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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=508083" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Rudiger - A Ballad</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">Author Note: Divers Princes and Noblemen being assembled in a beautiful and fair<br>Palace, which was situate upon the river Rhine, they beheld a boat or<br>small barge make toward the shore, drawn by a Swan in a silver chain,<br>the one end fastened about her neck, the other to the vessel; and in it<br>an unknown soldier, a man of a comely personage and graceful presence,<br>who stept upon the shore; which done, the boat guided by the Swan left<br>him, and floated down the river. This man fell afterward in league with<br>a fair gentlewoman, married her, and by her had many children. After<br>some years, the same Swan came with the same barge into the same place;<br>the soldier entering into it, was carried thence the way he came, left<br>wife, children and family, and was never seen amongst them after.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Now who can judge this to be other than one of those spirits that are<br>named Incubi? says Thomas Heywood. I have adopted his story, but not his<br>solution, making the unknown soldier not an evil spirit, but one who had<br>purchased happiness of a malevolent being, by the promised sacrifice of<br>his first-born child.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">.................</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Bright on the mountain's heathy slope<br> The day's last splendors shine<br>And rich with many a radiant hue<br> Gleam gayly on the Rhine.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And many a one from Waldhurst's walls<br> Along the river stroll'd,<br>As ruffling o'er the pleasant stream<br> The evening gales came cold.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">So as they stray'd a swan they saw<br> Sail stately up and strong,<br>And by a silver chain she drew<br> A little boat along,</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Whose streamer to the gentle breeze<br> Long floating fluttered light,<br>Beneath whose crimson canopy<br> There lay reclin'd a knight.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">With arching crest and swelling breast<br> On sail'd the stately swan<br>And lightly up the parting tide<br> The little boat came on.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And onward to the shore they drew<br> And leapt to land the knight,<br>And down the stream the swan-drawn boat<br> Fell soon beyond the sight.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Was never a Maid in Waldhurst's walls<br> Might match with Margaret,<br>Her cheek was fair, her eyes were dark,<br> Her silken locks like jet.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And many a rich and noble youth<br> Had strove to win the fair,<br>But never a rich or noble youth<br> Could rival Rudiger.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">At every tilt and turney he<br> Still bore away the prize,<br>For knightly feats superior still<br> And knightly courtesies.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">His gallant feats, his looks, his love,<br> Soon won the willing fair,<br>And soon did Margaret become<br> The wife of Rudiger.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Like morning dreams of happiness<br> Fast roll'd the months away,<br>For he was kind and she was kind<br> And who so blest as they?</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Yet Rudiger would sometimes sit<br> Absorb'd in silent thought<br>And his dark downward eye would seem<br> With anxious meaning fraught;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But soon he rais'd his looks again<br> And smil'd his cares eway,<br>And mid the hall of gaiety<br> Was none like him so gay.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And onward roll'd the waining months,<br> The hour appointed came,<br>And Margaret her Rudiger<br> Hail'd with a father's name.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But silently did Rudiger<br> The little infant see,<br>And darkly on the babe he gaz'd<br> And very sad was he.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And when to bless the little babe<br> The holy Father came,<br>To cleanse the stains of sin away<br> In Christ's redeeming name,</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then did the cheek of Rudiger<br> Assume a death-pale hue,<br>And on his clammy forehead stood<br> The cold convulsive dew;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And faltering in his speech he bade<br> The Priest the rites delay,<br>Till he could, to right health restor'd,<br> Enjoy the festive day.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">When o'er the many-tinted sky<br> He saw the day decline,<br>He called upon his Margaret<br> To walk beside the Rhine.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">"And we will take the little babe,<br> "For soft the breeze that blows,<br>"And the wild murmurs of the stream<br> "Will lull him to repose."</div><div style="margin:10px 0">So forth together did they go,<br> The evening breeze was mild,<br>And Rudiger upon his arm<br> Did pillow the sweet child.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And many a one from Waldhurst's walls<br> Along the banks did roam,<br>But soon the evening wind came cold,<br> And all betook them home.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Yet Rudiger in silent mood<br> Along the banks would roam,<br>Nor aught could Margaret prevail<br> To turn his footsteps home.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">"Oh turn thee--turn thee Rudiger,<br> "The rising mists behold,<br>"The evening wind is damp and chill,<br> "The little babe is cold!"</div><div style="margin:10px 0">"Now hush thee--hush thee Margaret,<br> "The mists will do no harm,<br>"And from the wind the little babe<br> "Lies sheltered on my arm."</div><div style="margin:10px 0">"Oh turn thee--turn thee Rudiger,<br> "Why onward wilt thou roam?<br>"The moon is up, the night is cold,<br> "And we are far from home."</div><div style="margin:10px 0">He answered not, for now he saw<br> A Swan come sailing strong,<br>And by a silver chain she drew<br> A little boat along.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">To shore they came, and to the boat<br> Fast leapt he with the child,<br>And in leapt Margaret--breathless now<br> And pale with fear and wild.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">With arching crest and swelling breast<br> On sail'd the stately swan,<br>And lightly down the rapid tide<br> The little boat went on.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The full-orb'd moon that beam'd around<br> Pale splendor thro' the night,<br>Cast through the crimson canopy<br> A dim-discoloured light.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And swiftly down the hurrying stream<br> In silence still they sail,<br>And the long streamer fluttering fast<br> Flapp'd to the heavy gale.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And he was mute in sullen thought<br> And she was mute with fear,<br>Nor sound but of the parting tide<br> Broke on the listening ear.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The little babe began to cry<br> And waked his mother's care,<br>"Now give to me the little babe<br> "For God's sake, Rudiger!"</div><div style="margin:10px 0">"Now hush thee, hush thee Margaret!<br> "Nor my poor heart distress--<br>"I do but pay perforce the price<br> "Of former happiness.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">"And hush thee too my little babe,<br> "Thy cries so feeble cease:<br>"Lie still, lie still;--a little while<br> "And thou shalt be at peace."</div><div style="margin:10px 0">So as he spake to land they drew,<br> And swift he stept on shore,<br>And him behind did Margaret<br> Close follow evermore.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">It was a place all desolate,<br> Nor house nor tree was there,<br>And there a rocky mountain rose<br> Barren, and bleak, and bare.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And at its base a cavern yawn'd,<br> No eye its depth might view,<br>For in the moon-beam shining round<br> That darkness darker grew.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Cold Horror crept thro' Margaret's blood,<br> Her heart it paus'd with fear,<br>When Rudiger approach'd the cave<br> And cried, "lo I am here!"</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A deep sepulchral sound the cave<br> Return'd "lo I am here!"<br>And black from out the cavern gloom<br> Two giant arms appear.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And Rudiger approach'd and held<br> The little infant nigh;<br>Then Margaret shriek'd, and gather'd then<br> New powers from agony.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And round the baby fast and firm<br> Her trembling arms she folds,<br>And with a strong convulsive grasp<br> The little infant holds.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">"Now help me, Jesus!" loud she cries.<br> And loud on God she calls;<br>Then from the grasp of Rudiger<br> The little infant falls.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And now he shriek'd, for now his frame<br> The huge black arms clasp'd round,<br>And dragg'd the wretched Rudiger<br> Adown the dark profound.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Robert+Southey">Robert Southey</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=508083" data-title="Rudiger - A Ballad de Robert Southey" data-description="Author Note: Divers Princes and Noblemen being assembled in a beautiful and fair Palace, which was situate upon the river Rhine, they beheld a boat or small barge make toward the shore, drawn by a Swan in a silver chain, the one end fastened about..."></div> </div> </div>
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