A446 
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ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
And now had the marriage been bleft by the prieft; 
The revelry now was begun ; 
The tables they groan’d with the weight of the feaft; — 
Nor yet had the laughter and merriment ceas’d, , 
» .. When the bellat the caitle toll’d—onr! 
Then firft, with amazement, fair Imogine found 
That a ftranger was plac’d by her fide !— 
His air was terrific; he utter’d no found ; 
He fpoke not, he mov’d not, he look’d not around, 
But earneftly gaz’d on the bride! 
His vizor was clos’d, and gigantic his height; 
His armour was fable to view :— 
All pleafure and laughter were hufh’d at his fight ; 
The dogs, as they ey’d him, drew back in affright ; 
The lights in the chamber burn’d blue! 
His prefence all bofoms appear’d to difmay ; 
The guefts fat in filence and fear ; 
At length {poke the bride, while fhe trembl’d, “ I pray, 
Sir Kifight, that your helmet afide you would lay, 
And deign to partake of our cheer!” 
The lady is filent: the ftranger complies ; 
His vizor he flowly unclos’d.— 
Oh, God, what a fight met fair Imogine’s eyes ! 
What words can exprefs her difmay and furprife, 
When a fkeleton’s head was expos’d!’ 
All prefent then utter’d a terrify’d fhout ; 
All turn’d with difguft from the fcene ; 
The worms they crept in, and the worms they crept out, ~ 
And {ported his eyes and his temples about, 
While the fpeétre addrefs’d Imogine :— 
‘“* Behold me, thou falfe one; behold me!’ he cry’d : 
“* Remember Alonzo the Brave! 
“ God grants, that, to. punith thy falfehood and pride, 
** My ghoft at thy marriage fhould fit by thy fide ; 
** Should tax thee with perjury, claim thee as bride, 
“And bear thee away to the grave!" 
Thus faying, his arms round the lady he wound, 
While loudly the fhriek’d in difmay ; 
Then funk with his prey thro’ the wide-yawning ground! 
Nor never again was fair Imogine found, 
Or the pettre who bore her away. 
Not 
i  — 
