Here you will find the Long Poem Edwin and Eltrada, a Legendary Tale of poet Helen Maria Williams
Where the pure Derwent's waters glide Along their mossy bed, Close by the river's verdant side, A castle rear'd its head. The antient pile by time is raz'd, Where gothic trophies frown'd, Where once the gilded armour blaz'd, And banners wav'd around. There liv'd a chief well known to fame, A bold adven'trous knight, Renown'd for victory, his name In glory's annals bright. Yet milder virtues he possest, And gentler passions felt, For in his calm and yielding breast The soft affections dwelt. No rugged toils the heart could steel, By nature form'd to prove Whate'er the tender mind can feel In friendship or in love. He lost the partner of his breast, Who sooth'd each rising care, And ever charm'd the pains to rest She ever lov'd to share. From solitude he hop'd relief And this lone mansion sought, To cherish there his faithful grief, To nurse the tender thought. There, to his bosom fondly dear, A blooming daughter smil'd, And oft' the mourner's falling tear Bedew'd his EMMA'S child. As drest in charms the lonely flower Smiles in the distant vale, With beauty gilds the morning hour, And scents the evening gale; So liv'd in solitude, unseen, This lovely, peerless maid; So grac'd the wild sequester'd scene, And blossom'd in the shade. Yet love could pierce the lone recess, For there he likes to dwell, To leave the noisy crowd, and bless With happiness the cell. To wing his sure resistless dart Where all its power is known, And rule the undivided heart Despotic and alone. Young EDWIN charm'd her gentle breast, Though scanty all his store, No hoarded treasure he possest, Yet he could boast of more: For he could boast the lib'ral heart, And honour, sense, and truth, Unwarp'd by vanity or art, Adorn'd the gen'rous youth. The maxims of a servile age, The mean, the selfish care, The sordid views that now engage The mercenary fair, Whom riches can unite or part, To them were all unknown, For then each sympathetic breast Was join'd by love alone. They little knew that wealth had power To make the constant rove; They little knew the weighty dower Could add one bliss to love. ELTRADA o'er the distant mead Would haste at closing day, And to the bleating mother lead The lamb that chanc'd to stray. For the bruis'd insect on the waste A sigh would heave her breast; And oft her careful hand replac'd The linnet's fallen nest. To her sensations calm as these Could sweet delight impart, Those simple pleasures most can please The uncorrupted heart. And oft with eager step she flies To cheer the roofless cot, Where the lone widow breathes her sighs, And wails her desp'rate lot. Their weeping mother's trembling knees Her lisping infants clasp, Their meek imploring look she sees, She feels their tender grasp. On her pale cheek, where hung the tear Of agonizing woe, ELTRADA bids a smile appear, A tear of rapture flow. Thus on soft wing the moments flew, (Tho' love would court their stay,) While some new virtue rose to view, And mark'd each fleeting day. The youthful poet's soothing dream Of golden ages past, The muse's fond ideal theme Seem'd realiz'd at last. But here, how weak to hope that bliss Unchanging will endure; Ah, in a world so vain as this, What heart can rest secure! For now arose the fatal day For civil discord fam'd, When YORK from LANCASTER'S proud sway The regal sceptre claim'd. Each moment now the horrors brought Of desolating rage, The fam'd achievements now were wrought That swell th' historic page. The good old ALBERT pants again To dare the hostile field, The cause of HENRY to maintain, For him the lance to wield. But O, a thousand gen'rous ties That bind the hero's soul, A thousand sacred claims arise, And EDWIN'S breast controul. Though passion pleads in HENRY'S cause, And EDWIN'S heart would sway, Yet honour's stern, imperious laws, The brave will still obey. Oppress'd with many an anxious care, Full oft ELTRADA sigh'd, Complaining that relentless war Should those she lov'd divide. At length the parting morn arose, For her in sadness drest, While boding thoughts of future woes With terror heav'd her breast. A thousand pangs her father feels, A thousand tender fears, While clinging at his feet she kneels, And bathes them with her tears. One pitying tear bedew'd his cheek-- From his lov'd child he flew, O'erwhelmed, the father could not speak, He could not say--"adieu!"-- Arm'd for the field her lover came, He saw her pallid look, And trembling seize her dr