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The Hostile Brothers
Anonymous translation
YONDER, on the mountain-summit, | |
| Lies the castle wrapped in night; | |
| In the valley gleam the sparkles, | |
| Struck from clashing swords in fight. | |
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| Brothers they who thus in fury | 5 |
| Fierce encounter hand to hand; | |
| Say, what cause could make a brother | |
| ’Gainst a brother turn his brand? | |
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| Countess Laura’s beaming glances | |
| Did the fatal feud inflame, | 10 |
| Kindling both with equal passion | |
| For the fair and noble dame. | |
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| Which hath gained the fair one’s favor? | |
| Which shall win her for his bride? | |
| Vain to scan her heart’s inclining; | 15 |
| Draw the sword, let that decide. | |
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| Wild and desperate grows the combat, | |
| Clashing strokes like thunder fly; | |
| Ah! beware, ye savage warriors! | |
| Evil powers by night are nigh! | 20 |
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| Woe for you, ye bloody brothers! | |
| Woe for thee, thou bloody vale! | |
| By each other’s swords expiring, | |
| Sink the brothers, stark and pale. | |
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| Many a century has departed, | 25 |
| Many a race has found a tomb, | |
| Yet from yonder rocky summits | |
| Frown those moss-grown towers of gloom; | |
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| And within the dreary valley | |
| Fearful sights are seen by night: | 30 |
| There, as midnight strikes, the brothers | |
| Still renew their ghastly fight. | |
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