Part 14 (1/2)

THE OBDURATE BEAUTY.

_(”A Juana la Grenadine!”)_

[XXIX., October, 1843.]

To Juana ever gay, Sultan Achmet spoke one day ”Lo, the realms that kneel to own Homage to my sword and crown All I'd freely cast away, Maiden dear, for thee alone.”

”Be a Christian, n.o.ble king!

For it were a grievous thing: Love to seek and find too well In the arms of infidel.

Spain with cry of shame would ring, If from honor faithful fell.”

”By these pearls whose spotless chain, Oh, my gentle sovereign, Clasps thy neck of ivory, Aught thou askest I will be, If that necklace pure of stain Thou wilt give for rosary.”

JOHN L. O'SULLIVAN.

DON RODRIGO.

A MOORISH BALLAD.

_(”Don Roderique est a la cha.s.se.”)_

[x.x.x., May, 1828.]

Unto the chase Rodrigo's gone, With neither lance nor buckler; A baleful light his eyes outshone-- To pity he's no truckler.

He follows not the royal stag, But, full of fiery hating, Beside the way one sees him lag, Impatient at the waiting.

He longs his nephew's blood to spill, Who 'scaped (the young Mudarra) That trap he made and laid to kill The seven sons of Lara.

Along the road--at last, no balk-- A youth looms on a jennet; He rises like a sparrow-hawk About to seize a linnet.

”What ho!” ”Who calls?” ”Art Christian knight, Or basely born and boorish, Or yet that thing I still more slight-- The sp.a.w.n of some dog Moorish?

”I seek the by-born sp.a.w.n of one I e'er renounce as brother-- Who chose to make his latest son Caress a Moor as mother.

”I've sought that cub in every hole, 'Midland, and coast, and islet, For he's the thief who came and stole Our sheathless jewelled stilet.”

”If you well know the poniard worn Without edge-dulling cover-- Look on it now--here, plain, upborne!

And further be no rover.

”Tis I--as sure as you're abhorred Rodrigo--cruel slayer, 'Tis I am Vengeance, and your lord, Who bids you crouch in prayer!

”I shall not grant the least delay-- Use what you have, defending, I'll send you on that darksome way Your victims late were wending.