Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1811 edition. Excerpt: ... THE VISION OF DON RODERICK. I. Hearing their crests amid the cloudless skies, And darkly clustering in the pale moonlight, Toledo's holy towers and spires arise, As from a trembling lake of silver white; Their mingled shadows intercept the sight Of the broad burial-ground outstretched below, And nought disturbs the silence of the night; All sleeps in sullen shade, or silver glow, All save the heavy swell of Teio's ceaseless flow. II. All save the rushing swell of Teio's tide, Or, distant heard, a courser's neigh or tramp; Their changing rounds as watchful horsemen ride, To guard the limits of King Roderick's camp. For, through the river's night-fog rolling damp, Was many a proud pavilion dimly seen, Which glimmer'd back, against the moon's fair lamp, Tissues of silk and silver twisted sheen, And standards proudly pitch'd, .and warders armed between. III. But of their Monarch's person keeping ward, Since last the deep-mouth'd bell of vespers toll'd, The chosen soldiers of the royal guard Their post beneath the proud Cathedral hold: A band unlike their Gothic sires of old, Who, for the cap of steel and iron mace, Bear slender darts, and casques bedeck'd with gold, While silver-studded belts their shoulders grace, Where ivory quivers ring in the broad falchion's place. IV. In the light language of an idle court, They murmur'd at their master's long delay, And held his lengthen'd orisons in sport: --"What! will Don Roderick here till morning stay, To wear in shrift and prayer the night away? And are his hours in such dull penance past For fair Florinda's plunder'd charms to pay?" Then to the east their weary eyes they cast, And wish'd the lingering dawn would glimmer forth at last. 9 V. But, far within, Toledo's Prelate lent An ear of fearful...
