With relics protected, and confident grown

And telling devoutly his beads,

The Archbishop prepares him, and when it was known, That the King for awhile left the body alone,

To search for the spell he proceeds.

Now careful he searches with tremulous haste
For the spell that bewitches the King;
And under the tongue for security placed,
Its margin with mystical characters faced,
At length he discovers a ring.

Rejoicing he seiz'd it and hasten'd away,
The Monarch re-entered the room,
The enchantment was ended, and suddenly gay
He bade the attendants no longer delay
But bear her with speed to the tomb.

Now merriment, joyaunce and feasting again
Enlivened the palace of Aix,

And now by his heralds did King Charlemain
Invite to his palace the courtier train

To hold a high festival day.

And anxiously now for the festival day
The highly-born Maidens prepare;
And now all apparell'd in costly array,
Exulting they come to the palace of Aix,

Young and aged, the brave, and the fair.

Oh! happy the Damsel who 'mid her compeers
For a moment engaged the King's eye!

Now glowing with hopes and now fever'd with fears
Each maid or triumphant, or jealous, appears,
As noticed by him, or past by.

And now as the evening approach'd, to the ball

In anxious suspence they advance,

Each hoped the King's choice on her beauties might fall, When lo! to the utter confusion of all

He asked the Archbishop to dance.

The damsels they laugh and the barons they stare,
'Twas mirth and astonishment all;

And the Archbishop started and muttered a prayer,
And, wrath at receiving such mockery there,
Withdrew him in haste from the hall.

The moon dimpled over the water with light

As he wander'd along the lake side;

When lo! where beside him the King met his sight; "Oh turn thee Archbishop, my joy and delight, "Oh turn thee my charmer," he cried;

"Oh come where the feast and the dance and the song "Invite thee to mirth and to love;

"Or at this happy moment away from the throng "To the shade of yon wood let us hasten along,.. "The moon never pierces that grove."

Amazement and anger the prelate possest,
With terror his accents he heard,
Then Charlemain warmly and eagerly prest
The Archbishop's old wither'd hand to his breast
And kiss'd his old grey grizzle beard.

"Let us well then these fortunate moments employ!" Cried the Monarch with passionate tone:

"Come away then dear charmer, . . my angel, .. my joy,

"Nay struggle not now,.. 'tis in vain to be coy,.. "And remember that we are alone."

"Blessed Mary protect me!" the Archbishop cried; "What madness is come to the King!"

In vain to escape from the Monarch he tried,
When luckily he on his finger espied

The glitter of Agatha's ring.

Overjoy'd, the old Prelate remembered the spell,
And far in the lake flung the ring;

The waters closed round it, and, wond'rous to tell,
Releas'd from the cursed enchantment of hell,
His reason returned to the King.

But he built him a palace there close by the bay,
And there did he 'stablish his reign;

And the traveller who will, may behold at this day
A monument still in the ruins of Aix

Of the spell that possess'd Charlemain.

St. ROMUALD.

The Virtues of this Saint, as mentioned in the poem, may be found particularized in his life. The honour intended him by the Spaniards, is mentioned by Andrews, History of England, Vol. 1.

One day, it matters not to know
How many hundred years ago,

A Spaniard stopt at a posada door :

The Landlord came to welcome him, and chat

Of this and that,

For he had seen the Traveller there before.

Does holy Romuald dwell

Still in his cell?

The Traveller ask'd, or is the old man dead?
He has left his loving flock, and we

So good a Christian never more shall see,
The Landlord answer'd, and he shook his head.