Argantyr

Arm’d amid this starless gloom, Thou, whose steps adventurous roam; Thou, that wav’st a magic spear Thrice before our mansions drear, Devoted virgin,—know in time The mischiefs of the Runic Rhyme, Forcing accents, mutter’d deep, From the cold reluctant lip! Me no tender father laid Entomb’d beneath an hallow’d shade; It was no friendly voice that gave The oak, that screen’d a warrior’s grave, Gave it, in malignant tone, To the blasting thunderstone.— Timeless now these bones decay, Pervious to the baleful ray Of the swart star.—’Mid battle’s yell The charm’d, the fatal weapon fell From my unwary grasp.—A knight Seiz’d the Sword of magic might. Virgin, of thy spells demand His name,—and from his victor hand, Try if thy intrepid zeal May win the all-subduing Steel.