And when, beneath her feet, the unhappy maid At length the bell, Sends forth, resounding round, Its hymeneal peal o'er rock and down the dell. For soon arrives the bridal train, In sooth, deceit maketh no mortal gay, And Angela thinks of her cross, I wis; But she must calm that giddy head, At the holy table stands the priest; The wedding ring is blessed; Baptiste receives it He must pronounce one word at least! 'Tis spoken; and sudden at the groomsman's side ""Tis he!" a well-known voice has cried. And while the wedding guests all hold their breath, Opes the confessional, and the blind girl, see! 66 Baptiste," she said, "since thou hast wished my death, As holy water be my blood for thee!" And calmly in the air a knife suspended! At eve, instead of bridal verse, No, ah no! for each one seemed to say : "The roads should mourn and be veiled in gloom, A CHRISTMAS CAROL. FROM THE NOEI BOURGUIGNON DE GUI BARGZAS. I HEAR along our street On their hautboys, Christmas songs! Ever higher Sing them till the night expire! In December ring Every day the chimes; Loud the gleemen sing In the streets their merry rhymes. Let us by the fire Ever higher Sing them till the night expire. Shepherds at the grange, Ever higher Sing them till the night expire! These good people sang There they stood with freezing feet. Let us by the fire Sing them till the night expire! Nuns in frigid cells For want of something else, Christmas songs at times have tried. Let us by the fire Ever higher Sing them till the night expire! Washerwomen old, To the sound they beat, Ever higher Sing them till the night expire. Who by the fireside stands Sing them till the night expire: The Golden Legend. PROLOGUE. The Spire of Strasburg Cathedral. Night and Storm. LUCIFER, with the Powers of the Air, trying to tear down the Cross. ye spirits! LUCIFER. From its station drag the ponderous Is uplifted high in air! Oh, we cannot! For around it VOICES. All the Saints and Guardian angels THE BELLS. Laudo Deum verum! Plebem voco! Lower! lower! Hover downward! LUCIFER. Seize the loud, vociferous bells, and All thy thunders Here are harmless! VOICES. For these bells have been anointed, THE BELLS. Defunctos ploro! LUCIFER. Shake the casements! Break the painted Panes, that flame with gold and crimson; Scatter them like leaves of Autumn, Swept away before the blast! Oh, we cannot ! The Archangel VOICES. Michael flames from every window, Massive, iron-studded portals! Sack the house of God, and scatter Wide the ashes of the dead! Oh, we cannot! The Apostles VOICES. And the Martyrs, wrapped in mantles, Stand as sentinels o'erhead! |