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That instant as the murderer spake There came a sudden light;

Strong as the mid-day sun it shone, Though all around was night:

It hung upon the willow tree,
It hung upon the flood,

It gave to view the poplar isle,
And all the scene of blood.

The traveller who journies there,

He'surely hath espied

A madman who has made his home

Upon the river's side.

His cheek is pale, his eye is wild,
His look bespeaks despair;

For Jaspar since that hour has made

His home unshelter'd there.

And fearful are his dreams at night,
And dread to him the day!

He thinks upon his untold crime,

And never dares to pray.

The summer suns, the winter storms,

O'er him unheeded roll,

For heavy is the weight of blood

Upon the maniac's soul!

1798.

LORD WILLIAM.

No eye beheld when William plunged Young Edmund in the stream,

No human ear but William's heard

Young Edmund's drowning scream.

Submissive all the vassals own'd
The murderer for their Lord,

And he as rightful heir possess'd
The house of Erlingford.

The ancient house of Erlingford

Stood in a fair domain,

And Severn's ample waters near

Roll'd through the fertile plain.

And often the way-faring man

Would love to linger there, Forgetful of his onward road, To gaze on scenes so fair.

But never could Lord William dare

In

To gaze on Severn's stream;

every

wind that swept its waves

He heard young Edmund scream.

In vain at midnight's silent hour

In

Sleep closed the murderer's

eyes,

every dream the murderer saw
Young Edmund's form arise.

In vain by restless conscience driven

Lord William left his home,

Far from the scenes that saw his guilt,

To other climes the pilgrim fled,
But could not fly despair;

He sought his home again, but peace

Was still a stranger there.

Slow were all passing hours, yet swift The months appear'd to roll;

And now the day return'd that shook With terror William's soul.

A day that William never felt
Return without dismay,

For well had conscience kalendar'd

Young Edmund's dying day.

A fearful day was that! the rains

Fell fast with tempest roar,

And the swoln tide of Severn spread Far on the level shore.

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