Rosina
Weeks of wild delirium past,
Weeks of fevered pain;
Rest from suffering comes at last;
Reason dawns again.
It was a pleasant April day
Declining to the afternoon;
Sunshine upon her pillow lay
As warm as middle June.
It told her how unconsciously*
Early spring had hurried by;
Ah! Time has not delayed for me, "
She murmured with a sigh.
" Angora's hills have heard their tread;
The crimson flag is planted there;
Elderno's waves are rolling red,*
While I lie fettered here.
" Nay; rather, Gondal's shaken throne
Is now secure and free;
And my King Julius reigns alone,
Debtless, alas! to me. "
Loud was the sudden gush of woe
From those who watched around;
Rosina turned, and sought to know
Why burst that boding sound.
" What then, my dreams are false? " she said;
" Come, maidens, answer me:
Has Almedore in battle bled?1
Have slaves subdued the free?
" I know it all: he could not bear
To leave me dying far away;
He fondly, madly lingered here
And we have lost the day!
" But check those coward sobs, and bring
My robes, and smoothe my tangled hair:
A noble victory you shall sing
For every hour's despair!
" When will he come? 'Twill soon be night:
He'll come when evening falls;
Oh, I shall weary for the light,
To leave my lonely halls! "
She turned her pallid face aside,
As she would seek repose;
But dark Ambition's thwarted pride
Forbade her lids to close.
And still on all who waited by
Oppressive mystery hung;
And swollen with grief was every eye,
And chained was every tongue.
They whispered nought but, " Lady, sleep;
Dear Lady, slumber now!
Had we not bitter cause to weep
While you were laid so low?
" And Hope can hardly deck the cheek
With sudden signs of cheer,
When it has worn through many a week
The stamp of anguish drear. " *
Fierce grew Rosina's gloomy gaze;
She cried, " Dissemblers, own,*
Exina's arms in victory blaze;*
Brenzaida's crest is down? "
" Well, since it must be told, Lady,
Brenzaida's crest is down;
Brenzaida's sun is set, Lady,
His empire overthrown!
" He died beneath this1 palace dome — *
True hearts on every side;
Among his guards, within his home
Our glorious Monarch died.
" I saw him fall, I saw the gore
From his heart's fountain swell,
And mingling on the marble floor
His murderer's life-blood fell.
And now, 'mid northern mountains lone,
His desert grave is made;
And, Lady, of your love alone
Remains a mortal shade! " 1 Or " fled. " 1 As in manuscript. Perhaps " his " was intended.
Weeks of fevered pain;
Rest from suffering comes at last;
Reason dawns again.
It was a pleasant April day
Declining to the afternoon;
Sunshine upon her pillow lay
As warm as middle June.
It told her how unconsciously*
Early spring had hurried by;
Ah! Time has not delayed for me, "
She murmured with a sigh.
" Angora's hills have heard their tread;
The crimson flag is planted there;
Elderno's waves are rolling red,*
While I lie fettered here.
" Nay; rather, Gondal's shaken throne
Is now secure and free;
And my King Julius reigns alone,
Debtless, alas! to me. "
Loud was the sudden gush of woe
From those who watched around;
Rosina turned, and sought to know
Why burst that boding sound.
" What then, my dreams are false? " she said;
" Come, maidens, answer me:
Has Almedore in battle bled?1
Have slaves subdued the free?
" I know it all: he could not bear
To leave me dying far away;
He fondly, madly lingered here
And we have lost the day!
" But check those coward sobs, and bring
My robes, and smoothe my tangled hair:
A noble victory you shall sing
For every hour's despair!
" When will he come? 'Twill soon be night:
He'll come when evening falls;
Oh, I shall weary for the light,
To leave my lonely halls! "
She turned her pallid face aside,
As she would seek repose;
But dark Ambition's thwarted pride
Forbade her lids to close.
And still on all who waited by
Oppressive mystery hung;
And swollen with grief was every eye,
And chained was every tongue.
They whispered nought but, " Lady, sleep;
Dear Lady, slumber now!
Had we not bitter cause to weep
While you were laid so low?
" And Hope can hardly deck the cheek
With sudden signs of cheer,
When it has worn through many a week
The stamp of anguish drear. " *
Fierce grew Rosina's gloomy gaze;
She cried, " Dissemblers, own,*
Exina's arms in victory blaze;*
Brenzaida's crest is down? "
" Well, since it must be told, Lady,
Brenzaida's crest is down;
Brenzaida's sun is set, Lady,
His empire overthrown!
" He died beneath this1 palace dome — *
True hearts on every side;
Among his guards, within his home
Our glorious Monarch died.
" I saw him fall, I saw the gore
From his heart's fountain swell,
And mingling on the marble floor
His murderer's life-blood fell.
And now, 'mid northern mountains lone,
His desert grave is made;
And, Lady, of your love alone
Remains a mortal shade! " 1 Or " fled. " 1 As in manuscript. Perhaps " his " was intended.
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