Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 214: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Alfred de Rosann. 185 But as he was going to seek the tower Where he knew Celestine slept in bower, (For now ’twas already midnight hour) A stately form, with an arm of power, Seized on the Knight, whose brow ’gan lower, And his eyes the fire of wrath to shower ; But the other exclaimed, ‘“ Thou well may’st cower, For thou ne’er shalt possess so lovely a flower. ‘“‘ This day,” he continued, ‘the Moslem in vain His crescent against our red cross did sustain, And here I was sent these towers to maintain, Should the Saracen Soldan rally again. Wilt thou then arrive to disturb my reign, And seek for my daughter, whom never a stain Has sullied, to give me, her father, pain ? For she is betrothed to Sir Alberic Fayne.” ‘¢ _ Little reck I for the happy one, Nor thee, the governor of Ascalon, Sent by the king when the siege was done, And these walls by Richard’s arms were won :— But I will leave thee tll morning’s sun To illumine our hemisphere has begun ; And then, ere his mid-day course be run, Will I combat with that ephemeron.”’ ¢__._ Sir Alberic Fayne will never fly, Though thou art so stalwart an enemy ;”” ("T'was thus the governor gave reply :) ‘“ But to-morrow’s morn, if thou wilt try The joust to decide your rivalry, I swear by the Virgin, who rules on high, That Celestine herself, with her beauteous eye, Shall glance on the conqueror’s victory.” The morning ’s dawned, and the sun has lent His rays to enliven the tournament ; Then, with their eyes on each other bent, And harnessed in steel with gilding blent, Both the knights to their stations went, And stood each before his own fair tent, Till the signal bugle its warning sent, When they charged, ere its latest sounds were spent. Like falcon swift on an airy wing, They met with echoes thundering :— Their steeds the dust around them fling, And the crowds, with voices murmuring, Said they never had seen such chivalrous thing ; For the lances broke at the sudden spring, And Sir Alberic Fayne lay in the ring— His victor was Richard himself-—the King ! The vanquished was raised from his state supine, When Richard addressed the fair Celestine :— «« Never, too dear one, shalt thou be mine— On him let your glances only shine ; COMRnIClooo SS (GO)