Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-03-09

From, the last nan6,r Of the Near Month y Mugo:in
THE HAUNTED cHAMDER--A BALLAD.
en,ini, nee unguam ohliviscar, illus mociis.--C
slept one night chow esu'd slrrpO
Within a 1haniher bong a nd drear,
Where ghv is inight we'll their viyiis keen,
And Shostiy people qvahe aud fear.
Fly bed was tall aud dim with age,
Its yeiiowish curtains circied round:
The couuteri,Hne was wrought, I'd gage,
by hands lous niculder'd in the ground.
Three carve! oak-cliairs OF pon,lerous weight,
R-iiev'J the sninscot's dismal length
moonbeani, through the windows CRATE,
Shone sicLIy Ger their limbs OF suengIh.
The dust OF years lay damp mud thick
On all that n,et my musiDg eye:
My lamp was low its dropping wick
Sustained u iame that must die.
The mantle piece, antique aud broken,
la Stand and chilling marble stood;
And near the hearih-st1ne elared token
Oh, God IL il The hue of blood
Above, in colours radiance. hung
A mother aud her infant child
look'd--lrr face was bright aud young
Aud, ms lOoh',l, neiiought size smird.
Her dark and lightning eyes ccnfessd
The funes- al maternal Joy,
Wt,iie piilowing on her sno~-white breast
The soft check of her blooming boy.
An,l 10. her consort !-Curtu'n'd o'er
by half u cent0rv'. dusty veil
Suspended tHixt tiie 0Othic door
And pIinoely c0urh-a Chief in mail
Ituw fine the expression all the fire
That ever lit the Iiaiinn eye
Burns ia those orbs-,!iS'ant from ire
lSst like the li,hIningS Of the sky.
His cheeks are culnrlss>-yet warm
As tngri in Oriental cline
His hr%" IS maraetl perclanre the Storm
On passion marhI it-'swas no; Ime.
Perhaps, though, I, in days Of oil.
This war;, nT and his lad, bright
III this dLn chamber loved tn hold
Sweet CuuyerSe--reStsl here al night.
Perchaoce these lips, wirereon gpze,
Fult "ft were to each uther pr-st-
Whiie that dear bahe'S angelic face
Lay, liAe "A rc>e, on the white breast
Nos they nothing what their fate
Does no romantic legend tell!
They were most lOvely-wRIe they great
Where did thai child of beauty dwel!.
TITUS, lost in reverie, I stood
HiseIed lher.--until blast,
winch shoot; the window frames, SuhdueL
The Spells that u er my soul were cast!
started back-'t~as sill MS death
leyed The tapestry Ger and DER
i lsicn'd, ana held my breath
Dut all was silent as before.
The legend tales of fear, Tint threw
Enchantmeut DER that hnun,ed room.
Rose 10 any mind, in dread review,
Like sheetei specsrsS from the tomb.
raised the expiring lamp on high,
Ahu azLuy scannd the portrait old.
Outwent the light and inwardly
Sank my crush'd heart! 'fwas 1,.icr Geld.
L heard the ~ainscot near me creak-
l saw the elm's huge branches wave
Black thru the cHsemeni-nmd II shrek
Hang in my ears as from TIE grave.
What could IL he I'll knew no more
Than you who INV story readisg
Perhaps IL was some grating door
Perhaps some peacUrh-sereuadiD!.
striped the dark, and went TO he'd,
And my o'er-wcaried ey-litis closed,
Aud, 'huugh I'D gob,ins in my head,
soon III the arms Of sleep rcposed.
Whether, while Somnus held me bound
The ghosts aud goiliins frisk'd in play
Abunt ihe apartment, round and rolud
My bed, is-what l cannot say.
SpecIres mig bt join iieir pale hands Ger
MY slumbering head for What know,
Add with their siJstly OPTICS pore
Upon my face Il hope not, thoush.)
The lovely lady might step ont
From her rich frame and Hiss my face--
Taking me Tor her spouse, doubt,
As Hay sleeping in his place.
'ris all surmise. But on that head
I'll own, ii any ghost, fun,
Presusord 10 glide about my bed,
hope twas she-that rose iiip'd one.