ページの画像
PDF
ePub

Oft by the moon's pale shadowy light,

His aged nurse, and steward grey, Would lean to catch the storied sounds, Or mark the flitting spirit stray.

Pale lights on Cader's rocks were seen, And midnight voices heard to moan; 'Twas even said the Blasted Oak,

Convulsive, heaved a hollow groan:

And, to this day, the peasant still,
With cautious fear, avoids the ground;

In each wild branch a spectre sees,
And trembles at each rising sound.

Ten annual suns had held their course,
In summer's smile, or winter's storm;

The lady shed the widowed tear,

As oft she traced his manly form.

Yet still to hope her heart would cling,
As o'er the mind illusions play,-
Of travel fond, perhaps her lord

To distant lands had steered his way.

"Twas now November's cheerless hour, Which drenching rains and clouds deface;

Dreary bleak Robell's tract appeared,
And dull and dank each valley's space.

Loud o'er the wier the hoarse flood fell,
And dashed the foamy spray on high;
The west wind bent the forest tops,

And angry frowned the evening sky.

A stranger passed Llanelltid's bourne,
His dark-grey steed with sweat besprent,
Which, wearied with the lengthened way,
Could scarcely gain the hill's ascent

The portal reached,-the iron bell

Lond sounded round the outward wall; Quick sprang the warder to the gate,

To know what meant the clamorous call.

"O! lead me to your lady soon;

Say,—it is my sad lot to tell,

To clear the fate of that brave knight,
She long has proved she loved so well."

Then, as he crossed the spacious hall,

The menials look surprise and fear;

Still o'er his harp Old Modred hung,
And touched the notes for grief's worn ear.

The lady sat amidst her train;

A mellowed sorrow marked her look:

Then, asking what his mission meant,
The graceful stranger sighed and spoke :-

"O could I spread one ray of hope, One moment raise thy soul from woe, Gladly my tongue would tell its tale,

My words at ease unfettered flow!

"Now, lady, give attention due,

The story claims thy full belief: E'en in the worst events of life, Suspense removed is some relief.

46 Though worn by care, see Madoc here, Great Glyndwr's friend, thy kindred's foe; Ah, let his name no anger raise,

For now that mighty Chief lies low!

"E'en from the day, when, chained by fate, By wizard's dream or potent spell, Lingering from sad Salopia's field, 'Reft of his aid the Percy fell ;

"E'en from that day misfortune still, As if for violated faith,

Pursued him with unwearied step,

Vindictive still for Hotspur's death.

"Vanquished at length, the Glyndwr fled Where winds the Wye her devious flood, To find a casual shelter there,

In some lone cot, or desert wood.

"Clothed in a shepherd's humble guise,
He gained by toil his scanty bread;
He who had Cambria's sceptre borne,
And her brave sons to glory led!

"To penury extreme, and grief,

The Chieftain fell a lingering prey; I heard his last few faultering words, Such as with pain I now convey.

To Sele's sad widow bear the tale,
Nor let our horrid secret rest;

Give but his corse to sacred earth,

Then may my parting soul be blest.'

"Dim waxed the eye that fiercely shone, And faint the tongue that proudly spoke, And weak that arm, still raised to me,

Which oft had dealt the mortal stroke.

"How could I then his mandate bear?
Or how his last behest obey?
A rebel deemed, with him I fled;

With him I shunned the light of day.

"Proscribed by Henry's hostile rage,

My country lost, despoiled my land, Desperate, I fled my native soil,

And fought on Syria's distant strand.

"O, had thy long lamented lord

The holy cross and banner viewed, Died in the sacred cause! who fell Sad victim of a private feud!

"Led, by the ardour of the chace,
Far distant from his own domain;
From where Garthmaelan spreads her shades,
The Glyndwr sought the opening plain.

"With head aloft, and antlers wide,

A red buck roused, then crossed in view; Stung with the sight, and wild with rage,

Swift from the wood fierce Howel flew.

"With bitter taunt, and keen reproach, He, all impetuous, poured his rage, Reviled the Chief as weak in arms,

And bade him loud the battle wage.

"Glyndwr for once restrained his sword, And, still averse, the fight delays; But softened words, like oil to fire, Made anger more intensely blaze.

"They fought; and doubtful long the fray!
The Glyndwr gave the fatal wound!
Still mournful must my tale proceed,
And it's last act all dreadful sound.

"How could we hope for wished retreat,
His eager vassals ranging wide?
His bloodhounds' keen sagacious scent,
O'er many a trackless mountain tried?

"I marked a broad and Blasted Oak, Scorched by the lightning's livid glare; Hollow its stem from branch to root,

And all its shrivelled arms were bare.

"Be this, I cried, his proper grave !— (The thought in me was deadly sin.) Aloft we raised the hapless Chief,

And dropped his bleeding corpse within,"

A shriek from all the damsels burst,

That pierced the vaulted roofs below;
While horror-struck the Lady stood,
A living form of sculptured woe.

With stupid stare, and vacant gaze,

Full on his face her eyes were cast, Absorbed!-she lost her present grief, And faintly thought of things long past.

h

« 前へ次へ »