And he, amid his frolic play, As if he would the charming air repay, Shook thousand odours from his dewy wings. O Music! sphere-descended Maid, THE HOUR OF LOVE. ANONYMOUS. WHEN should lovers breathe their vows? When the dew is on the boughs, When the moon shines cold and pale; When the stars are bright on high, The fairest smiles are those that live Oh! softest is the cheek's love-ray, But blushes are night's flowers. Oh! when the moon and stars are bright, Then their vows should lovers plight- ALONZO THE BRAVE, AND THE FAIR IMOGINE. LEWIS. A WARRIOR SO bold, and a virgin so bright, They gaz'd on each other with tender delight; "And oh !" said the youth," since to-morrow I go To fight in a far-distant land, Your tears for my absence soon ceasing to flow, Some other will court you, and you will bestow On a wealthier suitor your hand!" "Oh! hush these suspicions," fair Imogine said, "Offensive to love and to me; For if you be living, or if you be dead, "Or if e'er for another my heart should decide, Forgetting Alonzo the Brave, God grant that, to punish my falsehood and pride, To Palestine hasten'd the hero so bold; But scarce had a twelvemonth elaps'd, when, be A Baron, all cover'd with jewels and gold, His treasures, his presents, his spacious domain, He dazzled her eyes, he bewilder'd her brain, And now had the marriage been blest by the priest; The revelry now was begun ; The tables they groan'd with the weight of the feast, Nor yet had the laughter and merriment ceas'd, When the bell of the castle toll'd-One! MS Then first with amazement fair Imogine found His air was terrific; he utter'd no sound! His vizor was clos'd, and gigantic his height; All pleasure and laughter were hush'd at his sight, His presence all bosoms appear'd to dismay, At length spoke the bride, while she trembled, "I pray, Sir Knight, that your helmet aside you would lay, And deign to partake of our cheer!" The Lady is silent; the stranger complies; Oh God! what a sight met fair Imogine's eyes! All present then utter'd a terrified shout, All turn'd with disgust from the scene, The worms they crept in, and the worms they crept out, And sported his eyes and his temples about, "Behold me! thou false one; behold me!" he cried; "Remember Alonzo the Brave! God grants that to punish thy falsehood and pride, My ghost at thy marriage should sit by thy side; Should tax thee with perjury, claim thee as bride, And bear thee away to the grave!" Thus saying, his arms round the Lady he wound, While loudly she shriek'd in dismay; Then sank with his prey through the wide-yawning ground, Nor ever again was fair Imogine found, Not long liv'd the Baron; and none since that time For chronicles tell, that, by order sublime, At midnight, four times in each year, does her sprite, While they drink out of skulls newly torn from the grave, Dancing round them the Spectres are seen : Their liquor is blood, and this horrible stave They howl-" To the health of Alonzo the Brave, And his consort, the false Imogine!" |