Poems (Davidson)/Alonzo and Imanal
ALONZO AND IMANEL.
As he spoke, he beheld on the sea-beaten strand
A form, 'twas so airy, so light,
He could almost have sworn by the faith of his land
That an angel was wand'ring 'mid rocks and through sand,
"Neath the moonbeam so fitfully bright.
A form, 'twas so airy, so light,
He could almost have sworn by the faith of his land
That an angel was wand'ring 'mid rocks and through sand,
"Neath the moonbeam so fitfully bright.
He paused, as the bittern screamed loud o'er his head:
One moment he paused on the shore,
To mark the wild wave as it dashed from its bed,
Tossing high the white spray from its foam-spangled head,
With a fitful and deafening roar.
One moment he paused on the shore,
To mark the wild wave as it dashed from its bed,
Tossing high the white spray from its foam-spangled head,
With a fitful and deafening roar.
He caught the wild notes of a song, on the wind,
Ere the tempest-god bore them away:
And they told of a tortured and desperate mind,
To despair's dark shadows forever resigned,
Of a heart once hope-lighted and gay.
Ere the tempest-god bore them away:
And they told of a tortured and desperate mind,
To despair's dark shadows forever resigned,
Of a heart once hope-lighted and gay.
The bright moon was hid in the breast of the storm,
And darkness and terror drew round;
Yet still he could mark her light, fanciful form,
As she roamed round the wild rocks, devoid of alarm,
Though the fiend of the whirlwind frowned.
And darkness and terror drew round;
Yet still he could mark her light, fanciful form,
As she roamed round the wild rocks, devoid of alarm,
Though the fiend of the whirlwind frowned.
O tell me, he cried, what spirit so light,
So beautiful e'en in despair,
Is wand'ring alone 'mid the storm of the night,
When to guide her no star in the heaven is bright,
No gleam save the lightning's red glare!
So beautiful e'en in despair,
Is wand'ring alone 'mid the storm of the night,
When to guide her no star in the heaven is bright,
No gleam save the lightning's red glare!
'Tis young Imanel, answered his guide with a sigh,
The rich, the beloved, and the gay,
Who is doomed from her friends and her country to fly,
For she loved, and she wedded Alonzo the spy,
Who has left her and fled far away.
The rich, the beloved, and the gay,
Who is doomed from her friends and her country to fly,
For she loved, and she wedded Alonzo the spy,
Who has left her and fled far away.
Alonzo the spy! and he darted away
With the speed of a shooting star,
Nor heeded the call of his gunide to stay,
But toward the poor lone one he bounded away;
She had fled to the sea-beach afar.
With the speed of a shooting star,
Nor heeded the call of his gunide to stay,
But toward the poor lone one he bounded away;
She had fled to the sea-beach afar.
One glance of the forked lightning's glare
Played bright round the fair one's face,
And it beamed on Alonzo, for he was there,
And it beamed on his bride, on his Imanel dear,
Clasped at length in his joyful embrace.
Played bright round the fair one's face,
And it beamed on Alonzo, for he was there,
And it beamed on his bride, on his Imanel dear,
Clasped at length in his joyful embrace.