144 THE INVOCATION. THE INVOCATION. WRITTEN AFTER THE DEATH OF A SISTER-IN-LAW. ANSWER me, burning stars of night! That past the reach of human sight, But, of the never-dying soul, Ask things that cannot die !" Oh! many toned and chainless wind! Tell me if thou its place canst find, -And the wind murmur'd in reply, Ye clouds that gorgeously repose The bright clouds answer'd-" We depart, Ask what is deathless in thy heart Speak, then thou voice of God within! And the voice answer'd-"Be thou still! Enough to know is given; Clouds, winds, and stars their task fulfil, Thine is to trust in Heaven! ADDITIONAL PIECES. GERTRUDE. The Baron Von der Wart, accused, though it is believed unjustly, as an accomplice in the assassination of the Emperor Albert, was bound alive on the wheel, and attended by his wife Gertrude throughout his last agonizing moments, with the most heroic fidelity. Her own sufferings and those of her unfortunate husband, are most affectingly described in a letter which she afterwards addressed to a female friend, and which was published some years ago at Haarlem, in a book entitled "Gertrude Von der Wart; or Fidelity unto Death." HER hands were clasped, her dark eyes raised, Up to the fearful wheel she gazed All that she loved was there. The night was round her clear and cold, Its pale stars watching to behold The night of earthly love. "And bid me not depart," she cried, My Rudolph! say not so! This is no time to quit thy side Peace, peace! I cannot go. Hath the world aught for ME to fear When death is on thy brow? The world!-what means it?-MINE IS HERE- I will not leave thee now! "I have been with thee in thine hour Of glory and of bliss, Doubt not its memory's living power To strengthen me through this! And though mine honoured love and true, We have the blessed Heaven in view, VOL. II. 146 GERTRUDE. And were not these high words to flow But oh! with such a freezing eye, Thou, only THOU, shouldst speak! The winds rose high-but with them rose While she sat striving with despair And pouring her deep soul in prayer She wiped the death damps from his brow, Whose touch upon the lute chords low, She spread her mantle o'er his breast, Oh! lovely are ye, Love and Faith, She had her meed-one smile in Death And his worn spirit passed. While even as o'er a martyr's grave, She knelt on that sad spot, And weeping, blessed the God who gave THE AMERICAN FOREST-GIRL. WILDLY and mournfully the Indian drum On the deep hush of moonlight forest broke :'Sing us a death-song, for thine hour is come.' So the red Warriors to their captives spoke. Still, and amidst those dusky forms alone, A youth, a fair-haired youth, of England stood, As the wind passed, with a fitful glow Of what within his secret heart befel, Known but to heaven that hour!-Perchance a thought On the dark ground of mortal agony, Rose clear as day!-And he might see the band Of her Good-night' might breathe from boyhood gone! In the broad stormy fire-light; savage brows, With tall plumes crested and wild hues o'erspread, Girt him like feverish phantoms; and pale stars Looked through the branches as through dungeon bars, Shedding no hope!-He knew, he felt his doom. Oh! what a tale to shadow with its gloom 148 THE AMERICAN FOREST-GIRL. That happy hall in England!-Idle fear! Would the winds tell it?-who might dream or hear They bound him; and that proud young soldier strove His father's spirit in his breast to wake, Trusting to die in silence-He the love Of many hearts!-the fondly-reared-the fair, A step has pierced the ring! Who dares intrude Springing unmarked till then, as some lone flower, She had sat gazing on the victim long, He shall not die !the gloomy forest thrilled They gazed-their dark souls bowed before the maid, They loosed the bonds that held their captive's breath; |