XIV. "Few words need pass 'twixt thou and I-in me thou dost behold The wife of thy stern enemy-of Ponce de Leon bold; Within a Moorish dungeon deep, I have had tidings sure, That he who crouched not e'en to THEE, lies fettered by a Moor. XV. "Oh, by the love of chivalry, and by thine ancient name; Nay, by the memory of thy hate, vouchsafe the meed I claim I cannot as a suppliant sue, or bend the craven knee; I say-thy FoE is now in chains, go thou and set him free!" XVI. A moment's space he silent stood, surprise had struck him dumb His foe was in the spoiler's net whose wife to him had come, Sure of his honour, as a knight, to set the captive free; He bowed his lip upon her hand, and sank upon his knee. XVII. "Oh! not because thy form is fair, or that thine eye is bright; But for the noble soul thou bear'st-fit mate of such a knight ! Oh! shame it were to chivalry, and base the tale to tell, That such a knight had vailed his lance to a proud infidel. XVIII. "Oh! hie thee hence thou lady fair, and ere three days be o'er, Thou shalt have tidings of thy lord, or none shall see me more. Ere three days space, within thine arms thy loving lord shall be, If there be truth in heaven above, or faith in chivalry! XIX. The first day on her silent couch the noble lady lay, Salt tears swam in her fawn-like eyes-for him so far away. The second day-she roused herself, although her cheek was pale As the first opening rose of spring, chilled by a time less gale. XX. The third day,—and the lady rose, and called her maidens fair, And bade them straight a banquet proud, for noble guests prepare; And ere the day had worn away, or set was the broad bright sun, The guests were there, the feast to share, and the prize, the prize was won! XXI. They sat beside the blooming bride, right willing guests, I trow Three days ago sworn mortal foes, sworn brothers are they now; And twice ten golden candlesticks illumined the Virgin's shrine. For all agreed that the mighty deed, was achieved through her aid divine. HIMALAYA. BY THE REV. C. HOYLE. I. YE worlds of mountain snow, that are of earth Inhabits, where the sun-beams powerless lie, II. Say, from that frost-realm by what channels flow, Ganges and Brahmaputra? Forth they creep, In widely-sundered pilgrimage, and roll Their strength indomitable to the main, And freshen ocean's wave, and ocean's might control. III. Behold them in the stream! but who shall mount Where from the primal and deep-buried fount Of everlasting winter: tempt not doom, IV. Nor only the presumptuous foot withdraw From yon dread barrier; but let heart and mind Pause also, and with reverential awe Jehovah's more immediate presence find In the wild grandeur of that mountain wall, For in such solitude the Lord of all Full oft by type, by miracle, or sign, Hath given the revelation and the call That to the chosen of God prefigured Truth divine. V. On Ararat, the failing deluge left The sacred ark; whose slow subsiding frame, At length stood motionless. Then went and came |