San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-11

! seek for none
Beneath the SUM-
No time for love have /. "
az come to peril life and fame;
Nv shield with h.ur de- lis
Snail be my tent;
Ny days are spent
In cause OF liberty
From behind MS steel-barred visor
The swHthy knigh: replied:
SHe whom | serve
Doth i'll deserve
To be thus here denied -.....
NO eyes hath she, nor golden -
Treasure of sweeping nalr;
No outstrrtched hands ...
For loves demands,
Yet she is passing talr. .|
"who serve her must relnqgish, ,- ..
An thoughts of worldly gain:
Must serve with tears
and all their years
Endure al endless pain.
sis she On empress ?" asked they,
"Does she protler crown or gold Z"
"A diadem
Without gem
OF tabled wealth untold ~
The wondering knights were silent.
The tones were CeeO aud grave:
"Sne lis AN empress truly,
Mighty and strong 10 save
There came three maids a-ridng
10 the city by the sea,
With glauces shy,
And aown-dropped eye,
Aud bruidered neur de-lls.
Abreast they rode and ON their wells
The suu-ruys struck athwart,
Ami one was TAR,
With rudy hair,
And two were grave and swart.
Upon the marble pavement
Their palfreys hoots outranS,
And to the sound
With wells drawn round,
An echoipg song they sang.
"Why come ye from ia, wars :" they ASKED
the youngest maid was FAIRY
All lily-w white,
In GOLD beiignt
With curled corn -colored hair.
The young ,st knight aow dofei his plume
"a warrior bold was h9;)
He said II came,
Sweet maid, for fame,
But now pll follow thee" -
Then straightway to her gentle sseed
She gave the siiken rein,
And at her side
The knight did ride
His comrads called III vain.
The second maid upheld her veil,
And wonderous dark was she;
Her shadowy eyes -
The knight dlscrles
Who bore the tleur-de-lis.
"Why come we from the wars" she asked.
"a gallant knight was he.)
Il come 10 die
For liberty;
But now--rll die for thee
Now. face to face the other two
Awhile did silent stand.
Then spoke tue knight,
'Fear you the light,
With that detaining handE"
"Uphft thy veil, fear no face,
However fair. Beneath
Its lovely grace -
| can but trace EEIss
The grnuing head of Death"
81 bid you beware" she said,
"My power to DEFY;
None see and 30
UuscLthed, know,
Who lightly thus reply
~ dare the view!' the warrior cried,
Aud through his visor bars
His gloomy eyes
Clear a as the skies
Beset with Sumer stars. H.
.Uplift your h .m"-the subtle voice
Was silver-s,, set aud blani
The crested cAsque
And s.eely mask
Fell from his nai!-s!oved hand,
His ebon locks aui flashing eve
Challen Sed the hooking glance;
With lips compressed
He held in rest
His lith and glIsteulug lance.
With sudden move nent hack she Huug
The veil that swept arOuni:
The shivSrIug lance
Beneath her -iance
Fell with = Changing sound.
With bitter gaze he swep: her face,
With scornful lips he smiled:
Think not. he said,
by that bright head,
I can be thus beguiie3."
UPractice thine arts on him who dsres
Swear with adouble breath,
l am in quest
OF her whose best
And greatest gift is-deAth.' -.-
"Reoeive.- the subtle voice replied,
This guerdOn that hold"
Refore his eyes
She held the prize
A kiaEly crown Of gold
aWithhold thine Offering" helcried.
sucb gsads are not for ne.
Ny iron easque
IL all I AK
N.zght vi1 taks froz t5ss"