My uncle thirsteth, day and night, For my possessions rare, And therefore shuts me in this tower. Hard-hearted and severe. Here shall I bide, he threatens, choose I not, in three days, whether I wed his son, or leave the world. For a cloister, altogether. How quickly might the choice be made. And I the veil assume, Ah, had my youthful heart not loved A youth in beauty's bloom. The youngest at the tournament, I saw him, and I loved, So free, so noble, and so bold-- No one like him approved!" "Be, noble lady, of good cheer. No cloister shalt thou see, Far less of that bad cruel man The daughter ever be. I can, I will deliver thee, I have resolved it too, To yield thee to thy youngling's arms. As I am a Stolberg true!" "Thou? Stolberg? O my grief is gone! Mine angel led thee, sure; Thou art the dear, dear youth for whom These sorrows I endure. Now say I free and openly, What then my looks confest, When I, my love, thy earliest lance With oaken garland drest." "O God! thou? my beloved child, Eliza Mansfield Dove, I loved thee, too, with the first look, As none did ever love. See on my lance the garland yet, It ever carries there; O could'st thou see thy image too, Imprinted deeply here! And now, why loiter we? Ere shine The sun, I'll bring thee home, And nothing more shall our chaste loves Divide, whatever come." "With all my soul I love thee, youth, Yet still my virgin shame Struggles against thy rash design, And trembles for my fame." * * * * * "We'll seek my sister first, and there Our wedding shall precede. And then into my castle I My noble bride will lead.-- Eliza' let us hasten, come-- It is the mid of night, The moon will soon conclude her course, That shineth now so bright." Now softly by a secret way The lady lightly trod. Till she beneath the window--pale As deadly marble, stood. Yet soon she felt her heart again, And sprung unto her knight, Who press'd her speechless to his heart That throbb'd with chaste delight. Then lifts her gladly on his steed, And her before sits he; She winds about him her white arms, Forth go they, valiantly. Now, wakened by the prancing steed. And that true griffin's neigh, The damsel from the window spied Her lady borne away. She wildly shrieks, and plains to all Of her calamity: The old man foams, and cursing, swears His niece in shame shall die. He summon'd all his people up, And ere the day began, They left the castle ready armed, Led by that wicked man. Meanwhile, cheered by the friendly moon, Through common, field, and mead, Far over hill, and vale, and wood, That knightly pair proceed.