A SPANISH ROMANCE.
Reading edition
———
BY FRANCES S. OSGOOD.
———
Bright fell thy smiling ray,
Rosy Aurora!
Where Alvarado lay,
Dreaming of Mora!
To the tent stole a youth
Lovely as morning,
Yet was his mien in sooth
Full of proud scorning.
Bright, wavy locks fell o’er
Eyes wildly beaming,
Deep the plumed cap he wore
Shadowed their gleaming.
To his pale cheek there came
Hues like the sunset,
For his light, fragile frame
Thrilled for the onset.
Fiercely his sword he drew,
Bold was his bearing,
While to the knight he threw
Words of wild daring.
Crying—“Thou craven false!”
Dark the knight lowered—
“He who in battle halts
Proves him a coward.”
Long had he calmly heard—
Brave Alvarado—
Deeming each daring word
Boyish bravado;
But as that bitter name
Left the lip curling,
Flashed his swift sword—a flame
Through the air whirling.
Proud as his princely foe,
Dauntless in danger,
Springing to meet the blow
Sprang the bright stranger.
Home struck the steel—and ah!
At his feet lying,
Pale as a waning star—
Who is it dying?
Back fall the cap and plume,
Back the bright tresses—
No more her rosy bloom
Meets his caresses.
Lightly her lovely hair
Floats o’er his shoulder,
To his heart’s mad despair
Soft his arms fold her.
“Wo worth the day,” he cried,
“Sweetest Lenora!
When I left thee, my bride
For the false Mora.”
Then in her wistful eyes,
Blue as yon heaven,
He saw her soul arise,
Sighing “Forgiven!”
But her pale, parted lips
Silently quiver,
And in Death’s dark eclipse
Falls she forever!
Sad fell thy sunny ray,
Rosy Aurora,
Where Alvarado lay
By his Lenora.