Soft eyes did gaze on me, Burning yet tender; And as the white stars shine "I wooed the blue-eyed maid, Our vows were plighted. "Bright in her father's hall When of old Hildebrand I asked his daughter's hand, "While the brown ale he quaffed, 'She was a Prince's child, I but a Viking wild, And though she blushed and smiled, I was discarded! Should not the dove so white Why did they leave that night "Scarce had I put to sea, Among the Norsemen !When on the white sea-strand, Waving his armèd hand, Saw we the Hildebrand, With twenty horsemen. "Then launched they to the blast, "And as to catch the gale Round veered the flapping sail, Death! was the helmsman's hail Death without quarter! Mid-ships with iron keel Struck we her ribs of steel; Down her black hulk did reel Through the black water! "As with his wings aslant, Through the wild hurricane, Bore I the maiden. "Three weeks we westward bore, Stands looking sea-ward. "There lived we many years; Time dried the maiden's tears; She had forgot her fears, She was a mother; Death closed her mild blue eyes, Under that tower she lies; Ne'er shall the sun arise On such another! "Still grew my bosom then Still as a stagnant fen! Hateful to me were men, The sun-light hateful. In the vast forest here, Clad in my warlike gear, Fell I upon my spear, O, death was grateful! "Thus, seamed with many scars Bursting these prison bars, Up to its native stars My soul ascended! There from the flowing bowl Deep drinks the warrior's soul, Skoal! to the Northland! skoal!" -Thus the tale ended. ROBIN HOOD. (To a Friend.) By JOHN KEATS. N°: And their hours are old and grey, And their minutes buried all No, the bugle sounds no more, Past the heath and up the hill; On the fairest time of June You may go, with sun or moon, Down beside the pasture Trent: Messenger for spicy ale. 1 |