168 LOVE All thoughts, all passions, all delights, And feed his sacred flame. Oft in my waking dreams do I The moonshine stealing o'er the scene She lean'd against the arméd man, Few sorrows hath she of her own, The songs that make her grieve. I play'd a soft and doleful air, She listen'd with a flitting blush, With downcast eyes and modest grace; I told her of the Knight that wore I told her how he pined; and ah ! Interpreted my own. She listen'd with a flitting blush, With downcast eyes and modest grace; And she forgave me, that I gazed Too fondly on her face. But when I told the cruel scorn 35 That crazed that bold and lovely Knight, And that he cross'd the mountain-woods, Nor rested day nor night; That sometimes from the savage den, 40 And sometimes from the darksome shade, And sometimes starting up at once In green and sunny glade There came and look'd him in the face 45 50 And that, unknowing what he did, And how she wept, and clasp'd his knees The scorn that crazed his brain; And that she nursed him in a cave, A dying man he lay ; -His dying words-but when I reach'd 60 65 All impulses of soul and sense Had thrill'd my guileless Genevieve; The rich and balmy eve; And hopes, and fears that kindle hope, Subdued and cherish'd long! She wept with pity and delight, She blush'd with love and virgin shame; And, like the murmur of a dream, I heard her breathe my name. Her bosom heaved-she stepp'd aside, She fled to me and wept. She half enclosed me with her arms 'Twas partly love, and partly fear, I calm'd her fears, and she was calm, My bright and beauteous Bride. S. T. COLERIDGE. 70 75 80 85 90 95 169 ALL FOR LOVE O talk not to me of a name great in story; What are garlands and crowns to the brow that is wrinkled ? 5 "Tis but as a dead flower with May-dew besprinkled: Then away with all such from the head that is hoaryWhat care I for the wreaths that can only give glory? O Fame !—if I e'er took delight in thy praises, 9 "Twas less for the sake of thy high-sounding phrases, Than to see the bright eyes of the dear one discover She thought that I was not unworthy to love her. There chiefly I sought thee, there only I found thee; Her glance was the best of the rays that surround thee; When it sparkled o'er aught that was bright in my story, I knew it was love, and I felt it was glory. 15 170 LORD BYRON. THE OUTLAW O Brignall banks are wild and fair, And you may gather garlands there And as I rode by Dalton Hall A Maiden on the castle-wall 'O Brignall banks are fresh and fair, 5 10 I'd rather rove with Edmund there 'If, Maiden, thou wouldst wend with me, Thou first must guess what life lead we 15 And if thou canst that riddle read, Then to the greenwood shalt thou speed 20 6 Yet sung she, Brignall banks are fair, 'I read you by your bugle-horn I read you for a ranger sworn His blast is heard at merry morn, Yet sung she, ‘Brignall banks are fair, I would I were with Edmund there 'With burnish'd brand and musketoon I read you for a bold Dragoon 'I list no more the tuck of drum, No more the trumpet hear; But when the beetle sounds his hum And O! though Brignall banks be fair 45 Yet mickle must the maiden dare Would reign my Queen of May ! 'Maiden a nameless life I lead, A nameless death I'll die ; 50 The fiend whose lantern lights the mead And when I'm with my comrades met What once we were we all forget, 55 |