Rowena & Harold Part 6

Nemesis.

Sir Guy's dire act of awful vengeance ta'en A ravenous brood of prey, To make their nest, Seemed gnawing at his heart-strings night and day; With croaks like drowning cries they filled his breast And raised with fluttering wing the ghosts of those he'd slain.

No dove of peace on wings of morn returned.

He watched with eager eyes Day's amber birth And saw, or thought he saw, a form arise; 'Twas his--Sir Harold's--just as when on earth He came to plead his suit and was with insult spurned.

"O G.o.d, have mercy! Grant it may be true That he indeed doth live!

Oh! warders, fly, Proclaim--a thousand livres I will give To know the Knight of Wynnwood did not die In that night's fearful wreck. If found, I'll make it two!"

The Demon Exorcised.

As beasts and lands welcome the rain they craved And ope their parch-ed lips To drink their fill; So felt Sir Guy the demons loose their grips, As warders, one by one, the news distil, To quench their h.e.l.l-lit fires--'that all on board were saved'!

Like savage beasts when bite and roar grow weak, Seek out some lonely nook Wherein to die; So now Sir Guy, whose thunderous voice once shook Old Ragnor's walls and made the bravest fly, Would feebly cry: "My child!" then, death-like, swoon away.

Full ten days pa.s.sed ere conscious life again Illum'd those once stern eyes, With rays serene, Now mildly placid as the azure skies, On which one grateful turns from sun's fierce sheen; Refres.h.i.+ng, too, his milder tones as summer rain.

Father and Child.

"Rowena, Harold, Eric, friends, forgive!

And could I hear her say 'Dear father mine, We all forgive'--I would no longer pray For life; but to atone my all resign To those I've wronged: for this alone I fain would live."

"They live, Sir Guy, and ere the sun has set Will hither come!" they said.

He crossed his hands While o'er his face a smile complacent spread And docile as a child to their commands To sleep he yields his eyes with gracious tear-drops wet.

Rowena's kiss, yet sweeter far the sound She breathed of 'Father mine'

The knight awoke; Another moment and their arms entwine.

She checked the word ere from his lips it broke 'Forgive'! Father and child long-lost, again were found.

Reconciliation.

His outstretched hands did next forgiveness seek Of one who long had prayed This hour to see.

With hands close clasp'd, no words the knight essayed; In tears he quenched a life-long enmity.

Thus did the Saxon's love triumphant vengeance wreak!

Then last, though not the least who'd borne the cross And bravely gone to die In flower of youth, Young Eric caught the knight's atoning sigh, Who joined his hands with those of faithful Ruth Thus triumphed faith and love o'er pain and death and loss.

And what of him whose kind and skilful care Had saved the life of three?

Forget they him?

Not so! a gracious pardon, full and free, With thankful joy they bear to dungeons grim; And one more doomed to die from death's fierce grip they tear.

A Royal Visitor.

Unfurl the banner, let it court the breeze Once more, on Ragnor's Towers.

A wedding peal Now ring. Come virgins, strew with flowers Their bridal path, whose woes this day will heal!

Look bright, ye frowning cliffs and laugh ye moaning seas!

What means that wild commotion an the strand?

A stately vessel nears Old Ragnor's port!

"King Richard comes!" Sir Guy with terror hears.

"Haste, Harold, pay our sovereign royal court; Crave pardon for me! Say, I lie at death's command!"

"Welcome, my liege!" "Sir Harold, welcome, too, Is sight of thee, brave knight!

But where is he.

Sir Guy de Hastyngs,--flies he now my sight?"

"Nay, nay, my liege! his sponsor will I be; His heart for thee, his king, doth bear allegiance true!"

The Royal Pardon.

"Your gracious pardon grant, my liege, I pray; He has atonement made For all he's done: And nature's last great debt will soon be paid; His life may even set with yonder sun!"

"Lead on, Sir Knight, I'd see him, ere he pa.s.s away."

"Farewell," King Richard said, "Heaven's peace be thine!

And you, Sir Harold, kneel!

Hand me your sword!

Now rise, for valiant deeds and service leal, Of Hastyngs' lands and Normanhurst the Lord!

Till on young Eric's heels the spurs of knighthood s.h.i.+ne!"

Once more old Ragnor's rocks resound with cries, Of grief? Nay--joy and pride!

For on the sea, A n.o.ble, full-rigged s.h.i.+p doth stately ride-- The Orient Pearl--her white cross streaming free; Whose captain Mike and crew now laugh at frowning skies!

The Deserted Brides.

Hearts bound so late by love's sweet hallowed chain By war's fierce edicts rent, Lie bleeding sore; And scan with eyes from weeping well-nigh spent, Love's waning signals till they see no more.

Heaven grant them soon to see those signals once again!

By Bertram's arrow pierced with fatal aim, The Lion-heart was torn.

Beside him lay, Of strength, by pain and bleeding torn, One Eric whom the king had dubbed that day A knight--no worthier yet--adorned the roll of fame!