Page images
PDF
EPUB

Sudden, from the highest height
Towers the ancient mountain sprite-

And, his giant arms extending,
Stands before the shuddering prey.
"Must thou death and woe be sending
To these realms that own my sway?
Room for all have earth's wide regions—
Wherefore chase my harmless legions?"

Der Graf von Habsburg.

1.

AT Achen in imperial state

In the hall with age embrownéd,
'Mid solemn pomp King Rudolph sate
At the feast-a Cæsar crownéd.
The cates the Palgrave of the Rhine-
Bohemia bore the sparkling wine—
And all the Electors seven,
As round the sun the planet crew,
Encircled with their service due

The Lord of that earthly Heaven.

2.

And glad spectators throng'd around,

On the high balconies seated;

And the shrill-voic'd trumpet's brazen sound The shouting crowds repeated

Since ended the rule of blood and crime,
That long had mark'd that kingless time;
The justice-seat, no longer,

Bereft of the judge, was usurp'd by the spear,
Nor the weak and peaceful had cause for fear
To be made the prey of the stronger.

3.

Now the Cæsar has grasp'd the goblet of gold,
And he speaks with joyous glances-
"The feast is right royal and bright to behold,
And my heart within me dances.

But the bard-the bringer of joy-I miss,
Who was wont to arouse my bosom to bliss,
Or to godlike thoughts awaken:

His voice so sweet was my youth's delight;
And what I so priz'd as a simple knight,
Be ne'er from the monarch taken !"

4.

Then forth in that circle of princes bright

Stepp'd the bard in his robe loose flowing—
His beard and his locks all silver white
With snows of Time's bestowing.
"Sweet music sleeps in the golden strings;
Of Love's reward the minstrel sings;

The highest-the best-he praises—

What the heart can wish, or the sense may cheer. Then say, what is fittest the Cæsar to hear

On this day that his rapture raises."

66

5.

I may not command the minstrel”—spoke
With smiles the Imperial power.
"He bears a mightier Sovereign's yoke-
He obeys THE Ruling Hour.

As the tempest hurtles in the breeze-
Man knows not its birth, nor its motion sees-
As the stream from its fountain hidden;
So the minstrel's song from its inward source
Awakens the feelings with mystic force
That sleep in the heart unbidden.”

6.

The minstrel sudden sweeps the string, And it answers, clear and hollow“A noble Hunter is on the wing

The Chamois deer to follow;

A page goes behind with his weapons of chace; And soon he has reach'd a verdant place

On the stately steed that bore him,

And is made of a distant bell aware;

—A priest with the sacred host was there,
And the Sacristan walk'd before him.

7.

"The Count, to the ground he bows him low, Bare-headed in adoration,

To worship with meek devotion's glow

The Author of man's salvation.

But a torrent through the meadow roars,
By a cataract swoll'n above its shores-

The traveller's path bestriding;

And the priest lays down that blessed food,
While he looses his sandal to cross the flood,
With care for his charge providing.

8.

"What is it thou doest?'-the Count began, As with wond'ring eye he views him

'I go, sir, to shrive a dying man,

Ere Heaven from Earth unloose him.

But the bridge that was wont the waters to stay, The force of the torrent has swept away,

And deep in the whirlpool toss'd it;

So, rather than keep from the thirsty soul
This saving grace, though the big wave roll,
I shall bare-foot soon have cross'd it.'

9.

"The Count hath him set on his knightly steed, In his hands the rich bridle placing,

That the sick may not fail, at his utmost need, Of that holy help's embracing.

Himself mounts the page's hackney the while,,
And follows the chase with a cheerful smile;
-The priest on his way proceeding,

At morning's dawn brings back again
That princely steed, by the golden rein
With grateful reverence leading.

10.

666

Now, God so please!'-cried devoutly the Count, 'Shall no man ever persuade me,

For the chace or the fight that steed to mount,

Which has carried the Lord that made me.
And, if thou hast earn'd it not for thine own,
Then let it remain for God's service alone—
I thus to Him decreeing

From whom all honour and earthly good

I hold as lent; and body and blood,
And life and breath and being.'

11.

"Oh! so may God who heareth prayer,
And grants what is ask'd for duly,
To honour bring thee both here and there,
In that thou hast serv'd him truly.
Thou ownest now a Count's command-
For knighthood fam'd through the Schweizerland— '
With six fair daughters blooming.
May they six crownéd matrons shine,
-Enrapt he sang- thy princely line
To latest age illuming.'

7 22

12.

And with thoughtful brow sat the Cæsar there,

Revolving days long ended;

But when he beheld that bright eye's glare,
The riddle he comprehended.

« PreviousContinue »