74
WESTERN RESERVE STUDIES
"Ah, William! whither would'st thou speed,
What! where! this distant marriage bed?"
"Leonora, no delay.
'Tis far from hence; still—cold—and small;
Six planks, no more, compose it all;
Our guests await, away!"[1]
What! where! this distant marriage bed?"
"Leonora, no delay.
'Tis far from hence; still—cold—and small;
Six planks, no more, compose it all;
Our guests await, away!"[1]
She lightly on the courser sprung,
And her white arms round William flung,
Like to a lily wreath.
In swiftest gallop off they go,
The stones and sparks around they throw,
And pant the way for breath.[2]
And her white arms round William flung,
Like to a lily wreath.
In swiftest gallop off they go,
The stones and sparks around they throw,
And pant the way for breath.[2]
The objects fly on every side,
The bridges thunder as they ride:
"Art thou, my love, afraid?
Death swiftly rides, the moon shines clear,
The dead doth Leonora fear?"
"Ah, no!—why name the dead?"
The bridges thunder as they ride:
"Art thou, my love, afraid?
Death swiftly rides, the moon shines clear,
The dead doth Leonora fear?"
"Ah, no!—why name the dead?"
Hark! as their rapid course they urge,
A passing bell, and solemn dirge;
Hoarse ravens join the strain.
They see a coffin on a bier,
A priest and mourners too appear,
Slow moving o'er the plain.[3]
A passing bell, and solemn dirge;
Hoarse ravens join the strain.
They see a coffin on a bier,
A priest and mourners too appear,
Slow moving o'er the plain.[3]
And sad was heard the funeral lay;
"What the Lord gives, he takes away;
Life's but a fleeting shade.
A tale that's told,—a flower that falls;
Death, when the least expected, calls,
And bears us to his bed."[4]
"What the Lord gives, he takes away;
Life's but a fleeting shade.
A tale that's told,—a flower that falls;
Death, when the least expected, calls,
And bears us to his bed."[4]
"Forbear;"—imperious William cry'd,
I carry home a beauteous bride,
Come to our marriage feast;
Mourners, away, we want your song;
And as we swiftly haste along,
Give us your blessing, priest.[5]
I carry home a beauteous bride,
Come to our marriage feast;
Mourners, away, we want your song;
And as we swiftly haste along,
Give us your blessing, priest.[5]
- ↑ Fourth line, from here.
- ↑ Last lines,Manuscript correction of next to last line, while sparks of fire.In thund'ring gallop off they flew
While streams of fire their heels pursue,
And soon they pant for breath. - ↑ Fourth line, and a bier; fifth line, While priests.
- ↑ Manuscript, first line, Thus sad.
- ↑ Manuscript has two variations of last three lines:and in another place,"Let midnight pass, the rites delay, All follow where I lead the way, To grace our marriage, Priest."""Mourners, away, we want a song,
And quickly, as we haste along,
Give us your blessing, Priest."