Page:Hemans in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 30 1831.pdf/4



Thou falcon-hearted dove!

Moslem spears were gleaming Round Damietta's towers, Though a Christian banner from her wall Waved free its Lily-flowers. Aye, proudly did the banner wave, As Queen of Earth and Air; But faint hearts throbb'd beneath its folds, In anguish and despair.

Deep, deep in Paynim dungeon, Their kingly chieftain lay, And low on many an Eastern field Their knighthood's best array. 'Twas mournful, when at feasts they met, The wine-cup round to send, For each that touch'd it silently, Then miss'd a gallant friend!

And mournful was their vigil On the beleaguer'd wall, And dark their slumber, dark with dreams Of slow defeat and fall. Yet a few hearts of Chivalry Rose high to breast the storm, And one—of all the loftiest there— Thrill'd in a woman's form.

A woman, meekly bending O'er the slumber of her child, With her soft sad eyes of weeping love, As the Virgin Mother's mild. Oh! roughly cradled was thy Babe, 'Midst the clash of spear and lance, And a strange, wild bower was thine, young Queen! Fair Marguerite of France!

A dark and vaulted chamber, Like a scene for wizard-spell, Deep in the Saracenic gloom Of the warrior citadel; And there midst arms the couch was spread, And with banners curtain'd o'er, For the Daughter of the Minstrel-land, The gay Provençal shore!