THE WARRIOR'S RETURN. Amelia Opie (née Alderson) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Opie, Amelia Alderson, 1769-1853. The Warrior's Return, and Other Poems. By Mrs. Opie. 2d. ed. London Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster-row 1808 pp. [1]-[18].

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THE WARRIOR'S RETURN . THE WARRIOR'S RETURN . SIR WALTER returned from the far Holy Land , And a blood-tinctured falchion he bore ; But such precious blood as now darkened his sword Had never distained it before . Fast fluttered his heart as his own castle towers He saw on the mountain's green height ; " My wife , and my son ! " he exclaimed , while his tears Obscured for some moments his sight . For terror now whispered , the wife he had left Full fifteen long twelvemonths before , The child he had claspt in his farewel embrace , Might both , then , alas ! be no more . Then , sighing , he thought of his Editha's tears As his steed bore him far from her sight , And her accents of love , while she fervently cried , " Great God ! guard his life in the fight ! " And then he remembered , in language half formed How his child strove to bid him adieu ; While scarcely he now can believe , as a man , That infant may soon meet his view . But should he not live ! .... To escape from that fear , He eagerly spurred his bold steed : Nor stopped he again , till his own castle moat Forbade on the way to proceed . 'T was day-break : yet still past the windows he saw Busy forms lightly trip to and fro : Blest sight ! that she lives , " he exclaimed with smile , " Those symptoms of housewifery show : " For , stranger to sloth , and on business intent , The dawn calls her forth from her bed ; And see , through the castle , all busy appear , By her to their duty still led . " That instant the knight by the warder was seen , For far flamed the cross on his breast ; And while loud blew the horn , now a smile , now a tear , Sir Walter's mixt feelings expressed . 'Tis I , my loved vassals ! " the warrior exclaimed , .... The voice reached his Editha's ears ; Who , breathless and speechless , soon rushed to his arms , Her transport betraying by tears . " And dost thou still love me ? " he uttered , when first A silence so rapturous he broke ; She tried to reply , but in vain .... while her sobs A volume of tenderness spoke . Behold how I'm changed ! how I'm scarred ! " he exclaimed , " Each charm that I boasted is o'er : " .... " Thou hast bled for THY GOD , " she replied , " and each scar Endears thee , my warrior , the more . " " But where is my child ? " he cried , pale with alarm , " Thou namest not my Alfred .... my boy ! " ........ " And comes he not with you ? " she said ; .... " then some woe Embitters our beverage of joy . " " What meanest thou , my love ? " ....... " When to manhood he grew , And heard of his father's great name , ' O let me ' , he cried , ' to the Holy Land go , To share my sire's dangers , and fame . " ' Perchance my young arm , by the cause nerved with strength , May lower the Pagan's proud crest : And the brave Christian knights , in reward of my zeal , May bind the red cross on my breast , ' .... " ' And think'st thou , ' I said , ' with the son I can part , Till the father be safe in my arms ? No .... hope not I'll add to the fears of the wife The mother's as poignant alarms . ' " I ceased .... and his head on my bosom reclined , While his golden hair shaded his cheek ; When , parting his ringlets , I saw the big tears His heart's disappointment bespeak . The sight overcame me : ' Most loved , ' I exclaimed , ' Go , share in thy father's renown ! Thy mother will gladly , to dry up thy tears , Endure an increase of her own . ' " He kissed me ... he thanked me .... I armed him myself , And girt his pure sword on his side ; So lovely he looked , that the mother's fond fears Were lost in the mother's fond pride . " " He went then ? ... How long has my warrior been gone ? " " A twelvemonth , my Walter , and more . " Indeed ! .... then he scarcely could reach the far land Until the last battle was o'er . " " I told him , my Walter , what armour was yours , And what the device on your shield , In hopes of your meeting . " .... " Alas ! " he returned : " My armour I changed on the field ! " A friend whom I loved from the dawning of youth , For conquest and courage renowned , Fell , fighting beside me , and thus he exclaimed , While life issued fast from the wound : " ' And must I then die ere the flag of the Cross Waves proudly o'er Saracen towers ? But grant me , loved Walter , this dying request , For victory must surely be ours : " ' My armour well tried , and my falchion , my shield , In memory of me deign to wear ! 'T would sooth me to know , when the victory comes on , That something of mine will be there ! ' " I granted his wish , and his arms I assumed , While yet he the action could see , And marked with delight that his last closing look Was fixt with fond pleasure on me . " Yet now , this remembrance so dear to my heart Is clouded by anxious regret ; Since , but for this change on the field of the fight , The father and son would have met ! " " But if he has fought , and has fallen , my love ! " .... " Suppress , " cried the knight with a frown , " A fear so ill-founded ; .... if Alfred had died , He'd have fallen a child of renown . " Yet vainly he strove by the father's proud hopes To conquer the father's fond fears ; He feared for the life of his boy , though with smiles He answered his Editha's tears . And more and more forced grew the smile on his lip , His brow more o'erclouded with thought ; At length he exclaimed , " From the field of renown One mournful memorial I've brought . " I grieve that I won it ! .... A Saracen chief Fell bleeding before me in fight , When lo ! as I claimed him my prisoner and prize , A warrior disputed my right . " ' I'm new to the battle , ' he cried , ' and this prize Will wreathe my young brow with renown , Nor will I the conquest resign but with life : .... That chief by this arm was o'erthrown . ' " His daring enraged me , ... for mine seemed the stroke Which laid the proud Saracen low ; .... Besides , from his bosom depended no cross , His right to such daring to show . " " But surely , my Walter , the daring bespoke A soul nobly eager for fame : So many your laurels , that one you could spare , .... O tell me you granted his claim ! " " No , Editha , no ! .... martial pride steeled my heart , The youth I to combat defied ; He fought like a hero ! but vainly he fought , ... Beneath my strong falchion he died . " " O ill-fated youth ! how I bleed for his fate ! Perhaps that his mother , like me Had armed him , and blest him , and prays for his life , As I pray , my Alfred , for thee ! .... " But never again shall he gladden her eyes , And haste her fond blessing to crave ! O Walter ! I tremble lest you in return Be doomed to the sorrow you gave ! " Say , did not the cross , when your victim he fell , Lie heavy and cold on your breast ; .... That symbol of him full of meekness and love , Whose deeds mercy only expressed ? " Yes .... pity , shame , penitence seized on my soul ; So sweet too his voice was in tone ! Methought as he lay , and in agony groaned , His accents resembled thine own . " His casque I unlaced , and I chafed his cold brow , And fain every wound would have healed ; So young , and so lovely he seemed , that I wept As by him I tenderly kneeled . " He saw my distress , and his last dying grasp Forgiveness and kindness expressed ; And then , with a look I shall never forget , He breathed his last sigh on my breast . " " But what's this memorial ? " with cheek deadly pale His Editha falteringly cried : ... " This scarf from his bosom ! " .... he uttered no more , For Editha sunk by his side . Ah then in her danger , her pale look of death , He forgot all the laurels he'd won . O father accurst ! " she exclaimed , " in that youth You slaughtered your Alfred .... your son ! "