Like a huge billow from a bark That shouldering sideways in mid plunge, And staggering onward, leaves the ear And Alice sate with troubled mien And thro' her veins did shiver! green, There stands the flow'ring may-thorn tree! With tear-drop glittering to a smile, Mimics the hunter's shout. "Hip! Florian, hip! To horse, to horse! Go, bring the palfrey out. "My Julian's out with all his clan, And, bonny boy, you wis, Lord Julian is a hasty man, Who comes late, comes amiss." Now Florian was a stripling squire, That toss'd his head in joy and pride, But blush'd to hold her train. The huntress is in her dress of green,- The squire no younger e'er was seen— And had not Ellen stay'd the race, It chanced that up the covert lane, And with him must Lord Julian go, In vain he sought, 'twixt shame and pride, He bit his lip, he wrung his glove, He look'd around, he look'd above, But pretext none could find or frame! Alas! alas! and well-a-day! It grieves me sore to think, to say, That names so seldom meet with Love, Yet Love wants courage without a name? Straight from the forest's skirt the trees O'er-branching, made an aisle, Where hermit old might pace and chaunt As in a minster's pile. From underneath its leafy screen, And from the twilight shade, You pass at once into a green, A green and lightsome glade. And there Lord Julian sate on steed; Behind him, in a round, Stood knight and squire, and menial train; When up the alley green, Sir Hugh Fall in behind his lord. Lord Julian turn'd his steed half round."What! doth not Alice deign To accept your loving convoy, knight? With stifled tones the knight replied, The Lady's message that I bear, "You sent betimes. Not yet unbarr'd Two stirrers only met my eyes, "I came unlook'd for: and, it seem'd, In an unwelcome hour; And found the daughter of Du Clos Within the lattic'd bower. "But hush! the rest may wait. If lost, No great loss, I divine; And idle words will better suit A fair maid's lips than mine." "God's wrath! speak out, man," Julian cried, O'ermaster'd by the sudden smart ;And feigning wrath, sharp, blunt, and rude, The knight his subtle shift pursued.— "Scowl not at me; command my skill, To lure your hawk back, if you will, But not a woman's heart. "Go! (said she) tell him,-slow is sure; I follow here a stronger lure, "The game, pardie, was full in sight, The fair dame's eyes engage; For turning, as I took my ways, The last word of the traitor knight It had but entered Julian's ear,From two o'erarching oaks between, With glist'ning helm-like cap is seen, Borne on in giddy cheer, A youth, that ill his steed can guide; That seems at once to laugh and chide- With sudden bound, beyond the boy, Thou lovely child of old Du Clos! Dark as a dream Lord Julian stood, FROM THE GERMAN. KNOW'ST thou the land where the pale citrons grow, The golden fruits in darker foliage glow ? Soft blows the wind that breathes from that blue sky! Know'st thou it well that land, beloved Friend? |