Madison Cawein - Orlando Mad lyrics

I. In mail of black my limbs I girt, Angelica! And when the bugles clanged the charge, The rolling battle's bristling marge Beheld me a black storm of war Dash on the foe; While Durindana glitt'ring far Made many a foeman mouth the dirt In bleeding woe:— For thou didst fire me to the war 'Mid many a Paynim scimetar, Angelica! II. No more the battle fires my blood, Angelica! No more gay lists flaunt all their guiles, And chivalry's charge, and beauty's smiles! I wander lone the thistly wold When night-snows fall, And crispy frosts the wild gra** hold. Great knights go glimmering thro' the wood, The clarion's call Wakes War upon his desert wold— I see the dawning breaking cold, Angelica! III. When Southern winds sowed all the skies, Angelica! With bloom-storms of the flowering May; When all the battle-field was gay With scented garb of sainted flowers, I found a stream Cold as thy heart to paramours! Deep as the depth of thy blue eyes! And like a dream I found a grotto 'mid the flowers, Cool 'mid the sunlight-sprinkled bowers, Angelica! IV. My casque I dofft to scoop the fount, Angelica! With beaded pureness bubbling cool— It clashed into the purling pool;— Thy name lay chiseled in the rock, And underneath— And then meseemed deep night did block My steel-chained heart in one huge mount Foreshadowing d**h!— Medoro deep in every rock! The Moorish name my soul did mock, Angelica! V. No more wild war my veins ensteeps, Angelica! No more gay lists flaunt all their guiles!— White wastes before me miles on miles With one low, ruby sunset bound— Thou fleest before, I follow on: a far off sound Of oceans gnawing at dark steeps Swells to a roar.— 'Mid foam thou smil'st: I spurn the ground— I sink, I swim, waves hiss around— Oh, could I sink 'neath the profound, And think of thee no more!