said to his master bold, "I pray thee turn thy steed, For little hope is left us now, save in our coursers' speed." "How!-Think'st thou, craven-hearted squire," Sir D'Argencourt replied, "That from the lance of mortal foe I e'er could turn aside? Twelve Spaniards are there in the field, and we are only two, But wear I not my lady's scarf-her scarf of gold and blue!" Then up rode Don Pedrillo, and tauntingly spake he,— Then turning on Don Carlos, like a lion in his wrath, He stretched him with one desperate blow all stiff across his path. Nine Spaniards still remained behind, but motionless they stood, And looked with silent wonder on that young knight's hardihood; "Come one-come all!" Sir Eustace cried, "I neither yield nor fly; But for the Lady Isabel, or you or I must die." Then the Count Alcaras recognised Sir Eustace D'Argencourt, His favoured rival in the love of Isabel D'Etours ; And on he urged his dastard friends, and as a cloud they came "Base traitors!" shouted D'Argencourt, "how can ye fight, for shame! Such odds were never seen before-nine armed men 'gainst one! God guard thee, Lady Isabel-my race of life is run!" Yet fiercely did Sir Eustace fight, and fast flowed Spanish gore, Till the Count Alcaras came behind-he dared not come beforeAnd stabbed that brave Knight in the back-a false, dishonest blow; Sir Eustace turned him round, and fixed one long gaze on his foe, Then feeble fell his gallant arm, and clouds swam round his head, And the Spaniards raised a joyful shout, for they thought Sir Eustace dead. They bound his arms behind his back, they tied him to a tree, And beside him stuck his broken lance, in graceless mockery;"And now, Sir Knight," Alcaras cried, "I'll wear this gewgaw too, Methinks I guess who wove this scarf-this scarf of gold and blue. Away! my friends, there's little breath in proud Sir D'Argencourt, Away! my friends, I'll win her yet-Fair Isabel D'Etours!" Bright shines the sun upon the waves- -the waves of blue Garonne, But brighter shine those diamond eyes in the lists at Roussilon; And trumpets bray, and banners stream, and chargers gallop round, And noble hearts beat quick for praise, with many an aching bound; But who is she, who wins all looks-for whom all ride the ringTo gain a smile of whose dark eye were glory for a king? Ha! did you mark her sudden blush the paleness of the trance That followed quick, as on that knight she bent her eager glance— "It was the Count Alcaras!" for his Spanish crest she knew, "But why wore he that plighted scarf"-that scarf of gold and blue?" "I took it, lady," boastingly, the crafty Spaniard said, "From one I forced to yield beneath my more victorious blade ; He gave it me with right good will, his life was all he sought, Too cheaply with the coward's death so rich a prize I bought." "Now, by St. Louis! braggart base!" fair Isabel replied, "I tell thee in thy craven teeth, that loudly thou hast lied!" Then bared she straight her snow-white hand, and down she "Oh! is there any knight who here, for honour or for love, Will make the Count Alcaras his unhallowed falsehood rue, And win me back that well-known scarf-that scarf of gold and blue!" A hundred swords leaped forth at once to do her proud behest, A hundred lords were at her feet, a hundred spears in rest; But she has singled from them all that solitary Knight Who wears his coal-black vizor down, nor yet has proved his might. The heralds sound the onset, and they meet with deadly shock ;— Then thrice he kissed that well-won scarf- that scarf of gold and blue, And raised his vizor as he knelt to her he found so true; O! dearly was that scarf beloved by Sir Eustace D'Argencourt, BALLAD. BY THOMAS HOOD, ESQ. IT was not in the winter It was the time of roses, We plucked them as we passed! That churlish season never frowned Oh no-the world was newly crowned What else could peer my glowing cheek That tears began to stud?— And when I asked the like of Love, You snatched a damask bud,— And oped it to the dainty core, We plucked them as we passed! |