And ever then when death drew near Its dark unfathomed depths did send The Lord of Arlinkow was. old A bloom as bright as opening morn Far was her beauty known, for none Together did they hope to tread For now the day drew near to make The eve was fair and mild the air; And brightly o'er the water streamed The liquid radiance wide; Donica's little dog ran on And gamboled at her side. Youth, Health, and Love bloomed on her cheek, Her full dark eyes express In many a glance to Eberhard Her soul's meek tenderness. Nor sound was heard, nor passing gale The air was hushed; no little wave Sudden the unfathomed lake sent forth As the deep sounds of death arose, The senseless maiden fell. Loudly the youth in terror shrieked, And with a wild and eager look But soon again did better thoughts And he with trembling hope beheld And on his arm reclined she moved. And soon with strength recovered reached Yet never to Donica's cheek Her cheeks were deathy white, and wan, Her eyes so bright and black of yore, The dog that gamboled by her side, Yet did the faithful Eberhard And when he found her health unharmed He would not brook delay, But pressed the not unwilling maid And when at length it came, with joy And as they at the altar stood And as the youth with holy warmth That instant from her earthly frame And at the side of Eberhard RUDIGER. Divers princes and noblemen being assembled in a beautiful and fair palace, which was situate upon the river Rhine, they beheld a boat or small barge make toward the shore, drawn by a swan in a silver chain, the one end fastened about her neck, the other to the vessel; and in it an unknown soldier, a man of a comely personage and graceful presence, who stept upon the shore; which done, the boat guided by the swan left him, and floated down the river. This man fell afterwards in league with a fair gentlewoman, married her, and by her had many children. After some years the same swan came with the same barge unto the same place; the soldier entering into it was carried thence the way he came, left wife, children and family, and was never seen amongst them after. BRIGHT on the mountain's heathy slope The day's last splendours shine, And rich with many a radiant hue, And many a one from Waldhurst's walls As ruffling o'er the pleasant stream So as they strayed, a swan they saw Whose streamer to the gentle breeze Long floating fluttered light, Beneath whose crimson canopy There lay reclined a knight. With arching crest and swelling breast And onward to the shore they drew, Was never a knight in Waldhurst's walls Was never youth at aught esteemed Was never a maid in Waldhurst's walls Her cheek was fair, her eyes were dark, And many a rich and noble youth At every tilt and tourney he For knightly feats superior still, His gallant feats, his looks, his love, Like morning dreams of happiness Yet Rudiger would sometimes sit And his dark downward eye would seem But soon he raised his looks again And smiled his cares away; And, mid the hall of gaiety Was none like him so gay. And onward rolled the waning months, Hailed with a father's name. But silently did Rudiger And darkly on the babe he gazed.~ And when to bless the little babe To cleanse the stains of sin away Then did the cheek of Rudiger And faltering in his speech, he bade Till he could, to right health restored, |