Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DURAND OF BLONDEN, by JOHANN LUDWIG UHLAND


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DURAND OF BLONDEN, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Tow'rds the lofty walls of balbi, lo! Durand of blonden hies
Last Line: "ever calling, ""blanca! Blanca!"" through the desert halls of heaven."
Subject(s): Death; Heaven; Love; Sleep; Youth; Dead, The; Paradise


TOW'RDS the lofty walls of Balbi, lo! Durand of Blonden hies;
Thousand songs are in his bosom; Love and Pleasure light his eyes.
There, he dreams, his own true maiden, beauteous as the evening-star,
Leaning o'er her turret-lattice, waits to hear her knight's guitar.

In the lindenshaded courtyard soon Durand begins his lay.
But his eyes glance vainly upwards; there they meet no answering ray.
Flowers are blooming in the lattice, rich of odor, fair to see.
But the fairest flower of any, Lady Blanca, where is she?
Ah! while yet he chants the ditty, draws a mourner near and speaks—
"She is dead, is dead forever, whom Durand of Blonden seeks!"
And the knight replies not, breathes not: darkness gathers round his brain:
He is dead, is dead forever, and the mourners weep the twain.

In the darkened castle-chapel burn a many tapers bright:
There the lifeless maiden lies, with whitest wreaths and ribands dight.
There ... But lo! a mighty marvel! she hath oped her eyes of blue!
All are lost in joy and wonder! Lady Blanca lives anew!
Dreams and visions flit before her, as she asks of those anear,
"Heard I not my lover singing?—Is Durand of Blonden here?"
Yes, O Lady, thou hast heard him; he has died for thy dear sake!
He could wake his trancèd mistress: him shall none for ever wake!

He is in a realm of glory, but as yet he weets not where;
He but seeks the Lady Blanca: dwells she not already there?
Till he finds her must he wander to and fro, as one bereaven,
Ever calling, "Blanca! Blanca!" through the desert halls of Heaven.





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