LARA. CANTO I. I. THE Serfs are glad through Lara's wide domain, And Slavery half forgets her feudal chain; He, their unhop'd, but unforgotten lord, Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall; And gay retainers gather round the hearth 9 With tongues all loudness, and with eyes all mirth. II. The chief of Lara is returned again : And why had Lara cross'd the bounding main? Left by his sire, too young such loss to know, That fearful empire which the human breast His youth through all the mazes of its race; 20 Short was the course his restlessness had run, But long enough to leave him half undone. III. And Lara left in youth his father-land; But from the hour he waved his parting hand Had nearly ceased his memory to recall. His sire was dust, his vassals could declare, 'Twas all they knew, that Lara was not there; 30 Nor sent, nor came he, till conjecture grew Cold in the many, anxious in the few. His hall scarce echoes with his wonted name, Another chief consoled his destined bride, The young forgot him, and the old had died; "Yet doth he live!" exclaims the impatient heir, And sighs for sables which he must not wear. IV. He comes at last in sudden loneliness, 40 And whence they know not, why they need not guess; They more might marvel, when the greeting's o'er, Not that he came, but came not long before: No train is his beyond a single page, Of foreign aspect, and of tender age. Years had roll'd on, and fast they speed away To those that wander as to those that stay; 50 But lack of tidings from another clime Had lent a flagging wing to weary Time. The present dubious, or the past a dream. He lives, nor yet is past his manhood's prime, Though seared by toil, and something` touch'd by time; His faults, whate'er they were, if scarce forgot, Nor good nor ill of late were known, his name His soul in youth was haughty, but his sins No more than pleasure from the stripling wins; 60 |