O see you that castle, so strong and so high? "Now palmer, grey palmer, O tell unto me, For the Heathen have lost, and the Christians have won." A fair chain of gold 'mid her ringlets there hung; O'er the palmer's grey locks the fair chain has she flung: "O palmer, grey palmer, this chain be thy fee, For the news thou hast brought from the Holy Countrie. "And palmer, good palmer, by Galilee's wave, O saw ye Count Albert, the gentle and brave? When the Crescent went back, and the Red-cross rush'd on, O saw ye him foremost on Mount Lebanon?" "O lady, fair lady, the tree green it grows; Your castle stands strong, and your hopes soar on high; "The green boughs they wither, the thunderbolt falls, O she's ta'en a horse, should be fleet at her speed; "O Christian, brave Christian, my love would'st thou be, And this thou shalt first do for Zulema's sake. 66 And, next, in the cavern, where burns evermore 66 And, last, thou shalt aid us with counsel and hand, He has thrown by his helmet, and cross-handled sword, And in the dread cavern, deep deep under ground, Again in the cavern, deep deep under ground, He watch'd the lone night, while the winds whistled round; Scarce pass'd he the archway, the threshold scarce trode, And, borne on the blast, came the dread Fire-King. In his hand a broad falchion blue-glimmer'd through smoke, Count Albert has arm'd him the Paynim among, Though his heart it was false, yet his arm it was strong; And the Red-cross wax'd faint, and the Crescent came on, From the day he commanded on Mount Lebanon. From Lebanon's forests to Galilee's wave, The sands of Samaar drank the blood of the brave; The war-cymbals clatter'd, the trumpets replied, So fell was the dint, that Count Albert stoop'd low FREDERICK AND ALICE. [1801.] THIS tale is imitated, rather than translated, from a fragment introduced in Goethe's "Claudina Von Villa Bella," where it is sung by a member of a gang of banditti, to engage the attention of the family, while his companions break into the castle. It owes any little merit it may possess to my friend Mr. LEWIS, to whom it was sent in an extremely rude state; and who, after some material improvements, published it in his Tales of Wonder. FREDERICK leaves the land of France, Homeward hastes his steps to measure, Careless casts the parting glance On the scene of former pleasure. Joying in his prancing steed, Keen to prove his untried blade, Hope's gay dreams the soldier lead Över mountain, moor, and glade. Helpless, ruin'd, left forlorn, Lovely Alice wept alone; Mourn'd o'er love's fond contract torn, Hope, and peace, and honour flown. Mark her breast's convulsive throbs ! See, the tear of anguish flows! — Mingling soon with bursting sobs, Loud the laugh of frenzy rose. Wild she cursed, and wild she pray'd; Seven long days and nights are o'er ; Death in pity brought his aid, As the village bell struck four. Far from her, and far from France, Faithless Frederick onward rides ; Marking, blithe, the morning's glance Mantling o'er the mountain's sides. Heard ye not the boding sound, As the tongue of yonder tower, Slowly, to the hills around, Told the fourth, the fated hour? Starts the steed, and snuffs the air, Yet no cause of dread appears; Bristles high the rider's hair, Struck with strange mysterious fears. Desperate, as his terrors rise, In the steed the spur he hides; From himself in vain he flies; Anxious, restless, on he rides. Seven long days, and seven long nights, Wild he wander'd, woe the while! Ceaseless care, and causeless fright, Urge his footsteps many a mile. Dark the seventh sad night descends; Rivers swell, and rain-streams pour ; While the deafening thunder lends All the terrors of its roar. Weary, wet, and spent with toil, Where his head shall Frederick hide? Where, but in yon ruin'd aisle, By the lightning's flash descried. To the portal, dank and low, Fast his steed the wanderer bound: Down a ruin'd staircase slow, Next his darkling way he wound. Long drear vaults before him lie! Glimmering lights are seen to glide !— "Blessed Mary, hear my cry! Deign a sinner's steps to guide!" Still the lights move slow before, Lent its wild and wondrous close! Voice of friends, by death removed ;— Well he knew that solemn air, 'Twas the lay that Alice loved.— Hark! for now a solemn knell Four times on the still night broke ; Four times, at its deaden'd swell, Echoes from the ruins spoke. As the lengthen'd clangours die, All with black the board was spread; Girt by parent, brother, friend, Long since numbered with the dead! Alice, in her grave-clothes bound, High their meagre arms they wave, THE BATTLE OF SEMPACH. [1818.] THESE verses are a literal translation of an ancient Swiss ballad upon the battle of Sempach, fought 9th July, 1386, being the victory by which the Swiss cantons established their independence; the author, Albert Tchudi, denominated the Souter, from his profession of a shoemaker. He was a citizen of Lucerne, esteemed highly among his countrymen, both for his powers as a Meister-Singer, or minstrel, and his courage as a soldier. "TWAS when among our linden-trees The bees had housed in swarms, (And grey-hair'd peasants say that these Betoken foreign arms,) Then look'd we down to Willisow, The land was all in flame; We knew the Archduke Leopold With all his army came. The Austrian nobles made their vow, So hot their heart and bold, "On Switzer carles we'll trample now, And slay both young and old." With clarion loud, and banner proud, From Zurich on the lake, In martial pomp and fair array, Their onward march they make. "Now list, ye lowland nobles all Ye seek the mountain strand, Nor wot ye what shall be your lot In such a dangerous land. "I rede ye, shrive ye of your sins, Before ye farther go; A skirmish in Helvetian hills May send your souls to woe.""But where now shall we find a priest Our shrift that he may hear?". "The Switzer priest has ta'en the field, He deals a penance drear. "Right heavily upon your head Together have they join'd; The pith and core of manhood stern, Was none cast looks behind. It was the Lord of Hare-castle, And to the Duke he said, "Yon little band of brethren true Will meet us undismay'd.". "O Hare-castle, thou heart of hare!" Fierce Oxenstern replied."Shalt see then how the game will fare The taunted knight replied. There was lacing then of helmets bright Might well-nigh load a wain. |