The Fire-Ring. The blessings of the evil Genii, which are curses, were upon him."-Eastern Tale. [1801.] When the Crescent went back, and the Red-cross rush'd on, O saw ye him foremost on Mount Lebanon ?" "O lady, fair lady, the tree green it grows; It is But, lady, fair lady, all blossoms to die. This ballad was written at the request of MR. LEWIS, to be inserted in his "Tales of Wonder." "11 the third in a series of four ballads, on the subject of Elementary Spirits. The story is, however, partly historical; for it is recorded, that, during the struggles of the Latin kingdom of Jerusalem, a Knight-Templar, called Saint-Alban, deserted to the Saracens, and defeated the Christians in many combats, till he was finally routed Count Albert is prisoner on Mount Lebanon." and slain, in a conflict with King Baldwin, under the walls of Jerusalem. "The green boughs they wither, the thunderbolt falls, BOLD knights and fair dames, to my harp give an ear, Of love, and of war, and of wonder to hear; At the tale of Count Albert, and fair Rosalie.. O see you that castle, so strong and so high? "Now palmer, gray palmer, O tell unto me, And how goes the warfare by Galilee's strand? "O well goes the warfare by Galilee's wave, A fair chain of gold 'mid her ringlets there hung; "O palmer, gray palmer, this chain be thy fee, *And, palmer, good palmer, by Galilee's wave, O saw ye Count Albert, the gentle and brave? 1 Published in 1801. See ante, p. 573. It leaves of your castle but levin-scorch'd walls; gone; O she's ta'en a horse, should be fleet at her speed; And she has ta'en shipping for Palestine's land, Small thought had Count Albert on fair Rosalie, A heathenish damsel his light heart had won, "O Christian, brave Christian, my love wouldst Three things must thou do ere I hearken to thee: take; And this thou shalt first do for Zulema's sake. "And, next, in the cavern, where burns evermore The mystical flame which the Curdmans adore, Alone, and in silence, three nights shalt thou wake; And this thou shalt next do for Zulema's sake. "And, last, thou shalt aid us with counsel and hand, To drive the Frank robber from Palestine's land; For my lord and my love then Count Albert I'll take, When all this is accomplish'd for Zulema's sake." He has thrown by his helmet, and cross-handled Renouncing his knighthood, denying his Lord; And in the dread cavern, deep, deep under ground, Which fifty steel gates and steel portals surround, He has watch'd until daybreak, but sight saw he "With this brand shalt thou conquer, thus long, and no more, none, Save the flame burning bright on its altar of stone. Till thou bend to the Cross, and the Virgin adore." Amazed was the Princess, the Soldan amazed, They found, and took from him, his rosary beads. Again in the cavern, deep, deep under ground, The cloud-shrouded Arm gives the weapon; and see! The recreant receives the charmed gift on his knee: The thunders growl distant, and faint gleam the fires, As, borne on the whirlwind, the phantom retires. Count Albert has arm'd him the Paynim among, Though his heart it was false, yet his arm it was strong; Far off was their murmur, it came not more nigh, he spy. Loud murmur'd the priests, and amazed was the came on, From the day he commanded on Mount Lebanon. From Lebanon's forests to Galilee's wave, While many dark spells of their witchcraft they The sands of Samaar drank the blood of the brave⚫ Till the Knights of the Temple, and Knights of sing; When the winds from the four points of heaven So fell was the dint, that Count Albert stoop'd o'er, Full sore rock'd the cavern whene'er he drew nigh, Sore sigh'd the charm'd sword, for its virtue was Unmeasured in height, undistinguish'd in form, It sprung from his grasp, and was never seen more; wing Did waft back the brand to the dread Fire-King. He clench'd his set teeth, and his gauntleted hand; He stretch'd, with one buffet, that Page on the strand; In his hand a broad falchion blue-glimmer'd through As back from the stripling the broken casque smoke, roll'd, And Mount Lebanon shook as the monarch he You might see the blue eyes, and the ringlets of gold. spoke : |