At daybreak, on the bleak sea-beach, To see the form of a maiden fair Lashed close to a drifting mast. The salt sea was frozen on her breast, And he saw her hair, like the brown sea-weed, Such was the wreck of Hesperus, In the midnight and the snow! Christ save us all from a death like this, THE LUCK OF EDENHALL. FROM THE GERMAN OF UHLAND. [The tradition upon which this ballad is founded, and the "shards of the OF Edenhall, the youthful Lord He rises at the banquet board, And cries, 'mid the drunken revellers all, "Now bring me the Luck of Edenhall ! The butler hears the words with pain, Then said the Lord: "This glass to praise, Fill with red wine from Portugal!" The gray-beard with trembling hands obeys; A purple light shines over all, It beams from the Luck of Edenhall. Then speaks the Lord, and waves it light, "'Twas right a goblet the Fate should be Of the joyous race of Edenhall! Deep draughts drink we right willingly; Kling! klang! to the Luck of Edenhall!" First rings it deep, and full, and mild, "For its keeper takes a race of might, The fragile goblet of crystal tall; It has lasted longer than is right; Kling! klang!-with a harder blow than all Will I try the Luck of Edenhall !" As the goblet ringing flies apart, And through the rift, the wild flames start; In storms the foe, with fire and sword; Slain by the sword lies the youthful Lord, On the morrow the butler gropes alone, "The stone wall," saith he, "doth fall aside, Down must the stately columns fall; In atoms shall fall this earthly ball > |