Theresa's doom I never knew, "Our lot was henceforth separate."An angry man, ye may opine, "Was he, the proud Count Palatine; "And he had reason good to be, 340 "The first of men, nor less he deem'd "In others' eyes, and most in mine. "'S death! with a page-perchance a king "Had reconciled him to the thing; 355 "But with a stripling of a page— "I felt-but cannot paint his rage. IX. Bring forth the horse!'—the horse was brought; "In truth, he was a noble steed, "A Tartar of the Ukraine breed, 360 "Who look'd as though the speed of thought 'Twas but a day he had been caught; "They bound me on, that menial throng, Upon his back with many a thong; "Then loosed him with a sudden lash Away!--away!—and on we dash!"Torrents less rapid and less rash. X. 365 370 Away!-away!-My breath was gone"I saw not where he hurried on: " 'Twas scarcely yet the break of day, "And on he foam'd-away!-away!"The last of human sounds which rose, "As I was darted from my foes, "Was the wild shout of savage laughter, "Which on the wind came roaring after "A moment from that rabble rout: "With sudden wrath I wrench'd my head, 375 380 . And snapp'd the cord, which to the mane "Had bound my neck in lieu of rein, "And, writhing half my form about, "Howl'd back my curse; but 'midst the tread, ، The thunder of my courser's speed, 386 "Perchance they did not hear nor heed: 390 "It vexes me-for I would fain ،، There is not of that castle gate, "Save what grows on a ridge of wall, ،، Where stood the hearth-stone of the hall ; ،، And many a time ye there might pass, "Nor dream that e'er that fortress was: "I saw its turrets in a blaze, "Their crackling battlements all cleft, "And the hot lead pour down like rain 395 400 « From off the scorch'd, and blackening roof, 405 ،، Whose thickness was not vengeance-proof. ،، They little thought that day of pain, "When lanch'd, as on the lightning's flash, ،، They bade me to destruction dash, ، That one day I should come again, 410 "With twice five thousand horse, to thank "When, with the wild horse for my guide, 415 420 "The patient search and vigil long "Of him who treasures up a wrong. "We sped like meteors through the sky, "When with its crackling sound the night " Is chequer'd with the northern light: " And bounded by a forest black; "And, save the scarce seen battlement "On distant heights of some strong hold, Against the Tartars built of old, 430 "No trace of man. The year before "A Turkish army had march'd o'er; 66 "But, snorting still with rage and fear, "I tried my voice,-'twas faint and low, VOL. IV. S 435 440 445 450 455 |