Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

In short, I scarce could count a minute, 115 Ere the bright dome, and all within it, Kings, fiddlers, emperors, all were goneAnd nothing now was seen or heard But the bright river, rushing on, Happy as an enfranchis'd bird, 120 And prouder of that natural ray, Shining along its chainless wayMore proudly happy thus to glide

In simple grandeur to the sea,
Than when, in sparkling fetters tied,
125 'Twas deck'd with all that kingly pride
Could bring to light its slavery!

Such is my dream-and, I confess,
I tremble at its awfulness.

That Spanish dance-that southern beam130 But I say nothing-there's my dreamAnd Madame Krudener, the she-prophet, May make just what she pleases of it.

CHARLES WOLFE (1791-1823)
THE BURIAL OF SIR JOHN MOORE
AT CORUNNA
1817

Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note,
As his corse to the rampart we hurried;
Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot
O'er the grave where our hero we
buried.

5 We buried him darkly at dead of night,
The sods with our bayonets turning;
By the struggling moonbeam's misty light,
And the lantern dimly burning.

10

No useless coffin enclosed his breast,

Not in sheet nor in shroud we wound
him,

But he lay like a warrior taking his rest
With his martial cloak around him.

Few and short were the prayers we said, And we spoke not a word of sorrow; 15 But we steadfastly gazed on the face that was dead,

And we bitterly thought of the morrow. We thought as we hollowed his narrow bed, And smoothed down his lonely pillow, That the foe and the stranger would tread o'er his head,

20 And we far away on the billow! Lightly they'll talk of the spirit that's gone,

And o'er his cold ashes upbraid him,— But little he'll reck, if they let him sleep on In the grave where a Briton has laid him.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

How fled what moonshine faintly show'd!
How fled what darkness hid!

215 How fled the earth beneath their feet,
The heaven above their head!

220

"No room for me?"-"Enough for both; 225 Speed, speed, my barb, thy course!" O'er thundering bridge, through boiling

[blocks in formation]

230

"Dost fear? dost fear? The moon shines clear,

And well the dead can ride;

Does faithful Helen fear for them?""O leave in peace the dead!"

"Barb! barb! methinks I hear the cock;
The sand will soon be run:

Barb! barb! I smell the morning air;
The race is wellnigh done."

Tramp! tramp! along the land they rode,
Splash! splash! along the sea;

The scourge is red, the spur drops blood,
The flashing pebbles flee.

"Hurrah! hurrah! well ride the dead;
The bride, the bride is come;

And soon we reach the bridal bed,
For, Helen, here's my home."

Reluctant on its rusty hinge
Revolved an iron door,

235 And by the pale moon's setting beam
Were seen a church and tower.

[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »