Part 494 (1/2)

And himself, on the back of the steed of his squire, Went after the chase to his heart's full desire, While the priest on his journey was speeding And the following morning, with thankful look, To the Count once again his charger he took, Its bridle with modesty leading.”

”'G.o.d forbid that in chase or in battle,' then cried The Count with humility lowly, 'The steed I henceforward should dare to bestride That had borne my Creator so holy!

And if, as a guerdon, he may not be thine, He devoted shall be to the service divine, Proclaiming His infinite merit, From whom I each honor and earthly good Have received in fee, and my body and blood, And my breath, and my life, and my spirit.'”

”'Then may G.o.d, the sure rock, whom no time can e'er move, And who lists to the weak's supplication, For the honor thou pay'st Him, permit thee to prove Honor here, and hereafter salvation!

Thou'rt a powerful Count, and thy knightly command Hath blazoned thy fame through the Switzer's broad land; Thou art blest with six daughters admired; May they each in thy house introduce a bright crown, Filling ages unborn with their glorious renown'-- Thus exclaimed he in accents inspired.”

And the emperor sat there all-thoughtfully, While the dream of the past stood before him; And when on the minstrel he turned his eye, His words' hidden meaning stole o'er him; For seeing the traits of the priest there revealed, In the folds of his purple-dyed robe he concealed His tears as they swiftly coursed down.

And all on the emperor wonderingly gazed, And the blest dispensations of Providence praised, For the Count and the Caesar were one.

THE FORUM OF WOMAN.

Woman, never judge man by his individual actions; But upon man as a whole, pa.s.s thy decisive decree.

THE GLOVE.

A TALE.

Before his lion-court, Impatient for the sport, King Francis sat one day; The peers of his realm sat around, And in balcony high from the ground Sat the ladies in beauteous array.

And when with his finger he beckoned, The gate opened wide in a second,-- And in, with deliberate tread, Enters a lion dread, And looks around Yet utters no sound; Then long he yawns And shakes his mane, And, stretching each limb, Down lies he again.

Again signs the king,-- The next gate open flies, And, lo! with a wild spring, A tiger out hies.

When the lion he sees, loudly roars he about, And a terrible circle his tail traces out.

Protruding his tongue, past the lion he walks, And, snarling with rage, round him warily stalks: Then, growling anew, On one side lies down too.

Again signs the king,-- And two gates open fly, And, lo! with one spring, Two leopards out hie.

On the tiger they rush, for the fight nothing loth, But he with his paws seizes hold of them both.

And the lion, with roaring, gets up,--then all's still; The fierce beasts stalk around, madly thirsting to kill.

From the balcony raised high above A fair hand lets fall down a glove Into the lists, where 'tis seen The lion and tiger between.

To the knight, Sir Delorges, in tone of jest, Then speaks young Cunigund fair; ”Sir Knight, if the love that thou feel'st in thy breast Is as warm as thou'rt wont at each moment to swear, Pick up, I pray thee, the glove that lies there!”

And the knight, in a moment, with dauntless tread, Jumps into the lists, nor seeks to linger, And, from out the midst of those monsters dread, Picks up the glove with a daring finger.

And the knights and ladies of high degree With wonder and horror the action see, While he quietly brings in his hand the glove, The praise of his courage each mouth employs; Meanwhile, with a tender look of love, The promise to him of coming joys, Fair Cunigund welcomes him back to his place.

But he threw the glove point-blank in her face: ”Lady, no thanks from thee I'll receive!”

And that selfsame hour he took his leave.

THE CIRCLE OF NATURE.

All, thou gentle one, lies embraced in thy kingdom; the graybeard Back to the days of his youth, childish and child-like, returns.

THE VEILED STATUE AT SAIS.

A youth, impelled by a burning thirst for knowledge To roam to Sais, in fair Egypt's land, The priesthood's secret learning to explore, Had pa.s.sed through many a grade with eager haste, And still was hurrying on with fond impatience.

Scarce could the Hierophant impose a rein Upon his headlong efforts. ”What avails A part without the whole?” the youth exclaimed; ”Can there be here a lesser or a greater?