Till a city of ruin begirt the shade, Where the boy and his mother at rest were laid. Palace and tower on that plain were left, Like fallen trees by the lightning cleft; The wild vine mantled the stately square, •! THE PEASANT GIRL OF THE RHONE. -There is but one place in the world. Thither where he lies buried! * * * There, there is all that still remains of him, COLERIDGE's Wallenstein. Alas! our young affections run to waste, Or water but the desert. Childe Harold. THERE went a warrior's funeral thro' the night, A waving of tall plumes, a ruddy light Of torches, fitfully and wildly thrown From the high woods, along the sweeping Rhone, Far down the waters. Heavily and dead, Under the moaning trees the horse-hoof's tread E In muffled sounds upon the greensward fell, Wore man's mute anguish sternly;-but of one Oh! who shall speak? What words his brow unveil ? A father following to the grave his son! That is no grief to picture! Sad and slow, With youth's fair form upon the bier laid low, Fell heaviest, for the massy boughs had grown Into thick archways, as to vault the tomb. Stately they trod the hollow ringing aisle, Round the De Coucis' antique monument, When dust to dust was given:-and Aymer slept Beneath the drooping banners of his line, Whose broidered folds the Syrian wind had swept Proudly and oft o'er fields of Palestine: So the sad rite was clos'd.-The sculptor gave As warriors are for fight, but calmly laid In slumber on his shield.-Then all was done, All still, around the dead. His name was heard Perchance when wine-cups flow'd, and hearts were stirr'd By some old song, or tale of battle won, Told round the hearth: but in his father's breast Was gay as when the voice whose sounds had ceas'd Mingled with theirs.-Ev'n thus life's rushing tide Bears back affection from the grave's dark side: Alas! to think of this!—the heart's void place Filled up so soon !—so like a summer-cloud, All that we lov'd to pass and leave no trace!— He lay forgotten in his early shroud. Forgotten?-not of all!-the sunny smile Glancing in play o'er that proud lip erewhile, And the dark locks whose breezy waving threw A gladness round, whene'er their shade withdrew From the bright brow; and all the sweetness lying Within that eagle-eye's jet radiance deep, And all the music with that young voice dying, Whose joyous echoes made the quick heart leap As at a hunter's bugle-these things lived Still in one breast, whose silent love survived The pomps of kindred sorrow.-Day by day, On Aymer's tomb fresh flowers in garlands lay, Thro' the dim fane soft summer-odours breathing, And all the pale sepulchral trophies wreathing, |