XLVIII. Beneath these battlements, within those walls, Than mightier heroes of a longer date. What want these outlaws 10 conquerors should have? Their hopes were not less warm, their souls were full as brave. XLIX. In their baronial feuds and single fields, And Love, which lent a blazon to their shields. I.. But Thou, exulting and abounding river! Nor its fair promise from the surface mow Earth paved like Heaven; and to seem such to me Even now what wants thy stream?—that it should Lethe be. LI. A thousand battles have assail'd thy banks, But these and half their fame have pass'd away, And Slaugther heap'd on high his weltering ranks ; Their very graves are gone, and what are they? Thy tide wash'd down the blood of yesterday, And all was stainless, and on thy clear stream Glass'd with its dancing light the sunny ray; But o'er the blakened memory's blighting dream Thy waves would vainly roll, all sweeping as they seem. LII. 'Thus Harold inly said, and pass'd along, Yet not insensibly to all which here Awoke the jocund birds to early song In glens which might have made even exile dear: Though on his brow were graven lines austere, And tranquil sternness which had ta'en the place Of feelings fierier far but less severe, Joy was not always absent from his face, But o'er it in such scenes would steal with transient. trace, .LIII. Nor was all love shut from him, though his days Of passion had consumed themselves to dust. It is in vain that we would coldly gaze On such as smile upon us: the heart must Leap kindly back to kindness, though disgust Hath wean'd it from all worldlings: thus he felt, For there was soft remembrance, and sweet trust In one fond breast, to which his own would melt, And in its tenderer hour on that his bosom dwelt. C LIV. And he had learn'd to love, I know not why, For this in such as him seems strange of mood, it little boots to know; But thus it was; and though in solitude Small power the nipp'd affections have to grow, In him this glowed when all beside had ceased to glow. LV. And there was one soft breast, as hath been said, Still undivided, and cemented more But this was firm, and from a foreign shore Well to that heart might his these absent greetings pour! 1. The castled crag of Drachenfels ** 2. And peasant girls, with deep blue eyes, And noble arch in proud decay, Look o'er this vale of vintage - bowers; But one thing want these banks of Rhine, Thy gentle hand to clasp in mine! Ca |