The Shasta courier., 1853-10-22
LRd~ Uarhnra.
BY Alexander SMITH.


Earl Gawaln wooed the Lady Barbara
High-thoughted Barbara, so white and cold
'Mong broad-branched beeches in the summer
shade,
In soft green light his passion he has told
When ranbeat winds did shrek across the
The Earl did take her fair reluctant ear.
Framed passion-irenbled dtties manifold
Silent she sat his amorous breath to hear,
With calm and steady eyes her heart was other
where.
He sighed for her through all the summer
weeks:
Sitting beneath the trees whose fruitful boughs
Bore glorious apples with smooth shining
cheeks,
Earl Gawain came and whispered, LADY.
rouse
Thou art no vestal held in holy vows,
Out with our falcons to the pleasant heath.'
Her fathers blood leapt up into her brows-
lie who, exulting on the trumpets breath.
Game charging like star across the lists Of
Geath,
Trembled, and passed before her high rebuke;
Aud then she sat, her hands ciasped round her
kuee:
Like one far-thoughted was the latly's look.
For in morning cold as misery
She saw lone ship sailing on the sea
Before the north twas driven like cloud,
High on the poop mau sat mourntully;
The wind was whiStling through mast and
shroud,
And to the whistling wind thus did he sing
aloud:
. Dids look last night upon my native wales,
Thou sun that from the drenching sea has
clomb?
le demon winds that glet my gaping sails,
Upon the salt must | ever ioam
sAeer forever on the barren foam!
q happy are ye resting mariners
death, that thou woudst come and take me
home!,
A band unseen this vessel onward steers
Aud onward must float through slow MOON
measured years.
- Ye winds, when like curse We drove us on.
Frothing the waters, and along our way,
Nor cape nor headlapds through long mornings
One wept alend-one shuddered down to pray
One howled Upon the deep we are astray.f
On our wild hearts his words fell like a blight :
IN one short hour my hair stricken gray,
For all the crew sank CHASTITY in my sight
As we went driving through the cold starry
hight.
" Madness fell on me in my loneliness.
The sea toanled curses, and the reeling sky
became a dreadful face, which did oppress
Me with the weight of its unwinking eye.
1t tied. when | burst forth into cry
A shoa OF fends oil me from the deep.
] hid but III all corners'they did pry,
And dragged me forth, aud round did dance
and leap:
They mouthed me in dream, and tore me
from sweet sleep.
Strange consultations were above my head,
Strange birds around the vessel shricked and
flew, aaa
Strange shapes like shadows, through the clear
sea hed,s
AS our lone ship. wide winged, came ripping
through, -
Angering to foam the smooth and sleeping
blue"
The lady sighed. Far, far. upon the sea,
My own Sir Arthur, could die with you
The wind blows shrill between my love and
me-"
Fond heart the space between was but the
apple tree.
There was cry Of joy; with seeking hands
She fled 10 him like worn bird to her nest;
Like washing water on the figured sands,
His being came and went in sweet unrest,
AS from the mighty shelter of his breast
The Lady Barbara her head uprears
With wan smile. : Meihinks I'm but half
blest;
Now when I've found thee after many weary
years,
| cannot thee love! so blind am | with
tears"