A TALE FOR JEALOUSY.

A TALE FOR JEALOUSY . A Recent Event in CATALONIA . LOUD shriek'd the wind ; hoarse struck the hour , When from his couch , Alphonso rose ; Bedeck'd with gold his splendid bower — Gold , had his couch , but not repose ! The Night sat brooding on the hill : Beneath , the sable rivers roll'd , Not glist'ring , now , the tinkling rill ; — Its stream opaque , its spirit cold . His chamber , long with restless feet The Lord Alphonso travers'd o'er ; Here once he tasted slumbers sweet , But slumber sweet he knows no more ! His rous'd domestics strait obey The signal of their Lord , unloved ; Their torches flash a second day , As thro' the costly rooms they moved . His favourite , from th' obsequious train Was to his inmost closet led ; There heard confess'd the am'rous pain Which tore him from his midnight bed . Oh , thou wert near , Alphonso cries , When in the progress late we made , Gonsalvo's daughter in our eyes Made every other virgin fade . Her noble mien , her blushes mild , The burnish of her tresses bright ; Her age — but just no longer Child , Her rosy mouth , her graceful height ; All these have in my time-worn heart , Lighted a youthful , am'rous fire — I sink beneath the poignant smart , I faint with eager , strong desire . Oft did I try her soul to melt , But ign'rant she of Cupid's pow'r — His ecstacies she never felt — But now is come her fated hour . With flames illicit I essay'd To touch her iced , unwaken'd heart ; Let Hymen sooth the bashfull maid , She'll waken'd , play a softer part . Strait to her father's , speed thy way , The fleetest mules with haste prepare ; And ere to-morrow scants his day , Thou'lt reach the village of my fair . These pearls , these di'monds , speak my truth , Woo her with treasures to my arms ; When love no longer boasts of youth , Riches may plead their meaner charms . Oh how unlike the rapturous hour , When love is bought by love alone ; When a soft look , a touch , a flower , Is prized beyond IND's brightest stone . But go , and to her parents bear Thy Lord's designs — his hopes unfold ; Plead with due force his meaning fair , And in thy promises be bold . Much more , the Lord Alphonso spoke ; His servant's mind the whole retains , Whose lashes soon the mules provoke ; The mules skim o'er the distant plains . Th' awaken'd night with streaks of gold Her jetty robes begun to lace ; Her drowsy car far off she roll'd — The blithe Sun urging to the race ; And ere his wheels had run behind The western mountain's giddy slope ; Julia , with meekness all resign'd Had listen'd to Alphonso's hope . Not so resign'd , but that her thought Recoil'd at such unequal love , Till by parental wisdom taught , She learn'd to bear , and then approve . The Sire attends his darling child , For so Alphonso's pride allows ; And with the transport almost wild , Saw her receive a Grandee's vows . He saw that form where speaking grace Gave soul to beauty most refin'd , The robe of dignity embrace , By taste magnificent design'd . Her hair , which floated o'er her dress , A dress , which to be seen demands Its rich luxuriance to repress , They tie in folds with diamond bands . But the soft curls which hap'ly fell Upon her bosom's heaving snow , Were suffer'd there , unbound , to dwell , And spread their wavy golden glow . Thus the fond parent saw her rove Thro' gaudy halls and rooms of state ; Whilst humble trains at distance wait , And from her nod receive their fate . Succinct the time in which such joy Around his aged heart might play ; Bitter , oh ! bitter the allay ! And set full soon is Pleasure's day : For Lord Alphonso names the hour , When he the sumptuous dome must quit , And seek again the humble bower — For birth like his a mansion fit : Tells him to take a last farewell , Of her more dear then sense or light ; Bids him ne'er hope again to dwell Where filial Julia bless'd his sight . His daughter , overwhelm'd with woe , The haughty cruel order hears ; She sees her mournful parent go , And bathes his last steps with her tears . Now slow , and sadden'd , rolls the time Which late flew rapid with delight ; Heedless is she of Morning's prime , Nor hails the soft approach of Night . Her only solace was to roam Midst the deep wood's embosom'd calm , Where distant from her gaudy home Meek solitude bestow'd its balm . There , on a river's fringy side , Which snatch'd her breath as stealing by , She'd watch its curl'd , unequal glide , And swell with her's the zephyr's sigh : Mark with what truth it objects drew , When ruffling zephyr ceas'd to breathe , Its surface polish'd to the view — A phantom forest underneath . Two drooping willows there display'd Their foliage to the painting wave ; Which in their pensive green array'd Would still their jutting bare roots lave . These , by her hands , in garlands dress'd , She'd sometimes chide the low bent branch , Which would its blooming fragrant vest Upon th' escaping river launch . Thus was she one bright eve employ'd , Whilst carols sad her sweet voice sung ; Evening's own bird her note enjoy'd — When from its shades a soldier sprung . His form , like that Apollo wears , When from his bow the swift dart sings ; Or when the discus thro' the air With equal force and grace he flings . Martial his step ; his beamy eye Bright as fair Julia's own appears ; Strait to each others arms they fly — They mingle joy — they mingle tears . 'Twas Julia's brother whom she saw , 'Twas Julia whom her brother press'd ; Both dear by Nature's dearest law , For twins they were , who thus caress'd . From Calpe's glorious rock he came — Immortal monument decreed Of English ELLIOT's laurel'd name ; Where English heroes oft shall bleed . And there his blood did Gusman shed Amongst the boldest ever found , By sacred thirst of honour led — Nor shun'd the deaths that flew around . But when bright Peace her silver flute Had sounded thro' wide Europe's skies , And when the voice of war was mute , Sped by fond duty , home he flies . There he first learn'd his sister's fate , How elevated — and how curst ! Heard , that amidst her brilliant state Her heart consuming sorrow nurst . Her husband's tyrant law reveal'd , No dear relation to behold ; Oblig'd him thus in shades conceal'd , His sister to his heart to fold . And oft he mourn'd her cruel lot , And oft he dried her tears away , When from the interesting spot They each were warn'd by closing day . Adieu , my Gusman , Julia cries ! Yet let me see thee , once again ; To-morrow bless thy sister's eyes , Then seek our dear paternal plain : From forth my little treasur'd hoard , Fond tokens to my mother bear ; No miser is my cruel Lord , And gifts , like these , I well can spare . Gusman , with pure , fraternal love , Kiss'd either beauteous , fading cheek , Vowing , when Morn shou'd light the grove , In its mild haunts her steps he'd seek . Now Evening hung its silv'ry dews , On every shrub that deck'd the glades ; And fainter scents the flowers effuse — As loth to greet with sweets , her shades . Oft had fair Julia linger'd there In hours like these — and traced the beam , Which sent from Luna's brilliant sphere , Shot thro' the wood a shiver'd gleam . Mark'd how each sound , stole soft away , As gliding off to shores more bright ; Bribed by the gaudy tumid day , To fly the dove-eyed , tender night . By Julia these are all forgot , For pleasure hath her soul suffused ; Blind to the beauties of the spot , She deigns not now to be amused . Braced with young joy , the sportive fawn Pursues her dam , with motion fleet , Regardless of the sprinkled lawn That weaves its flowers around her feet . So speeds the fair one to her home , Whose towers return the moon's broad glare ; Whilst to point out the distant dome , They flash their gold vanes thro' the air . On her soft pillow soon reclined , Round her , the slumbers spun their veil ; And o'er her placid gentle mind , The softest dreams their phantoms steal . At Morning's dawn , her Lord commands , Her placid slumbers must be broke ; He grasp'd in his her trembling hands , He led her forth , but never spoke . And oh ! these horrid sounds , she cried — Those piteous shrieks , which tear the ear ! With terror struck , she faintly sigh'd , And sunk , at length , o'erpower'd with fear . He dragg'd her on ; the screams of pain , More piercing as they nearer grow , Left her scarce power to sustain Her crimson life's unequal flow . There , wretch , behold ! Alphonso cried , As wide he threw the grating gate : There feast thy loose adulterous eyes , See there , thy paramour's just fate ! There , stretch'd upon the racking wheel , She saw her brother's tortur'd form ; From his torn flesh the jagged steel , Bad rush the blood , with life yet warm . She saw — but oh ! she spoke no more ! The agony too fierce to bear ; Groaning she sunk upon the floor , And breath'd her spirit on the air . Sister ! the writhing Gusman said — Oh , Sister ! plead — then swoon'd with pain ! On his gash'd bosom sunk his head , His limbs convuls'd , the cords still strain . Alphonso , when he heard the sound , Leapt sudden to the deathful wheel ; With eager haste the youth's unbound , And stern Alphonso learns to feel . He raves , he sinks , he strikes his breast , But oh ! the guilty deed is past , The victims pure are now at rest — Thy tortures shall for ever last ! Vain is all art , for life no more Can lift their pulse , their cheeks can paint ; Thou'st freed their souls , they quit the shore — Each seeks its God — a murder'd Saint ! There , tyrant , lie ! and let the fangs Of deep remorse thy bosom tear ! Each wak'ning morn awake new pangs — Teach thee to pity , and despair !