Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE ZEGRI LADY'S VIGIL, by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Ever sits the lady weeping Last Line: Of the ladye weeping there. Alternate Author Name(s): L. E. L.; Maclean, Letitia Subject(s): Grief; Sorrow; Sadness | ||||||||
EVER sits the lady weeping -- Weeping night and day -- One perpetual vigil keeping, Till life pass away, And she join the seven who sleep. Daylight enters not that building, Tho' so rich and fair -- With the azure and the gilding That are lavish'd there; Round the purple curtains sweep, Heavily their shadows creep Around the Zegri Ladye -- The Ladye weeping there. On the walls are many a sentence, In bright letters wrought -- Touch'd not with the meek repentance By the Gospel brought -- But the Koran's haughty words -- Words that, like a trumpet calling, Urge the warrior on; In the front of battle falling, Paradise is won -- By the red and ready swords -- Can they soothe the spirit's chords Of the lonely Zegri Ladye -- Of the Ladye weeping there! Seven tombs are in that chamber -- Each a marble tomb: -- Lamps that breathe of musk and amber Tremble in the gloom. Seven lamps perfume the air. On each tomb a statute lying, Almost seems like life; And, above, the banner flying Seems to dare the strife -- Which again it may not dare. Can the carved statutes there Suffice the Zegri Ladye -- The Ladye weeping there! While the others fled around them, Did the seven die. -- In the front of war she found them With none others nigh: -- Noble was the blood they shed. Sacred in her grief and beauty, Did the Ladye go, Asking life's last sacred duty Of the Christian foe. Those white feet were stain'd with red, When the King bestow'd her dead On the lovely Zegri Ladye -- The Ladye weeping there. Never since the hour she brought them To that ancient hall, Since with her sad hands she wrought them Their embroidered pall, Hath the daylight seen her face. Rosy o'er the Guadalquivir Doth the morning gleam; Pale the silver moonbeams shiver O'er the haunted stream. Nothing knows she of their grace -- Nothing cheers the funeral place Of the lonely Zegri Ladye -- The Ladye weeping there. Each of six tombs hold a brother -- All her house's pride: -- Six contain her line; one other Riseth at her side. Who is in that seventh tomb? One far dearer than the others Shares their place of rest: Well she loved her noble brothers -- But she loved him best -- He who shared the warrior's doom With the favour at his plume Of the lovely Zegri Ladye -- The Ladye weeping there. Never more when first appearing Will he watch her eye, In the mounted lists careering, When his steed went by Rapid as the lance he flung. Never more when night is lonely Will the warrior glide To the citron shade, where only He was at her side, While the very wild wind hung On the music of the tongue Of the lovely Zegri Ladye -- The Ladye weeping there. Not with daylight to discover How the wretched weep Will the maiden wail her lover, Or her brothers keep In remembrance with her tears. Grief hath stern and silent powers, And her house is proud; Not to day's cold guarded hours Is despair allow'd; But, shut out with haughty fears, Pride with daylight disappears, From the lovely Zegri Ladye -- The Ladye weeping there. But her slight frame has been shaken By the sudden blight, And her dark eyes are forsaken By their former light; Heavy is their settled gloom. And her wan cheek beareth token Of young life's decline; You may see the heart is broken By each outward sign. Soon the heart can life consume, Fast approaching is the tomb Of the lonely Zegri Ladye -- Of the Ladye weeping there. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONOMA FIRE by JANE HIRSHFIELD AS THE SPARKS FLY UPWARDS by JOHN HOLLANDER WHAT GREAT GRIEF HAS MADE THE EMPRESS MUTE by JUNE JORDAN CHAMBER MUSIC: 19 by JAMES JOYCE DIRGE AT THE END OF THE WOODS by LEONIE ADAMS CALYPSO WATCHING THE OCEAN by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON |
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