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, In each wild branch a spectre sees, Ten annual suns had held their course, The lady shed the widowed tear, As oft she traced his manly form. Yet still to hope her heart would cling, 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, Loud o'er the wier the hoarse flood fell, And angry frowned the evening sky. A stranger passed Llanelltid's bourne, 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, Then, as he crossed the spacious hall, The menials look surprise and fear; Still o'er his harp Old Modred hung, The lady sat amidst her train; A mellowed sorrow marked her look: Then, asking what his mission meant, "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, "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, 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? 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, "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! "How could we hope for wished retreat, "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; 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 |