The Beginning of the Story - Page 19 of 25

289   The close to conversation came,
And henceforth I was not the same;
My soul excitable became;
My heart, with first love, as aflame!

290   Three days of feasting with the king
In the grand palace failed to bring
A word with her, whence pain did spring –
Her to whom hope of heaven did cling.

291   Here tasted I anxiety great,
More than the ache I'd felt of late;
And other pains did I negate
Unless they sprang from love's estate.

292   O thanks that on the morrow day
My troops were set Crotona's way,
I chanced to have a moment's say
With her whose charms had held me prey.

293   In tender loving phrases, I
Confessed with many a tear and sigh
My love whose passion's still the why
Of this my being about to die.

294   How woeful did my wailings prove,
The wondrous beauty's heart to move!
Did native prudence not reprove,
She had, I trow, redressed my love.

295   Yet if her 'yes' was left unspoken,
A gleam still lit my love dark-cloaken;
And when my hour of leaving broke in,
Shy tears she shed – a pearly toke.

296   The day arrived for us to part...
Immeasurable pain did it impart!
What anguish did not like a dart
Drive deep its point into my heart!

297   Is there an ache that might exceed
The pain that parting lovers heed?
The notion, let alone the deed,
Could shake a heart of staunchest breed!

298   You who burn incense perfumed fine,
You worshippers at Cupid's shrine,
You can my meed of grief divine,
Bereft of Laura, darling mine.

299   But for those tears remembered, I
Had died ere I would suffer by
The aches that fretted me – till eye
Our doomed Crotona did descry.

300   The citadel was well nigh gone:
Artillery battered on and on...
And then, my forces hurled upon
The siegers, harrying all and one.

301   So here was Death with smarting ire,
And Atropos – both soon to tire,
Nipping and reaping lives, a pyre
Of grasping hulks in bloody mire.

302   General Osmalik, finding then,
How fierce my onslaught on his men,
Hacked lancers four-deep, three again,
To take my person to his ken.

303   They fell to left of him and right –
My soldiers, men of dash and might;
He came, his glances flashing spite;
'Come forth,' he called. 'We two will fight!”

304   Five hours in grips, till it was vain
For all his grit to meet the strain,
And when he, world-renowned, was slain,
The heavens clouded as in pain.