"Nor of its fields a blade of grass, "Save what grows on a ridge of wall, "Where stood the hearth-stone of the hall; "And many a time ye there might pass, 66 Nor dream that e'er that fortress was: "I saw its turrets in a blaze, "Their crackling battlements all cleft, "And the hot lead pour down like rain "From off the scorch'd and blackening roof, "Whose thickness was not vengeance-proof. "They little thought that day of pain, "When lanch'd, as on the lightning's flash, They bade me to destruction dash, "That one day I should come again, "With twice five thousand horse, to thank "The Count for his uncourteous ride. They play'd me then a bitter prank, "When, with the wild horse for my guide, "They bound me to his foaming flank : "At length I play'd them one as frank"For time at last sets all things even "And if we do but watch the hour, "There never yet was human power "Which could evade, if unforgiven, 400. 410 420 "The patient search and vigil long "Of him who treasures up a wrong. XI. "Away, away, my steed and I, "Upon the pinions of the wind, "All human dwellings left behind; "We sped like meteors through the sky, "When with its crackling sound the night "Is chequer'd with the northern light: "Town-village-none were on our track, "But a wild plain of far extent, "And bounded by a forest black; 66 And, save the scarce seen battlement "On distant heights of some strong hold, "Against the Tartars built of old, No trace of man. The year before -: "A Turkish army had march'd o'er; 430 440 "But fast we fled, away, away— "And my cold sweat-drops fell like rain 66 Upon the courser's bristling mane; "But, snorting still with rage and fear, "Was nothing to his angry might, My swoln limbs from their agony "I tried my voice,-'twas faint and low, "Meantime my cords were wet with gore, Which, oozing through my limbs, ran o'er; "And in my tongue the thirst became "A something ficrier far than flame. 450 460 XII. "We near'd the wild wood-'twas so wide, "I saw no bounds on either side; "Twas studded with old sturdy trees, "That bent not to the roughest breeze "Which howls down from Siberia's waste, "And strips the forest in its haste, "But these were few, and far between 470 "Set thick with shrubs more young and green, "Luxuriant with their annual leaves, "Ere strown by those autumnal eves "That nip the forest's foliage dead, "Discolour'd with a lifeless red, "Which stands thereon like stiffen'd gore "Upon the slain when battle's o'er, "So cold and stark the raven's beak 66 May peck unpierced each frozen cheek: ""Twas a wild waste of underwood, "And here and there a chestnut stood, 480 "The strong oak, and the hardy pine; "But far apart—and well it were, "Or else a different lot were mine— "The boughs gave way, and did not tear My limbs; and I found strength to bear "My wounds, already scarr'd with cold 66 My bonds forbade to loose my hold. "We rustled through the leaves like wind, "With their long gallop, which can tire "Nor left us with the morning sun; "Behind I saw them, scarce a rood, "At day-break winding through the wood, "And through the night had heard their feet "Their stealing, rustling step repeat. "Oh! how I wish'd for spear or sword, "At least to die amidst the horde, 490 500 |