94
WESTERN RESERVE STUDIES
O'er this torn heart, o'er these sad eyes,
Let the still grave's long midnight reign;
Unless my love that bliss supplies,
Nor earth, nor heaven can bliss contain."
Let the still grave's long midnight reign;
Unless my love that bliss supplies,
Nor earth, nor heaven can bliss contain."
Thus did the demons of despair
Her wildered sense to madness strain,
Thus did her impious clamours dare
Eternal Wisdom to arraign.
She beat her breast, her hands she wrung,
Till westward sunk the car of light,
And countless stars in air were hung
To gem the matron weeds of night.
Her wildered sense to madness strain,
Thus did her impious clamours dare
Eternal Wisdom to arraign.
She beat her breast, her hands she wrung,
Till westward sunk the car of light,
And countless stars in air were hung
To gem the matron weeds of night.
Hark! with high tread, the prancings proud,
A war horse shakes the rattling gate:
Clattering his clanking armour loud,
Alights a horseman at the grate:
And, hark! the door bell gently rings,
What sounds are those we faintly hear?
The night breeze in low murmur brings
These words to Leonora's ear.
A war horse shakes the rattling gate:
Clattering his clanking armour loud,
Alights a horseman at the grate:
And, hark! the door bell gently rings,
What sounds are those we faintly hear?
The night breeze in low murmur brings
These words to Leonora's ear.
"Holla, holla! my wife, my love!
Does Leonora watch or sleep?
Still does her heart my vows approve?
Does Leonora smile or weep?"
"Wilhelm, thou! these eyes for thee
Fever'd with tearful vigils burn;
Aye fear, and woe, have dwelt with me,
Oh, why so late thy wish'd return?"
Does Leonora watch or sleep?
Still does her heart my vows approve?
Does Leonora smile or weep?"
"Wilhelm, thou! these eyes for thee
Fever'd with tearful vigils burn;
Aye fear, and woe, have dwelt with me,
Oh, why so late thy wish'd return?"
"At dead of night alone we ride,
From Prague's far distant field I come;
'Twas late ere I could 'gin bestride
This coal black barb, to bear me home."
"Oh, rest thee first, my Wilhelm, here!
Bleak roars the blast through vale and grove;
Oh come, thy war-worn limbs to cheer
On the soft couch of joy and love!"
From Prague's far distant field I come;
'Twas late ere I could 'gin bestride
This coal black barb, to bear me home."
"Oh, rest thee first, my Wilhelm, here!
Bleak roars the blast through vale and grove;
Oh come, thy war-worn limbs to cheer
On the soft couch of joy and love!"
"Let the bleak blast, my child, roar on,
Let it roar on; we dare not stay:
My fierce steed maddens to be gone,
My spurs are set; away, away.
Mount by thy true love's guardian side;
We should ere this full far have sped;
Five hundred destined miles we ride
This night, to reach our nuptial bed."
Let it roar on; we dare not stay:
My fierce steed maddens to be gone,
My spurs are set; away, away.
Mount by thy true love's guardian side;
We should ere this full far have sped;
Five hundred destined miles we ride
This night, to reach our nuptial bed."
