Poems (Campbell)/The Fair Captive
THE FAIR CAPTIVE.
Upon a wild and rugged coast,
Where loud the ocean surges tost,
A solitary watch-tow'r stood,
And frown'd upon the restless flood.
Where loud the ocean surges tost,
A solitary watch-tow'r stood,
And frown'd upon the restless flood.
In many a wild fantastic shape
Rose the rude cliff and jutting cape;
Behind, a lone, deep valley green,
And woody mountains clos'd the scene.
Rose the rude cliff and jutting cape;
Behind, a lone, deep valley green,
And woody mountains clos'd the scene.
Seldom in that deep valley's green
Was print of human footstep seen,
And seldom were the echoes woke
But the wild sea-bird's cry to mock.
Was print of human footstep seen,
And seldom were the echoes woke
But the wild sea-bird's cry to mock.
Save when the lawless pirate crew
To this, their rude retreat, withdrew;
Then Echo, from her inmost cell,
Return'd the rev'llers mingled yell.
To this, their rude retreat, withdrew;
Then Echo, from her inmost cell,
Return'd the rev'llers mingled yell.
No female footstep ever trod
The solitary bleak abode;
Nor aught was heard of woman fair—
Save one—and she was captive there.
The solitary bleak abode;
Nor aught was heard of woman fair—
Save one—and she was captive there.
There, day by day, she wept and sigh'd,
And still the swelling billows ey'd;
And when fair Summer deck'd the vale,
Her sad song floated on the gale.—
And still the swelling billows ey'd;
And when fair Summer deck'd the vale,
Her sad song floated on the gale.—
"Oh! Heav'n, how irksome 'tis to view
The summer-sky's delightful blue,
From this dull prison, day by day;
And waste my life in sighs away!
The summer-sky's delightful blue,
From this dull prison, day by day;
And waste my life in sighs away!
How irksome too, to hear the wave
The level beach so softly lave;
While my parch'd lips can scarce inhale
Thy gentle breath, sweet western gale.
The level beach so softly lave;
While my parch'd lips can scarce inhale
Thy gentle breath, sweet western gale.
Oh! come again, sweet cooling breeze,
On viewless wings across the seas;
Breathe softer than a lover's sigh,
This prison's lofty window by.
On viewless wings across the seas;
Breathe softer than a lover's sigh,
This prison's lofty window by.
Oh, me! how oft by fancy led,
My native flow'ry fields I tread;
Then start from the dear soothing dream,
Rous'd by the passing sea-bird's scream.
My native flow'ry fields I tread;
Then start from the dear soothing dream,
Rous'd by the passing sea-bird's scream.
Far distant from this rugged strand
Spread thy fair plains, my native land!
But never more these eyes shall see
That native land so dear to me!
Spread thy fair plains, my native land!
But never more these eyes shall see
That native land so dear to me!
Oh, fatal hour! oh, fatal day!
That bore me from those plains away,
A pirate's slave—a pirate's love—
Oh, worse than slavery to prove!
That bore me from those plains away,
A pirate's slave—a pirate's love—
Oh, worse than slavery to prove!
Beneath Iberia's genial skies
I open'd first these languid eyes;
And wealth was mine, and high degree—
Ah! what avail'd they—am I free?
I open'd first these languid eyes;
And wealth was mine, and high degree—
Ah! what avail'd they—am I free?
'Mid orange groves, and citron bow'rs,
How swiftly flew my happy hours!
What made those hours so swiftly move?
'Twas Henry's smile! 'twas Henry's love!
How swiftly flew my happy hours!
What made those hours so swiftly move?
'Twas Henry's smile! 'twas Henry's love!
But Henry was no mighty lord;
His all-—his honour and his sword—
Sprung from a haughty, ancient line,
A stern and cruel sire was mine.
His all-—his honour and his sword—
Sprung from a haughty, ancient line,
A stern and cruel sire was mine.
We fled—ah! what could lovers do,
Or what but ruin could ensue?—
A father's curse, a mother's wail,
I heard in ev'ry passing gale!
Or what but ruin could ensue?—
A father's curse, a mother's wail,
I heard in ev'ry passing gale!
We fled, to seek fair Albion's land,
And left at night Laredo's strand;
The star-beams twinkled on the wave—
Destin'd, alas! for Henry's grave!
And left at night Laredo's strand;
The star-beams twinkled on the wave—
Destin'd, alas! for Henry's grave!
The stars were hid,—the storm came forth,
Loud blust'ring from the angry North;
Driv'n far to sea, the shatter'd bark
Rode the rude billows through the dark.
Loud blust'ring from the angry North;
Driv'n far to sea, the shatter'd bark
Rode the rude billows through the dark.
And when the orient morn arose
So bright—in mock'ry of our woes—
O'er the calm'd billows azure sheen
The pirate's blood-red flag was seen.
So bright—in mock'ry of our woes—
O'er the calm'd billows azure sheen
The pirate's blood-red flag was seen.
I cannot, cannot tell the rest—
I saw the life-blood stain his vest—
I saw him die—I shriek'd, I fell—
Would then had toll'd my fun'ral knell!
I saw the life-blood stain his vest—
I saw him die—I shriek'd, I fell—
Would then had toll'd my fun'ral knell!
But many a morn, to these sad eyes
Black with despair, was yet to rise;
To this dark den of robbers borne,
From hope, from life, from freedom torn.
Black with despair, was yet to rise;
To this dark den of robbers borne,
From hope, from life, from freedom torn.
The pirate's love—the pirate's slave—
Oh! worse than torture and the grave!—
When, when will Death these eye-lids seal,
When shall this bosom cease to feel!
Oh! worse than torture and the grave!—
When, when will Death these eye-lids seal,
When shall this bosom cease to feel!
But hush! the western breeze is fled;
The foamy billow rears its head,
And fast athwart the low'ring sky
The gath'ring clouds in tumult fly.
The foamy billow rears its head,
And fast athwart the low'ring sky
The gath'ring clouds in tumult fly.
Oh! Heav'n! that now the tempest's pow'r
Would shatter wide this hateful tow'r,
And set me free from thraldom sore,
Or crush me here to weep no more!
Would shatter wide this hateful tow'r,
And set me free from thraldom sore,
Or crush me here to weep no more!
Hark! far above, the thunder's crash—
See through the gloom the lightning's flash—
The tow'r rocks wildly to the storm,
And freedom comes in death's pale form!"
See through the gloom the lightning's flash—
The tow'r rocks wildly to the storm,
And freedom comes in death's pale form!"
The captive's voice was heard no more,
The tow'r's huge fragments strew'd the shore;
And nought was seen where once it stood,
But the rude cliff above the flood.
The tow'r's huge fragments strew'd the shore;
And nought was seen where once it stood,
But the rude cliff above the flood.
And many a year has now gone by
Since the rude watch-tow'r frown'd on high,
Nor voy'ger's boat, nor pirate band,
E'er tread the long-deserted strand.
Since the rude watch-tow'r frown'd on high,
Nor voy'ger's boat, nor pirate band,
E'er tread the long-deserted strand.
Yet when the seaman anchors there,
Fresh water from the spring to bear;
In the lone valley's gloomiest green
A strange and shadowy form is seen.
Fresh water from the spring to bear;
In the lone valley's gloomiest green
A strange and shadowy form is seen.
Sudden along the heaving tide,
The passing spirit seems to glide—
So ghastly pale—so dimly fair—
Then mixes with the viewless air.
The passing spirit seems to glide—
So ghastly pale—so dimly fair—
Then mixes with the viewless air.