Page:Poems David.djvu/106

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94
legend of the border knight.
"On," cried Sir Jasper, "for shall I be found
Ever to shrink in fear from fight or fray!
On, on, brave steed, I still will lead the way."
A moment, and his swift and gallant steed
Swept o'er the verdent fell, at fullest speed.
He reached the ford where the skrunken wave
The reflecting fire seemed, alas! to lave,—
And fiercely mounting to the midnight sky
Bright flames arose to leap and quickly die
Round the proud castle's stately time worn walls.
Spell bound he sat until those noble halls
At his feet in smouldering ruins sunk away,
In the first dawning of the summer day.
As thus he stood, at his startled side
A rude aeriel voice, thus wildly cried—
"Lo! thy warning vision 'tis unsealed,
Oh'! who but I hath thy fate revealed?
Once the battle cry thro' the castle dell
Wild hath rang afar over flood and fell,
It ceased, while many a curse on Lionel Gray
Sir Jasper breath'd as he pursued his way.
Over the mountain dale and rippling brook
Jasper his errant way now lonely took,
And thus onward rolled the summer day.
The weeks and months had quickly sped away,
And as Sir Jasper rode o'er brae and fell,