MARITORNE; OR, THE PIRATE OF MEXICO.
189
Speak! tell me, or now, by the blood on its blade,
I will give to that pale cheek a deadlier shade."
"The beacon! the beacon!"—she turned to the spot,
And pointed the Chief where the light was not.
The murmur ran through the waiting crowd;
It was loud at first, but it grew more loud,
Till "the Beacon! the Beacon!" rang on to the sky,
But its light was extinguished, no blaze met the eye.
"Thus much for the moment; thy honor is clear;
If it suffers, then look for thy recompense here;"
And she threw back her mantle and gave to the light
Which glared from the torches all flamingly bright,
A form which e'en Maritorne marked not unmoved,
But 'twas one which he did not, nor ever had loved.
"There are spies who are waiting in ambush for thee
I marked out the cavern; 'twas near to the sea;
They are few, they are bold, they are guided by one
Who has sworn ere the dawn of another day's sun
To lead thee in triumph, unwounded, unharmed,
To yonder proud city all chained and unarmed;
This swears he by all that is sacred to do,
I heard it and hastened thus breathless to you.
For pardon I sue not; O punish my crime!
Here, here is my bosom, and now is the time!
The last moment beheld me imploring for breath,
Now 'tis not worth asking, I sue but for death."
The ocean was roaring too loudly to hear
The words she was speaking, the Chief bent his ear;
His dark plume was resting half fearfully there,
Upon the white brow of the beautiful Clare,
I will give to that pale cheek a deadlier shade."
"The beacon! the beacon!"—she turned to the spot,
And pointed the Chief where the light was not.
The murmur ran through the waiting crowd;
It was loud at first, but it grew more loud,
Till "the Beacon! the Beacon!" rang on to the sky,
But its light was extinguished, no blaze met the eye.
"Thus much for the moment; thy honor is clear;
If it suffers, then look for thy recompense here;"
And she threw back her mantle and gave to the light
Which glared from the torches all flamingly bright,
A form which e'en Maritorne marked not unmoved,
But 'twas one which he did not, nor ever had loved.
"There are spies who are waiting in ambush for thee
I marked out the cavern; 'twas near to the sea;
They are few, they are bold, they are guided by one
Who has sworn ere the dawn of another day's sun
To lead thee in triumph, unwounded, unharmed,
To yonder proud city all chained and unarmed;
This swears he by all that is sacred to do,
I heard it and hastened thus breathless to you.
For pardon I sue not; O punish my crime!
Here, here is my bosom, and now is the time!
The last moment beheld me imploring for breath,
Now 'tis not worth asking, I sue but for death."
The ocean was roaring too loudly to hear
The words she was speaking, the Chief bent his ear;
His dark plume was resting half fearfully there,
Upon the white brow of the beautiful Clare,
