[@3The Brigand destroys a maiden:@1] THE monster seized the shrieking girl, Around her throat his fingers met, And swept her down with giant hand The frightful opening at his feet. [@3Her sister arrives, and spectators think of interfering@1:] And rushing on with frantic cries, Horror and madness in her eyes, Rosa was seen, towards the cave Just made her living sister's grave. Those who looked on half stupefied At the enormous homicide, Thinking she aimed herself to throw Into the dreadful pit below, Stepped forth to intercept her course, But just before the wretch she neared She fell with some degree of force, And for a moment stunned appeared. With frantic grief she tore her hair, The kerchief round her bosom bound, And dashed her head against the ground; Then rising up with rapid speed While neck, and ears, and forehead bleed, She struggled vainly to address The miscreant, who from the press Still kept aloof. ... [@3But the march of events is too quick for them@1:] He seized her in his arms to fling Her down the grave her sister found.— The suddenness of this attack So paralysed each looker on, That taken by it quite aback They stand as if transformed to stone, And see, astonished and amazed, The poor girl with the murderer Struggle for life—and as they gazed Made no attempt to aid or stir. [@3Rosa does her best unaided@1:] And once when groping for his knife To terminate that way the strife, Her efforts to preserve her life Became so great as almost drew The villain to destruction too. [@3The miscreant is overpowered and put to bed@1:] So stunned, surrounded and beset, The surgeon struggled hard to see His patient, or at least to get Some signs of his proximity: At length they opened up a way To where a man extended, lay, Presenting an appalling sight Seen dimly through the chequered light. ... For swelling, high amid the clothes, The body, like a mountain rose That scarce the head was seen; While from below the feet protrude (Like Satan "stretching many a rood" So giant-like I ween.)— And on those large and naked feet A pair of antique spurs were placed, Which fastened o'er the instep meet, With many-coloured latchets graced. [@3The surgeon enquires later@1:] "Since when he has," (replied the nurse,) "Been going on from bad to worse." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FAREWELL TO CYNTHIA by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS WEDDED (PROVENCAL AIR) by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE TITANIC by KATHARINE LEE BATES SONNET (1) by JOACHIM DU BELLAY THE BELOVED by KATHERINE HARRIS BRADLEY THE CAMPUS IN VACATION by ANNE MILLAY BREMER |