Bazalgette, N: Random Rhymes (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Random Rhymes

Who is Alcanza, that he dares to tread Alone, unguarded, after set of sun, These solitudes and shadowy regions dread Where traffic dark and deeds profane are done Haunts that e'en those of priestly habit shun, Where in the spectral midnight filthy crones So fame reports - on their foul errands run, And mix their potions from the dead man's bones, While all the echoing vale is horrid with their moans.

A youth he is, a true~born son of Spain, And the rich tide of pure Castilian blood Pours its warm vintage through each glowing vein And mantles on his brow with swarthy ¿ood. Rich is his garb, and glittering jewels stud His doublet's hasp and helmet's feathered peak, His eyes are dark, and deeply seem to brood On some sad thought, while sunburnt is his cheek, And all his wealth and rank and lineage high bespeak.

Why hath he wandered from his own bright clime, The home of chivalry and stories old, Where Nature smiles in all her matron prime, And silver moons and suns of brilliant gold Shed vivid beauty on the prosperous wold? Why doth Alcanza from his homeland rove? Alas the lady of his heart is cold, And he would fain now find some charm to move And fill her snowy bosom with its former love.

Full many a league his restless foot hath trod Through all the length of fair and fertile France, The mountain steep, the valley's pleasant sod, He follows at the fickle beck of chance, Yet blithely still doth his brave charger prance, And oft dares Echo with defiant neigh, Though now the last faint sunbeams sadly glance Before his feet along the rocky way, The lingering dalliance of the dyingr summer day.

The moon is up - and glorious radiance dwells And trembles oii the wavelets of the Rhine, Her lustrous footprints in the dewy dells, And on the hoary mountain-summits shine, Alcanza views, and owns the scene divine, When, wonder! Perched upon a neighbouring height, As though fresh carved from out a Silver mine, A lovely castle loomed upon his Sight, Its towers and pinacles ablaze with coloured light.

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