Christabel

By Coleridge, Samuel Taylor

Book Id: WPLBN0000577649
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.1 MB
Reproduction Date: 2007

Title:	Christabel
Author:	Coleridge, Samuel Taylor
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Fiction, Poetry, Verse drama
Collections:	Poetry Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	World Public Library Association


Citation APA MLA Chicago Taylor Coleridge, B. S. (n.d.). Christabel. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
Poetry

Excerpt
Excerpt: Part I // 'T is the middle of night by the castle clock // And the owls have awakened the crowing cock; // Tu-whit!- Tu-whoo! // And hark, again! the crowing cock, // How drowsily it crew. // Sir Leoline, the Baron rich, // Hath a toothless mastiff, which // From her kennel beneath the rock // Maketh answer to the clock, // Four for the quarters, and twelve for the hour; // Ever and aye, by shine and shower, // Sixteen short howls, not over loud; // Some say, she sees my lady's shroud. // Is the night chilly and dark? // The night is chilly, but not dark. // The thin gray cloud is spread on high, // It covers but not hides the sky. // The moon is behind, and at the full; // And yet she looks both small and dull. // The night is chill, the cloud is gray: // 'T is a month before the month of May, // And the Spring comes slowly up this way. // The lovely lady, Christabel, // Whom her father loves so well, // What makes her in the wood so late, // A furlong from the castle gate? // She had dreams all yesternight // Of her own betrothed knight; // And she in the midnight wood will pray // For the weal of her lover that's far away. // She stole along, she nothing spoke, // The sighs she heaved were soft and low, // And naught was green upon the oak, // But moss and rarest mistletoe: // She kneels beneath the huge oak tree, // And in silence prayeth she. // The lady sprang up suddenly, // The lovely lady, Christabel! // It moaned as near, as near can be, // But what it is she cannot tell.- // On the other side it seems to be, // Of the huge, broad-breasted, old oak tree. // The night is chill; the forest bare; // Is it the wind that moaneth bleak? // There is not wind enough in the air // To move away the ringlet curl // From the lovely lady's cheek- // There is not wind enough to twirl // The one red leaf, the last of its clan, // That dances as often as dance it can, // Hanging so light, and hanging so high, // On the topmost twig that looks up at the sky. // Hush, beating heart of Christabel! // Jesu, Maria, shield her well! // She folded her arms beneath her cloak, // And stole to the other side of the oak. // What sees she there? // There she sees a damsel bright, // Dressed in a silken robe of white, // That shadowy in the moonlight shone: // The neck that made that white robe wan, // Her stately neck, and arms were bare; // Her blue-veined feet unsandaled were; // And wildly glittered here and there // The gems entangled in her hair. // I guess, 't was frightful there to see // A lady so richly clad as she- // Beautiful exceedingly! // 'Mary mother, save me now!' // Said Christabel, 'and who art thou?' // The lady strange made answer meet, // And her voice was faint and sweet:- // 'Have pity on my sore distress, // I scarce can speak for weariness: // Stretch forth thy hand, and have no fear!' // Said Christabel, 'How camest thou here?' // And the lady, whose voice was faint and sweet, // Did thus pursue her answer meet:- // 'My sire is of a noble line, // And my name is Geraldine: // Five warriors seized me yestermorn, // Me, even me, a maid forlorn: // They choked my cries with force and fright, // And tied me on a palfrey white. // The palfrey was as fleet as wind, // 2 // And they rode furiously behind. // They spurred amain, their steeds were white: // And once we crossed the shade of night. // As sure as Heaven shall rescue me, // I have no thought what men they be; // Nor do I know how long it is // (For I have lain entranced, I wis) // Since one, the tallest of the five, // Took me from the palfrey's back, // A weary woman, scarce alive. // Some muttered words his comrades spoke: // He placed me underneath this oak; // He swore they would return with haste; // Whither they went I cannot tell- // I thought I heard, some minutes past, // Sounds as of a castle bell. // Stretch forth thy hand,' thus ended she, // 'And help a wretched maid to flee.' // Then Christabel stretched forth her hand, // And comforted fair Geraldine: // 'O well, bright dame, may you command // The service of Sir Leoline; // And gladly our stout chivalry // Will he send forth, and friends withal, // To guide and guard you safe and free // Home to your noble father's hall.' // She rose: and forth with steps they passed // That strove to be, and were not, fast. // Her gracious stars the lady blest, // And thus spake on sweet Christabel: // 'All our household are at rest, // The hall is silent as the cell; // Sir Leoline is weak in health, // And may not well awakened be, // But we will move as if in stealth; // And I beseech your courtesy, // This night, to share your couch with me.' // They crossed the moat, and Christabel // Took the key that fitted well; // A little door she opened straight, // All in the middle of the gate; // The gate that was ironed within and without, // Where an army in battle array had marched out. // The lady sank, belike through pain, // And Christabel with might and main // Lifted her up, a weary weight, // Over the threshold of the gate: // Then the lady rose again, // And moved, as she were not in pain. // So, free from danger, free from fear...