THE AVENGED BRIDE. CANTO III. I. THE Sun has sunk, and to her lonely tower, Drooping and sad, Adelia now repairs; And dark and dismal, as the clouds that lower, Counts o'er the minutes of each fleeting hour, He comes not sends not—" heartless, faithless one! II. She said—and through her lattice wildly gazed, Till every object in the deepening gloom Assum'd that well-known shape her mind had raised; And swam in sadness-he for whom This lonely vigil she so truly kept, Appear'd not-came not-yet she watch'd and wept. III. In speechless agony at times she sate, Then slowly pace her chamber to and fro Then sudden stop, and through the lattice grate Gaze, till the tears unknown to her would flow; Her heart felt crush'd-alone, and desolate He it had beat for, or in weal or wo, On whom its every thought alone was plac'd, IV. Down on her couch in bitter grief she sunk, Her brain seem'd madden'd, and there flitted through A thousand shapes-one time his headless trunk, V. "Ah me!" she cried, " is this the promised joy That Hymen gave, when on my bridal night He lit his torch--and Pleasure held it high, And talk'd of years of rapture and delight, 'Till the believing soul drank copiously Th' illusive draught-'twas short-liv'd as 'twas bright! Like that sweet, delicate, and tender flower, That blooms, decays, and withers in an hour."1 I VI. While yet she mourn'd-in sad and alter'd state, Arrive, with feelings scarcely to be borne, Those few whom death reserved for future fate; With fever'd bosom and with trembling feet, Macquillan hastes, but dreads his bride to meet. VII. He reach'd the porch, and pass'd the corridore- He gains, but pauses at her chamber door He knew the accents of his fell despair Would grieve that heart that flow'd with kindness o'er: How could Adelia these sad tidings bear? He fell, and dreaded still a greater fall, But yet he mann'd his heart to brave it all. VIII. When fortune smiled and troops of friends caress'd, She was his morning star, whose cheering ray She was his load-star still-his life, his day: She was his all-earth held for him no more! IX. He breath'd her name-she heard, and quickly flew A moment gazed with rapture on her charms Wiped from her lids the bright, fast-falling dew Sooth'd, kiss'd, caress'd, and calm'd her wild alarms Ere yet, with trembling heart, he dare relate The tale which told her she was desolate. |