Poems Teachers Ask For Volume II Part 55

Bernardo Del Carpio

King Alphonso of Asturias had imprisoned the Count Saldana, about the time of the birth of the Count's son Bernardo. In an effort to secure his father's release, Bernardo, when old enough, took up arms. Finally the King offered Bernardo possession of his father's person, in exchange for the Castle of Carpio and all the King's subjects there imprisoned.

The cruel trick played by the King on Bernardo is here described.

The warrior bowed his crested head, and tamed his heart of fire, And sued the haughty king to free his long-imprisoned sire; "I bring thee here my fortress-keys, I bring my captive train, I pledge thee faith, my liege, my lord!--oh break my father's chain!"

"Rise, rise! even now thy father comes, a ransomed man this day; Mount thy good horse; and thou and I will meet him on his way."

Then lightly rose that loyal son, and bounded on his steed, And urged, as if with lance in rest, the charger's foamy speed.

And lo! from far, as on they pressed, there came a glittering band, With one that midst them stately rode, as leader in the land: "Now haste, Bernardo, haste! for there, in very truth, is he, The father whom thy faithful heart hath yearned so long to see."

His dark eye flashed, his proud breast heaved, his cheek's hue came and went; He reached that gray-haired chieftain's side, and there, dismounting, bent; A lowly knee to earth he bent, his father's hand he took-- What was there in its touch that all his fiery spirit shook?

That hand was cold,--a frozen thing,--it dropped from his like lead!

He looked up to the face above,--the face was of the dead!

A plume waved o'er the n.o.ble brow,--the brow was fixed and white, He met, at last, his father's eyes, but in them was no sight!

Up from the ground he sprang and gazed, but who could paint that gaze?

They hushed their very hearts that saw its horror and amaze.

They might have chained him, as before that stony form he stood, For the power was stricken from his arm, and from his lip the blood.

"Father!" at length he murmured low, and wept like childhood then; Talk not of grief till thou hast seen the tears of warlike men!

He thought on all his glorious hopes, and all his young renown; He flung the falchion from his side, and in the dust sat down.

Then covering with his steel-gloved hands his darkly mournful brow: "No more, there is no more," he said, "to lift the sword for now; My king is false, my hope betrayed, my father--oh, the worth, The glory, and the loveliness, are pa.s.sed away from earth!

I thought to stand where banners waved, my sire, beside thee, yet!

I would that there our kindred blood on Spain's free soil had met!

Thou wouldst have known my spirit then;--for thee my fields were won; And thou hast perished in thy chains, as though thou hadst no son!"

Then, starting from the ground once more, he seized the monarch's rein, Amidst the pale and 'wildered looks of all the courtier train; And, with a fierce, o'ermastering grasp, the rearing war-horse led, And sternly set them face to face, the king before the dead: "Came I not forth, upon thy pledge, my father's hand to kiss?

Be still, and gaze thou on, false king! and tell me what is this?

The voice, the glance, the heart I sought--give answer, where are they?

If thou wouldst clear thy perjured soul, send life through this cold clay!

Into these gla.s.sy eyes put light; be still! keep down thine ire; Bid these white lips a blessing speak, this earth is not my sire.

Give me back him for whom I strove, for whom my blood was shed!

Thou canst not?--and a king!--his dust be mountains on thy head."

He loosed the steed--his slack hand fell; upon the silent face He cast one long, deep, troubled look, then turned from that sad place.

His hope was crushed, his after fate untold in martial strain; His banner led the spears no more, amidst the hills of Spain.

_Felicia Hemans._

Mizpah

Go thou thy way, and I go mine, Apart--but not afar.

Only a thin veil hangs between The pathways where we are, And G.o.d keep watch 'tween thee and me This is my prayer.

He looks thy way--He looketh mine And keeps us near.

I know not where thy road may lie Nor which way mine will be, If thine will lead through parching sands And mine beside the sea.

Yet G.o.d keeps watch 'tween thee and me, So never fear.

He holds thy hand--He claspeth mine And keeps us near.

Should wealth and fame perchance be thine And my lot lowly be, Or you be sad and sorrowful And glory be for me, Yet G.o.d keep watch 'tween thee and me, Both are his care.

One arm round me and one round thee Will keep us near.

I sigh sometimes to see thy face But since this may not be I leave thee to the love of Him Who cares for thee and me.

"I'll keep ye both beneath My wings,"

This comforts--dear.

One wing o'er thee--and one o'er me, So we are near.

And though our paths be separate And thy way be not mine-- Yet coming to the mercy seat My soul shall meet with thine.

And "G.o.d keep watch 'tween thee and me"

I'll whisper there.

He blesses me--He blesses thee And we are near.

G.o.d

O Thou eternal One! whose presence bright All s.p.a.ce doth occupy, all motion guide-- Unchanged through time's all-devastating flight!

Thou only G.o.d--there is no G.o.d beside!

Being above all beings! Mighty One, Whom none can comprehend and none explore, Who fill'st existence with Thyself alone-- Embracing all, supporting, ruling o'er,-- Being whom we call G.o.d, and know no more!

In its sublime research, philosophy May measure out the ocean-deep--may count The sands or the sun's rays--but, G.o.d! for Thee There is no weight nor measure; none can mount Up to thy mysteries:* Reason's brightest spark, Though kindled by Thy light, in vain would try To trace Thy counsels, infinite and dark: And thought is lost ere thought can soar so high, Even like past moments in eternity.

Thou from primeval nothingness didst call First chaos, then existence--Lord! in Thee Eternity had its foundation; all Sprung forth from Thee--of light, joy, harmony, Sole Origin--all life, all beauty Thine; Thy word created all, and doth create; Thy splendor fills all s.p.a.ce with rays divine; Thou art and wert and shalt be! Glorious! Great!

Light-giving, life-sustaining Potentate!

Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround-- Upheld by Thee, by Thee inspired with breath!

Thou the beginning with the end hast bound, And beautifully mingled life and death!

As sparks mount upward from the fiery blaze, So suns are born, so worlds spring forth from Thee; And as the spangles in the sunny rays s.h.i.+ne round the silver snow, the pageantry Of heaven's bright army glitters in Thy praise.

A million torches, lighted by Thy hand, Wander unwearied through the blue abyss-- They own Thy power, accomplish Thy command, All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss.

What shall we call them? Piles of crystal light-- A glorious company of golden streams-- Lamps of celestial ether burning bright-- Suns lighting systems with their joyous beams?

But Thou to these art as the noon to night.

Yes! as a drop of water in the sea, All this magnificence in Thee is lost:-- What are ten thousand worlds compared to Thee?

And what am I then?--Heaven's unnumbered host, Though multiplied by myriads, and arrayed In all the glory of sublimest thought, Is but an atom in the balance, weighed Against Thy greatness--is a cipher brought Against infinity! What am I then? Naught!

Naught! But the effluence of Thy light divine, Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too; Yes! in my spirit doth Thy spirit s.h.i.+ne As s.h.i.+nes the sunbeam in a drop of dew.

Naught! but I live, and on hope's pinions fly Eager toward Thy presence; for in Thee I live, and breathe, and dwell; aspiring high, Even to the throne of Thy divinity.

I am, O G.o.d! and surely Thou must be!

Thou art!--directing, guiding all--Thou art!

Direct my understanding then to Thee; Control my spirit, guide my wandering heart; Though but an atom midst immensity, Still I am something, fas.h.i.+oned by Thy hand!