An armed warrior met the maiden’s sight.
No voice was heard; nor breeze’s whispered sigh,
To break the brooding quiet of the night,
Save, ever and anon, the warning sound
Of sentry pacing on his guarded round.
Then rose the song.—“Of pilgrimage the sign,
The red cross, bound upon her snowy breast,
Her regal halls Fiorina did resign
To follow him her maiden love had blest;
And side by side in holy Palestine,