THE MINSTREL’S CURSE.
|
|
I.
|
|
| |
“My malison,” the Minstrel said,
I give to man or youth,
Who slights a loyal lady’s love,
Or trusts a wanton’s truth.”
|
|
II.
|
|
| |
“And on his traitor head shall fall
|
5 |
| |
Not only curse of mine,
But cited down, at Nature’s call,
God’s malison divine!” |
|
III.
|
|
| |
“We’ve borne our Lady to the grave
This weary, weary day,
|
10 |
| |
While our young Earl, a wanton’s slave,
Is false, and far away.” |
|
IV.
|
|
| |
“He riots in his Leman’s bower,
He quaffs her philter’d wine.
False Knight! false Love! this very hour,
|
15 |
| |
Where is that wife of thine?” [Page 69] |
|
V.
|
|
| |
“He wed her on mid-summer eve
With taper and with ring,
His passion withered with the leaf
But came not with the spring.”
|
20 |
VI.
|
|
| |
“She marked the change, poor heart! poor heart
She missed him from her side,
She strove to play the stoic’s part,
She sickened and she died!”
|
|
VII.
|
|
| |
“She lies outstretched in churchyard clay
|
25 |
| |
She drinks the deadly dew,
He leads the revels, far away
The noisiest of his crew.” |
|
VIII.
|
|
| |
“But on his traitor head shall fall
Not only curse of mine
|
30 |
| |
But cited down at Nature’s call
God’s malison divine!” [Page 70] |
|
|
