The war-cymbals clatter'd, the trumpets replied, Against the charm'd blade which Count Albert did wield, The fence had been vain of the King's Red-cross shield; thrust him forward the monarch before, But a page So fell was the dint, that Count Albert stoop'd low It Sore sigh'd the charm'd sword, for its virtue was o'er, He clench'd his set teeth, and his gauntletted hand, Short time had Count Albert in horror to stare On those death-swimming eye-balls and blood-clotted hair, The Saracens, Curdmans, and Ishmaelites yield The battle is over on Bethsaida's plain— Oh! who is yon Paynim lies stretch'd mid the slain? The lady was buried in Salem's bless'd bound, Yet many a minstrel in harping can tell How the Red-Cross it conquer'd, the Crescent it fell; 66 No. XIII. THE CLOUD-KING. ADJECTIVES HAVE BUT THREE DEGREES OF COMPARISON, English Grammar. ORIGINAL. -M. G. LEWIS. WHY how now, Sir Pilgrim? why shake you with dread? -"Oh! hear you not, Warder, with anxious dismay, "How rages the tempest, how patters the rain? "While loud howls the whirlwind, and threatens, ere day, "To strow these old turrets in heaps on the plain!" Now calm thee, Sir Pilgrim! thy fears to remove, Still One morning, as borne on the wings of the blast, Yet proud was her and her cheek flush'd with rage, eye, Her lips with disdain and reproaches were fraught; -"Oh drive not, dear beauty, a wretch to despair, "I own I adore you! I own you have been 66 Long the dream of my night, long the thought of my day; "But no hope had my heart that its idolized queen "Would ever with passion my passion repay. "When insects delight in the blaze of the sun, They harbour no wish in his glory to share: "When kneels at the cross of her Saviour, the nun, "He scorns not the praises she breathes in her prayer. "When the pilgrim repairs to St. Hermegild's shrine, 66 And claims of her relics a kiss as his fee, "His passion is humble, is pure, is divine, "And such is the passion I cherish for thee!" -"Rash youth! how presumest thou with insolent love," Thus answered the lady, " her ears to profane, "Whom the monarchs of Norway and Jutland, to move "Their passion to pity attempted in vain ? Fly, fly from my sight, to some far distant land! "That wretch must not breathe, where Romilda resides, "Whose lips, while she slept, stole a kiss from that hand, "No mortal is worthy to press as a bride's. "Nor e'er will I wed till some prince of the air, "And the two first commands which I give him, shall swear, (Though hard should the task be enjoin'd) to obey." She said. Straight the castle of Rosenhall rocks With an earthquake, and thunders announce the Cloud-King. A crown of red lightnings confined his fair locks, And high o'er each arm waved an huge sable wing. |