"Welcome, my liege!" "Sir Harold, welcome, too,
Is sight of thee, brave knight!
But where is he.
Sir Guy de Hastyngs,--flies he now my sight?"
"Nay, nay, my liege! his sponsor will I be;
His heart for thee, his king, doth bear allegiance true!"

The Royal Pardon.

"Your gracious pardon grant, my liege, I pray;
He has atonement made
For all he's done:
And nature's last great debt will soon be paid;
His life may even set with yonder sun!"
"Lead on, Sir Knight, I'd see him, ere he pass away."

"Farewell," King Richard said, "Heaven's peace be thine!
And you, Sir Harold, kneel!
Hand me your sword!
Now rise, for valiant deeds and service leal,
Of Hastyngs' lands and Normanhurst the Lord!
Till on young Eric's heels the spurs of knighthood shine!"

Once more old Ragnor's rocks resound with cries,
Of grief? Nay--joy and pride!
For on the sea,
A noble, full-rigged ship doth stately ride--
The Orient Pearl--her white cross streaming free;
Whose captain Mike and crew now laugh at frowning skies!

The Deserted Brides.

Hearts bound so late by love's sweet hallowed chain
By war's fierce edicts rent,
Lie bleeding sore;
And scan with eyes from weeping well-nigh spent,
Love's waning signals till they see no more.
Heaven grant them soon to see those signals once again!

By Bertram's arrow pierced with fatal aim,
The Lion-heart was torn.
Beside him lay,
Of strength, by pain and bleeding torn,
One Eric whom the king had dubbed that day
A knight--no worthier yet--adorned the roll of fame!

* * * * * *

Once more on Ragnor's brow the beacons blaze,
The Orient Pearl to greet,
On her return.
Two brides wait mid a throng of friends to meet
Their war-proof knights. The shades of rank they spurn;
They'd vowed for each a sister's love for aye and aye.

Heart Chords.

Sweet harpings break the stilly night's repose.
The seamen list once more,
As from her bower,
There fall those witching sounds they've heard before,
In days long gone, from Ragnor's lofty tower.
When hearts with voices blend what heavenly music flows!

Breathe fair, ye winds, breathe fair;
My true love's on the sea.
God, hear the lone one's prayer,
And bring him back to me!
Go