"Dear as the life-blood to this heart;

'Accursed Ambition! fiend, avaunt!

"Oh! that my breast were ne'er thy haunt!
'Why was I given this thirst of fame,
"That burns within-consuming flame?
"Yet what Fate wills me must I be,

'Doting, though seeming false to thee.—

"Yet, beauteous maid, if by my side

"A page in secret thou 'lt abide,

"And all save Beaumont's love forget,

Her eye flashed scorn-what! halve his heart!

Consent to act the harlot's part!

Did he not swear to make her his ?

And must she stoop, oh Heaven! to this?

"No, never! welcome death, before

"I live thy guilty paramour!

"No, never! o'er the western wave,

"I'll seek a refuge and a grave!"

VIII.

Morn smiles her saffron curtain through,
The rose unopes, and from his wings.
The ostrich shakes the spangled dew,

And blithe the camel-driver sings;

Again Life's path may Man pursue,

The morn fresh strength and spirit brings;

All there her balmy influence bless,

Save Ada, child of wretchedness.

IX.

The bark is tossing on the bay,
And soon for England wings away;

The guard, to escort her to the shore,

Awaits without

one moment more

The maid delays to breathe farewell

To him she loved so long and well.

"Be happy think no more of me," She cried, mid sobs of agony;

Enjoy thy wealth, thy fame, thy power,

"No cloud dim Fortune's sunny hour;

"Smile with thy bride, and may she prove
"Faithful as I, with half my love!-
"Farewell! I seek some convent's gloom,
'Cold Solitude my friend;

"One balm awaits me-'tis the tomb,

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'Where all my woes will end;

'Yet oft, when in my lonely cell,

"On thee will mournful Memory dwell; "Fancy will see thy form so dear,

"And Sorrow shed the fruitless tear:

"Yet shall I ne'er upbraid, but pray

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That Heaven may guard and bless thy way. "Oh! by our meetings ever o'er,

Our blissful hours to come no more,

My care to soothe thee when in pain,

And all my love, although in vain,

"Give one kind look before we part,

Clasp me but once to thy dear heart,

"And I will strive to bear my doom,

"And sink unmurmuring in my

tomb."

X.

She ceased-could Beaumont hear her sighs,

Or view her lifted, streaming eyes,

G

Nor with deep pity melt?

No, Pride no longer could disguise
The searching pangs he felt.-
He turned-he clasped her to his breast,
Drew wildly back-again caressed;

He strove, though long in vain, to speak,
While tears streamed down his iron cheek;
She hung upon his neck-each throb
That swelled her veins, each bitter sob,
Now bursting loud, now wailing low,

Told yet a deeper, wilder woe.

XI.

Thus stood the agonizing pair,

Loving more deeply in despair

When, hark! a flourish proud,
Of trumpets, gongs, and timbrels shrill,
While burst terrific on the hill

The Paynim "lelies "* loud

In rush the Squires, and breathless cry"The foes, my lord, the foes are nigh! "E'en now they stand on Halack's height,

"And soon will sweep with torrent's might,

"To attack us on the plain !"

XII.

Like eagle with the prey in view,
Like charger at the trumpet's clang,
Like tiger roused by hunter crew,

Lord Beaumont at the tidings sprang;
Back from the Maid's embrace he drew,

On earth his cumbrous mantle flang-
"What! come they?-ho! my shield and spear-
"The dogs shall rue their bold career;

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Haste, 'squires! bring up the archer band,
"Myself the men-at-arms command;

Display our banner, raise our cry—

"The Cross! for Warwick! victory!'
"Ada, farewell-weep not for me,
"If ne'er again thy face I see;

"And should I fall-" the tramp and bound
Of men and steeds, the drum's deep sound,
His last and hurried accents drowned.

XIII.

And Beaumont joined King Richard's train-
Did Ada in the tent remain ?

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