Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/394
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LEGEND OF THE WINE TOWER.
No pitying hand relieves his want,
No loving eye his woe;
A hapless prey to hunger gaunt—
He dies in torments slow!
No loving eye his woe;
A hapless prey to hunger gaunt—
He dies in torments slow!
✱✱✱✱
Thus slept the youth in death's embrace:—
Darkly the tyrant smiled;
The corse they dragged from that dread place,
And bore it to his child.
Darkly the tyrant smiled;
The corse they dragged from that dread place,
And bore it to his child.
"Ay, say," he cried, "what greets thy view?
Canst trace these whilome charms?
Henceforth a fitter mate shall woo
And win thee to his arms.
Canst trace these whilome charms?
Henceforth a fitter mate shall woo
And win thee to his arms.
"Didst think that these, my brave broad lauds
His love would well repay?
No, minion, no!—for other hands
Shall bear the prize away."
His love would well repay?
No, minion, no!—for other hands
Shall bear the prize away."
These direful words the maid arrest,—
A marble hue she bore;
Then sinking on that clay-cold breast,
"We part," she cried, "no more!
A marble hue she bore;
Then sinking on that clay-cold breast,
"We part," she cried, "no more!
"No more shall man his will oppose,
Nor man the wrong abet;
Our virgin love in fealty rose,
In fealty it shall sot."
Nor man the wrong abet;
Our virgin love in fealty rose,
In fealty it shall sot."
Then clasping close that shrouded form,
Which erst had love inspired;
Fearless she breasted cliff and storm,
By love and frenzy fired.
Which erst had love inspired;
Fearless she breasted cliff and storm,
By love and frenzy fired.
"Farewell, O ruthless sire," she cried,
"Farewell earth's all of good;
Our bridal waits below the tide,"—
Then plunged into the flood!
"Farewell earth's all of good;
Our bridal waits below the tide,"—
Then plunged into the flood!
