Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-03-20
P O E T R Y
From the Chicago Literary Bud 'e'.
TIE DIAMOND RING.

[
TIE DIAMOND RING.
| BY JOHN l.. PEYTUN.
! Twas near the closing of summers day,
| The sun was lina'rin with Tarting ray,
! In hues Of fading light, he took his leave,
With all the glores oil a sunset eve;
When dusky as the shadows of the night.
horsernan in bis clanking armor bright,
Rode 10 the ancient Abbey Of st. Pierre
Twas said much treasure had been buried there
Trough solemn aisles, with slow and caution
tread,
He eager sought the treasures Of the dead,
And as lie moved with silent step TO trace
The dark recesses OF that hallowed place,
He saw human skull beneath his feet,
shattered throne proud reasons vacant seat
He quickly paused 10 lii it from the ground,
And musing as he turned i: round and round,
Thou must have been W hat fallen man call.
great,
To have been buried in This Church Of State
But whether good or bad, a tool, or wise,
An honest man, or demon in disguise,
No one bsyond the limits ofthis cell
OF all Thy fellow men can truly tell"
He sought among the dead for jewels rare,
And long he sought, not finding any there.
AT last, in snowy shroud maiden fair,
And round the virgins calm, nncloulod brow,
He saw the garland fowere,s faded now.
Thou heanteous maid,o he thought, chad st
thou not died.
| would have wooed thee as my cherished bride.
Then on her hand, tiny taper thing,
He saw brilliant gem-a diamond ring.
He seized the prize, and hurried from the spot,
Oeteome with JOY at his happy lot
Once poor, now rich, bot filled " lit. silent dread
He placed The costly gem beneath his head.
10 sleep he essayed, but twas all in vain,
For startling fears, and gloomy anAlous pain,
Disturbed his vision with their varied train
OF ghostly frms: 10 rack his tortured brain,
Until he dreamed on that unhappy night,
a rohber seized the ring and took 10 flight.
lie started wildly in this troubled scene.
10 find the '.gem of purest ray serene.o
Twas saf,: And while he looked upon the
baube.
The mighty source Of all his light mare irou-
lie,
He vowed that ERE the sun again should dawn,
Upon that same fair hand it should be drawn.
But soon the light through eastern portals
borne,
Bedeek'd with gold the roses of the morn.
The guilty knight now hurried 10 St. Pierre,
But pot with that resolve he formed in fear,
tut CURSED asafice Ililtu hin Win desire,
All 4 stepped his senses III her ranging fire.
Fo,ree.f ul OF his vow, the anant knave
Kesoi,es >gain to rob the silent grave.
He moye,l IL ward the chambers OF the dead,
REGARDLESS !. ao..lv Of his furmer dread
But hist he hecrs softly tender moan
Perhaps tbs v ind, setwsen the blocks OF stone
All no! he Eel! no abeaih come DER his
cheek -
Then what did that nSi.;dden "sonnd be-
speak 70
He turned around. and saw stari,.'g sight;
There stood the maid, in youthful bean'v ofiSh
He tuned 10 ny, and leave the hallowed stfo',
But no! TO leave the place she babe him not.
She laid her icy hanl upon his arm,
l. Chilled his blood, and lroz. him with alarm.
.Unhappy yonlh," in hollow tones she crieh,
TO wealth ihou'r. welded lis thy chosen
bride!
Thous, gained the deaTes, object Of thy heart,
BIZ, thou aaI thy 10, ed BRIDE must quickly
part.
In aeeine shadows thou hast sought 10 win
Enduring hlfpins>s, While stepped in sin;
Ills now too late to mend thy erring ways,
For now is filled The measure of thy days"
Aud then she seized, and bore him through The
GLOOM
Beyond the portals of the silent tomb.