A Tale
Near Glaris, on a mountain's side,
— Beneath a shad'wy wood,
With walls of ivy compass'd round,
— An ancient Castle stood.
By all rever'd, by all ador'd,
— There dwelt a wealthy dame;
One peerless daughter bless'd her age,
— A maid of spotless fame!
While one fair son, a gallant boy,
— Whose Virtue was his shield,
Led on the dauntless sons of war,
— Amidst the crimson'd field:
For o'er the land dissention reign'd
— Full many a direful year,
And many a heart's best blood had stain'd
— The proud oppressor's spear.
Young Ella's charms had spread her fame
— O'er all the country wide;
And youths of high descent and brave,
— Had sought her for their bride!
Amongst the rest Sir Raymond came,
— Sprung from a princely race;
Right valiant in each warlike art,
— And blest with ev'ry grace!
In tournaments renown'd afar,
— For manly feats admir'd;
His brilliant fame, his bold exploits,
— The damsel's bosom fir'd.
Her blushing cheek, her down-cast eye
— Her secret flame confess'd;
The gallant Raymond's circling arm,
— The beauteous Ella press'd.
From her fond mother's doating eyes
— The radiant gem he bore;
The weeping maids and village swains
— Beheld her charms no more.
Where the swift billows of the Rhine
— Their shining curls disclose;
With many a gilded turret crown'd
— His splendid Palace rose.
The festive scene had scarce began,
— When near the Castle wall,
A messenger of warlike mein,
— On Raymond's name did call;
" Come forth thou valiant Knight, " he said,
— " Thy prowess quickly show,
With speed prepare thy lance and shield
— To meet the dauntless foe:
" The blood of many a noble Swiss
— Doth stain the country round,
And many a brave aspiring youth
— Lies vanquish'd on the ground.
" The daring Chief, whose shining spear
— With purple gore is dy'd;
Oh! direful news, prepare to meet
— The Brother of thy Bride. "
Enrag'd, the haughty Raymond cried,
— " Base wretch receive thy doom,
For thy bold errand thou shalt die
— Within a dungeon's gloom. "
Speechless the mournful Ella stood,
— Despair her heart did wound;
When from the echoing tow'r she heard,
— Th' larum-bell's dreadful sound!
Her cold wan cheek, her quiv'ring lip,
— Bespoke her soul's deep woe,
From her blue eye the crystal drop
— In silent grief did flow,
" For shame, shake off those woman's tears, "
— The frowning bridegroom cried,
" And know, Sir Raymond's warlike breast
— Disdains a timid bride.
" In vain you weep, ignoble dame,
— Behold yon neighing steed;
My soldiers wait, my bosom burns
— To conquer or to bleed. "
Forth went the Knight; — the frantic bride
— To the high rampart flew;
With trembling knee she climb'd the wall,
— Th' embattled plain to view.
On either side, by turns she thought
— Proud vict'ry grac'd the field;
'Till vanquish'd by her Brother's sword,
— She saw her Husband yield.
For refuge to his Castle gate,
— The bleeding warrior flew;
And from the battlements on high,
— His daring gauntlet threw!
Three days from dawn to setting sun,
— The hardy soldiers stood,
'Till faint with toil, by famine press'd,
— They saw their chief subdu'd.
" Oh! haste my page, " Sir Raymond said,
— " The captive youth set free,
And bid him to the conqu'rer's feet
— This message bear from me.
" Treasures immense of massy gold,
— Rich gems, and jewels rare,
As ransom will I freely give,
— If he our lives will spare;
" If he consents, let garlands green
— His peaceful brows adorn;
If hostile yet, beneath our walls,
— Thrice sound his bugle horn. "
Gaily he pass'd the outward gate;
— But sadly he return'd;
His bugle horn he sounded thrice,
— No wreath his brows adorn'd.
" Thy gold " he cried " the conqu'ror scorns,
— He claims thy forfeit Life,
Thy precious gems, and jewels rare,
— He gives thy beauteous wife. "
" Your lands are free, your soldiers too,
— And for young Ella's sake
To prove his truth, the gen'rous chief
— This solemn vow did make: "
" That whatsoe'er she holds most dear,
— At morrow's dawn of day:
Her pages, to some distant place,
— May safely bear away; "
At dawn of light fair Ella came,
— Fresh as the rose of May;
Sir Raymond in a chest of gold,
— Her pages bore away!
She pass'd the gate with throbbing heart,
— She pass'd the ranks among;
The praises of her peerless charms,
— Fell fast from ev'ry tongue!
" Halt, halt, " they cried, " right noble dame,
— 'Tis fit we should behold
Whether thy coffer ought contains
— But gems and massy gold; "
" O stay me not ye gallant youths,
— For soon it shall appear;
This burnish'd coffer doth contain
— All that I hold most dear! "
" Take heed, my Brother, ah, take heed,
— Nor break thy sacred word;
Nor let thy kinsman's blood degrade
— The glories of thy sword! "
The Hero smil'd — fair Ella's cheek
— Glow'd with vermilion dye;
Fear chill'd her heart, the starting tear
— Stood trembling in her eye.
Subdu'd, abash'd, her brother flew
— And clasp'd her to his breast,
Then with an angel's pitying voice,
— The vanquish'd chief address'd:
" Come forth Sir Raymond, valiant knight,
— Behold thy peerless wife;
Receive thy sword, and from her hand
— Accept thy forfeit life.
" Here shall the bloody contest end,
— Let peace o'erspread the land;
More homage than the conqueror's sword
— Can Beauty's tears command! "
A Tale
Near Glaris, on a mountain's side,
— Beneath a shad'wy wood,
With walls of ivy compass'd round,
— An ancient Castle stood.
By all rever'd, by all ador'd,
— There dwelt a wealthy dame;
One peerless daughter bless'd her age,
— A maid of spotless fame!
While one fair son, a gallant boy,
— Whose Virtue was his shield,
Led on the dauntless sons of war,
— Amidst the crimson'd field:
For o'er the land dissention reign'd
— Full many a direful year,
And many a heart's best blood had stain'd
— The proud oppressor's spear.
Young Ella's charms had spread her fame
— O'er all the country wide;
And youths of high descent and brave,
— Had sought her for their bride!
Amongst the rest Sir Raymond came,
— Sprung from a princely race;
Right valiant in each warlike art,
— And blest with ev'ry grace!
In tournaments renown'd afar,
— For manly feats admir'd;
His brilliant fame, his bold exploits,
— The damsel's bosom fir'd.
Her blushing cheek, her down-cast eye
— Her secret flame confess'd;
The gallant Raymond's circling arm,
— The beauteous Ella press'd.
From her fond mother's doating eyes
— The radiant gem he bore;
The weeping maids and village swains
— Beheld her charms no more.
Where the swift billows of the Rhine
— Their shining curls disclose;
With many a gilded turret crown'd
— His splendid Palace rose.
The festive scene had scarce began,
— When near the Castle wall,
A messenger of warlike mein,
— On Raymond's name did call;
" Come forth thou valiant Knight, " he said,
— " Thy prowess quickly show,
With speed prepare thy lance and shield
— To meet the dauntless foe:
" The blood of many a noble Swiss
— Doth stain the country round,
And many a brave aspiring youth
— Lies vanquish'd on the ground.
" The daring Chief, whose shining spear
— With purple gore is dy'd;
Oh! direful news, prepare to meet
— The Brother of thy Bride. "
Enrag'd, the haughty Raymond cried,
— " Base wretch receive thy doom,
For thy bold errand thou shalt die
— Within a dungeon's gloom. "
Speechless the mournful Ella stood,
— Despair her heart did wound;
When from the echoing tow'r she heard,
— Th' larum-bell's dreadful sound!
Her cold wan cheek, her quiv'ring lip,
— Bespoke her soul's deep woe,
From her blue eye the crystal drop
— In silent grief did flow,
" For shame, shake off those woman's tears, "
— The frowning bridegroom cried,
" And know, Sir Raymond's warlike breast
— Disdains a timid bride.
" In vain you weep, ignoble dame,
— Behold yon neighing steed;
My soldiers wait, my bosom burns
— To conquer or to bleed. "
Forth went the Knight; — the frantic bride
— To the high rampart flew;
With trembling knee she climb'd the wall,
— Th' embattled plain to view.
On either side, by turns she thought
— Proud vict'ry grac'd the field;
'Till vanquish'd by her Brother's sword,
— She saw her Husband yield.
For refuge to his Castle gate,
— The bleeding warrior flew;
And from the battlements on high,
— His daring gauntlet threw!
Three days from dawn to setting sun,
— The hardy soldiers stood,
'Till faint with toil, by famine press'd,
— They saw their chief subdu'd.
" Oh! haste my page, " Sir Raymond said,
— " The captive youth set free,
And bid him to the conqu'rer's feet
— This message bear from me.
" Treasures immense of massy gold,
— Rich gems, and jewels rare,
As ransom will I freely give,
— If he our lives will spare;
" If he consents, let garlands green
— His peaceful brows adorn;
If hostile yet, beneath our walls,
— Thrice sound his bugle horn. "
Gaily he pass'd the outward gate;
— But sadly he return'd;
His bugle horn he sounded thrice,
— No wreath his brows adorn'd.
" Thy gold " he cried " the conqu'ror scorns,
— He claims thy forfeit Life,
Thy precious gems, and jewels rare,
— He gives thy beauteous wife. "
" Your lands are free, your soldiers too,
— And for young Ella's sake
To prove his truth, the gen'rous chief
— This solemn vow did make: "
" That whatsoe'er she holds most dear,
— At morrow's dawn of day:
Her pages, to some distant place,
— May safely bear away; "
At dawn of light fair Ella came,
— Fresh as the rose of May;
Sir Raymond in a chest of gold,
— Her pages bore away!
She pass'd the gate with throbbing heart,
— She pass'd the ranks among;
The praises of her peerless charms,
— Fell fast from ev'ry tongue!
" Halt, halt, " they cried, " right noble dame,
— 'Tis fit we should behold
Whether thy coffer ought contains
— But gems and massy gold; "
" O stay me not ye gallant youths,
— For soon it shall appear;
This burnish'd coffer doth contain
— All that I hold most dear! "
" Take heed, my Brother, ah, take heed,
— Nor break thy sacred word;
Nor let thy kinsman's blood degrade
— The glories of thy sword! "
The Hero smil'd — fair Ella's cheek
— Glow'd with vermilion dye;
Fear chill'd her heart, the starting tear
— Stood trembling in her eye.
Subdu'd, abash'd, her brother flew
— And clasp'd her to his breast,
Then with an angel's pitying voice,
— The vanquish'd chief address'd:
" Come forth Sir Raymond, valiant knight,
— Behold thy peerless wife;
Receive thy sword, and from her hand
— Accept thy forfeit life.
" Here shall the bloody contest end,
— Let peace o'erspread the land;
More homage than the conqueror's sword
— Can Beauty's tears command! "
Near Glaris, on a mountain's side,
— Beneath a shad'wy wood,
With walls of ivy compass'd round,
— An ancient Castle stood.
By all rever'd, by all ador'd,
— There dwelt a wealthy dame;
One peerless daughter bless'd her age,
— A maid of spotless fame!
While one fair son, a gallant boy,
— Whose Virtue was his shield,
Led on the dauntless sons of war,
— Amidst the crimson'd field:
For o'er the land dissention reign'd
— Full many a direful year,
And many a heart's best blood had stain'd
— The proud oppressor's spear.
Young Ella's charms had spread her fame
— O'er all the country wide;
And youths of high descent and brave,
— Had sought her for their bride!
Amongst the rest Sir Raymond came,
— Sprung from a princely race;
Right valiant in each warlike art,
— And blest with ev'ry grace!
In tournaments renown'd afar,
— For manly feats admir'd;
His brilliant fame, his bold exploits,
— The damsel's bosom fir'd.
Her blushing cheek, her down-cast eye
— Her secret flame confess'd;
The gallant Raymond's circling arm,
— The beauteous Ella press'd.
From her fond mother's doating eyes
— The radiant gem he bore;
The weeping maids and village swains
— Beheld her charms no more.
Where the swift billows of the Rhine
— Their shining curls disclose;
With many a gilded turret crown'd
— His splendid Palace rose.
The festive scene had scarce began,
— When near the Castle wall,
A messenger of warlike mein,
— On Raymond's name did call;
" Come forth thou valiant Knight, " he said,
— " Thy prowess quickly show,
With speed prepare thy lance and shield
— To meet the dauntless foe:
" The blood of many a noble Swiss
— Doth stain the country round,
And many a brave aspiring youth
— Lies vanquish'd on the ground.
" The daring Chief, whose shining spear
— With purple gore is dy'd;
Oh! direful news, prepare to meet
— The Brother of thy Bride. "
Enrag'd, the haughty Raymond cried,
— " Base wretch receive thy doom,
For thy bold errand thou shalt die
— Within a dungeon's gloom. "
Speechless the mournful Ella stood,
— Despair her heart did wound;
When from the echoing tow'r she heard,
— Th' larum-bell's dreadful sound!
Her cold wan cheek, her quiv'ring lip,
— Bespoke her soul's deep woe,
From her blue eye the crystal drop
— In silent grief did flow,
" For shame, shake off those woman's tears, "
— The frowning bridegroom cried,
" And know, Sir Raymond's warlike breast
— Disdains a timid bride.
" In vain you weep, ignoble dame,
— Behold yon neighing steed;
My soldiers wait, my bosom burns
— To conquer or to bleed. "
Forth went the Knight; — the frantic bride
— To the high rampart flew;
With trembling knee she climb'd the wall,
— Th' embattled plain to view.
On either side, by turns she thought
— Proud vict'ry grac'd the field;
'Till vanquish'd by her Brother's sword,
— She saw her Husband yield.
For refuge to his Castle gate,
— The bleeding warrior flew;
And from the battlements on high,
— His daring gauntlet threw!
Three days from dawn to setting sun,
— The hardy soldiers stood,
'Till faint with toil, by famine press'd,
— They saw their chief subdu'd.
" Oh! haste my page, " Sir Raymond said,
— " The captive youth set free,
And bid him to the conqu'rer's feet
— This message bear from me.
" Treasures immense of massy gold,
— Rich gems, and jewels rare,
As ransom will I freely give,
— If he our lives will spare;
" If he consents, let garlands green
— His peaceful brows adorn;
If hostile yet, beneath our walls,
— Thrice sound his bugle horn. "
Gaily he pass'd the outward gate;
— But sadly he return'd;
His bugle horn he sounded thrice,
— No wreath his brows adorn'd.
" Thy gold " he cried " the conqu'ror scorns,
— He claims thy forfeit Life,
Thy precious gems, and jewels rare,
— He gives thy beauteous wife. "
" Your lands are free, your soldiers too,
— And for young Ella's sake
To prove his truth, the gen'rous chief
— This solemn vow did make: "
" That whatsoe'er she holds most dear,
— At morrow's dawn of day:
Her pages, to some distant place,
— May safely bear away; "
At dawn of light fair Ella came,
— Fresh as the rose of May;
Sir Raymond in a chest of gold,
— Her pages bore away!
She pass'd the gate with throbbing heart,
— She pass'd the ranks among;
The praises of her peerless charms,
— Fell fast from ev'ry tongue!
" Halt, halt, " they cried, " right noble dame,
— 'Tis fit we should behold
Whether thy coffer ought contains
— But gems and massy gold; "
" O stay me not ye gallant youths,
— For soon it shall appear;
This burnish'd coffer doth contain
— All that I hold most dear! "
" Take heed, my Brother, ah, take heed,
— Nor break thy sacred word;
Nor let thy kinsman's blood degrade
— The glories of thy sword! "
The Hero smil'd — fair Ella's cheek
— Glow'd with vermilion dye;
Fear chill'd her heart, the starting tear
— Stood trembling in her eye.
Subdu'd, abash'd, her brother flew
— And clasp'd her to his breast,
Then with an angel's pitying voice,
— The vanquish'd chief address'd:
" Come forth Sir Raymond, valiant knight,
— Behold thy peerless wife;
Receive thy sword, and from her hand
— Accept thy forfeit life.
" Here shall the bloody contest end,
— Let peace o'erspread the land;
More homage than the conqueror's sword
— Can Beauty's tears command! "
A Tale
Near Glaris, on a mountain's side,
— Beneath a shad'wy wood,
With walls of ivy compass'd round,
— An ancient Castle stood.
By all rever'd, by all ador'd,
— There dwelt a wealthy dame;
One peerless daughter bless'd her age,
— A maid of spotless fame!
While one fair son, a gallant boy,
— Whose Virtue was his shield,
Led on the dauntless sons of war,
— Amidst the crimson'd field:
For o'er the land dissention reign'd
— Full many a direful year,
And many a heart's best blood had stain'd
— The proud oppressor's spear.
Young Ella's charms had spread her fame
— O'er all the country wide;
And youths of high descent and brave,
— Had sought her for their bride!
Amongst the rest Sir Raymond came,
— Sprung from a princely race;
Right valiant in each warlike art,
— And blest with ev'ry grace!
In tournaments renown'd afar,
— For manly feats admir'd;
His brilliant fame, his bold exploits,
— The damsel's bosom fir'd.
Her blushing cheek, her down-cast eye
— Her secret flame confess'd;
The gallant Raymond's circling arm,
— The beauteous Ella press'd.
From her fond mother's doating eyes
— The radiant gem he bore;
The weeping maids and village swains
— Beheld her charms no more.
Where the swift billows of the Rhine
— Their shining curls disclose;
With many a gilded turret crown'd
— His splendid Palace rose.
The festive scene had scarce began,
— When near the Castle wall,
A messenger of warlike mein,
— On Raymond's name did call;
" Come forth thou valiant Knight, " he said,
— " Thy prowess quickly show,
With speed prepare thy lance and shield
— To meet the dauntless foe:
" The blood of many a noble Swiss
— Doth stain the country round,
And many a brave aspiring youth
— Lies vanquish'd on the ground.
" The daring Chief, whose shining spear
— With purple gore is dy'd;
Oh! direful news, prepare to meet
— The Brother of thy Bride. "
Enrag'd, the haughty Raymond cried,
— " Base wretch receive thy doom,
For thy bold errand thou shalt die
— Within a dungeon's gloom. "
Speechless the mournful Ella stood,
— Despair her heart did wound;
When from the echoing tow'r she heard,
— Th' larum-bell's dreadful sound!
Her cold wan cheek, her quiv'ring lip,
— Bespoke her soul's deep woe,
From her blue eye the crystal drop
— In silent grief did flow,
" For shame, shake off those woman's tears, "
— The frowning bridegroom cried,
" And know, Sir Raymond's warlike breast
— Disdains a timid bride.
" In vain you weep, ignoble dame,
— Behold yon neighing steed;
My soldiers wait, my bosom burns
— To conquer or to bleed. "
Forth went the Knight; — the frantic bride
— To the high rampart flew;
With trembling knee she climb'd the wall,
— Th' embattled plain to view.
On either side, by turns she thought
— Proud vict'ry grac'd the field;
'Till vanquish'd by her Brother's sword,
— She saw her Husband yield.
For refuge to his Castle gate,
— The bleeding warrior flew;
And from the battlements on high,
— His daring gauntlet threw!
Three days from dawn to setting sun,
— The hardy soldiers stood,
'Till faint with toil, by famine press'd,
— They saw their chief subdu'd.
" Oh! haste my page, " Sir Raymond said,
— " The captive youth set free,
And bid him to the conqu'rer's feet
— This message bear from me.
" Treasures immense of massy gold,
— Rich gems, and jewels rare,
As ransom will I freely give,
— If he our lives will spare;
" If he consents, let garlands green
— His peaceful brows adorn;
If hostile yet, beneath our walls,
— Thrice sound his bugle horn. "
Gaily he pass'd the outward gate;
— But sadly he return'd;
His bugle horn he sounded thrice,
— No wreath his brows adorn'd.
" Thy gold " he cried " the conqu'ror scorns,
— He claims thy forfeit Life,
Thy precious gems, and jewels rare,
— He gives thy beauteous wife. "
" Your lands are free, your soldiers too,
— And for young Ella's sake
To prove his truth, the gen'rous chief
— This solemn vow did make: "
" That whatsoe'er she holds most dear,
— At morrow's dawn of day:
Her pages, to some distant place,
— May safely bear away; "
At dawn of light fair Ella came,
— Fresh as the rose of May;
Sir Raymond in a chest of gold,
— Her pages bore away!
She pass'd the gate with throbbing heart,
— She pass'd the ranks among;
The praises of her peerless charms,
— Fell fast from ev'ry tongue!
" Halt, halt, " they cried, " right noble dame,
— 'Tis fit we should behold
Whether thy coffer ought contains
— But gems and massy gold; "
" O stay me not ye gallant youths,
— For soon it shall appear;
This burnish'd coffer doth contain
— All that I hold most dear! "
" Take heed, my Brother, ah, take heed,
— Nor break thy sacred word;
Nor let thy kinsman's blood degrade
— The glories of thy sword! "
The Hero smil'd — fair Ella's cheek
— Glow'd with vermilion dye;
Fear chill'd her heart, the starting tear
— Stood trembling in her eye.
Subdu'd, abash'd, her brother flew
— And clasp'd her to his breast,
Then with an angel's pitying voice,
— The vanquish'd chief address'd:
" Come forth Sir Raymond, valiant knight,
— Behold thy peerless wife;
Receive thy sword, and from her hand
— Accept thy forfeit life.
" Here shall the bloody contest end,
— Let peace o'erspread the land;
More homage than the conqueror's sword
— Can Beauty's tears command! "
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