Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CID'S RISING, by FELICIA DOROTHEA HEMANS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CID'S RISING, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Twas the deep mid-watch of the silent night
Last Line: Were dust on tolosa's plain.
Alternate Author Name(s): Browne, Felicia Dorothea
Subject(s): Cid, El (1043-1099); Cid Campeador (143-199); Diaz De Vivar, Rodrigo (143-199)


'TWAS the deep mid-watch of the silent night,
And Leon in slumber lay,
When a sound went forth in rushing might,
Like an army on its way!
In the stillness of the hour,
When the dreams of sleep have power,
And men forget the day.

Through the dark and lonely streets it went,
Till the slumberers woke in dread;
The sound of a passing armament,
With the charger's stony tread.
There was heard no trumpet's peal,
But the heavy tramp of steel,
As a host's to combat led.

Through the dark and lonely streets it passed,
And the hollow pavement rang,
And the towers as with a sweeping blast,
Rocked to the stormy clang!
But the march of the viewless train
Went on to royal fane,
Where a priest his night-hymn sang.

There was knocking that shook the marble floor,
And a voice at the gate, which said --
"That the Cid Ruy Diez, the Campeador,
Was there in his arms arrayed;
And that with him from the tomb,
Had the Count Gonzalez come
With a host, uprisen to aid!

And they came from the buried king that lay
At rest in that ancient fane;
For he must be armed on the battle-day
With them to deliver Spain!"
-- Then the march went sounding on
And the Moors by noontide sun
Were dust on Tolosa's plain.





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