PARTING OF DECOURCY AND WILHELMINE.
77
Decourcy came upon. his steed,
His brow and cheek were pale;
"Speak—speak, Decourcy!" cried the maid,
"'Tis sure a dreadful tale."
His brow and cheek were pale;
"Speak—speak, Decourcy!" cried the maid,
"'Tis sure a dreadful tale."
"My love, my Wilhelmine," cried he,
"Be calm and fear thee not;
In battle I will think on thee,
And O, forget me not.
"Be calm and fear thee not;
In battle I will think on thee,
And O, forget me not.
"Adieu!" he clasped her to his breast,
And kissed the trickling tear
Which 'neath her half-closed eyelids prest
And ling'ring glistened there,
And kissed the trickling tear
Which 'neath her half-closed eyelids prest
And ling'ring glistened there,
He gazed upon that death-like face,
So beautiful before;
He gazed upon that shrine of grace,
And dared to gaze no more.
So beautiful before;
He gazed upon that shrine of grace,
And dared to gaze no more.
He trembled, pressed his burning brow,
And closed his aching eyes:
His limbs refuse their office now,
The maid before him lies.
And closed his aching eyes:
His limbs refuse their office now,
The maid before him lies.
But hark! the trumpet's warlike sound
Echoes from hill to vale;
He caught the maiden from the ground,
And kissed her forehead pale.
Echoes from hill to vale;
He caught the maiden from the ground,
And kissed her forehead pale.
Why should Decourcy linger there,
When the bugle bids him speed?
When the bugle bids him speed?
