Behold, where in the moon's pale beam, As wheels and gibbets faintly gleam, Join'd hand in hand, a crowd Of imps and spectres hover nigh, Or round a wasted wretch they fly, When William calls aloud:
"Hither, ye airy rabble, come, "And follow till I reach my home; "We want a marriage dance." As when the leaves on wither'd trees, Are rustled by an edying breeze, The muttering sprites advance.
But, soon with hurried steps, the crew Rush'd prattling on, for William flew, Clasp'd by the frighted fair: Swifter than shafts, or than the wind, While struck from earth fire flash'd behind, Like lightnings through the air.
Not only flew the landscape by, The clouds and stars appear'd to fly. "Thus over hills and heath "We ride like death; say, lovely maid, "By moon-light dost thou fear the dead?" "Ah! speak no more of death."
"The cock hath crow'd--Away! away! "The sand ebbs out: I scent the day. "On! on! away from here! "Soon must our destin'd course be run, "The dead ride swift,--hurrah! 'tis done, "The marriage bed is near."
High grated iron doors, in vain Barr'd their way.--With loosened rein Whil'st William urg'd the steed, He struck the bolts;--they open flew, A churchyard drear appear'd in view; Their path was o'er the dead.
As now, half veil'd by clouds, the moon With feebler ray, o'er objects shone, Where tombstones faint appear, A grave new dug arrests the pair, Cry'd William, and embrac'd the fair, "Our marriage bed is here."
Scarce had he spoke, when, dire to tell, His flesh like touchwood from him fell, His eyes forsook his head. A skull, and naked bones alone, Supply the place of William gone, 'Twas Death that clasp'd the maid.
Wild, snorting fire, the courser rear'd, As wrapp'd in smoke he disappear'd, Poor Leonora fell; The hideous spectres hover round, Deep groans she hears from under ground, And fiends ascend from hell.
They dance, and say, in dreadful howl, "She asks no mercy for her soul; "Her earthly course is done. "When mortals, rash and impious! dare "Contend with God, and court despair, "We claim them as our own."
"Yet," thus was heard, in milder strains, "Call on the Lord, while life remains, "Unite your heart to his; "When man repents and is resign'd, "God loves to soothe his suff'ring mind, "And grant him future bliss."