by Miss Skelton [Eliza Anne Skelton].
Originally published in Ainsworth's Magazine: A Miscellany of Romance (Chapman and Hall) vol.3 #3 (Feb 1843).
He sat beneath a cresset's ray, in a dark and lofty room,
With eyes and hair of raven black, and brow of midnight gloom;
I stood before that mighty seer—I brought him gems and gold—
"All this shall be thine own," I cried; "do thou my fate unfold."
"Lady," he said; and as he spoke, his voice was soft and low,
As singing winds that through the trees in summer evenings blow;
"Take back thy wealth—take back thy gems; I do not need thy gold;
For the sake of thy bright eyes alone will I thy fate unfold.
"But first I ask thee,—hast thou strength beyond the strength of man?
Courage to see the past return—the coming hour to scan?
Canst thou behold them all pass by, with brow and lip unmoved?
They, the deceiving or deceived! the loving and the loved?"
And then I answer'd, "Mighty seer, draw thou the circle round,
I have strength beyond the strength of man—I dread not sight or sound;
I would but see my mother's shade, fair as on earth she moved—
I would but see mine own true knight—the loving and the loved."
Then thrice he drew the charméd ring, three times the incense flung,
Till o'er us both a smoky cloud of sable darkness hung;
And, when the darkness pass'd away, forth from the opening gloom,
My mother's gentle form appear'd in all her vanish'd bloom.
As one up-risen from deep sleep, her look was strange and wild—
She gazed upon me as I knelt; but did not know her child.
The gloom retarn'd—the figure pass'd, back to its long decay;
"Now shew to me mine own true knight—my lover far away."
Again the charméd ring was traced, again the incense flung,
Again the smoky cloud around in thickest darkness hung;
Again the darkness clear'd away, beneath an open sky,
Gazing upon my pictured face, I saw my lover lie.
"Well hast thou done, oh, mighty Seer! the present and the past
Have both been mine. One trial more—the greatest and the last:"
Then spoke the Wizard,—"Now will I thy coming fate unfold;
One little month shall pass away—look! what dost thou behold?"
I saw myself—all pale and wan; my dark and floating hair
Fell o'er a face most sad and changed—a face that once was fair;
I saw my lover—holy saints! that guile like his should be!
A fairer bride was by his side; he did not think on me!
I could no longer keep the vow to mark all things unmoved;
I could not see him pass away, unloving, though so loved;
Bat with a wild and bitter shriek, I started to my feet;
I cross'd the ring—I stretch'd my arms, my faithless love to greet.
Loud yells arose, above, around—I faint—I swoon away;
But I have waken'd from that trance, I hail the light of day.
Ah! sister mine, thou weepest sore; my lover—where is he?
"A fairer bride is by his side; he doth not think on thee!"