Cœur de Lion; or the Third Crusade; a poem, etc

Front matter

VOL. I. OR THE THIRD CRUSADE. A POEM, IN SIXTEEN BOOKS. By ELEANOR ANNE PORDEN, AUTHOR OF "THE VEILS," " THE ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS," AND OTHER POEMS. Richard that robb'd the Lion of his Heart, And fought the Holy Wars in Palestine.— Shakespeare. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. L LONDON: PRINTED FOR G. AND W. B. WHITTAKER, AVE-MAR1A-LANE. 1822. LONDON: PRINTED BY COX AND BAYLIS, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN 's-INN-rlEI US. TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY GEORGE THE FOURTH, KING OK THE UNITED KINGDOM .■V GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, <%c. Sfe. Sfc. THE ENLIGHTENED PATRON AND PROTECTOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, STt)i0 fpocm IS, WITH HIS MAJESTY'S MOST GRACIOUS PERMISSION, HUMBLY INSCRIBED BY HIS MAJESTY'S iMOST DUTIFUL AND DEVOTED SERVANT, ELEANOR ANNE PORDEN. ODE TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. Ruler of a happy Land !

England's far-descended King ! Sprung from Him whose dreadful band Fought beneath the Raven's wing: Whom his Cimbrian galleys bore To found on Neustria's yielding shore, Beneath serener skies, a wider reign ; Till, slighting realms so cheaply won, His brave Descendant launch'd anew, to gain Fair Albion for his Bride, and fill her Island Throne. Sprung from those whom Britain's call Summon'd in an earlier age, When her violated wall Felt the Pictish spoiler's rage — Soon a milder, purer creed, Changed to white their sable steed; Soon in one orb the sevenfold rays combined ; Her vanquish'd foes confest the flame, And England with her budding laurels twined Beyond the reach of Time, the wreath of Alfred's fame. Mourn not, if their mutual force Oft the plains in crimson dyed ; If the Saxon's generous Horse Stoop'd beneath the Lion's pride.

Thus two mountain springs descend, Thus their meeting waves contend : Long the fierce waters foam, and clash, and roar, Till to their strife the channel yields, Green turf and fragrant blossoms clothe the shore, And the broad tranquil stream spreads plenty through the fields. With the broomy garland crown'd See the conquering Henry shine ! Plantagenet ! that lofty sound, Blends the boast of either line. See the Silver Cross display 'd O'er th' impetuous Richard's head! On Syria's holy plains to win or bleed, Pours his devoted host along, While he, triumphant on his Cyprian steed, Scatters like morning clouds the misbelieving throng. Monarch ! him I dare to sing ! Him ! thy kindred Henry's son. From his gallant warriors spring They who late thy battles won. England now, from fields of strife Guards her Sovereign's sacred life, Yet still aloft her star of glory shines ; For He that late her Trident bore, And he to whom thy hand her Sword consigns, Shall mate with Arthur's peers, and Richard's knights of yore.

Preface

. The greatness of an enterprize, while it increases the diffidence of an Author, almost destroys the right of apology. If, in at tempting to celebrate the heroic achievements of Richard Coeur de Lion in Palestine, and the events of the Third Crusade, I have ven tured beyond my strength, I can only say that my fancy was captivated by the chivalrous and romantic spirit which breathes from every page of their history, and that in the wish to see them poetically treated, I forgot my own defi ciencies, and also that much of the necessary information was to be derived from sources almost inaccessible to a female. The character of Richard has, I think, been a little unfairly delineated ; and especially as res pects his engagement in the Holy War. It is absurd to try the justice or the prudence of the Crusades by the feelings and opinions of the nine teenth century, and it is almost impossible toesti-

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. mate what were or were not the advantages which Europe ultimately derived from its consequent intercourse with Asia. Every page of our old chronicles bears record of the darkness and ignorance which then enveloped even the most civilized nations of the West. Fanaticism and valour were the ruling spirits of the Middle Ages; and while we deplore the myriads of human victims that were sacrificed for the tem porary possession of a narrow territory in Asia, we ought to remember that many of them would otherwise have fallen in feudal and intes tine war, and that when the sword of bigotry reposed for a moment from the task of exter minating the followers of Mahommed, it was never without an object of persecution among the heretics of Europe. If Richard drained his kingdom of its bravest warriors and richest treasures to lose them both in Palestine, in a contest which neither advantaged himself nor his realm, we must not forget that it was for the attainment of all which was then believed most precious ; in obedience to an authority which he was taught to consider infallible ; and to the still stronger voice of universal enthusiasm, which pointed out the pilgrimage to Palestine as the atonement for the greatest

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. crimes; the certain path of salvation. The bravest Princes of Christendom were his com rades and his rivals, and had He only remained in Europe, his contemporaries would not have applauded his prudence, but have reproached him as a coward, and as a traitor to his honour and his God. He has been accused of shew ing more of the brutal courage of a soldier, than the skill of a leader ; but personal prowess was then esteemed as the noblest quality of a hero, and in that, Richard excelled not only his companions, valiant as they were, but al most all the genuine warriors of antient days, and the Paladins of romance. It was not till after the departure of Philip Augustus from Acre, that Richard became the leader of the Crusaders, and even then each independent chieftain arrayed his followers with more regard to his own interest and glory, than to the common good; yet the march to Arsouf, and the battle of Jaffa, are evidences that he both possessed and could exert the talents of a general ; and the brief period of his stay in Palestine is almost the only page of the Crusades which can be read without horror, as it is the only one which is free from distresses and disasters of the most dreadful kind, and brought on by the most ehildish want of forethought and discipline. VOL. I. b

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. With regard to his personal character. There are but two of the leaders of the Crusades that will bear the test of time. Godfrey of Bouil lon, who was equally exemplary as a private soldier, a general, a monarch, and a christian ; and Tancred, the perfect model of chivalry. Hume, in his History of England, has stig matized Richard as a bad son, a bad husband, and a bad king ; but let us compare him with his contemporaries. The stains of rebellion, of rapacity, perfidy, and cruelty, are strong upon the names of his brother John, of Al phonso of Arragon, of Leopold of Austria, and Henry the sixth of Germany. While we condemn his rebellion to his father, let us not forget his provocation and his repentance ; as a husband, his history is at least unstained by the cold and inexplicable cruelty with which Philip Augustus treated for a number of years the most beautiful and accomplished Princess of her time ; and if the indulgence of his martial genius impoverished his subjects, it en deared him to their hearts, and made the name of Cceur de Lion the pride of England and the terror of Asia.

A blind admiration of the Great of former ages, has been so often ridi culed, that we are now apt to run into an oppo site extreme ; they are like the fossil plants

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. XIX which we sometimes discover far beneath the surface; we know that our soil and atmosphere would not now support them, yet they once flourished there in appropriate use and beauty. France was the cradle of the Crusades ; and we have, till very lately, left it to the French to write their history. It has been remarked that the Monarchs of France and England never fought together in one cause, except at the Siege of Acre ; and though the martial achievements and magnificence of Richard be more congenial with the general taste of our Gallic neighbours, than the cool calculating policy of Philip Augustus, it cannot be matter of sur prize that this circumstance should have pecu liarly excited the feelings of national rivalry, to deepen the darker shades of his character, and to pass lightly over many traits of generosity and magnanimity.

The jealousy of his comrades occasioned the Crusade to fail in its principal object of the re-establishment of the kingdom of Jerusalem, and their treachery rendered it a source of misery and civil con flict to England ; but I cannot help thinking that had a longer life been permitted to him, he would have triumphed over his enemies, consolidated his power, and in the maturity of b

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. XX years and reflection, would have become one of the greatest monarchs in our annals. The Latin kingdom of Jerusalem maintained itself not quite one hundred years. Of the multitudes that accompanied Godfrey, few con templated a permanent expatriation, and when the object of their pilgrimage was accomplished in the redemption of the Sepulchre, they re turned to Europe, leaving him to defend it with very inadequate forces. Yet the single year of his reign was a course of victory, and the code of laws which he caused to be com piled, has been considered as the best example of feudal jurisprudence. On his death, his brother Baldwin was called from the princi pality of Edessa to the vacant throne, and though the territory which he quitted was richer and more extensive than his new dominions ; these were advantages not to be compared with the glory of reigning over the Holy City, and he cheerfully resigned his conquest into the hand of his cousin Baldwin du Boursr.

The avarice and ambition of the first Baldwin, had been a source of constant dissension among the Crusaders, and retarded the completion of their enterprize, but from the time of his accession, the brother of Godfrey proved him-

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. self not unworthy of his relationship. During a reign of eighteen years, with forces that seemed scarcely sufficient for the defence of his little state, he made it formidable to the Saracens of Syria and Egypt, and increased it to an extent which his successors were une qual to maintain. He died childless, and Jeru salem again looked to Edessa for a ruler, while Baldwin du Bourg, was succeeded in the prin cipality by his cousin, Josceline de Courtenay. The new king spent nearly the two first years of his reign in captivity among the Infidels; but the honour of his kingdom was main tained by his vassals, and with the assistance of the Venetians, he afterwards captured the important city of Tyre. As he had no son, he determined to chuse among the no bles of Europe a husband for his daugh ter Melesinda, and an heir to his crown.

His choice fell upon Fulk, Count of Anjou; the father, by a former wife, of the House of Plantagenet ; and who had already distinguished himself in a pilgrimage to Palestine. Fulk accepted the invitation of Baldwin, who ex pired after a reign of twelve years ; and in him his subjects wept over the last of the compa nions of Godfrey, in whom they could find no fault, but that he was more of a saint than a b

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. hero. About this time arose the Knights Hospi tallers, or Knights of St. John, and the Knights Templars, afterwards the strongest defence of Jerusalem. But the power of the Christians was already beginning to decline ; the virtues of Fulk were esteemed, but his faculties were enfeebled by age, and he left his sceptre to a minor. The kingdom had hitherto subsisted through the weakness and disunion of the Saracens; they were now beginning to be united under formidable leaders, and in the reign of the Third Baldwin, Edessa was torn from the de generate heir of Josceline de Courtenay, by Zenghi or Sanguin, Sultan of Aleppo, and his son, the celebrated Noureddin. The news of this disaster revived the enthusiasm of the West. The Emperor Conrad the Third of Germany and Louis the Seventh of France, accompanied by his wife Eleanor of Guyenne, (afterwards married to Henry the Second of England, and mother of Richard and John,) led a force of seven hundred thousand warriors to the Holy Land.

More than two-thirds of this immense armament perished through the ignorance and disobedience of its chieftains, the treachery of the Greeks, and the hostility of the Turkish Sultans of Iconium. The remnant besieged

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. Damascus, but their valour was rendered vain by the jealousy of the Syriac Christians; and the Second Crusade was without one glorious action to atone for the appalling waste of human blood, or to vindicate the promises and exhortations of St. Bernard, which had tempted such multi tudes from the bosom of their families. Soon after, in the midst of a succession of victory, Baldwin the Third died by poison, and was succeeded by his brother Amalric. A brave sol dier but an imprudent king, he often purchased peace from the Saracens by the cession of some of the strongest bulwarks of his dominions, and then as foolishly violated the treaty bought so dear, whenever the arrival of a few straggling pilgrims from Europe held out the hope of obtaining some trifling advantage. He suffered himself to be involved in the domestic broils of Egypt, and afterwards sacrificed the interests of his kingdom to the chimerical hope of con quering that rich country.

The wars of Egypt were indeed fatal to Je rusalem, for it was in them that Saladine first learnt the duties of a soldier ; and it is remark able that Noureddin with difficulty compelled into the path of military renown, the man who was shortly after to pluck the sceptre from the hands of his son, and to become one of the

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. greatest monarchs of the East. At his first campaign the unambitious son of Ayoub reluctantly quitted the pleasures of Damascus, and the toils and perils of war were so little to his taste, that even the distinction which he acquired by the successful defence of Alexandria could not vanquish his disgust; and when the Sultan again ordered him to the banks of the Nile, he went, according to his own confession, with the despair of a man conducted to death. But after he had once fairly tasted the cup of glory his thirst became insatiable. The desire of empire and the triumph of the Koran annihilated every other passion, and the voluptuous youth became remarkable for the simplicity and even austerity of his life. His religious feelings were gratified by the deposition of the heretic Caliph of Cairo, and the restoration of Egypt to the orthodox faith of Islam.

During the life of Noureddin, Saladine was contented to govern in his name; but at his death he raised the standard of revolt, won province after province from his children and his emirs, and then advanced to subdue Jerusalem, a city almost equally sacred in the eyes of a Moslem and a Christian. Gibbon has remarked that the successes of Saladine were prepared by the circumstances of the times, and that he was seldom

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. XXV victorious when opposed by equal forces. It is also worthy of observation that he was unable to sustain the frowns of fortune. The loss of a battle or a friend sunk him into a state of des pondency, from which he was only to be roused by the remembrance, that, according to the doctrine of his Prophet, all was predestined, and that it was impious to murmur at the will of Alia. His character has derived a singular colouring from the mixture of severe devotion to a bigotted and cruel faith, with the feelings of a heart unusually generous and humane. Jerusalem was a victim ready for sacrifice : Amalric left his crown to his son, a leper and a child, who died just as he was beginning to shew that he possessed talents worthy of domi nion. His infant nephew survived him but a few months, and the kingdom, weakened by intestine broils, and exposed to a powerful enemy, remained in the insufficient hands of his sister Sybilla, and her husband, Guy de Lusignan, who had not even the prudence to conciliate those whom he pretended to govern, or the good faith to observe a treaty with Saladine, which might have delayed for a few years the ruin of his power. He lost his army and his liberty at the battle of Tiberias ; and Jerusalem, after a short resistance, submitted

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. to the Soldan. The circumstances of its capi tulation, and his generosity to the conquered, are detailed in the notes to the poem. Tyre was soon the only city of Palestine which re mained to the Christians, and it was saved from sharing the fate of the rest by the opportune arrival of Conrad of Montferrat, with a few brave followers. In the mean time the loss of the Holy City spread dismay in Europe. Some years previous, the Patriarch Heraclius had endea voured to stimulate the potentates of France and England by the recital of its dangers ; but the misfortunes of the Second Crusade were not then forgotten, and his intemperate harangues and infamous character were injurious to his cause. The venerable Arch bishop of Tyre was more successful ; and when he related the sad events of which he was after wards to write the history, the brave and pious wept at the idea of the Saracens trampling on the Tomb of their Redeemer.

Philip Augustus and Richard sheathed on the field of battle the swords which were drawn for mutual warfare, and vied with the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa in their preparations for its rescue. Myriads hastened to take the cross, and to defray the expense of their equipment, the memorable tax of the

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. Dixme Saladine, or the tenth part of their rents and moveables, was imposed on all who remain ed behind. In the meanwhile the Soldan had released Lusignan from captivity, and as the hatred of Conrad had caused the gates of Tyre to be shut against him, he collected the few friends which still remained to him, and began the siege of Acre. Saladine advanced to its relief; successive bands of Christians, whose less splendid preparations had enabled them to outstrip the three great monarchs of Europe, arrived to reinforce the army of Lusignan, while that of the Soldan was continually recruit ed from Egypt, Damascus, and Aleppo ; and the siege had continued nearly three years at the time when the Poem commences. In this brief abstract I have merely attempted to recall to the memory of the reader a few of the principal events which preceded the action of the Poem.

The recent publication of Mr. Mills's History of the Crusades, has ren dered more minuteness unnecessary. It is needless to say, that in a poem, much of fiction is necessarily blended, but where I have drawn from history, I have endeavoured to be cor rect. For one great anachronism I must throw myself on the mercy of the critic, but it seemed to me otherwise impossible to preserve any

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. unity of story without omitting the most ro mantic part of Richard's life. It only remains for me to express my thanks to those friends who have assisted my labours. To Mr. Gifford, for the benefit which I have derived from his friendly criticism; and to Mr. D' Israeli, and Messrs. Longman and Rees, for the loan of many valuable books.

Book I. The Siege Of Acre

VOL. I. B ARGUMENT. THE SIEGE OF ACRE. The Poem opens in the evening after the defeat of the Christians before Acre — Debate of the impious Genii on Mount Carmel — Death of Sybilla, Queen of Jerusalem — Contest of the crusading Princes for the vacant throne — Violence of Conrad, Prince of Tyre — Appearance and death of Raymond — The contending parlies are appeased by Hubert, Bishop of Salisbury — Meeting of Conrad and Isabella, sister to the deceased Queen — Battle ivith Saladine ; Stra tagem of Omar — Success of the Christians — The intoxication of success, and reverse of fortune — The danger of Conrad, and his rescue by Lusignan — Arrival of King Philip, tvho Joins the Battle— Complete rout of Saladine' s army — Death of Eudon — Reflexions of Lusignan and Hubert. While Britain's annals shine with many a name, Her loftiest Poets might contend to sing; While British bosoms feed poetic flame, Why should Her Lyre with foreign praises ring ?

Not for my own, but for my country's fame, Oh ! make me worthy of my theme, and bring, Sweet Muse ! thy noblest numbers, while I dare To blazon Richard's deeds, and Richard's Holy War. b In Honour's fountain steep my Lyre, and give The great of distant ages to mine eyes, With all their martial pomp the dead revive, Heroic deeds and holy extasies ; That they through long futurity may live, And breathe o'er unborn heroes as they rise The courteous grace, the spirit wild and high, The warm, romantic glow, of genuine Chivalry. For, Britain ! not in this thy noon of fame, Hast thou a son to noble hearts more dear, Than He, the terror of the Moslem name, Who on the deep thy White-Cross dared to rear And spread in Palestine, till it became The Christian's day-star, and th' Apostate's fear, Who mix'd with martial deeds the minstrel lyre, He of the Lion-heart, the dauntless soul of fire. CGSUR DE LION.

BOOK I. THE SIEGE OF ACRE.

On Carmel's brow, and Acre's placid tide, The crimson Evening's latest radiance died ; Warn'd by the thickening gloom of awful Night, The weary hosts suspend th' unfinish'd fight, Each fainting Christian to his tent retires, And counts on either side the hostile fires, That from the towers of leaguer'd Acre shine, Or (stretch'd around,) the camp of Saladine.* * On the eastern coast of the Mediterranean is a small bay, of which Mount Carmel forms the southern extremity, while that to the north is occupied by the city of Acre. The plain, on the south, is watered by b 3 two I. Since Salem's exiled King begirt her wall, 10 Since Asia's Lord obey'd his people's call, For three long years, in doubtful conflict tried, The scale of Victory bow'd to either side, Yet ne'er the sun on such a fatal field Had set, or saw so far the Christians yield ; The Moslems sallied from th' unconquered town, From Kaisan's heights the Soldan thunder'd down, In vain they strove to stem the tide of fate, And crowds of Martyrs throng the heavenly gate ; A strange mysterious terror seiz'd on all, 4\like the feeble and the valiant fall ; 20 two rivers ; the Belus, whose sands were sought from a great distance for the manufacture of glass, and the 4I ancient river, the river Kishon ;" but like most of the Syrian streams, they roll a torrent in the Spring, and nearly disappear in the Autumn.

Acre, washed on two sides by the sea, is protected on the third by strong walls, and a succession of massy towers. The Christians, at the commencement of the siege, pitched their camp on the hill of Turon, to the north-east of the tow n ; but this camp being enlarged by the arrival of successive bodies of Crusaders, it extended gradually from Belus to the sea, and almost matched the city in the strength of its ramparts. To the south-east, and a little more remote, but still within the Belus, is a conical hill, called Mahumeria, or the Hill of the Mosque, and by some writers, the Tomb of Memnon. Here were the head-quarters of Saladine ; but much of his army seems to have been encamped on the heights of Kaisan, and in winter it retired to the yet remoter mountains of Kharouba. Acre was therefore enclosed by the Christian army, which, in its turn, was enclosed by that of Saladine. THE SIEGE OF ACRE.

BOOK I.

Nine slaughter'd ranks the purple plain o'erspread, And every rank contain'd a thousand dead.* The anxious warders in the camp below Mark'd a dense cloud on Carmel's lofty brow, Portentous lightning flash'd; a sullen sound Of mutter'd thunder roll'd the mountain round, And lo! a sanguine meteor fires the air, Cleaves the dark mass and shrouds its brightness there; While the dun vapours and the clamorous din Declar'd that still it fiercely blazed within. 30 With horror seiz'd, they tremble at the sign, And breathe in pious prayer the name divine. Well might they tremble— there in close debate, A dark divan of hellish Genii sate. On that vast mount where in his lone abode The wrapt Elijah communed with his God, Where, when a crowd of impious Priests, in vain, With harpings loud and steam of victims slain, Invok'd their slumb'ring Baal from morn till even, The Prophet's voice drew down the fire from heaven ; * " Neuf rangs de moits couvraient le terrein qui s'^tend entre la colline et la mer, et chaque rang (itait de mille guerriers.

"— Michaud from Bohaheddin. B 1. In after times, Alkarmel's Altar rose— Alkarmel, fellesfc of Messiah's foes ; a Though ne'er in walls his vot'ries dared enshrine His horrid vastness, or his form define. But hence expell'd, by Mary's vestal choirs, His sanguine orgies ceas'd and impious fires, Till now again he treads the hallow'd ground, And blasts the vines, and calls the Genii round; All that to punish or to prove mankind, Direct the plague, the earthquake, or the wind, 50 Gild with false rays th' Arabian Prophet's name, Or bow before the fount of living flame; All that against the Son of God combine, To foil the Champions of his Holy Shrine. On flying columns borne of whirling sand, Speeds dark Demroosh from Zara's burning land ; From Libanus the snowy tempest brings The hideous Ullah on its icy wings ; And like a vapour from the foaming tide, Rose stern Mordash, Maimoune at his side ; On a light cloud her lovely limbs reclin'd, 60 Her sable locks a starry wreath confin'd ; Shame, Guilt, and Fear had darken'd every face, But her's had yet a beam of heavenly grace ;

BOOK I. THE SIEGE OF ACRE.

What though no more it vies with Eden's rose, Nor in her eye angelic rapture glows, Who could behold her pensive charms, and seek A smile more brilliant, or a ruddier cheek, Could think that guilt deprest that gentle eye, Or endless torture breath'd so soft a sigh ? 70 Aw'd by her beauty, as a thing divine, From their dark thrones the Genii half incline ; Then while his frame in fiendish transport shook, Alkarmel rose, and thus in thunder spoke : " Woe to the Gospel ! to the Koran joy !* On yonder plain ten thousand Christians lie. Joy ! for this night the Queen Sybilla b dies, And fierce contentions round her bier arise. Fools ! for a name, a realm yet unsubdued, Hark to their clamour ! may it end in blood ! May fiercer strife succeed this war of words, And Christian do the work of Moslem swords !

Sing, till our Paeans reach the realms below, Joy to the Koran ! to the Gospel woe !" 80 * Michaud, vol. ii. p. 70, in speaking of the Turkish mode of warfare in their inroads on the kingdom of Jerusalem, says, that when successful, they returned to their country loaded with spoil, and singing these words : — " The Koran is plunged in joy, the Gospel in tears." "Joy!" criedDemroosh, while fill'd with sudden ire, From his dark eye-balls flash'd vindictive fire. " What joy is ours ? such joy as traitors feel, Nail'd to the cross, the gibbet, or the wheel; Or birds that, spell-bound by the serpent's eye, Perceive their doom, yet lose the power to fly. 90 Go ! credulous, and shout your Prophet's name, Till all his mosques are lost in Christian flame. In vain is Salem yours, in vain ye swore To chase the Cross from this contested shore ; In vain whole hosts of vanquished martyrs bleed; Like waves on waves, devoted hosts succeed.

Though due to British worth, yon ramparts know Their fated strength, nor fear a meaner foe, Already Richard comes —his fleet has past The Cyprian isle, and we are foil'd at last." 100 " 'Tis well," Mordash began, " for Islam's sake, While thou art slumbering, that her guardians wake; I rais'd the storm ; on Cyprus rocky coast Is Richard's gallant fleet dispersed or lost. Vers'd in the counsels to his father's dear The faithless, fatal policy of fear.

BOOK I.

That Turk and Christian hates alike, and pays, "} Feeds, clothes, enriches both, and both betrays, > The Cyprian sceptre base Comnenus sways. 0 J The Lion King shall struggle in the toils ; HO Not Demons match Comnenus' race in wiles; Not all our arts have served the Faith so well, Or sent such hosts of Christian dogs to Hell. Philip may come—to-morrow's sun may bring His vaunted fleet —we fear not Gallia's king ! To war and Ullah we his troops consign ; The harder task of Richard's bane be mine ; Caught in their snares whom Godfrey learn'd to curse, Their hatred deadly, but their friendship worse." " Nor scorn a softer spell," Maimoune said, 120 " His daughter's smiles Comnenus' craft shall aid. E'en now, or all my wonted arts are vain, Evanthe strives with Love's insidious pain ; Fair as her Island's Queen, her pensive charms Shall lure the King from Berengaria's arms, Inglorious flowers shall wreathe his idle sword, And his stern knights deplore their recreant Lord."