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More exquisitely sweet than ever art

Of man evoked from instrument of touch,
Or beat, or breath. It was the evening gale,
Which passing o'er the harp of Caradoc,
Swept all its chords at once, and blended all
Their music into one continuous flow.

The solitary Bard beside his harp

Leant underneath a tree, whose spreading boughs,
With broken shade that shifted to the breeze,
Play'd on the waving waters. Overhead
There was the leafy murmur, at his foot
The lake's perpetual ripple; and from far,
Borne on the modulating gale, was heard
The roaring of the mountain-cataract. . .
A blind man would have loved the lovely spot.

Here was Senena by her Lady led,
Trembling, but not reluctant. They drew nigh,
Their steps unheard upon the elastic moss,
Till playfully Goervyl, with quick touch,
Ran o'er the harp-strings. At the sudden sound
He rose...
Hath then thy hand, quoth she, O Bard,
Forgot its cunning, that the wind should be
Thine harper?.. Come! one strain for Britain's sake;
And let the theme be Woman!.. He replied,
But if the strain offend, O Lady fair,

Blame thou the theme, not me!.. Then to the harp
He sung,.. Three things a wise man will not trust,
The Wind, the Sunshine of an April day,
And Woman's plighted faith. I have beheld
The Weathercock upon the steeple-point
Steady from morn till eve; and I have seen

The bees go forth upon an April moru,

Secure the sunshine will not end in showers;
But when was Woman true?

False Bard! thereat,

With smile of playful anger, she exclaim'd,

False Bard! and slanderous song! Were such thy thoughts

Of woman, when thy youthful lays were heard
In Heilyn's hall?.. But at that name his heart
Leapt, and his cheek with sudden flush was fired;
In Heilyn's hall, quoth he, I learn'd the song.
There was a Maid, who dwelt among the hills
Of Arvon, and to one of humbler birth

Had pledged her troth;.. nor rashly, nor beguiled,..
They had been playmates in their infancy,
And she in all his thoughts had borne a part,
And all his joys. The Moon and all the Stars
Witness'd their mutual vows; and for her sake
The song was framed; for in the face of day
She broke them... But her name? Goervyl ask'd;
Quoth he, The poet loved her still too well,
To couple it with shame.

O fate unjust

Of womankind! she cried; our virtues bloom,
Like violets, in shade and solitude,
While evil eyes hunt all our failings out,
For evil tongues to bruit abroad in jest,
And song of obloquy!..I knew a Maid,
And she too dwelt in Arvon, and she too
Loved one of lowly birth, who ill repaid
Her spotless faith; for he to ill reports,
And tales of falsehood cunningly devised,

Lent a light ear, and to his rival left

The loathing Maid. The wedding-day arrived,
The harpers and the gleemen, far and near,
Came to the wedding-feast; the wedding-guests
Were come, the altar drest, the bridemaids met,
The father, and the bridegroom, and the priest
Wait for the bride. But she the while did off

Her bridal robes, and clipt her golden locks,
And put on boy's attire, through wood and wild
To seek her own true love; and over sea,
Forsaking all for him, she followed him,..
Nor hoping nor deserving fate so fair;

And at his side she stood, and heard him wrong
Her faith with slanderous tales; and his dull eye,
As it had learnt his heart's forgetfulness,

Knows not the trembling one, who even now
Yearns to forgive him all!

He turn'd, he knew

The blue-eyed Maid, who fell upon his breast.

XXIV.

THE EMBASSY.

HARK! from the towers of Aztlan how the shouts
Of clamorous joy re-ring! the rocks and hills
Take up the joyful sound, and o'er the lake
Roll their slow echoes... Thou art beautiful,
Queen of the Valley! thou art beautiful!
Thy walls, like silver, sparkle to the sun;
Melodious wave thy groves, thy garden-sweets
Enrich the pleasant air, upon the lake
Lie the long shadows of thy towers, and high
In heaven thy temple-pyramids arise,
Upon whose summit now, far visible

Against the clear blue sky, the Cross of Christ
Proclaims unto the nations round the news
Of thy redemption. Thou art beautiful,
Aztlan ! O City of the Cymbric Prince!
Long mayest thou flourish in thy beauty, long
Prosper beneath the righteous conqueror,
Who conquers to redeem! Long years of
And happiness await thy Lord and thee,
Queen of the Valley!

Hither joyfully

peace

The Hoamen came to repossess the land
Of their forefathers. Joyfully the youth
Come shouting, with acclaim of grateful praise,
Their great Deliverer's name; the old, in talk

Of other days, which mingled with their joy
Memory of many a hard calamity,

And thoughts of time and change, and human life
How changeful and how brief. Prince Madoc met
Erillyab at the gate... Sister and Queen,
Said he, here let us hold united reign,
O'er our united people; by one faith,
One interest bound, and closer to be link'd
By laws and language and domestic ties,
Till both become one race, for ever more
Indissolubly knit.

O friend, she cried,

The last of all my family am I ;

Yet sure, though last, the happiest, and by Heaven
Favoured abundantly above them all.

Dear Friend, and brother dear! enough for me
Beneath the shadow of thy shield to dwell,
And see my people, by thy fostering care,
Made worthy of their fortune. Graciously
Hath the Beloved One appointed all,
Educing good from ill, himself being good.
Then to the royal palace of the Kings

Of Aztlan, Madoc led Erillyab,

There where her sires had held their ruder reign,

Το pass the happy remnant of her

Honour'd and loved by all.

years,

Now had the Prince

Provided for defence, disposing all

As though a ready enemy approach'd.
But from Patamba yet no army moved:
Four Heralds only, by the King dispatch'd,

Drew nigh the town. The Hoamen as they came,

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