At a festal gathering in the age of chivalry each of the knights, except St. Leon, had pledged his lady fair, and now it was his turn to speak. ST. LEON raised his kindling eye, And lifted sparkling cup on high. "I drink to one," he said, "Whose image never may depart, Deep graven on this grateful heart, Till memory be dead; "To one whose love for me shall last When lighter passions long have passed, So holy 'tis, and true; To one whose love hath longer dwelt, More deeply fixed, more keenly felt, Than any pledged by you!" Each guest upstarted at the word, And laid a hand upon his sword, With fiery flashing eye; And Stanley said: "We crave the name, Proud knight, of this most peerless dame, Whose love you count so high." St. Leon paused, as if he would Not breathe her name in careless mood, Thus lightly to another; Then bent his noble head, as though To give that name the reverence due, And gently said--"My Mother!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GYPSY MAN by JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES THE PRINCESS: SONG by ALFRED TENNYSON THE WELCOME by FARID OD-DIN MOHAMMAD EBN EBRAHIM ATTAR CANTIC. CHAP. 2 by JOSEPH BEAUMONT THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE by WILLIAM ROSE BENET MAXIMS FOR THE OLD HOUSE: THE PORCH by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH |