Classic Poem

Deep sighed the wind, slow struck the hour,
When from his Couch Alphonso rose;
Soft Down invoked Sleep's soothing power,
No pillow there could give repose!

The night still brooded on the hill,
Beneath, the sable river rolled,
Not glittering now the tinkling rill,
Its stream was dark, its spirit cold.

His chamber long, with restless feet,
The Lord Alphonso traversed o'er;
There once refreshed by slumbers sweet,
But slumbers sweet he knows no more!

His roused Domestics strait obey
The signal of the Lord they hate;
Their Torches flash a second day
Along the costly rooms of State.

His favorite from th' obsequious train,
He to his inmost closet led;
To him confessed Love caused the pain
That roused him from his midnight bed.

Oh! thou wert near, Alphonso cries,
When in the Progress late we made,
Gonsalvo's Daughter in our eyes
Made every other Beauty fade!

Her noble Mien, her blushes mild,
The burnish of her Tresses bright,
Her Age, but just no longer Child,
Her rosy mouth, her graceful height,

All these within my time worn heart
Again have lighted youthful flame,
I sink beneath the powerful smart,
Tell her Honour prompts my claim!

Oft did I try her soul to melt,
But, ignorant she of Cupid's power,
His influence she ne'er had felt,
But now is come her fated hour!

With flames illicit I essayed
To touch and melt her frozen breast,
If Hymen sooth the trembling maid
With Hope she then may be addressed!

Strait to her Father speed thy way,
The fleetest Mules they now prepare,
And ere tomorrow pours its day,
Thou'lt reach the village of my Fair.

These Pearls, these Diamonds, speak my Truth,
Woo her with Treasures to my arms,
When love no longer boasts of Youth,
Riches must spread their luring charms!

Oh! how unlike the rapturous hour,
When Love is bought by Love alone!
When a soft Look, a Touch, a Flower,
Is prized beyond Ind's brightest stone!

But go, and to her Parents bear
Thy Lord's designs, his hopes unfold;
Plead, with due force, my meaning fair,
And in thy Promises be bold!

Much more the Lord Alphonso spoke,
His Servant's mind the whole retains,
And Mules in quickest haste they yoke
To bear him o'er the distant plains.

And now the Morn its silver rays
'Thwart Night's dark reign began to dart,
Who now no more in deep gloom sways,
Its sombre shades in haste depart.

And ere they yet had fall'n behind
The western Mountain's misty slope,
Olivia , duteously resigned,
Had listened to Alphonso's hope!

Not so resigned, but that her thought
Recoiled at such ill suited love,
But, Filial Duty always taught,
She learned to bear, and then approve.

The Sire attends his Darling Child,
For so Alphonso's pride allows,
And, with high Transport almost wild,
He hears pronounced the Grandee's vows!

He saw that Form, where speaking Grace
Gave Soul to beauty most refined,
A Robe of Dignity embrace,
By Taste magnificent designed.

Her Hair, which floated o'er her Dress,
They tied in Folds, with Diamond bands,
Its rich Luxuriance to repress,
For so the Robe, concealed, demands.

But, the rich Curls which haply fell
Upon her Bosom's lilly snow,
Were suffer'd there, unbound, to dwell,
And spread their wavy golden glow.

Thus the fond Parent saw her rove,
Through gaudy Halls, and Rooms of State,
Whilst humble Trains at distance move,
And from her nod await their fate.

Too short the Time! in which such Joy
Around his aged heart might play;
Bitter, oh! bitter the alloy!
Ah! set full soon is Pleasure's day!

For Lord Alphonso names the hour,
When he the sumptuous dome must quit,
And seek again the humble bower,
For Birth like his a mansion fit!

Tells him to take a last Farewell
Of her more dear than sense or light,
Bids him ne'er hope again to dwell
Where her sweet Form may charm his sight.

His Daughter, overwhelm'd with woe,
The haughty cruel Order hears,
She sees her mourning Parent go,
She strives, in vain, to check her tears!

Now, slow and heavy passed the time,
Which late flew rapid with delight,
She, heedless, knew not Morning's prime
Distinct from the approach of night.

Her only Solace was to roam
Amidst deep Woods, in shelter'd Calm,
Where, distant from her gaudy home,
Meek Solitude afforded balm.

There, o'er a River's fringed side,
Which caught each form that glided by,
She'd watch its curled unequal tide,
And with the Zephyr's mix her sigh.

View stately Swans amidst the wave,
Whilst Lines of Beauty o'er them glide,
Their snowy plumage bending lave,
Or gently resting on the tide.

Mark the sweet objects Nature drew,
When ruffling Zephyr ceased to breathe,
Its mirror giving to the view
A Phantom-Forest underneath!

Some weeping willows there displayed
Their Foliage painted on the wave,
Which, in reflected green arrayed,
Would still their jutting bare roots lave.

To guile the hours that glided slow,
She'd sometimes chide a low bent branch,
Which would its foliage, sinking low,
Upon the moist'ning river launch.

She thus was one bright eve employed,
And carols she so sweetly sang,
That Nightingales her notes enjoyed—
When through the wood a Soldier sprang!

Apollo's graceful form seem'd there
As from his Bow the swift Dart sings,
Or, when the Discus through the air
With equal Force and Grace he flings.

From martial Brow, his beaming eye
Bright as Olivia's own appears,
Strait to each other's arms they fly,
With mutual Joy, with mutual Tears!

Olivia, blest, her Brother saw,
Olivia 'twas her Brother press'd;
Attached by Nature's dearest law,
In pure affection they caress'd.

From Calpe's glorious Rock he came,
Immortal monument decreed
Of English Elliot's laurel'd name,
Where Spanish Heroes oft must bleed!

And there his blood did Gusman shed,
Amongst the boldest there was found,
By strongest thirst of Honour led,
Nor shun'd gaunt Death that raged around!

But, when her silver Trump blithe Peace
So sweetly sounded from the Skies,
Each stirring war-note made to cease,
Sped by fond Duty, home he flies!

There first he learned his Sister's fate,
How lofty raised, how deep depressed,
Heard that amidst her brilliant state,
Her Heart corroding Grief oppressed!

Her Husband's tyrant law revealed,
No dear Relation to behold,
Obliged him thus, by Shades concealed!
His Sister to his Heart to fold.

And oft he mourn'd her cruel lot,
And oft he chased her tears away,
As from the interesting spot
They're slowly warn'd by closing day.

Gusman , Adieu! Olivia cries,
Yet, let me see thee once again!
Tomorrow bless thy Sister's eyes,
Then, seek our dear paternal plain.

From forth my little treasured hoard,
Fond tokens to my Mother bear,
No Miser is my cruel Lord,
And gifts for her I well can spare!

Gusman, with love fraternal strove,
And kissed each beauteous, fading, cheek;
Assured, when Morn should light the Grove,
Amidst its walks her steps he'd seek.

Now, Evening threw its silvery dews
On every shrub that deck'd the glades,
And fainter scents the flowers effuse,
To waste not sweets on desart shades.

Oft had Olivia linger'd here
In hours like these, and traced the beam,
Which, sent from brilliant lunar sphere,
Shot through the Wood a shiver'd gleam.

The place Olivia has forgot!
The Arbours, Founts, unheeded, rise;
Blithe Pleasure blinds her to the spot,
The beam-deck'd water idly flies.

In thrill of Joy, the sportive Fawn
Springs o'er the ground with motion fleet,
Regardless of the studded lawn,
That teems with Flowers around her feet.

So speeds the fair-one to her home,
Whose Towers return the Moon's broad glare,
And, pointing out the distant dome,
Their gold Vanes flash across the air.

On downy pillow soon reclined,
Sleep drops o'er all a dizzy veil.
To cheer with Dreams her placid mind
Fantastic Phantoms do not fail.

At morning's Dawn, her Lord commands
Her cheering slumbers must be broke!
He grasped in his her trembling hands,
He led her forth, no word he spoke!

And oh! these horrid sounds she cried,
These piteous moans that rend my ear!
With Terror struck, she deeply sighed,
And sunk, at length, o'ercome by Fear!

He dragged her on! the Moans of pain,
More piercing as they nearer grow,
Left her unable to sustain
Her blood's convulsed, unequal, flow!

There, Wretch, behold! Alphonso cries,
As wide he threw the grating gate,
There feast thy loose adulterous eyes,
See there—thy Paramour's just fate!

There, stretch'd upon the racking Wheel,
She saw her Brother's tortured form!
From his torn flesh the jagging steel
Extracting blood with Life still warm.

She saw—but oh! she spoke no more!
The Agony too fierce to bear,
She, shrieking, sunk upon the floor,
And breathed her Spirit on the air.

Sister! the writhing Gusman said,
Oh, Sister! plead! then swoon'd with pain,
On his gash'd bosom sunk his head,
His limbs convulsed the cords restrain.

Alphonso, when he heard the sound,
Sprang swiftly to the deadly wheel,
With eager haste the youth unbound,
And e'en Alphonso knew to feel!

He raved, he struck his tortured breast,
But oh! the guilty deed was past,
The Victims pure were now at Rest!
His tortures must for Ever last!

There, Tyrant, lie! and may the fangs
Of fierce Remorse thy bosom tear,
Each added morn encrease thy pangs,
Thou ne'er knew'st Pity—now despair!