"There crowded, in union fearful and black, In a horrible ma.s.s entwined, The rock-fish, the ray with the th.o.r.n.y back, And the hammer-fish"s misshapen kind, And the shark, the hyena dread of the sea, With his angry teeth, grinned fiercely on me."
"There hung I, by fulness of terror possessed, Where all human aid was unknown, Amongst phantoms, the only sensitive breast, In that fearful solitude all alone, Where the voice of mankind could not reach to mine ear, "Mid the monsters foul of that wilderness drear."
"Thus shuddering methought--when a something crawled near, And a hundred limbs it out-flung, And at me it snapped;--in my mortal fear, I left hold of the coral to which I had clung; Then the whirlpool seized on me with maddened roar, Yet "twas well, for it brought me to light once more."
The story in wonderment hears the king, And he says, "The cup is thine own, And I purpose also to give thee this ring, Adorned with a costly, a priceless stone, If thou"lt try once again, and bring word to me What thou saw"st in the nethermost depths of the sea."
His daughter hears this with emotions soft, And with flattering accent prays she: "That fearful sport, father, attempt not too oft!
What none other would dare, he hath ventured for thee; If thy heart"s wild longings thou canst not tame, Let the knights, if they can, put the squire to shame."
The king then seizes the goblet in haste, In the gulf he hurls it with might: "When the goblet once more in my hands thou hast placed, Thou shalt rank at my court as the n.o.blest knight, And her as a bride thou shalt clasp e"en to-day, Who for thee with tender compa.s.sion doth pray."
Then a force, as from Heaven, descends on him there, And lightning gleams in his eye, And blushes he sees on her features so fair, And he sees her turn pale, and swooning lie; Then eager the precious guerdon to win, For life or for death, lo! he plunges him in!
The breakers they hear, and the breakers return, Proclaimed by a thundering sound; They bend o"er the gulf with glances that yearn, And the waters are pouring in fast around; Though upwards and downwards they rush and they rave, The youth is brought back by no kindly wave.
THE KNIGHT OF TOGGENBURG.
A BALLAD.
"I Can love thee well, believe me, As a sister true; Other love, Sir Knight, would grieve me, Sore my heart would rue.
Calmly would I see thee going, Calmly, too, appear; For those tears in silence flowing Find no answer here."
Thus she speaks,--he hears her sadly,-- How his heartstrings bleed!
In his arms he clasps her madly, Then he mounts his steed.
From the Switzer land collects he All his warriors brave;-- Cross on breast, their course directs he To the Holy Grave.
In triumphant march advancing, Onward moves the host, While their morion plumes are dancing Where the foes are most.
Mortal terror strikes the Paynim At the chieftain"s name; But the knight"s sad thoughts enchain him-- Grief consumes his frame.
Twelve long months, with courage daring, Peace he strives to find; Then, at last, of rest despairing, Leaves the host behind; Sees a ship, whose sails are swelling, Lie on Joppa"s strand; Ships him homeward for her dwelling, In his own loved land.
Now behold the pilgrim weary At her castle gate!
But alas! these accents dreary Seal his mournful fate:-- "She thou seek"st her troth hath plighted To all-gracious heaven; To her G.o.d she was united Yesterday at even!"
To his father"s home forever Bids he now adieu; Sees no more his arms and beaver, Nor his steed so true.
Then descends he, sadly, slowly,-- None suspect the sight,-- For a garb of penance lowly Wears the n.o.ble knight.
Soon he now, the tempest braving, Builds an humble shed, Where o"er the lime-trees darkly waving, Peeps the convent"s head.
From the orb of day"s first gleaming, Till his race has run, Hope in every feature beaming, There he sits alone.
Toward the convent straining ever His unwearied eyes,-- From her cas.e.m.e.nt looking never Till it open flies, Till the loved one, soft advancing, Shows her gentle face, O"er the vale her sweet eye glancing, Full of angel-grace.
Then he seeks his bed of rushes, Stilled all grief and pain, Slumbering calm, till morning"s blushes Waken life again.
Days and years fleet on, yet never Breathes he plaint or sighs, On her cas.e.m.e.nt gazing ever Till it open flies.
Till the loved one, soft advancing, Shows her gentle face, O"er the vale her sweet eyes glancing, Full of angel-grace.
But at length, the morn returning Finds him dead and chill;-- Pale and wan, his gaze, with yearning, Seeks her cas.e.m.e.nt still.
THE FIGHT WITH THE DRAGON.
Why run the crowd? What means the throng That rushes fast the streets along?
Can Rhodes a prey to flames, then, be?
In crowds they gather hastily, And, on his steed, a n.o.ble knight Amid the rabble, meets my sight; Behind him--prodigy unknown!-- A monster fierce they"re drawing on; A dragon stems it by its shape, With wide and crocodile-like jaw, And on the knight and dragon gape, In turns, the people, filled with awe.
And thousand voices shout with glee "The fiery dragon come and see, Who hind and flock tore limb from limb!-- The hero see, who vanquished him!
Full many a one before him went, To dare the fearful combat bent, But none returned home from the fight; Honor ye, then, the n.o.ble knight!"
And toward the convent move they all, While met in hasty council there The brave knights of the Hospital, St. John the Baptist"s Order, were.
Up to the n.o.ble master sped The youth, with firm but modest tread; The people followed with wild shout, And stood the landing-place about, While thus outspoke that daring one: "My knightly duty I have done.
The dragon that laid waste the land Has fallen beneath my conquering hand.
The way is to the wanderer free, The shepherd o"er the plains may rove; Across the mountains joyfully The pilgrim to the shrine may move."
But sternly looked the prince, and said: "The hero"s part thou well hast played By courage is the true knight known,-- A dauntless spirit thou hast shown.
Yet speak! What duty first should he Regard, who would Christ"s champion be, Who wears the emblem of the Cross?"-- And all turned pale at his discourse.
Yet he replied, with n.o.ble grace, While blushingly he bent him low: "That he deserves so proud a place Obedience best of all can show."
"My son," the master answering spoke, "Thy daring act this duty broke.
The conflict that the law forbade Thou hast with impious mind essayed."-- "Lord, judge when all to thee is known,"
The other spake, in steadfast tone,-- "For I the law"s commands and will Purposed with honor to fulfil.
I went not out with heedless thought.
Hoping the monster dread to find; To conquer in the fight I sought By cunning, and a prudent mind."
"Five of our n.o.ble Order, then (Our faith could boast no better men), Had by their daring lost their life, When thou forbadest us the strife.
And yet my heart I felt a prey To gloom, and panted for the fray; Ay, even in the stilly night, In vision gasped I in the fight; And when the glimmering morning came, And of fresh troubles knowledge gave, A raging grief consumed my frame, And I resolved the thing to brave."
"And to myself I thus began: "What is"t adorns the youth, the man?
What actions of the heroes bold, Of whom in ancient song we"re told, Blind heathendom raised up on high To G.o.dlike fame and dignity?
The world, by deeds known far and wide, From monsters fierce they purified; The lion in the fight they met, And wrestled with the minotaur, Unhappy victims free to set, And were not sparing of their gore.""
""Are none but Saracens to feel The prowess of the Christian steel?
False idols only shall be brave?
His mission is the world to save; To free it, by his st.u.r.dy arm, From every hurt, from every harm; Yet wisdom must his courage bend, And cunning must with strength contend."
Thus spake I oft, and went alone The monster"s traces to espy; When on my mind a bright light shone,-- "I have it!" was my joyful cry."
"To thee I went, and thus I spake: "My homeward journey I would take."
Thou, lord, didst grant my prayer to me,-- Then safely traversed I the sea; And, when I reached my native strand, I caused a skilful artist"s hand To make a dragon"s image, true To his that now so well I knew.
On feet of measure short was placed Its lengthy body"s heavy load; A scaly coat of mail embraced The back, on which it fiercely showed."
"Its stretching neck appeared to swell, And, ghastly as a gate of h.e.l.l, Its fearful jaws were open wide, As if to seize the prey it tried; And in its black mouth, ranged about, Its teeth in p.r.i.c.kly rows stood out; Its tongue was like a sharp-edged sword, And lightning from its small eyes poured; A serpent"s tail of many a fold Ended its body"s monstrous span, And round itself with fierceness rolled, So as to clasp both steed and man."
"I formed the whole to nature true, In skin of gray and hideous hue; Part dragon it appeared, part snake, Engendered in the poisonous lake.