The Faithless Knight

THE lady she sate in her bower alone, And she gaz'd from the lattice window high, Where a white steed's hoofs were ringing on, With a beating heart, and a smother'd sigh. Why doth she gaze thro' the sunset rays-- Why doth she watch that white steed's track-- While a quivering smile on her red lip plays? 'Tis her own dear knight--will he not look back? The steed flew fast--and the rider past-- Nor paus'd he to gaze at the lady's bower; The smile from her lip is gone at last-- There are tears on her cheek--like the dew on a flower! And 'plague on these foolish tears,' she said, 'Which have dimm'd the view of my young love's track; For oh! I am sure, while I bent my head, It was then--it was then that my knight look'd back.' On flew that steed with an arrow's speed; He is gone--and the green boughs wave between: And she sighs, as the sweet breeze sighs through a reed, As she watches the spot where he last has been. Oh! many a sun shall rise and set, And many an hour may she watch in vain, And many a tear shall that soft cheek wet, Ere that steed and its rider return again!