492 
Pierre of Staiffen. ‘LNow. | 
A meteor in the balmy air 
Appeared her floating amber hair, 
Though many a luxuriant curl, 
Confined by chains of orient pearl, 
Remained to shade her lovely. face, 
And half conceal, half add a grace., ) 
“ Hail! Pierre of Stauffen !”—‘* Lady bright ! 
Then know’st thou me 2?” exclaim’d the knight. 
“ Turn, Pierre of Stauffen, or thy steed 
Thou’lt seek in vain when most thy need,” 
With her red wand she marked ihe course 
Pursued by the unruly horse. 
A moment Stauffen turned his head ; 
A moment, and the maid had fled. 
The verdant precincts round and round 
The warrior sought, but yet he found 
The maiden not: of hope bereft, 
He went where he his war-horse left : 
That too was gone: —* A weary plight,” 
Thus murmured to himself the knight, 
“ A weary plight is mine, to part 
. In one short day with horse and heart !” 
The shadows lengthened, eve came on; 
But eve and twilight both were gone 
Ere Stauffen hailed as polar star 
A light that twinkled from afar ; 
He followed it—its lustre led 
His footsteps to a lowly shed : 
He knocked and called—but yet, before 
Unclesed the humble cottage door, 
His charger’s neigh, in loud rejoice, 
Responded to the well-known voice. 
“ Welcome, Sir Knight,” an old man said, 
“ To humble fare, and “lowly bed; 
The gallant steed is surely thine, 
That : stopped before this hut of mine. 
Welcome, Sir Knight,” the old man said,” 
“ To humble fare and lowly bed.” 
* * * * * 
It was the morn; the knight arose, 
Not from the pillow of repose, 
For he had seen in vision bright 
The fount before him all the night ; 
And that fair form—no, surely earth 
To none so fair had given birth ! 
Back to the grove and magic spring 
He flew on Love’s own rapid wing; 
And tarried there from morn to night, 
Yet saw he not the lady bright. 
‘The morrow was he also there— 
The evening found him in despair ; 
But with the sun new hopes arise, 
Again unto the fount he flies. 
She comes, she comes! in golden light, 
Float on the waves those ringlets bright ! ! 
That snowy brow, those azure eyes, 
Above the limpid waters rise; ~ 
