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 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
Edition limited to two hundred and ten copies, 
 of which this is Number ....."...i'.„; K' '■ ''t ''-' 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 The Library of Congress 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/fairelenaOOgilnn 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 A Legend of the Old Fort 
 at St. Augustine 
 
 BY 
 
 J. E. OILMAN 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 Desmond FitzGerald, Inc. 
 

 Copyright, 191 i, 
 By Desmond FitzGerald, Inc. 
 
 4 ZS^ 
 
 ©CI.A3I)5030 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Oh ! summer land, upon thy shores, 
 the sea 
 
 Unstinted casts its treasures, bound- 
 less, free, 
 
 And gently woos with many a soft 
 caress, 
 
 In blandishment of murmured gentle- 
 ness, 
 
 Then rageful, foaming, towers with 
 savage roar 
 
 In angry passion, beating at thy door. 
 
 Only to sink again, appeased with 
 smiles — 
 
 From thy fair land, and verdure- 
 crowned isles. 
 
 Now suppliant rests caressing at thy 
 feet, 
 
 [7] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 With rippling waves, in cooing kisses 
 sweet, 
 
 And decked with glowing tints and 
 colors warm. 
 
 In close embrace receives thy radiant 
 form. 
 
 Fair flower land! the realm of lotus 
 dreams, 
 
 Romance in all thy varied history 
 gleams — 
 
 And gilds each page with ventures 
 strange and bold 
 
 Of knightly search for conquest, and 
 for gold, 
 
 A gorgeous pageantry of burnished 
 arms. 
 
 Of sieges, sorties, ruthless war's 
 alarms. 
 
 Of pirates' raid, and bandit bucca- 
 neer, 
 
 And valorous deeds of mailed cav- 
 alier 
 
 [8] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Through trembling swamp or lethal 
 everglade. 
 
 By labyrinthine paths no hand has 
 made, 
 
 The stealthy Indian glides with noise- 
 less tread, 
 
 And shadows cross the page, in flam- 
 ing red. 
 
 Yet o'er the ruined cot and broken 
 form 
 
 The creeping vine has laid its mantle 
 warm. 
 
 To legendary tales the deed consigns. 
 
 And time's effacing hand has dimmed 
 the lines. 
 
 Oh, queenly land ! Enthroned on sum- 
 mer seas. 
 
 How many nations, suitors at thy 
 knees. 
 
 Have woven fair the richly bannered 
 page 
 
 [9] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And claimed thy realm as richest 
 heritage ? 
 
 De Soto's hosts entwine with lillied 
 France, 
 
 With these combine De Leon's sad 
 romance, 
 
 And England's lion banners wave 
 amain, ; 
 
 With close companioned lion flag of 
 Spain, 
 
 Till Freedom's starry ensign rules se- 
 rene, 
 
 The standard of thy throne, thou 
 mighty Queen. 
 
 And merged in sisterhood among the 
 States, 
 
 Art guardian charged to keep these 
 southern gates. 
 
 Oh! Land mid summer seas, in em- 
 eralds drest, 
 
 To dwell within thy realm is blissful 
 rest. 
 
 [lO] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 There closely twined in warmth of 
 
 Nature's heart, 
 And flower crowned, with all her 
 
 choicest art. 
 Are fragrant groves, with white and 
 
 gold o'erlaid. 
 That laughing, bear the fruit the sun 
 
 has made 
 In likeness of himself. The golden 
 
 globes. 
 The jewelled ornaments upon thy 
 
 robes, 
 Are regal gifts thy bounty sends to 
 
 all, 
 Like benedictions shed, where'er they 
 
 fall. 
 There mango groves with tangled 
 
 roots of trees, 
 Like serpents, fold on fold, some prey 
 
 to seize. 
 Yet sheltering refuge give their 
 
 domes within 
 
 ["] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 To myriad tribes of elves with glitter- 
 ing fin, 
 
 Or safe, when falls the night in dark- 
 ness deep, 
 
 Protects the homing birds in perfect 
 sleep. 
 
 While springing clear, from caverned 
 crystal deep. 
 
 In joyous bounty sparkling leap, 
 
 As Horeb's rock gushed forth at 
 God's command, 
 
 And generous, poured its blessing 
 o'er the land, 
 
 Thy bosomed springs pour forth, in 
 very truth. 
 
 In manifold — the living fount of 
 youth. 
 
 And over all thy tasseled, waving 
 palms 
 
 Majestic rear their heads through 
 storms and calms 
 
 [I2] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And bend in welcome to each wander- 
 ing guest 
 
 Of thy fair land — Florida — ever 
 blest. 
 
 When trod the venturous foot amid 
 the unknown lands, 
 
 Hispania's armies proudly ruled Flo- 
 ridian strands — 
 
 And reared a fortress strong, that 
 should their hold retain 
 
 Upon the realm they'd seized for 
 Philip— King of Spain. 
 
 Menendez then commander was, in 
 fief of Rome, 
 
 To free the land of heresy, and build 
 a home. 
 
 And by his king Adelantado made su- 
 preme 
 
 Of all the Spanish main, and far be- 
 yond. A dream 
 
 [13] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Of glorious conquest — dazzling 
 
 wealth — perchance to find 
 That fount whose crystal wave in 
 
 emerald bank enshrined 
 Conferred immortal youth on him 
 
 who did but drink, 
 Unfailing source of life within its 
 
 fabled brink. 
 The standard of the cross he reared 
 
 with fury's flame, 
 And deeds of love like this he wrought 
 
 in Christus' name 
 With mailed arm, the grim old chief, 
 
 his sword upraised, 
 And slew some scores of heretics. 
 
 "God's name be praised." 
 The gentle Indian, tamed with toil- 
 some task and lash. 
 Oft seamed his heathen hide with 
 
 pike-inflicted gash. 
 And thus the law of love and peace 
 
 to him was shown, 
 
 [14] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And heaven was gained with many a 
 
 tear and moan. 
 He scuttled ships and hanged the 
 
 crews, or prisoners sent, 
 In irons bound, to Spain, for darker 
 
 punishment 
 Of churchly trial, torture-cell, auto 
 
 da fe, 
 In loving kindness burnt to grace 
 
 some holy day. 
 Through life his footprints stained 
 
 the earth with blood; 
 The Church assoiled his soul from 
 
 crime's ensanguined flood 
 For each atrocious deed — thanksgiv- 
 ing mass, he said. 
 A saint he lived and, blessed, died at 
 
 last in bed — 
 Don Pedro, dying, left behind the 
 
 youthful town 
 San Augustine — a star amid the 
 
 jewelled crown 
 
 [15] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Of Spanish colonies — yet e'er he 
 
 passed away 
 The French, revengeful, armed, had 
 
 made a swift foray, 
 And burned the town and fort — bap- 
 tized the land anew 
 With human sacrifice, much as the 
 
 heathen do. 
 For being Christians made it right to 
 
 slaughter all 
 Of different creed, and so they slew 
 
 both great and small. 
 'Tis true that many innocent with 
 
 them were slain, 
 But God would know His own — and 
 
 they were out of pain; 
 'Twas but the past's libation poured 
 
 from living bowls 
 To greet the future's long account of 
 
 murdered souls. 
 The soil, enriched with copious dews 
 
 of wine-red crime, 
 [i6] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 No doubt would harvest vintage great 
 in coming time 
 
 Upon the site where France had 
 crushed Hispania's pride. 
 
 King Philip planned redoubts anew, 
 well fortified 
 
 With sturdy walls and ramparts, deep 
 embrasured front, 
 
 With cannon grim and open mouthed 
 to bear the brunt 
 
 Of direful siege or fierce attack of 
 warring foes; 
 
 Portcullised gates that friends ad- 
 mit, all else oppose. 
 
 A deep encircling moat glacis, a demi- 
 lune, 
 
 To guard the port a bastioned curtain, 
 all rock hewn, 
 
 "Each line with highest art and skill," 
 so read the plan, 
 
 As drawn by Spanish engineers, after 
 VaAan. 
 
 [17] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And now a hundred years have passed 
 since first begun — 
 
 A hundred years of toil beneath the 
 burning sun, 
 
 Of sullen convict-knaves brought here 
 from other lands — 
 
 Unwilling Indian serfs, controlled by 
 iron hands. 
 
 And captured men-at-arms, in igno- 
 minious place, 
 
 As slaves, to build a fort for men of 
 alien race. 
 
 Successive throngs have come and 
 worn their lives away. 
 
 Each stone cement with blood, as rose 
 the fortress gray, 
 
 A Lazar house of woe, if all the tale 
 were told. 
 
 Of cruel deeds to man^these hun- 
 dred years of old. 
 
 Now squarely grim, from rampart's 
 foot to parapet, 
 [i8] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 The frowning walls are reared in 
 
 place and firmly set, 
 And proudly floats the silken folds in 
 
 lordly laze 
 Of blazoned banner, on its staff, amid 
 
 the haze 
 Of smoking incense from the sacred 
 
 vessels flung, 
 While mass is clamorous, voiced with 
 
 cannon's brazen lung. 
 For murder, war and all such arts 
 
 must hallowed be 
 With holy service of the church. By 
 
 this set free. 
 The veriest scoundrel of them all was 
 
 justified 
 To cut a throat or sack a town— with 
 
 honest pride. 
 And now the years glide on, with 
 
 sometimes calls to arms 
 And sometimes peace. And safe, 
 
 when sounded war's alarm, 
 
 [19] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Within the sheltering fort the people 
 
 of the town 
 Awaited happier days. When war 
 
 clouds ceased to frown 
 Then came they forth, and built the 
 
 ruined homes anew, 
 And thankful were they'd lived the 
 
 troublous period through. 
 
 One afternoon a fleet from Spain in 
 close array 
 
 Came slowly sailing up the winding 
 Dolphin's Bay 
 
 And cast the clanking anchor near 
 San Marco's fort, 
 
 That grim and frowning stood, de- 
 fender of the port. 
 
 On board the fleet, a new commander 
 came from Spain, 
 
 A lordly Don of high degree, and in 
 his train 
 
 [20] 
 
 % 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 His fair young bride. A rose among 
 Castilian flowers, 
 
 The dew of youth scarce brushed 
 from childhood's happy hours, 
 
 A rose with opening Hps, in wonder, 
 at the world. 
 
 Before unknown. But now its mys- 
 teries, wide unfurled, 
 
 Oppress and bruise the tender petals 
 of the heart — 
 
 For she unwilling was to wed — and 
 torn apart 
 
 From all her soul held dear, in mock- 
 ery of vows 
 
 Was forced to perjure self, and rank 
 and wealth espouse, 
 
 A captive vassal, in procession 
 brought to swell 
 
 His rank and state — thus she, poor 
 maid in fetters fell, 
 
 A chain invisible, that bound with 
 strangling cord 
 
 [21] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Her future life, and borne in horror 
 of her lord, 
 
 For he was Alvarez, a grizzled, stern 
 old knight. 
 
 With features graved with scars, im- 
 prints of many a fight ; 
 
 A face that long campaigns had 
 bronzed to parchment hue, 
 
 A crafty fox, and merciless — unused 
 to sue — 
 
 A born commander, quick to plan. An 
 iron will, 
 
 A tiger's thirst for blood if roused, 
 instinct to kill. 
 
 Unbending pride in birth. The line- 
 age of his race 
 
 To Adam's time, perhaps beyond, 
 could backward trace, 
 
 Sprung fungus-like — suspicion in his 
 ready mind. 
 
 And jealous doubts of wife, his friend, 
 and all mankind. 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 A subtle poison, new distilled, sharp 
 
 fanged with pain, 
 Luxuriant thrived within his dark and 
 
 scheming brain ; 
 The tiger wed with lamb ! The hawk 
 
 with dove is gyved, 
 So Alvarez the fierce the fair Elena 
 
 wived. 
 
 The sounding trumpet's ringing note 
 
 broke on the ear, 
 Re-echoed from the wood's green 
 
 wall, and city near, 
 While banners decked the rampart's 
 
 front, and greeting gave 
 As cannon roared in noisy salvos o'er 
 
 the wave. 
 Then flecked with barges many oared 
 
 the placid bay. 
 Transporting troops and stones from 
 
 where the galleons lay, 
 
 [23] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And in procession marched toward 
 the stern old fort. 
 
 Don Alvarez, with sword and cross 
 and all his court, 
 
 With sounding shouts, and ringing 
 cheers on every side, 
 
 "Long live Don Alvarez, and bless- 
 ings on his bride." 
 
 Thus opened wide the gates, to wel- 
 come on the strand 
 
 Don Alvarez of Spain — new gov- 
 ernor of the land. 
 
 Loud rang the soldier's laugh as fell 
 
 the shades of night. 
 And comrades greet old friends, as 
 
 swiftly wings its flight 
 From hand to hand the well-filled 
 
 beaker on its rounds ; 
 While tinkling thrum of light guitar 
 
 and merry sounds 
 
 [24] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Of mandolin and Castanet the echoes 
 brought 
 
 Of gala days in old Castile, with 
 pleasures fraught, 
 
 And twice-told tales are heard of 
 'scapes by field and flood, 
 
 And wondrous feats of arms 'mid 
 hecatombs of blood. 
 
 Till evening hours were builded deep 
 in later night, 
 
 And chapel bell and tap of drum ex- 
 tinguished light. 
 
 And all was hushed save where some 
 wanderer vigil kept. 
 
 And clanking, paced his measured 
 watch o'er those that slept; 
 
 Or sounds from out the city streets, 
 while passing by — 
 
 "Ave Marie Purissima," the watch- 
 man's cry. 
 
 So closed the day, and night shone out 
 with myriad stars 
 
 [25] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Reflected in a thousand forms of 
 
 gilded bars 
 Upon the breast of tranquil waters, 
 
 fast asleep- 
 All still save gentle swell, the breath- 
 ing of the deep. 
 
 The morning came, and with it fare- 
 well message said, 
 For home returning bound, the snowy 
 
 sails are spread, 
 And on old ocean's bosom borne, with 
 
 favoring breeze. 
 The galleons take their lengthened 
 
 flight across the seas, 
 While from the seaward wall the fair 
 
 Elena viewed 
 The parting ships with feelings deep 
 
 of solitude. 
 They linked her home in fair Castile 
 
 with this unknown, 
 
 [26] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 That home so far away, and she left 
 here alone. 
 
 The link was severed then that made 
 her home seem near, 
 
 These messengers returning there 
 seemed doubly dear — 
 
 And gazing out the lookout's tower 
 till every trace 
 
 Of fading sail was merged within the 
 cloudland place, 
 
 She still with straining eyes far dis- 
 tant sought to gain 
 
 A last fond look at those so soon to 
 be in Spain. 
 
 While visions o'er the watery waste 
 before her smiled, 
 
 A gleam of fairyland, where once she 
 roamed, a child— 
 
 And trod with lightsome foot the rose- 
 strewn path, to hide, 
 
 Or blithely danced in childish glee 
 some friend beside. 
 
 [27] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And then Hernando's form in vision 
 seemed to rise, 
 
 And all unconscious why, the fair 
 Elena sighs — 
 
 Hernando, once her hero, king, her 
 playmate, friend, 
 
 The child's ideal of youthful grace. 
 Pray heaven to send 
 
 Those happy days once more, when 
 she was light and free. 
 
 Before this storm cloud wafted her 
 beyond the sea. 
 
 And then there came a shadowy sense 
 of coming ill, 
 
 A gathering cloud of dread, that 
 gloomed with icy chill, 
 
 A shivering thrill of fear, presenti- 
 ment that gave 
 
 A shock, as when one treads unknow- 
 ing on his grave. 
 
 And hastening, panic struck, adown 
 the tower stair, 
 
 [28] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 She sought, as might a wounded doe, 
 its secret lair, 
 
 And panting, reached the rude and 
 narrow casemate room. 
 
 There, shuddering, turned, as one es- 
 caped some dreadful doom. 
 
 And sobbed relief, in woman's pre- 
 cious refuge — tears — 
 
 Till tired sleep erased the sense of all 
 her fears. 
 
 Then in the visions of the night there 
 floated fair 
 
 Hernando's form. And sounded on 
 the fragrant air 
 
 His voice harmonious, tuned respon- 
 sive to her heart, 
 
 And life once more was wreathed in 
 smiles, as far apart 
 
 From waking hours as Paradise 
 from dungeon cell. 
 
 The dismal place where morn con- 
 demned her still to dwell. 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And thus began that weary time when 
 
 moments seem 
 As hours — and hours in lengthening 
 
 stretch as in a dream, 
 When time expands to years. A life 
 
 compressed apace 
 Within an instant's time, within a 
 
 breathing space. 
 Each present day as like the day that 
 
 passed before, 
 As wave resembles wave, in ripples 
 
 on the shore. 
 So, slowly moving down the stagnant 
 
 stream of days. 
 With naught of charm to mark their 
 
 flight. And naught allays 
 The thirst for home, with all its bliss 
 
 and dear delight. 
 As frequent these return to mind, in 
 
 pictured sight. 
 And oft she sat and gazed at eve far 
 
 o'er the sea, 
 
 [30] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And watched with longing eyes the 
 
 sea birds wheeling free, 
 When through the filmy haze and 
 
 slowly gathering night, 
 In columned ranks, they whirled, and 
 
 homeward took their flight. 
 Not bound, as she, within the narrow, 
 
 frowning walls. 
 But ocean wide, to towering sky, were 
 
 spread their halls. 
 The very air within the fort its free- 
 dom lost, 
 In haste it sped without and fled, as 
 
 tempest tost. 
 With speedy wings, far o'er the land 
 
 of whispering pines — 
 So flee the angels fair from deep and 
 
 dark designs. 
 As victim held, and crushed within 
 
 the hand of fate. 
 Her weary spirit writhed, hopeless, 
 
 disconsolate. 
 
 [31] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Her soul its pinions beat against the 
 iron hand 
 
 That marred her life, and all its for- 
 mer pleasures banned. 
 
 So slowly moved the hours, each 
 lengthening day grew night. 
 
 Each night gave lingering birth to 
 morn — scarce marked the flight 
 
 Of time, with aught beyond the daily 
 tread-mill round— 
 
 The clank of arms. Old ocean's mon- 
 otone of sound — 
 
 The outlined forest dark, with prison- 
 ing bars of pine, 
 
 That like an outer wall her prison 
 doors confine, 
 
 While seaward spread the bounded 
 sky, dropped space 
 
 That fettered sight within her dreary 
 prison place. 
 
 So sat she there, with hungry heart 
 and longing eyes, 
 
 [32] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 While landward rolled the foam- 
 kissed waves that met her sighs 
 
 And vainly searched the verge of 
 ocean's distant rim 
 
 Till night brought needed rest to 
 weary eyes grown dim, 
 
 And oranged breathed the winds, in 
 whispers low and sweet. 
 
 Like visions brought her home and 
 playmates at her feet. 
 
 Thus melted day to day, in woeful dis- 
 content. 
 
 Each hour a sigh, each wakeful night 
 a long lament, 
 
 Till wayward fate or subtle chance 
 the curtain drew. 
 
 Rekindled light in life, and comfort 
 gave anew. 
 
 For rumored wars made need, and 
 new recruits from Spain 
 
 Were sent, to surely hold this outpost 
 on the main. 
 
 [33] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And with these troops Hernando 
 
 came, unknowing, there, 
 Within San Marco's frowning walls, 
 
 the lady fair 
 Abiding place had found. He knew 
 
 that she was wed, 
 And far removed from Spain. So 
 
 chance his footsteps led. 
 And brought him to this far-off realm, 
 
 where face to face 
 He met once more his childhood's 
 
 friend, so full of grace, 
 A sweet surprise to each, when at the 
 
 journey's end 
 To find upon this distant strand each 
 
 owned a friend. 
 And in her soulful, sad and longing 
 
 eyes he read 
 Unmeasured hours of loneliness, and 
 
 all the dread 
 Those hours had stored of sickening 
 
 pain within her heart. 
 
 [34] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 It moved his knightly soul to rise and 
 
 rend apart 
 The cankering thongs and rescue her 
 
 from all her care. 
 Her knight, her will in honor bound 
 
 to do and dare, 
 Content for any toil if haply he might 
 
 gain 
 A smile, to blossom new from out that 
 
 look of pain. 
 He cheery pranks would play and 
 
 stratagems invent 
 To charm away her grief and change 
 
 to merriment. 
 He searched the woodland's wealth 
 
 for fairy ferns and flowers, 
 He gathered store of shells, fresh 
 
 plucked from coral bowers. 
 The gems that, like a prodigal, the 
 
 reckless sea 
 Profusely cast upon the shore in joy- 
 ous glee 
 
 [35] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Each day, some treasure rare, in color 
 
 glowing, warm, 
 Some wondrous marvel found of 
 
 strangely fashioned form 
 To glad her sight and gild an hour 
 
 with sweet surprise 
 At nature's handiwork unclosed to 
 
 curious eyes. 
 Then life grew strangely sweet. Each 
 
 day, rose colored, spread 
 The languid hours new flushed with 
 
 life and banished dread, 
 Save when her lord appeared, and 
 
 then a rising fear 
 That, shuddering, filled her soul while 
 
 Alvarez was near. 
 The sun shone in her heart when he 
 
 was far away. 
 His storm-cloud face obscured, when 
 
 near, her brightest day ; 
 E'en then Hernando's voice would 
 
 flood the lowering gloom 
 
 [36] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 With golden sunset hues. Anew her 
 
 life would bloom, 
 And she, poor soul, ne'er had a 
 
 thought or dream of harm, 
 No transient sense to either came that 
 
 might alarm. 
 That nesting in their hearts was 
 
 friendship grown to love, 
 And full control possessed of each all 
 
 else above — 
 'Twas happiness to live, to simply 
 
 breathe the air, 
 Together be, together watch the 
 
 world so fair, 
 Pure innocence with each. As chil- 
 dren playful grasp 
 The roses blooming fresh, and thorns 
 
 unwitting clasp. 
 Ah, cruel fate ! to tempt poor human 
 
 nature so. 
 And hide the quicksand's deadly path 
 
 with roseate glow. 
 
 [37] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 That dangerous road these two so far 
 had entered in, 
 
 That shadows of eternal ni^t and 
 mortal sin 
 
 Gloomed darkly o'er their heads, pit- 
 falls on either side; 
 
 Unconscious pair — they wandered on 
 without a guide. 
 
 Fate strides with footsteps free, and 
 surely overtakes 
 
 A mortal's pace, however great the 
 speed he makes. 
 
 And happiness is but the globule's 
 tinted form, 
 
 That ruddy glows in painted color, 
 rich and warm — 
 
 As floating in the air, it, towering, up- 
 ward flies, 
 
 A radiant star. In seeming, firm as 
 the eternal skies. 
 
 One instant bright, the next 'tis gone, 
 a film in air; 
 
 [38] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 In darkness plunged the light and life, 
 that promised fair. 
 
 Meanwhile with watchful eye Alvarez 
 
 vigil kept — 
 Suspicion rankled in his brain, and 
 
 never slept, 
 But smouldered with the inward fire, 
 
 intense of hate, 
 Soul searing burned, and vengeance's 
 
 flood alone could sate. 
 Each deed or look, though light as 
 
 thistle-down in air. 
 As weighty evidence of guilt within 
 
 his lair. 
 In mind he, raging, seized and turned 
 
 it o'er and o'er. 
 In search of deep intent — a hidden 
 
 something more 
 Than on the surface seemed. To him 
 
 a deep design 
 
 [39] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Was borne in every glance, an influ- 
 ence all malign, 
 
 Yet crafty and dissembling well, no 
 signal gave 
 
 Of doubt, or warning voice, that 
 might the victim save. 
 
 Chivalrous in his faith, Hernando's 
 
 utmost thought 
 Was kindly deed and faithful trust to 
 
 guard from aught 
 That might a glooming shadow cast 
 
 upon the day, 
 From care to alienate and clear the 
 
 thorny way 
 From out the fair Elena's path. 
 
 Within his eyes 
 A haloed saint she was — an angel in 
 
 disguise — 
 Her casemate bower a cloistered cell — 
 
 a sacred shrine. 
 
 [40] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 The lady's service and the King's his 
 heart entwine, 
 
 No thought of love for her had blos- 
 somed in his mind; 
 
 The new-born soul of love, within his 
 soul confined, 
 
 No signal gave of life that would his 
 honor fright. 
 
 And scatter withering frost forever- 
 more to blight. 
 
 Elena, too, the slumberous love within 
 her breast 
 
 Not manifest to her. For coyly in his 
 nest 
 
 Young love, so newly waked, was 
 stranger to her eyes. 
 
 Yet being there, by magic changed to 
 Paradise 
 
 The arid desert of her life. And she, 
 content, 
 
 Ne'er reasoned how or why, but gave 
 a glad consent 
 
 [41] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 To each day's pleasure as it came, and 
 
 careless drew 
 A honeyed joy from every changeful 
 
 hour that grew. 
 
 And so one eve, it chanced, the sun 
 
 was newly set — 
 They watched the colors fade, beyond 
 
 the parapet 
 Uprose the great round moon and cast 
 
 abroad her rays 
 In threads of light, to weave her web 
 
 in human ways. 
 A woof of much of mischief, love and 
 
 sweetness blent, 
 A spell of witching madness oft to 
 
 lovers sent — 
 For love's distilled potent and most 
 
 intoxicate. 
 When silver tipped the waves with 
 
 moonbeams scintillate, 
 
 [42] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And Cupid's arrows dipped the spark- 
 ling cauldron in 
 Envenomed are, and swifter fly, the 
 
 heart to win. 
 With heaving breast the greenwood 
 
 tossed and gently sighed, 
 As toyed the breeze with amorous kiss 
 
 the swelling tide, 
 Each dainty leaflet, trembling in the 
 
 soft embrace. 
 With quivering nerve expectant in its 
 
 trysting place. 
 Beneath the fortress wall a wandering 
 
 minstrel sang, 
 Commingling with the dreamy night, 
 
 the music rang 
 With tinkling mandolin, the sturdy 
 
 cavalier 
 Trolled forth this serenade the words 
 
 and music clear : 
 
 [43] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Warily crouches the tiger, 
 Fiercely watching his prey ; 
 
 Angrily glaring through thicket, 
 Stealthily creeping his way. 
 
 Love the fair maiden entrances, 
 Sweet sings her heart to its tune. 
 
 Dreamily wandering the pathway. 
 Silvery kissed by the moon. 
 
 Velvet the tread of the tiger. 
 
 Soft as the silvery light ; 
 Ware thee the thicket, fair maiden. 
 
 Hasten thee homeward in flight. 
 
 Flashes a shade o'er the pathway, 
 Echoes a thunderous roar; 
 
 Broken the tryst of the fair one. 
 Maiden, thy love dream is o'er. 
 
 The music ceased. The singer 
 strolled his distant way, 
 
 [44] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Unwitting that a warning bore his 
 
 idle lay 
 To ears that heard and eyes that saw 
 
 their last of earth, 
 For o'er them hovered death, amid the 
 
 joy and mirth 
 A ghastly night, forevermore about 
 
 the pair. 
 Enshrouding deep in gloom the sen- 
 suous, moonlit air. 
 Within the angle of the fort Alvarez 
 
 stood, 
 And jealous passion burned his brain 
 
 to savage mood. 
 Blue black the knotted veins upon the 
 
 forehead rise. 
 And deadly hate infuriate gleams 
 
 within his eyes. 
 As Alvarez, with stealthy steps, upon 
 
 them creeps 
 In murderous ire, as tiger, crouching 
 
 ere he leaps — 
 
 [45] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Then close Hernando came to fair 
 
 Elena's side, 
 With bounding pulse they gazed upon 
 
 the silver tide. 
 The wanton breeze unleased her 
 
 wealth of ebon hair 
 From out its strict confine, and float- 
 ing light in air. 
 With tingling touch it, veil-like, fell 
 
 upon his face, 
 And captive bound him helpless in its 
 
 flossy grace, 
 A wildering perfume, subtly, mind 
 
 and sense unfold ; 
 Then burst the passion's storm, no 
 
 more by force controlled. 
 As sweeps the flood of light when 
 
 wakes the tropic day. 
 So instant light illumines their minds 
 
 with sudden ray. 
 That heart to heart in adamantine 
 
 chain is bound; 
 
 [46] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 And each within the other's soul su- 
 preme is crowned. 
 One moment, then transformed, 
 
 transfigured each with bHss, 
 Oh! ye who drain life's wine, what 
 
 vintage rivals this ! 
 One instant thus, and then as sudden 
 
 tropic night 
 Obscures the day, so vanished from 
 
 their lives the light 
 Of happiness. Instead, a burning 
 
 sense of shame, 
 Of broken vows, of mortal sin, and 
 
 sullied name. 
 With horror overwhelmed, the inmost 
 
 soul laid bare, 
 With pallid lips that could not speak, 
 
 the hapless pair. 
 As our first parents, from their Eden, 
 
 shuddering, turned, 
 As Alvarez before them sprung. And 
 
 savage burned 
 
 [47] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 The volumed blast of hate, in impre- 
 cations rung 
 
 The deep-toned vengeance pouring 
 from his blood-stained tongue, 
 
 While helpless, mutely stand, in im- 
 potent dismay. 
 
 These two unfortunates, as Alvarez 
 barred the way. 
 
 And naught Hernando found to offer 
 in defence 
 
 As Alvarez, Elena seized and dragged 
 her thence, 
 
 But like a statue stood in frozen 
 marble fair, 
 
 Till once again the demon came, and 
 found him there. 
 
 Then desolate, as closed his clanging 
 dungeon door. 
 
 In agony beyond his strength, upon 
 the floor 
 
 He stricken fell, and blank oblivion 
 welcome gave 
 
 [48] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 The sorely beaten soul in Lethe's 
 cooling wave. 
 
 The night drew on apace, and thun- 
 ders distant rolled, 
 
 The chapel bell in ghostly chimes the 
 midnight tolled. 
 
 Before the altar knelt a figure robed 
 in white, 
 
 In agony of suppliance bent, in 
 piteous plight. 
 
 A faint and drooping girl, with out- 
 stretched, pleading hands 
 
 To Mary — Mother — true to those in 
 sorrow's bands, 
 
 And throbbed her heart in wildest 
 ecstasy of pain 
 
 As at the mercy seat she vainly sought 
 to gain 
 
 A pardon for her fault from Heaven 
 so far above. 
 
 [49] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 This overwhelming gulf— her guilty, 
 
 new-found love, 
 Till crushing with the weight it 
 
 strength and sense o'ercame, 
 And swooning, laid the sacrifice, her 
 
 weary frame, 
 A limp and helpless form upon the 
 
 altar stair 
 As Alvarez appeared. His bloodshot 
 
 eyes insanely glare, 
 He crossed the aisle in feverish haste 
 
 and seized her there. 
 With purpose fixed and firm, and then 
 
 his steps retraced. 
 And there, unseen of men, his lovely 
 
 burden placed 
 Within her couch of doom — a narrow 
 
 iron cage — 
 A rusted relic, left from some for- 
 gotten age, 
 That wed with chains an inner wall, 
 
 and mouldering stood 
 
 [50] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 An iron grave prepared, and yearn- 
 ing for its food, 
 
 A spot secluded deep, within the castle 
 wall. 
 
 Beneath the angle of the fort and 
 tower tall, 
 
 Whose ponderous stones defend the 
 outer seaward sides. 
 
 There placed this narrow cell. A solid 
 wall divides 
 
 The meagre space from out the corri- 
 dor's expanse. 
 
 A hidden nook, so formed apart that 
 only chance 
 
 Its secret station might disclose to 
 prying eyes. 
 
 At either end, with fiendish art, twin 
 cages rise, 
 
 Enclosed within the cruel bars — that 
 mocking grate. 
 
 United in this living tomb, but sep- 
 arate, 
 
 [ji] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 The victims of Alvarez' wrath, scarce 
 
 living, flung. 
 Oh ! Heaven forbid the deed to these 
 
 so fair and young. 
 With desperate zeal Alvarez, with one 
 
 attendant grim. 
 The rapid trowel waved above the 
 
 fateful brim 
 Of mortared brick to close the narrow 
 
 entrance space. 
 A quicksand's gulf, it rose above a 
 
 burial place, 
 A dungeon and a tomb ; no ray of hope 
 
 or light 
 Could weakly pierce that massive wall, 
 
 or chance of flight 
 E'er reach the soul confined within 
 
 such prison bounds; 
 No chance to pitying ears attent their 
 
 moans might sound; 
 Silence unbroke — all hushed within 
 
 that dismal cell, 
 
 [52] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 A torture doom complete, and worthy- 
 fiends of hell. 
 
 What hope of heaven could ever dawn 
 within the breast 
 
 Of any mortal man with such a crime 
 opprest ? 
 
 Oh, God! but it were pain to die by 
 flood or fire. 
 
 Or chained by savage hands upon the 
 funeral pyre, 
 
 On battle plain amid the charge of 
 rushing host. 
 
 Or drowning, dashed by sea upon the 
 rock-bound coast. 
 
 But even then the blessed sun or star- 
 lit sky 
 
 A consolation bears to those about to 
 die. 
 
 What thought or feeling came within 
 that dreary cell ? 
 
 No sound the echo wakes — no tongue 
 the terrors tell — 
 
 [53] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 The silence of the grave — naught else 
 
 to human ken. 
 Thus disappeared these two from 
 
 sight of living men 
 When closed the solid wall that barred 
 
 from human sight 
 Alvarez and his guilty aid to outer 
 
 night 
 Sped forth. They two went out — but 
 
 Alvarez alone, 
 Blood-stained, returned. Could death 
 
 unshrived the deed atone, 
 As slowly sinking down to reach its 
 
 resting-place 
 A ghastly murdered form, with pallid, 
 
 sin-struck face, 
 To vision lost in ooze, and mire, and 
 
 watery way. 
 In silence waiting dawn of resurrec- 
 tion day? 
 And Alvarez henceforth no time of 
 
 placid sleep 
 
 [54] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Can e'er his eyelids close. Then 
 
 grizly phantoms creep, 
 The shapeless things that fiercely 
 
 stare from out the night, 
 With clutching, bony hands, impal- 
 pable to sight. 
 Yet ever reaching forth, the fancies^ 
 
 of the mind 
 That shape themselves in hideous 
 
 dreams and helpless bind . 
 The horror-stricken wretch on whom 
 
 they sternly leer. 
 Till sleep forsakes his burning eyes 
 
 from deadly fear. 
 Now drew a curtain thick of clouds 
 
 athwart the sky. 
 And moaning sighed the breeze and 
 
 stirred the forest nigh 
 With mournful sound, as though the 
 
 dead and buried throng 
 Of those long turned to dust were 
 
 come with ghastly tongue 
 
 [55] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Of protest 'gainst the cruel deed. 
 Each, shuddering, stands 
 
 In terror trembling, fixed, with wav- 
 ing, fleshless hands, 
 
 That vainly seek to veil the sight from 
 sylvan eyes 
 
 Of murder foul, and dastard human 
 sacrifice. 
 
 Now louder wails the wind, and pulses 
 on the shore 
 
 The waves in measured tones, a knell 
 forevermore. 
 
 The hand of time has moved the dial 
 
 space a span. 
 An atom of the great profound— a 
 
 life of man. 
 And with the changing years Spain's 
 
 flag no longer flies 
 O'er San Augustine's fort and town. 
 
 That jewelled prize 
 A nation newly born, by peaceful art, 
 
 has gained. 
 
 [56] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 The fort dismantled now, its warlike 
 
 glory waned, 
 A pleasure spot is grown, in which 
 
 to dream an idle hour. 
 Its battlements are tumbling down, 
 
 and near the tower 
 A broken roof that entrance gave, 
 
 through stones displaced. 
 To curious eyes that finding then the 
 
 secret, traced. 
 Disclosed a vaulted cell, and in the 
 
 highest part. 
 Scarce room to stand erect, so planned 
 
 with fiendish art. 
 Within the fortress' solid walls that 
 
 only time 
 With steady, moving hand blazons the 
 
 hideous crime 
 And casts the light of day, through 
 
 dust and fallen stones. 
 Upon the rusted cage and slowly 
 
 crumbling bones, 
 
 [57] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 The relics of an age, they mutely wit- 
 ness bear, 
 
 When darkening night spread deep its 
 wings o'er black despair. 
 
 Yet what is left untold though elo- 
 quent these grow, 
 
 No ear, nor eye unsealed by sleep can 
 ever know. 
 
 The tide ebbs out to sea, and springs 
 the sudden night 
 
 Upon the day so fair, and swiftly 
 strangles light. 
 
 Then come there forth uncanny creat- 
 ures from the wall. 
 
 Of kind elsewhere unknown ; strange 
 birds that sight appall. 
 
 As restless flitting round the creviced 
 fortress gray 
 
 Uneasy ghosts they seem, for crime 
 condemned to stay 
 
 And haunt from dusk to dawn the 
 sin-accursed spot 
 
 [58] 
 
THE FAIR ELENA 
 
 Wherein, in times long past, their evil 
 deeds were wrought ; 
 
 Creatures of night and ghosts of evil 
 deeds, they creep 
 
 About the crumbling walls, wherein 
 their victims sleep. 
 
 With cruel eyes aglare, as though with 
 hidden woe 
 
 Of never ending inward fire the por- 
 tals glow 
 
 Till gray the night becomes, then 
 filled with quickening fears. 
 
 They seek their hiding place till night 
 again appears. 
 
 While morning scatters amaranth 
 upon the deep. 
 
 With glowing kisses wakes the blush- 
 ing sea from sleep, 
 
 And wakened love and life again re- 
 sume their sway, 
 
 Secure in happier hours, that TdIcss 
 this later day. 
 
 [59] 
 
DEG 
 
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 Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
 Treatment Date: Sept. 2009 
 
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