Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-04-24
VOL. XIV.
p 0 E 7 r Y.
THE MINsTR ELS CCRsE

From the Herman of HAND
Once stood in bycgonc dgcs a castle high and steep,
Far shone its lofty batlcmcns DER land aud deep,
And round it fragrant gardens blooming wreath had
Where many sparkling fountains in ruinbow-splendor
played.
There rcgncd naughty monarch, who called much
land his own,
So dark and yet so pallid he sat upon his thrones
For what he thought was terror-his every look was
rage,
Ills speech was like to scourgcs The wrote-bood
stained the page.
Once ourucycd to ,hi. castle noble minstrel pair;
The had golden rnglets, and the other silver air
The elder bore the harp, and sat on paliicy gay;
His youthful song-companon, walked buoyant on the
way.
Thus spoke the gray-harcd minstrel "now ready be,
Think ofourd deepest melodies and sing thy fullest tone,
Take all our powers together, G joy, and sorrows
smart.
Our aim must be to-day. to move the Kings stern
heart"
And now within the castle the minstrel twain are seem
Where t in all their glory the monarch and his queen.
The King in fearful splcndor, like oo' dy northern
Light
The Queen in silent beauty, as the moon on summers
night.
Then struck the chords the old man, and touched so
wuudruus well,
That richcr-evcr richcr-the music seemed to swell ;
And then with heavenly ccarncss the youths voice
flowed along,
Commingliug with his fathers Ike solemn spirit-song.
They sung Of love and prugtime, they sung of gold
aye;
Of freedom and Of vaior,-of warrior saint and sage;
They sung Of all that swcctnes, to mans breast may
mpurt;
They svng of every holy thing that better makes lis
heart.
The courtcrs who surrounded forgot their scott and
iecr;
The King grim warriors bent their knees and prayed
in holy fear;
The Queen dissolved in pleasure, and yet with pain
oppressed,
Gave to the wundrous singers the that graccd her
breast.
You have bewitched my people, would you scduce
The King exclaimed in ferccncss and tremblcd, in
his pride:--
lie drew lis sword,--rke lightning he pierced the
youths breast ihro
From which instead Of golden songs the crimson flood
As by q storm dispersed was every listening guest.
The minstrel youth expired upon his masters breast
Who wrapped him in his mantle, and laid him on the
horse
And from the fatal castle, his way went with the corse
Before the castle portal the minstrel turns him round
And grnSps his harp with ierceneS--,hat harp OF
matchlcss sound.
lie lashes it To pieces against the marble wall,
Then cries that the echo. ring fearful through eac
hal:-
Woe unto You proud castle. may nc'er sweet tone Of
sound,
Reecho through your chambers, in your wall, b,
found,
In You may groan, and slavery in endless horror vie
Until in dust and ruins, Revenge may see You lie.
Woe to You fragrant gardens, in lovely light Of Nav
show You this di>iigured corpse fast Fastening TO de-
cay,
May you bcholliug withcr. may every spring be dry
May you through future ages, waste deserted lie.
Woe to you ruthless Jucher,-bc cursed thy an,
name;
In vain be all thy striving for wrcnths Of bloody fame
May in eternal darkness thy mcmurs- disappear,
Or, like dying poan be lost Ia empty air.
He ceased, and left the ca,tc,-the Heavens heard h
prayer;
The wall. are now low lying those stately halls ar,
drcar;
Still marks pillar drcarly the sight Of vanishc,
PRIDE
And this, already broken will soon lie on it. side.
And round about no gardens, but wild and barren land
No tree extends its shelter spring winds through
the sand
The Kings name is lorsotten-no heart his fame hatl
thrilled;
Engulfed in dark oblivon-thc Min,,re's curse ful
filled.
| II. {. WILSON.