Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A BALLAD FOUNDED ON A REAL INCIDENT WHICH OCCURED IN HIGH LIFE, by JANET HAMILTON Poet's Biography First Line: Within a princely chamber sat Last Line: For him is set for ever. Alternate Author Name(s): Hamilton, Janet Thompson Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Marriage; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | ||||||||
WITHIN a princely chamber sat A lady, not alone; Her queenly brow, so white and high, No shadow lay upon. Her slender fingers lightly press'd The jewel, bright and rare, That on her heaving bosom gleam'd Her lord had placed it there. "There let it rest, my peerless one," Her noble husband said; "And take the lustrous pearls I bring, Thy raven hair to braid. "Come, I will lead thee to a scene In my ancestral halls, Where genius, art, and beauty shine Upon the pictured walls. "There many a form of grace and love The painter's hand hath thrown Upon the canvasform like thine His art hath never shown." The palace gallery was rich In paintings rare and old; With sculptured marbles ranged between Of value all untold. And all along that gallery fair They wandered side by side She gazing on the paintings rare, He on his beauteous bride. Oft through the garden walks they strayed, Amid the flush of flowers; Or sat with clasped hands beneath The lovely Eden bowers. And when she rode, or walked, she found Him ever by her side; On "angel wings" that happy year The moments seem'd to glide. "I go, my love, but with thy leave, To try my racer's speed Upon the coursea noble Earl And I have so agreed." "Then go, my love," she smiling said, "Thy will is ever mine; From friends and pleasures I would not Thee ever thus confine." He rode afar into the west; And when he came again, "I fear," he said, "my own beloved, My stay hath caused thee pain." She smiled; he took her in his arms, And pressed her to his breast; "How could I go, how could I stay Of love like thine possess'd?" O serpent! hid among the leaves Of love's most fragrant flower, Thou now hast left thy trail within Thy lady's stainless bower. And oft she saw him go and come; But though she inly pined, Suspicion of his broken vows Ne'er touched her generous mind. She in her princely chamber sat; But now she sat alone; Her queenly brow, so white and pure, A shadow lay upon. "Go thou, my maid," she said, "and bring The pot of soft perfume With which I wont to dress my hair, 'Tis in his lordship's room." The maiden went, an open note Within the drawer lay She saw, she knew the name below, A lady light and gay. She gave it to her lady's hand; "And oh! forgive," she said, "If I am wrongalas! I fear Thou foully art betrayed." And when she read the fatal note, Her cheek grew cold and pale; Yet, noble heart and lofty soul, Would neither yield nor quail. Full proof the cruel missive gave Of what had passed between The guilty pair; and named a place Where they might meet unseen. She from her finger tore the ring, The jewel from her breast, The pearls from her hair, and firm Her foot upon them press'd. Then picked the shining fragments up And cast them on the flame: "I ne'er shall look on him again, Or bear his hated name. "Go, maiden, tell my servant true To take my carriage round Behind the woodby dawn of day I will not here be found." Then down the marble stairs she stole; The night was still and dark; And leaning on her maiden's arm, They sped across the park. They found the carriage, stepp'd within, And swiftly drove away; The lordly towers were far behind At dawning of the day. Four nights and days they posted on, And only stopp'd to bait And rest the horseslonger time The lady would not wait. "To Englandto my father's halls: Thank God, no blood of thine, Thou recreant false, shall mingle with My father's spotless line." Surprise and wonder, scorn and ire, Flushed on the father's face At what he heard; he clasped his child In loving, long embrace. "Go to thy mother's room; for she Will take thee to her heart, And from her loving arms no more Her darling will depart." But what of him, that lord so false? Next day, at twilight hour, He came, and soon went up to see His lady in her bower. He softly knock'd and gently call'd, But answer there was none; He ask'd her page if that he knew His lady forth had gone. "I know not, O my lord," he said "She was not seen to-day, And none within the palace saw My lady go away." Again he softly knock'd and call'd, But still no answer came; All night he watched beside the door, Still calling on her name. Then they unlock'd the chamber door, And in he wildly rushed; The rooms, the bed, were emptyall In deadly silence hush'd. He search'd the chamber o'er and found, Upon the window seat, A note that made his bold eye quail And guilty bosom beat. His lady's hand the note inscrib'd; But when he looked within, He only found the fatal note That told his shame and sin. What need we say?he saw, he felt, The guilty, secret love The note revealed had scared to flight His pure and faithful dove. The beauteous star, whose light benign His palace halls illum'd, Will shine no more upon a name By truth and honour doom'd. The holy bands that bound their hands Stern law came in to sever; The star that shone on life's young dream For him is set for ever. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV A BALLAD OF MEMORIE by JANET HAMILTON |
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