Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ARGALUS AND PARTHENIA, by GERALD B. LEICESTER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ARGALUS AND PARTHENIA, by                    
First Line: Scarce had the echoes of my bugle note
Last Line: "fills me with courage and exalts my pride!"
Subject(s): Yale University


SCARCE had the echoes of my bugle note
Died on the air, when down across the moat
The drawbridge clanged, the portal opened wide,
And Kalander, the seneschal, I spied,
With men-at-arms drawn up in full array
To greet a friend, or keep a foe at bay.
Across I spurred, and hailed the varlet thus:
"Tell me, good fellow, of Lord Argalus;
Has he fared forth to join his liege, the King,
Or tarries he, to hear the news I bring
Of foes in field, and need of his strong arm,
While love's sweet murmurs deafen war's alarm?"
(God grant the day be long ere any bride
So damp my courage, or subdue my pride!)
"My lord's within, nor has he yet fared forth
To war against the paynims in the North.
So do but follow to the ample bower
Where sits my lord, in yonder ivied tower,
And his sweet mistress bears him company."
"Then stay, good Kalander, and let me see,
All unannounced, this fondly loving pair."
The tower I reached, and climbed the winding stair;
Then paused before the doorway as I heard
A sweet-toned voice that rivaled any bird
Warbling its morning song in forest green.
The curtain gaped; I peered in on a scene
That seemed to me like Heaven come to Earth,
A glimpse of Paradise before the hearth:
There sat Lord Argalus, with book on knee,
Reading the tale of Hercules; and she,
The fair Parthenia, gazing on his eyes,
Staying him oft with question or surmise;
To be resolved of doubt, far less, methought,
Than that it gave her joy when-e'er she caught
His tender glance that flashed a message sweet;
Eye answered eye, and bliss was then complete.
Warming a heart I'd long thought dead and sere,
This picture slowly made its meaning clear:
He joyed in her; she in herself, from this:
She knew him hers; but more, that she was his.
No want one knew but that it straight was filled;
Nor was desire by satisfaction killed.
Each giving of his store, their riches grew;
One life with double strands they made of two.
* * * * * * *
Long stood I there; my eyes grew dim with tears;
Too plain I saw the line of barren years
Devoid of love, with self the only goal:
Bitter regret and longing filled my soul;
And ere I entered to disturb their bliss
The burden of my throbbing heart was this:
"God grant the day come soon when such a bride
Fills me with courage and exalts my pride!"





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