When the bell toll'd one, and the moon was bright, And I dug his chamber among the dead, When the floor of the chancel was stained red, That his patron's cross might over him wave, And scare the fiends from the Wizard's grave. XVI. T was a night of woe and dread, When Michael in the tomb I laid! Strange sounds along the chancel pass'd, The banners waved without a blast,”— -Still spoke the Monk, when the bell toll'd one! I tell you, that a braver man Than William of Deloraine, good at need, Yet somewhat was he chill'd with dread, XVII. O, Warrior! now, the Cross of Red dead; Within it burns a wondrous light, To chase the spirits that love the night : Until the eternal doom shall be."— Slow moved the Monk to the broad flagstone, Which the bloody Cross was traced upon : He pointed to a secret nook ; An iron bar the Warrior took ; And the Monk made a sign with his wither'd hand, The grave's huge portal to expand. XVIII. ITH beating heart to the task he went ; bent; With bar of iron heaved amain, Till the toil-drops fell from his brows, like rain. It was by dint of passing strength, That he moved the massy stone at length. I would you had been there, to see How the light broke forth so gloriously, Stream'd upward to the chancel roof, Show'd the Monk's cowl, and visage pale, XIX. EFORE their eyes the Wizard lay, A palmer's amice wrapp'd him round, Like a pilgrim from beyond the sea: His left hand held his Book of Might; A silver cross was in his right; The lamp was placed beside his knee: High and majestic was his look, At which the fellest fiends had shook, And all unruffled was his face : They trusted his soul had gotten grace. XX. FTEN had William of Deloraine Rode through the battle's bloody plain, And trampled down the warriors slain, And neither known remorse nor awe; Yet now remorse and awe he own'd; His breath came thick, his head swam round, When this strange scene of death he saw. Bewilder'd and unnerved he stood, And the priest pray'd fervently and loud : He might not endure the sight to see, XXI. ND when the priest his death-prayer had pray'd, Thus unto Deloraine he said : "Now, speed thee what thou hast to do, Or, Warrior, we may dearly rue; For those, thou may'st not look upon, Aregathering fast round the yawning stone!"Then Deloraine, in terror, took From the cold hand the Mighty Book, With iron clasp'd, and with iron bound : He thought, as he took it, the dead man frown'd ;+ But the glare of the sepulchral light, Perchance, had dazzled the warrior's sight. XXII. HEN the huge stone sunk o'er the tomb, The night return'd in double gloom; For the moon had gone down, and the stars were few ; And, as the Knight and Priest withdrew, And voices unlike the voice of man ; Because these spells were brought to day. |