Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
Mazurka
By Samuel Ward (1814–1884)S
In the hall of Pèterhof,
Drags the Queen of Beauty off,
Duchess Olga Ròmanoff,
Stemming the dance’s tide
With the Mazurka stride
Which she, so lately
Grand Duchess stately,
Follows sedately.
Now, with a victor’s pride,
Clasps he her slender waist,
Twin-like they onward glide,
As though by foemen chased;
Now casts her loose, but holds,
Vice-like, her captive hand;
While, like a tempest, rolls
Louder the frantic band.
He tramps with fiercer swing,
She his pace following
Lightly as bird on wing,
Follows without demur
His clashing heel and spur;
He proud as Lucifer,
She, as an angel calm
Trusting his iron arm
Through the wild dance’s swarm,
Till the orchestral storm
Melts into melodies
Soft as a summer breeze.
Now other steps they choose,
He in his turn pursues
And her forgiveness woos,
With a beseeching joy,
Woos her retreating coy,
When, like a thunder-clap,
Halt! bids the leader’s rap,
And Duchess Olga sees
Schàmiloff on his knees.