Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-04-01
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THE BRIDAL

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20 Il II RY.
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THE BRIDAL.
Upon the bright and ve1dant banks OF Rhine.
Where sloping hills and 1ow'ry dale combin
To clothe fair Nature In her gayest sheen,
And throw enchantment DER each lovely scene
An ancient castle reared in ages past,
But now with marks Of time around her cast
Proud Woustein. once Baron's lordly seat.
| Deserted stands-for bats lone retreat
| One autumn eve, brewing storm on high
With direful aspect filled the lowering sky;
The startling thunders DER the valleys broke
And sleeping Nature to the storm awoke;
The vivid lightning flashed with meteor blaze
| Illumed the darkness with it's dazzling rays,
| Hurled the proud oak in fragments DER tn,
ground,
And scattered wreak and ruin all around.
A gallant knight, returning from the war,
Saw Wousteins lofty turrets from afar,
And turning from the road as quick as thought
With rapid pace the sheltering castle sought,
And soon approached the antiquated fort.
And passed the drawbridge to the inner court
A perfect form the emouldering mansion showed
And in the centre of that old abode
Was once garden fair that far excelled
Whate'er the muse hath sung or eye beheld,
But now, how changed! no flowers with artless
grace
Adorn'd the paths to cheer this gloomy place
His horses feet produced hollow sound,
That echoed through the empty chambers
round.
He called aloud to bare and broken walls,
But echo only answered to his calls,
Until at last. by WEAKNESS opprest,
To an inviting place he turned forest.
A moment lost in thought. he soon deserted
glim'ring light for which he quickly hied;
Through many long and gloomy halls he went
Upon this bold and eager search intent;
But soon the light he lost and saw no more
Until he came before an open door,
And stopp'd confounded as the lustre bright
Of angel beauty flashed upon his sight;
Then moved with nearer gaze those eyes to view,
Which on the floor the bashful virgin threw,
With head reclining on her taper hand,
Surprised she sat- though keeping self COM
mand,
Till he in gentle tones the silence broke,
And to the maid in words of greeting spoke.
She quickly raised her brightly beaming eyes,
But to his converse only bowed replies.
Your pardon, lady! do not think me rude,
If on your gentle presence intrude,
And from the storm kindly shelter seek"
Again she bowed her head, but did not speak.
He deemed her mute reception icy cold,
And firm resolv'd the secret to unfold
And while the storm in fury ragged without
IT.
By cold and hunger he was now oppressed,
And frankly to the maid his wants confessed,
With graceful bow the lady rose in haste,
And tempting viands ON the table placed;
But from her ashy lips no sound was heard;
She spoke by signs, and uttered not word.
Her strange demeanor caused his blood to chill,
While yet her pallor was more wondrous still
And as he ate and drank his sparkling wine,
He gazed intent upon her form divine.
At length, elated by the tempting wine,
And quafiing still this nectar Of the vine,
He grew ernboldened, and at once essay'd
The truth to learn addressing thus the maid
''The daughter of what valiant knight art
thou?"
To which she answered only with bow;
Then cast her eyes across the ancient hall,
And pointed to Il portrait on the wall.
1t was knight of bold and lofty n1ien,
Of stately air and dignity serene,
Of massive brow, and calm and dauntless eye,
Whose costume spoke of ages long gone by.
The damsel then her dreadful silence broke,
Aud sadly to the knightly soldier spoke.
81 am" said she. "of my proud race the last
A line Of some renown in ages past;
This broad domain is mine-you're welcome
here"
This broad domain Is nine'' rang in his ear.
The youth was poor, and with another view
He thought her lovely, though of pallid hue;
And now he felt that Loves unerring dart
Had caused q pang within his throbbing heart.
Oh, sacred Love! thou art tender flower,
And grosser passions oft usurp thy power;
Accused gold lights up fercer flame
That reigns supreme in every age the same
Ger fallen man, and holds unbounded sway
To drive each nobler impulse far away.
Advancing to the maid, with manner bland,
He quickly took her not unwilling hand.
Twas icy cold; and as it touched his own
deadly chill pierc'd to the very bone;
And deeming that his lips would warmth inn
part.
AOeSA o'
fervor that the sparkling hook awoke
Had made him wondrous bold, and thus he
spoke:
"Art thou, fair dame, in thy affections FREQ?
And may hope thy cherished friend to be?"
A modest blush suffused her lovely face;
She bowed assent with dignity and grace;
A thousand new born charms to him appeared,
And stifled hopes within his bosom reared.
With rising fears and anxious doubts inspired,
And still with Loves most ardent passion fired,
The stricken knight now ventured to declare
His deep devotion to the lady fair.
Well now he played the amorous lovers part,
And fopdly pledged to her his hand and heart,
With solemn oath to honor and defend
His only love-this last and dearest friend.
A happy smile was on her lips displayed,
While III her look rapture was betrayed,
And o'er her face, before of wanliIe hue,
The bloom OF roses burst upon the view.
| She rose, and took from off table there
Two massive rings adorned with brilliants rare
| Soon on his hand shone one with lustre bright
The other decked her own oflily white;
And then in haste mystic wreath she twined
Ofcypress twigs and rosemary combined,
And placed the fatal emblem on her head
A fearful omen, fraught with horrid dread.
With flashing eyes and bearing Of command
She bade him follow with her waving hand,
And quickly to an open door she went,
Upon some vague, mysterious mission bent;
While through his heart unearthly terrcrs shot
All! fain would he have vanished from the
spot.
Two holy priests, arrayed in black appeared,
With snowy hair and amply flowing beard,
And took between them quick the bridal pair
With CHASTITY smiles and strangely hideou'
| stare.
And now he saw that to retreat were vain,
For countless knights made up the nuptia
| train.
With solemn tread they marched in silen
| gloom,
Mid sculptured forms upon each honored tomb
That seemed to mock them with exultins
| smile