PEDRO AND INEZ.
Reading edition
BY ELIZABETH J. EAMES.
[It is a well known fact that the hapless Inez de Castro, the young and beautiful bride of Pedro of Portugal, was murdered, while he was absent on a hunting excursion.]
Softly broke the light of morning, through a pictured window's gloom, Blandly strayed the zephyr's winglet 'mid rich plants of Eastern bloom, Shedding a strong spicy fragrance round that gorgeous room, Lightly on her couch of purple slumbered Pedro's new-made bride, In her young unshadowed beauty, with no other thought beside That which his deep love had poured o'er her spirit's tide. Softly had Prince Pedro risen from his nuptial couch that morn, Lightly donned his hunting vesture, at the call of hound and horn: Yet he bends enamored o'er that face of Beauty born. One more love-glance, yet another, on the sleeping face he cast; Soft he stoops to meet that red lip—one light kiss—the last! "God and our Lady bless thee, love!"—and so Prince Pedro passed. Softly faded into twilight gorgeous gleams of gold and red, Valley, stream, and purple mountain lay in mellow glory spread. And the lemon's snowy blossom dewy odors shed. Homeward through eve's tender shadows speeds Prince Pedro with his band, While with love almost paternal his fond eye drinks in the land, Over which he soon may govern with a kingly hand. Now the mellow horn he soundeth through the leafy olive groves, Far and wide the clear notes echo, but they bring not her he loves— "Inez? is it thou, sweet Inez, where yon shadow moves?" Never more shall Inez answer to that fond familiar call— Of the lovely bride left sleeping, bleeding clay is all— Of a fiendish hate the victim lies she, wrapt in gory pall. Never more from that dread hour was Prince Pedro seen to smile! Never more did chase or revel his still agony beguile— But he walked in the shadow of dark thoughts the while! With her martyred form forever graven on his memory, He became a scourge and terror from whom all men sought to flee, Tortured were his victims, but he smiled in mockery! Such the change, and such the monarch whose reft hand made discord ring Like a clarion through the country that had gladly hailed him king. Darkly, like the tempest, rode he on the avenger's wing! And when midnight drew her curtain round the land, that hour In her blood-stained chamber did he stand with fearful power, And renew the fatal vow to avenge his martyred flower!