Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

Now moulders, to punish the falsehood and pride

Of its lady, the gay Rosabell.'

And who,' cried the stranger,
Rosabell,

was gay

Who thus feels for her falsehood and pride?

And how, by the power of magical spell,
Are the castle's fair turrets destroy'd?'

stranger, the gay Rosabell was a maid, Than whom fairer none ever was seen; For the soft smile of love round her lips sweetly play'd,

And languish'd her lovely blue een: And dearly young Egbert he lov'd Rosabell, Who as deary his love did return; And oft on her beauties enraptur'd he'd dwell,

Whilst with transport his bosom would burn.

'One night o'er the turrets the wind shrilly howl'd,

And the light'ning gleam'd vivid around, And hoarse on their hinges the castle-doors roli'd,

And drear was the night-raven's sound.

The bell of yon convent toil'd dismal and sad,

And many a spectre was seen

[blocks in formation]

bright,

Whilst heedless the tempest-fiend howl'd.

Where yet stands yon window the lovers were plac'd,

And thus Egbert in extacy cried, Whilst he press'd in his arms the fair Rosabell's waist,

"O when shall I call thee my bride!"

"O tell me, fair maid, when thou'lt be my dear bride;

O bless me, and name the bright day; For the moments of transport are few, but its tide

Flows swiftly, too swiftly away.”

"O press me not, Egbert, nor think that I'm cold,"

Thus answer'd the gay Rosabell, "That yet from thy wishes my hand I withold;

How I love thee, God only can tell! "And I call on that God that I now speak the truth,

That I never lov'd any but you: Nor the riches of age, nor the beauty of youth, Shall make me to Egbert untrue.

"I swear by that God, that none e'er on this breast

Hath imprinted the kisses of love;

I swear by that God that no youth ever press'd

These lips with the transports of love.

"I swear by that God"-Cried a voice, "O for bear!"

The maid turn'di n terror around; When lo! on her neck, with a hideous stare, A spectre his grisly arms bound.

His lips they were black, and his cheeks they were white,

And his eyes they were yellow as gold; And cover'd with gore was the breast of the sprite,

Thro' which you his heart might behold.

It is scarce necessary to observe, that these and the subsequent variations in the stanza are common with the ancicut ballad-writess and their imitators.

His heart it was pierc'd, yet in agony beat, And wide gap'd his throat with a wound; And his fœtid breath fill'd, with a fev'rish heat,

The rooms of the castle around.

"O Rosabell, Rosabell," murmur'd the sprite,

"When I left you to seek Palestine,

You gave me such kisses of rapt'rous delight,

And swore you would ever be mine. "O Rosabell, Rosabell! then too you call'd On that God for to witness your truth, And swore none e'er printed his kiss on your breast,

And swore by none other your lips had been press'd,

Nor by warrior, by eld, nor by youth;

" And you call'd on that God, that, if false to

[blocks in formation]

bread,

And drink of the cup of remorse." The grey cock crow'd, away he strode, And Rosabell ne'er was seen more: Young Egbert he left not the dreary abode, But senseless he sunk on the floor. 'The morning broke, the youth awoke, "O Rosabell!" faintly he cried, "With ghastly look, the fiend has took My lovely, lovely bride."

'Long was he sad, and then grew mad, And then young Egbert he died; Since when each e'en, by hands unseen, This castle has been destroy'd.' "O warder, warder," the stranger cried, "Tis a deadly tale you tell; And long shall I think on this castle destroy'd, To punish the falsehood, to punish the pride Of its lady, the gay Rosabell *."

The incidents of the above ballad, which are similar to Mr. Lewis's Alonzo and Imogene, are taken from a tale related in my na

ODE

TO AMBITION.

By W. M. T

HENCE Ambition! demon, hence!
O'er me thou hast no pow'r;
Hence then, nor tempt me! demon, hense!
Thy charms are little recompence
For many a troubled hour.

Too well I know the wily art

With which thou chain'st the youthful heart,
And tempt'st to tread thy thorny ways;
I know as faise thy prospects glare
As fits the meteor through the air,

With quick and transient blaze.

When Splendour 'midst thy throng unfuris
Her gaudy banner to the wind;
And Honour, pointing to thy sky-crown'd

steep,

Maddens with potent spells the brain; They see not where, in Mis'ry's chasm deep, Her victim Disappointment hurls;

They see not, past thy noisy train,
Despair and Frenzy lurk behind!

Thou bidst the hero's breast with ardour glow,

And onward press unknown to fear, Unknown to Pity's trembling tear; Seeking the path thro' hosts of slain, And bounding o'er the gory plain, As Glory calls him still pursuing, Calious to tender Mercy's suing, Onward still thou bidst him steer; "Till, staid amid his bold career, He falls he groans-and sinks beneath the deadly blow.

Prompted by thee the tyrant grasps at pow'r,
Nor hears his suff'ring country's moans,
Nor hears the thousand thousand groans
Which bid him liberty restore;

Faction's clam'rous, troubled band,
And dire Oppression blast the land,
'Till Justice hears the nation's cries,

And 'neath her lifted axe the mighty felon
dies.

For thee the poet wastes his youth
Amid the night's chill gloom:

For thee he scorns the listless joys
Which laughing Pleasure's vot'ries prize
And seeks to triumph o'er the tomb;
But oh! he feels the freezing hand

Of proud Contempt-his hopes disperse,
And Penury's haggard spectre-band
His tender bosom pierce :-
See his fiery eye-balls roll!

Now, sunk in grief, his noble soul
Frenzy marks him for her own ;-

Mourus each fond vision flown:

tive county. Such tales of terror are perhaps ridiculous; but they have their admirers, and to those it is inscribed. W. M. T.

1

[ocr errors]

And now dark Melancholy wears his frame;
In deep despondency he sinks,
And owns no more the magic of a name.'

Hence then, Ambition! demon, hence!
Haunt no more my humble bow'r;
Too well I know thy phautoms lead
To many a troubled hour!

NIGHT.

SOFT Night, with mysteries repleta,
Now sheds her silent tears;
And Contemp ation holds her seat
Amid the starry spheres.

Pale Cynthia sheds her lunar beam,
A mild and friendly ray;
And on the gently-gliding stream
Diffuses mimic day.

While, peeping from the blue expanse,
Each star puts forth its light;
Whose soft'ning radiance doth enhance
The beauties of the night.

Kind sleep now soothes the wearied breast,
And ev'ry breeze is still;

Old Boreas too is lull'd to rest
Behind the northern hill.

[blocks in formation]

While I behold the beauteous scene,

What wonders meet my eyes;
Whether I scrutinise the plain,
Or read the ample skies.

Struck with surprise at ev'ry view,
How pleas'd am I to find,
At ev'ry turn, still something new
To gratify the mind.

Thus Nature's mysteries to trace
Surely old Time beguiles;
For lo! Aurora shews her face,
The rosy morning smiles.

Bright Phoebus darts his infant ray
Across the silvery plain;
And hark! the harbinger of day
Begins his matin strain.

The morning zephyr fans the rose
With dew-clad lustre fraught ;-
And now the god of soft repose

Invites me to my cot. Marlborough.

T. J.

VERSES

ADDRESSED BY

A LADY TO HER HUSBAND,

HOW slowly pass the tedious hout,
The youth I love away;
Howger pants this ixious heart,
To hail the joyous day,

When, freed from each abstracting care,
My Charles shall hither speed,
To her who shares his fondest love,
Of all her hopes the meed.

If love, the purest love, can bless,
In this our mortal state,
Serenely shall each moment pass,
And happy be our fate.

Ah! then, my love, detraction's tongue,
To you no pangs should give:
This grateful heart is all your own,
Secure of yours I live.

Malice shall all her arts employ
In vain to injure me:

Still pow'less w li her arrows fall;
They rob me not of thee.

A SUMMER'S DAY.

HOW sweet to reve at early morn,

To scent the balany gale,

To view the blossoms on the thorn, And tread the flow'ry vale.

MARIA.

When the sweet soresters of the grove
Their matin has prepare,
Which, tun'd to gratitude and love,
Their Maker's pow'r declare.

Yet still the joys which then I prove
Would lose their art to charm,
Did not the generous youth I love
Lean fondly on my arm.

So blest, I know not any care,

Nor scrrow-but by name:
The fondest and the happiest pair-
Our pleasures all the same.

Sometimes, beside the babbling brook,
We lure the finny tribe.
I first prepare the dang'rous hook,
And Florio throws the bribe.

At eve, together still, we rove
The nightingale to hear,
Who sweetly chants the notes of love,
So tremulously clear.

In sports like these we pass the day,
When zeyhyrs softly blow.

Our lives are innocent and gay:
May they be ever so!

MARIA

FOREIGN NEWS.

Constantinople, April 11.

ON the 5th the capitan pacha sailed with his whole fleet, which has hitherto laid at anchor near the Seven Towers, for the Dardanelles. This fleet has on board a corps of chosen troops. The capitan pacha, a brave and experienced man, has positive orders from the Porte to attack the Russian fleet, which has, at present, only a few English ships of war with it. We therefore hourly expect advice of a sea engagement.

13. The grand vizier left this city on the 7th to repair to the Danube. He is to be followed by all the troops here. The Russians took upon them to detain the new Prussian envoy, baron Pilsich, some time at Bucharest. This minister has since arrived here by way of Widdin.

Turkish Frontier, April 20. It is reported that, as soon as the new pacha of Widdin, the successor of Pswan Oglou, heard that the pacha Suleimann had been killed by the Servians, after his departure from Belgrade, he ordered all the Christians of Weddin, about 3000 in number, to be murdered.

Konigsberg, May 5. The emperor of Russia, and the king of Prussia, after having spent a week at Georgenbourg (on the frontiers of New Eastern Prussia), have returned to Memel. The two monarchs reviewed all the troops of the new levy, which, by the route of Lithuania, are assembled in the enviTons of Byalystock. The emperor Alexander, who has already visited our city, is expected again here, where he has been preceded by his field equipage. During his stay at Georgenbourg and Memel, it was remarked that he shewed a particular preference for the Vol. XXXVIII,

Prussian minister, baron Hardenberg; an it is believed this marked preference not a little contributed to procure for tha minister the port folio for fo reign affairs. The emperor Alexander, it is said, has condescended to consult him in every thing; and this confi dence has been carried to such a degree as seriously to disquiet the Russian minister baron Budberg, who is at this moment at Konigsberg.

According to every appearance, it seems certain that the first movement of the Russian and Prussian armies will have for its object the deliverance ofthe two fortresses of Dantzic and Graudentz. According to all accounts received here, the French army is also ready to put itself in motion, and waits only the sig nal for attack. A great battle appears inevitable, and very near.

Vienna, May 9. The marching of troops, which has lately taken place, is a natural consequence of the changing of quarters throughout the army.

The Court Gazette of this day contains the following article from Tur kev :

Elfi Bey, the known Mameloke chief, died suddenly, on the 30th of January, on his journ y between Damanhoura and Mahsur

His majesty is expected back from Ofen at Vienna, without taking a certain journey that had been spoken of.

Rostock, May 11. We are in great want of Engish and colonial goods, particularly coffee and sugar, which would find a ready sale provided the supply was not too abundant at once, for the scarcity of cash is every day more and more felt. At Weimar trade is completely at a stand.

X x

Warsaw, May 12. The grand army forms an uninterrupted line of 70 leagues, from Braunsberg, on the Baltic, to the Narew.

General Hutchinson is at Bartenstein, with the emperor of Russia and king of Prussia.

Berlin, May 13. The courier Cretet, who arrived here yesterday from the head quarters, has brought intelligence that his majesty the emperor of the French was on the 8th instant at Elbing, where he reviewed on that day 18,000 cavalry, making part of the corps of his imperial highness the grand duke of Berg.

On the right bank of the Vistula below Dantzic there is a canal which forms an island. This was defended by 1000 Russians. The French attacked the island, 400 Russians were killed, and 600 made prisoners; all the redoubts were taken, and seventeen pieces of cannon. The French have made a lodgment in the covered way of Dantzic. The siege of that city proceeds with all the success that can be expected.

Copenhagen, May 16. The emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia, according to advices from East Prussia, were on the 4th of May at Bartenstein, where general Hutchinson likewise

was.

General Ruchel, who has received another appointment, is succeeded in the government of Konigsberg by general Lestocq. General Blucher has received the command of the Prussian troops.

Schwerin, May 17. The reports of a rupture of the armistice concluded be tween marshal Mortier, and baron Von Essen, which were circulated in consequence of the arrival of the king of Sweden at Stralsund, were entirely unfounded. His majesty has given baron Von Essen the most honourable proofs of his satisfaction with his conduct relative to the late events in Pomerania, as he alighted at his quarters, and present ed him with the grand cross of the order of the sword.

The king of Sweden has left Malmoe, and is already arrived at Stralsund. It is said that 6000 Prussians and 10,000 Russians wil land there, and that his majesty will take the com

[ocr errors]

mand of these troops, general Ruchef commanding under him.

Augsburg, May 18. We expect here to morrow the French horse chasseurs and cuirassiers: they will be followed by the Spanish regiment of Guadalaxara, and several other regiments. So much has been said lately of negotiations, and the reports which have been circulated are so contradictory, that it is difficult to know what to believe. It is, however, generally believed that the negotiations are not so far advanced as was believed. They say, that the emperor Napoleon, always anxious to employ all the means in his power to prevent the effusion of blood, had proposed peace to the emperor of Russia and the king of Prussia on very moderate terms; that the two sovereigns replied, that they were ready to treat, but that their connections with Great Bri tain and Sweden did not permit them to act without the participation of those courts. It is said, that France did not oppose this proposition, declaring that she wished for a general peace. The principle of compensations was then proposed as the basis of peace. All these propositions have been communicated to the courts of London and Stockholm, but their answers have not yet been received. The letters from Poland say, that these communications have been made through the medium of aides-de-camp, but that no diplomatic conferences have yet taken place. Baron St. Vincent, who represents the sovereign whose mediation has been accepted, had been made acquainted with what has passed; but it is feared that the intrigues of the English minister will frustrate the efforts of the friends of humanity.

Warsaw, May 25. The Russians have passed the Narew at several points, and attacked some of our cantonments on the right bank, which, in consequence of their distance from each other, were unable to withstand the mass that pressed upon them. The enemy had, besides the Co sacks, who are better exercised than ever, and several squadrons of regular cavalry, 1500 infantry, and eight pieces of cannon. At first they drove in several of our outposts, and

« AnteriorContinuar »