s: "Beautiful falcon!" said he, "would that I


s: Might hold thee on my wrist, or see thee fly!"


s: The voice was hers, and made strange echoes start


s: Through all the haunted chambers of his heart,


s: "Who is thy mother, my fair boy?" he said,


s: His hand laid softly on that shining head.


s: A little while, and with your falcon play?


s: We live there, just beyond your garden wall,


s: In the great house behind the poplars tall."


s: And drifted onward through the golden gleams


s: As mariners becalmed through vapors drift,


s: And feel the sea beneath them sink and lift,


s: And hear far off the mournful breakers roar,


s: And voices calling faintly from the shore!


s: Then, waking from his pleasant reveries,


s: And told him stories of his gallant bird,


s: Till in their friendship he became a third.


s: Had come with friends to pass the summer time


s: In her grand villa, half-way up the hill,


s: O'erlooking Florence, but retired and still;


s: With iron gates, that opened through long lines


s: And terraced gardens, and broad steps of stone,


s: And sylvan deities, with moss o'ergrown,


s: And all Val d'Arno stretched beneath its feet.


s: Herself the stateliest statue among all,


s: And seeing more and more, with secret joy,


s: Her husband risen and living in her boy,


s: Till the lost sense of life returned again,


s: Not as delight, but as relief from pain.


s: Meanwhile the boy, rejoicing in his strength,


s: Stormed down the terraces from length to length;


s: The screaming peacock chased in hot pursuit,


s: And climbed the garden trellises for fruit.


s: But his chief pastime was to watch the flight


s: Beyond the trees that fringed the garden wall,


s: Then downward stooping at some distant call;


s: Master and falcon in the cottage ground.


s: On the great house, as if a passing-bell


s: Tolled from the tower, and filled each spacious room


s: With secret awe, and preternatural gloom;


s: The mother's heart would not be comforted;


s: And often, sitting by the sufferer's side,


s: "What can I do to comfort thee?" she cried.


s: But, moved at length by her importunate cry,


s: "Give me," he answered, with imploring tone,


s: No answer could the astonished mother make;


s: How could she ask, e'en for her darling's sake,


s: Well knowing that to ask was to command?


s: Well knowing, what all falconers confessed,


s: In all the land that falcon was the best,


s: The master's pride and passion and delight,


s: And the sole pursuivant of this poor knight.


s: But yet, for her child's sake, she could no less


s: Than give assent, to soothe his restlessness,


s: Her promise sacred, saw him fall asleep.


s: There was that nameless splendor everywhere,


s: Which makes the passers in the city street


s: Two lovely ladies, clothed in cloak and hood,


s: Passed through the garden gate into the wood,


s: Under the lustrous leaves, and through the sheen


s: Of dewy sunshine showering down between.


s: The one, close-hooded, had the attractive grace


s: Which sorrow sometimes lends a woman's face;


s: Her dark eyes moistened with the mists that roll


s: From the gulf-stream of passion in the soul;


s: The other with her hood thrown back, her hair


s: Her cheeks suffused with an auroral blush,


s: Her young heart singing louder than the thrush.


s: So walked, that morn, through mingled light and shade,


s: Each by the other's presence lovelier made,


s: Like banished Adam, delving in the soil;


s: And when he looked and these fair women spied,


s: And the strange river winding through the plain


s: Would even cross the threshold of your door,


s: I who in happier days such pride maintained,


s: Refused your banquets, and your gifts disdained,


s: This morning come, a self-invited guest,


s: To put your generous nature to the test,


s: And breakfast with you under your own vine."


s: To which he answered: "Poor desert of mine,


s: Not your unkindness call it, for if aught


s: From you it comes, and this last grace outweighs


s: All sorrows, all regrets of other days."


s: He left his guests; and to his cottage turned,


s: For the lost splendors of the days of old,


s: The ruby glass, the silver and the gold,


s: And felt how piercing is the sting of pride,


s: He looked about him for some means or way


s: Searched every cupboard, and then searched again,


s: Summoned the maid, who came, but came in vain;


s: "The Signor did not hunt to-day," she said,


s: "There's nothing in the house but wine and bread."


s: His little bells, with that sagacious look,


s: Which said, as plain as language to the ear,


s: Yes, everything is wanting, gallant bird!


s: The master seized thee without further word,


s: Like thine own lure, he whirled thee round; ah me!


s: The bells, the jesses, the bright scarlet hood,


s: The flight and the pursuit o'er field and wood,


s: Then on the board a snow-white cloth he spread,


s: Laid on its wooden dish the loaf of bread,


s: Brought purple grapes with autumn sunshine hot,


s: Then in the midst a flask of wine he placed,


s: And with autumnal flowers the banquet graced.


s: Without thy falcon stuffed with cloves and spice?


s: When all was ready, and the courtly dame


s: The room they entered, mean and low and small,


s: Was changed into a sumptuous banquet-hall,


s: The rustic chair she sat on was a throne;


s: And the poor falcon, fragrant with his spice,


s: Then said the lady, "Far too well I know,


s: Though you betray it not, with what surprise


s: You have no children, and you cannot guess


s: A mother feels, whose child is lying ill,


s: And ask the thing most precious in your sight,


s: Your falcon, your sole comfort and delight,


s: Which if you find it in your heart to give,


s: My poor, unhappy boy perchance may live."


s: With tears of love and pity in his eyes:


s: This wish of yours, it would have been my own.


s: But thinking in what manner I could best


s: Than what most dear and precious was to me,


s: And so my gallant falcon breathed his last


s: To furnish forth this morning our repast."


s: In mute contrition, mingled with dismay,


s: Grieving that he such sacrifice should make,


s: Yet feeling in her heart a woman's pride,


s: That nothing she could ask for was denied;


s: Then took her leave, and passed out at the gate


s: With footstep slow and soul disconsolate.


s: Three days went by, and lo! a passing-bell


s: Tolled from the little chapel in the dell;


s: Ten strokes Ser Federigo heard, and said,


s: Breathing a prayer, "Alas! her child is dead!"


s: Three months went by; and lo! a merrier chime


s: Rang from the chapel bells at Christmas time;


s: In the grand villa, half-way up the hill,


s: Sat at the Christmas feast, and at his side


s: Enthroned once more in the old rustic chair,


s: High-perched upon the back of which there stood


s: And underneath the inscription, with a date,


s: "All things come round to him who will but wait."


s: One should not say, with too much pride,


s: And fills my heart, and haunts my brain,


s: "No man shall look upon my face and live."


s: And as he read, he prayed that God would give


s: His faithful servant grace with mortal eye


s: And, lifting up his eyes, grown dim with age,


s: He saw the Angel of Death before him stand,


s: Holding a naked sword in his right hand.


s: Yet through his veins a chill of terror ran.


s: With trembling voice he said, "What wilt thou here?"


s: The angel answered, "Lo! the time draws near


s: When thou must die; yet first, by God's decree,


s: Whate'er thou askest shall be granted thee."


s: Replied the Rabbi, "Let these living eyes


s: Then said the Angel, "Come with me and look."


s: And rising, and uplifting his gray head,


s: "Give me thy sword," he to the Angel said,


s: "Lest thou shouldst fall upon me by the way."


s: Then led him forth to the Celestial Town,


s: And set him on the wall, whence, gazing down,


s: The Rabbi leaped with the Death-Angel's sword,


s: And through the streets there swept a sudden breath


s: Of something there unknown, which men call death.


s: Meanwhile the Angel stayed without, and cried,


s: "Come back!" To which the Rabbi's voice replied,


s: I swear that hence I will depart no more!"


s: The kingdom of Heaven he takes by violence,


s: The Lord replied, "My Angels, be not wroth;


s: Did e'er the son of Levi break his oath?


s: Shall look upon my face and yet not die."


s: Beyond the outer wall the Angel of Death


s: Heard the great voice, and said, with panting breath,


s: "Give back the sword, and let me go my way."


s: Whereat the Rabbi paused, and answered, "Nay!


s: Among the sons of men." And while he paused


s: Resounding through the air, "Give back the sword!"


s: The Rabbi bowed his head in silent prayer;


s: Then said he to the dreadful Angel, "Swear,


s: But when thou takest away the souls of men,


s: Thyself unseen, and with an unseen sword,


s: Thou wilt perform the bidding of the Lord."


s: The Angel took the sword again, and swore,


s: Had touched the deep, mysterious chords,


s: Robert of Sicily, brother of Pope Urbane


s: With retinue of many a knight and squire,


s: On St. John's eve, at vespers, proudly sat


s: And heard the priests chant the Magnificat.


s: He caught the words, "_Deposuit potentes


s: "What mean these words?" The clerk made answer meet,


s: "He has put down the mighty from their seat,


s: Thereat King Robert muttered scornfully,


s: "'Tis well that such seditious words are sung


s: Only by priests and in the Latin tongue;


s: For unto priests and people be it known,


s: There is no power can push me from my throne!"


s: And leaning back, he yawned and fell asleep,


s: Lulled by the chant monotonous and deep.


s: The church was empty, and there was no light,


s: Save where the lamps, that glimmered few and faint,


s: Lighted a little space before some saint.


s: He started from his seat and gazed around,


s: But saw no living thing and heard no sound.


s: He groped towards the door, but it was locked;


s: He cried aloud, and listened, and then knocked,


s: And uttered awful threatenings and complaints,


s: The sounds re-echoed from the roof and walls


s: As if dead priests were laughing in their stalls!


s: At length the sexton, hearing from without


s: The tumult of the knocking and the shout,


s: And thinking thieves were in the house of prayer,


s: Came with his lantern, asking, "Who is there?"


s: Half choked with rage, King Robert fiercely said,


s: "Open: 'tis I, the King! Art thou afraid?"


s: The frightened sexton, muttering, with a curse,


s: "This is some drunken vagabond, or worse!"


s: Turned the great key and flung the portal wide;


s: Haggard, half naked, without hat or cloak,


s: Who neither turned, nor looked at him, nor spoke,


s: But leaped into the blackness of the night,


s: And vanished like a spectre from his sight.


s: Robert of Sicily, brother of Pope Urbane


s: Bare-headed, breathless, and besprent with mire,


s: With sense of wrong and outrage desperate,


s: Strode on and thundered at the palace gate;


s: Rushed through the court-yard, thrusting in his rage


s: To right and left each seneschal and page,


s: And hurried up the broad and sounding stair,


s: His white face ghastly in the torches' glare.


s: From hall to hall he passed with breathless speed;


s: Voices and cries he heard, but did not heed,


s: Until at last he reached the banquet-room,


s: Blazing with light, and breathing with perfume.


s: Wearing his robes, his crown, his signet-ring,


s: King Robert's self in features, form, and height,


s: But all transfigured with angelic light!


s: With a divine effulgence filled the air,


s: A moment speechless, motionless, amazed,


s: The throneless monarch on the Angel gazed,


s: Then said, "Who art thou? and why com'st thou here?"


s: To which King Robert answered, with a sneer,


s: "I am the King, and come to claim my own


s: From an impostor, who usurps my throne!"


s: Up sprang the angry guests, and drew their swords;


s: The Angel answered, with unruffled brow,


s: "Nay, not the King, but the King's Jester, thou


s: Henceforth shalt wear the bells and scalloped cape,


s: And for thy counsellor shalt lead an ape;


s: Thou shalt obey my servants when they call,


s: Deaf to King Robert's threats and cries and prayers,


s: They thrust him from the hall and down the stairs;


s: And as they opened wide the folding-door,


s: His heart failed, for he heard, with strange alarms,


s: The boisterous laughter of the men-at-arms,


s: And all the vaulted chamber roar and ring


s: With the mock plaudits of "Long live the King!"


s: Next morning, waking with the day's first beam,


s: He said within himself, "It was a dream!"


s: But the straw rustled as he turned his head,


s: There were the cap and bells beside his bed,


s: Around him rose the bare, discolored walls,


s: Close by, the steeds were champing in their stalls,


s: Shivering and chattering sat the wretched ape.


s: It was no dream; the world he loved so much


s: Had turned to dust and ashes at his touch!


s: Days came and went; and now returned again


s: The happy island danced with corn and wine,


s: And deep within the mountain's burning breast


s: Meanwhile King Robert yielded to his fate,


s: Dressed in the motley garb that Jesters wear,


s: With looks bewildered and a vacant stare,


s: Close shaven above the ears, as monks are shorn,


s: By courtiers mocked, by pages laughed to scorn,


s: What others left,--he still was unsubdued.


s: And half in earnest, half in jest, would say,


s: Sternly, though tenderly, that he might feel


s: The velvet scabbard held a sword of steel,


s: "Art thou the King?" the passion of his woe


s: And, lifting high his forehead, he would fling


s: The haughty answer back, "I am, I am the King!"


s: Almost three years were ended; when there came


s: Unto King Robert, saying that Pope Urbane


s: By letter summoned them forthwith to come


s: The Angel with great joy received his guests,


s: And gave them presents of embroidered vests,


s: And velvet mantles with rich ermine lined,


s: Whose loveliness was more resplendent made


s: With plumes, and cloaks, and housings, and the stir


s: And lo! among the menials, in mock state,


s: Upon a piebald steed, with shambling gait,


s: His cloak of fox-tails flapping in the wind,


s: In all the country towns through which they went.


s: The Pope received them with great pomp, and blare


s: Of bannered trumpets, on Saint Peter's square,


s: While with congratulations and with prayers


s: Robert, the Jester, bursting through the crowd,


s: Into their presence rushed, and cried aloud,


s: This man, who wears my semblance to your eyes,


s: Do you not know me? does no voice within


s: The Pope in silence, but with troubled mien,


s: Gazed at the Angel's countenance serene;


s: The Emperor, laughing, said, "It is strange sport


s: To keep a madman for thy Fool at court!"


s: And the poor, baffled Jester in disgrace


s: The presence of the Angel, with its light,


s: Before the sun rose, made the city bright,


s: And with new fervor filled the hearts of men,


s: Who felt that Christ indeed had risen again.


s: With haggard eyes the unwonted splendor saw,


s: And, kneeling humbly on his chamber floor,


s: He heard the rushing garments of the Lord


s: Sweep through the silent air, ascending heavenward.


s: Valmond returning to the Danube's shore,


s: The land was made resplendent with his train,


s: And when once more within Palermo's wall,


s: And, seated on the throne in his great hall,


s: He heard the Angelus from convent towers,


s: As if the better world conversed with ours,


s: He beckoned to King Robert to draw nigher,


s: And with a gesture bade the rest retire;


s: And when they were alone, the Angel said,


s: "Art thou the King?" Then bowing down his head,


s: King Robert crossed both hands upon his breast,


s: And meekly answered him: "Thou knowest best!


s: My sins as scarlet are; let me go hence,


s: And in some cloister's school of penitence,


s: Across those stones, that pave the way to heaven,


s: Walk barefoot, till my guilty soul is shriven!"


s: The Angel smiled, and from his radiant face


s: And through the open window, loud and clear,


s: They heard the monks chant in the chapel near,


s: Above the stir and tumult of the street:


s: "He has put down the mighty from their seat,


s: Rose like the throbbing of a single string:


s: King Robert, who was standing near the throne,


s: With ermined mantle and with cloth of gold;


s: And when his courtiers came, they found him there


s: Kneeling upon the floor, absorbed in silent prayer.


s: Christ's great name and rites baptismal,


s: Through the red flames o'er him trailing,


s: Through field and forest, through thorp and town!"


s: Neither shall shame nor death come near thee!


s: But the hiding-place wherein thou must lie


s: Is the cave underneath the swine in the sty."


s: So Hakon Jarl and his base thrall Karker


s: Crouched in the cave, than a dungeon darker,


s: Through the breathing-holes of the darksome cave.


s: Said Karker, the crafty, "I will not slay thee!


s: For all the king's gold I will never betray thee!"


s: "Then why dost thou turn so pale, O churl,


s: And then again black as the earth?" said the Earl.


s: From a dream in the night the thrall started, saying,


s: "Round my neck a gold ring King Olaf was laying!"


s: And Hakon answered, "Beware of the king!


s: He will lay round thy neck a blood-red ring."


s: At daybreak slept Hakon, with sorrows encumbered,


s: But screamed and drew up his feet as he slumbered;


s: The thrall in the darkness plunged with his knife,


s: And the Earl awakened no more in this life.


s: At Nidarholm the priests are all singing,


s: Two ghastly heads on the gibbet are swinging;


s: One is Jarl Hakon's and one is his thrall's,


s: And the people are shouting from windows and walls;


s: Queen Sigrid the Haughty sat proud and aloft


s: In her chamber, that looked over meadow and croft.


s: The floor with tassels of fir was besprent,


s: Filling the room with their fragrant scent.


s: She heard the birds sing, she saw the sun shine,


s: The air of summer was sweeter than wine.


s: Like a sword without scabbard the bright river lay


s: But Olaf the King had sued for her hand,


s: The sword would be sheathed, the river be spanned.


s: Her maidens were seated around her knee,


s: Of Brynhilda's love and the wrath of Gudrun.


s: And through it, and round it, and over it all


s: The Queen in her hand held a ring of gold,


s: King Olaf had sent her this wedding gift,


s: But her thoughts as arrows were keen and swift.


s: She had given the ring to her goldsmiths twain,


s: Who smiled, as they handed it back again.


s: And Sigrid the Queen, in her haughty way,


s: Said, "Why do you smile, my goldsmiths, say?"


s: And they answered: "O Queen! if the truth must be told,


s: The ring is of copper, and not of gold!"


s: The lightning flashed o'er her forehead and cheek,


s: There will be no gold in his love to me."


s: A footstep was heard on the outer stair,


s: He kissed the Queen's hand, and he whispered of love,


s: And swore to be true as the stars are above.


s: But she smiled with contempt as she answered: "O King,


s: Will you swear it, as Odin once swore, on the ring?"


s: And the King: "O speak not of Odin to me,


s: The wife of King Olaf a Christian must be."


s: Looking straight at the King, with her level brows,


s: She said, "I keep true to my faith and my vows."


s: Then the face of King Olaf was darkened with gloom,


s: He rose in his anger and strode through the room.


s: "Why, then, should I care to have thee?" he said,--


s: His zeal was stronger than fear or love,


s: And he struck the Queen in the face with his glove.


s: Then forth from the chamber in anger he fled,


s: And the wooden stairway shook with his tread.


s: Queen Sigrid the Haughty said under her breath,


s: "This insult, King Olaf, shall be thy death!"


s: Round the house where they were sleeping.


s: Streamed with one broad track of splendor!


s: "Who are these strange people?" said he.


s: The guests were loud, the ale was strong,


s: The door swung wide, with creak and din;


s: The foaming draught the old man quaffed,


s: Night wanes, O King! 'tis time for sleep!"


s: Sending his signal through the land of Drontheim.


s: With their war weapons ready to confront him.


s: Heard the summons, chuckling with a low laugh.


s: And clattering came on horseback to King Olaf.


s: Bitter as home-brewed ale were his foaming passions.


s: He hated the narrow town, and all its fashions.


s: Gudrun his daughter, with her flaxen tresses.


s: The smell of the earth, and the song of birds,


s: His well-filled barns, his brook with its watercresses.


s: Frosty and fierce, like that of Hymer the Giant.


s: That tossed about him like a stormy ocean:


s: As other kings have done in their devotion!"


s: Here is my Bishop who the folk baptizes!


s: Of his men-at-arms and the peasants fiercely fighting.


s: And other gods, with Thor supreme among them.


s: And downward shattered to the pavement flung them.


s: A mingled sound of triumph and of wailing.


s: Midway between the assailed and the assailing.


s: To be baptized or given up to slaughter!"


s: "O King, baptize us with thy holy water!"


s: In the old gods no more believing and trusting.


s: And thus in peace ended the Drontheim Hus-Ting!


s: "Forests have ears, and fields have eyes;


s: As the leaves are swept through sluices,


s: Till at last they reached Raud's dwelling


s: Drunken with sleep and ale they found him,


s: Southward sailed the sea-gulls o'er him,


s: Southward sailed the ship that bore him,


s: They smote with their fists on the board,


s: Then he chipped and smoothed the planking,


s: Then they launched her from the tressels,


s: How they roared through Drontheim's street,


s: How they laughed and stamped and pounded,


s: Never, while they cruised and quarrelled,


s: They say, that through heat and through cold,


s: Through weald, they say, and through wold,


s: So that neither should turn and retreat;


s: In front came Svend, the King of the Danes,


s: To the right, the Swedish king with his thanes;


s: "These soft Danes and Swedes," said the King,


s: "At home with their wives had better stay,


s: Than come within reach of my Serpent's sting:


s: With which King Olaf's ships were lashed,


s: See her sailors come back o'er the main;


s: And the stones they hurl with their hands.


s: In the midst of the stones and the spears,


s: I hear the prayer, with words that scorch


s: The raiment white, the crown, the throne,


s: Ruled them, as Grand Inquisitor of Spain,


s: Moated and high and by fair woodlands hid,


s: There dwelt, as from the chronicles we learn,


s: Whose name has perished, with his towers of stone,


s: And all his actions save this one alone;


s: This one, so terrible, perhaps 'twere best


s: If it, too, were forgotten with the rest;


s: Unless, perchance, our eyes can see therein


s: A double picture, with its gloom and glow,


s: This sombre man counted each day as lost


s: On which his feet no sacred threshold crossed;


s: And when he chanced the passing Host to meet,


s: He knelt and prayed devoutly in the street;


s: Oft he confessed; and with each mutinous thought,


s: As with wild beasts at Ephesus, he fought.


s: In deep contrition scourged himself in Lent,


s: Walked in processions, with his head down bent,


s: At plays of Corpus Christi oft was seen,


s: And on Palm Sunday bore his bough of green.


s: Through tangled thickets of the forest hoar,


s: Or with his jingling mules to hurry down


s: To some grand bull-fight in the neighboring town,


s: Or in the crowd with lighted taper stand,


s: Then stirred within him a tumultuous joy;


s: Shook him, and shouted with a trumpet tone,


s: "Kill! kill! and let the Lord find out his own!"


s: And now, in that old castle in the wood,


s: His daughters, in the dawn of womanhood,


s: Returning from their convent school, had made


s: Resplendent with their bloom the forest shade,


s: Reminding him of their dead mother's face,


s: When first she came into that gloomy place,--


s: Where the same rays, that lift the sea, are thrown


s: Lovely but powerless upon walls of stone.


s: These two fair daughters of a mother dead


s: Were all the dream had left him as it fled.


s: A joy at first, and then a growing care,


s: As if a voice within him cried, "Beware!"


s: Like ghostly footsteps in a vacant room,


s: Haunted him day and night; a formless fear


s: That death to some one of his house was near,


s: Made life itself a death before its time.


s: Jealous, suspicious, with no sense of shame,


s: With velvet slippers, noiseless on the floors,


s: He glided softly through half-open doors;


s: Now in the room, and now upon the stair,


s: He stood beside them ere they were aware;


s: He listened in the passage when they talked,


s: He watched them from the casement when they walked,


s: He saw the monk among the cork-trees glide;


s: And, tortured by the mystery and the doubt


s: Of some dark secret, past his finding out,


s: Pursued the flying phantom of his brain.


s: He watched them even when they knelt in church;


s: And then, descending lower in his search,


s: Questioned the servants, and with eager eyes


s: The monk? a mendicant in search of food!


s: Crushing at once his pride of birth and name,


s: The hopes his yearning bosom forward cast,


s: All fell together, crumbling in disgrace,


s: His daughters talking in the dead of night


s: In their own chamber, and without a light,


s: Listening, as he was wont, he overheard,


s: And learned the dreadful secret, word by word;


s: And hurrying from his castle, with a cry


s: He raised his hands to the unpitying sky,


s: Repeating one dread word, till bush and tree


s: Caught it, and shuddering answered, "Heresy!"


s: Wrapped in his cloak, his hat drawn o'er his face,


s: Now hurrying forward, now with lingering pace,


s: He walked all night the alleys of his park,


s: And by his presence turned his love to hate,


s: "Kill! kill! and let the Lord find out his own!"


s: While yet the dew was glistening on the grass,


s: And all the woods were musical with birds,


s: The old Hidalgo, uttering fearful words,


s: Walked homeward with the Priest, and in his room


s: Summoned his trembling daughters to their doom.


s: When questioned, with brief answers they replied,


s: All that the human heart most fears or feels,


s: In vain the Priest with earnest voice essayed,


s: In vain the father threatened, wept, and prayed;


s: Until at last he said, with haughty mien,


s: "The Holy Office, then, must intervene!"


s: With all the fifty horsemen of his train,


s: His awful name resounding, like the blast


s: Of funeral trumpets, as he onward passed,


s: To him the Hidalgo went, and at the gate


s: Dressed in the hood and habit of a friar;


s: Out of his eyes flashed a consuming fire,


s: And in his hand the mystic horn he held,


s: Which poison and all noxious charms dispelled.


s: Then answered in a voice that made him quail:


s: The Holy Church expects of thee no less!"


s: A sacred frenzy seized the father's brain,


s: And Mercy from that hour implored in vain.


s: Ah! who will e'er believe the words I say?


s: His daughters he accused, and the same day


s: They both were cast into the dungeon's gloom,


s: Arraigned, condemned, and sentenced to the flame,


s: The secret torture and the public shame.


s: The Hidalgo went, more eager than before,


s: And said: "When Abraham offered up his son,


s: He clave the wood wherewith it might be done.


s: And the deep voice, without a pause, replied:


s: "Son of the Church! by faith now justified,


s: Complete thy sacrifice, even as thou wilt;


s: The Church absolves thy conscience from all guilt!"


s: Then this most wretched father went his way


s: Into the woods, that round his castle lay,


s: Where once his daughters in their childhood played


s: With their young mother in the sun and shade.


s: Now all the leaves had fallen; the branches bare


s: And screaming from their eyries overhead


s: The ravens sailed athwart the sky of lead.


s: With his own hands he lopped the boughs and bound


s: With bells and tassels, sent them on their way.


s: Then with his mind on one dark purpose bent,


s: And now, lest my atonement be as naught,


s: Grant me one more request, one last desire,--


s: With my own hand to light the funeral fire!"


s: "Son of the Church! Thine offering is complete;


s: Her servants through all ages shall not cease


s: The scaffold rose, whereon Death claimed his own.


s: Four statues of the Hebrew Prophets stood,


s: Gazing with calm indifference in their eyes


s: Round which was gathering fast the eager crowd,


s: With clamor of voices dissonant and loud,


s: With restless gazers, swarming like a hive.


s: The church-bells tolled, the chant of monks drew near,


s: Loud trumpets stammered forth their notes of fear,


s: A line of torches smoked along the street,


s: There was a stir, a rush, a tramp of feet,


s: And, with its banners floating in the air,


s: Slowly the long procession crossed the square,


s: And, to the statues of the Prophets bound,


s: Then all the air a blast of trumpets shook,


s: And louder sang the monks with bell and book,


s: And the Hidalgo, lofty, stern, and proud,


s: Lifted his torch, and, bursting through the crowd,


s: Lest those imploring eyes should strike him dead!


s: O pitiless skies! why did your clouds retain


s: For peasants' fields their floods of hoarded rain?


s: That night, a mingled column of fire and smoke


s: From the dark thickets of the forest broke,


s: And, glaring o'er the landscape leagues away,


s: Made all the fields and hamlets bright as day.


s: Wrapped in a sheet of flame the castle blazed,


s: They saw the figure of that cruel knight


s: Lean from a window in the turret's height,


s: His ghastly face illumined with the glare,


s: His hands upraised above his head in prayer,


s: Till the floor sank beneath him, and he fell


s: Down the black hollow of that burning well.


s: Three centuries and more above his bones


s: Have piled the oblivious years like funeral stones;


s: His name has perished with him, and no trace


s: But Torquemada's name, with clouds o'ercast,


s: Looms in the distant landscape of the Past,


s: Like a burnt tower upon a blackened heath,


s: Lit by the fires of burning woods beneath!


s: Thus closed the tale of guilt and gloom,


s: Their wrongs and sufferings and disgrace;


s: It was the season, when through all the land


s: The merle and mavis build, and building sing


s: Those lovely lyrics, written by His hand,


s: Whom Saxon Cædmon calls the Blithe-heart King;


s: When on the boughs the purple buds expand,


s: The banners of the vanguard of the Spring,


s: And wave their fluttering signals from the steep.


s: The robin and the blue-bird, piping loud,


s: Filled all the blossoming orchards with their glee;


s: The sparrows chirped as if they still were proud


s: Their race in Holy Writ should mentioned be;


s: Clamored their piteous prayer incessantly,


s: Knowing who hears the ravens cry, and said:


s: "Give us, O Lord, this day our daily bread!"


s: Across the Sound the birds of passage sailed,


s: Speaking some unknown language strange and sweet


s: Of tropic isle remote, and passing hailed


s: The village with the cheers of all their fleet;


s: Or quarrelling together, laughed and railed


s: Like foreign sailors, landed in the street


s: Of seaport town, and with outlandish noise


s: Of oaths and gibberish frightening girls and boys.


s: Thus came the jocund Spring in Killingworth,


s: In fabulous days, some hundred years ago;


s: And thrifty farmers, as they tilled the earth,


s: Heard with alarm the cawing of the crow,


s: They shook their heads, and doomed with dreadful words


s: To swift destruction the whole race of birds.


s: And a town-meeting was convened straightway


s: Of these marauders, who, in lieu of pay,


s: And corn-fields, and beheld without dismay


s: The awful scarecrow, with his fluttering shreds;


s: The skeleton that waited at their feast,


s: Whereby their sinful pleasure was increased.


s: Then from his house, a temple painted white,


s: The Squire came forth, august and splendid sight!


s: Three flights of steps, nor looking left nor right,


s: Down the long street he walked, as one who said,


s: The Parson, too, appeared, a man austere,


s: The instinct of whose nature was to kill;


s: The wrath of God he preached from year to year,


s: And read, with fervor, Edwards on the Will;


s: His favorite pastime was to slay the deer


s: E'en now, while walking down the rural lane,


s: He lopped the wayside lilies with his cane.


s: The hill of Science with its vane of brass,


s: Now at the clouds, and now at the green grass,


s: And next the Deacon issued from his door,


s: In his voluminous neck-cloth, white as snow;


s: His form was ponderous, and his step was slow;


s: He seemed the incarnate "Well, I told you so!"


s: There was a street named after him in town.


s: These came together in the new town-hall,


s: With sundry farmers from the region round.


s: The Squire presided, dignified and tall,


s: His air impressive and his reasoning sound;


s: Ill fared it with the birds, both great and small;


s: Hardly a friend in all that crowd they found,


s: Charged them with all the crimes beneath the sun.


s: When they had ended, from his place apart,


s: Rose the Preceptor, to redress the wrong,


s: And, trembling like a steed before the start,


s: Looked round bewildered on the expectant throng;


s: Then thought of fair Almira, and took heart


s: To speak out what was in him, clear and strong,


s: Alike regardless of their smile or frown,


s: And quite determined not to be laughed down.


s: The Poets; in this little town of yours,


s: You put to death, by means of a Committee,


s: The street-musicians of the heavenly city,


s: The birds, who make sweet music for us all


s: In our dark hours, as David did for Saul.


s: "The thrush that carols at the dawn of day


s: From the green steeples of the piny wood;


s: The blue-bird balanced on some topmost spray,


s: Linnet and meadow-lark, and all the throng


s: That dwell in nests, and have the gift of song.


s: "You slay them all! and wherefore? for the gain


s: Of a scant handful more or less of wheat,


s: Scratched up at random by industrious feet,


s: Searching for worm or weevil after rain!


s: Or a few cherries, that are not so sweet


s: Sing at their feast with comfortable breasts.


s: "Do you ne'er think what wondrous beings these?


s: Do you ne'er think who made them, and who taught


s: Whose household words are songs in many keys,


s: Sweeter than instrument of man e'er caught!


s: Are half-way houses on the road to heaven!


s: "Think, every morning when the sun peeps through


s: The dim, leaf-latticed windows of the grove,


s: And when you think of this, remember too


s: 'Tis always morning somewhere, and above


s: The awakening continents, from shore to shore,


s: Somewhere the birds are singing evermore.


s: "Think of your woods and orchards without birds!


s: Of empty nests that cling to boughs and beams


s: Hang empty 'mid the cobwebs of his dreams!


s: Will bleat of flocks or bellowing of herds


s: Make up for the lost music, when your teams


s: Drag home the stingy harvest, and no more


s: The feathered gleaners follow to your door?


s: "What! would you rather see the incessant stir


s: Is this more pleasant to you than the whirr


s: Of meadow-lark, and its sweet roundelay,


s: Or twitter of little field-fares, as you take


s: Your nooning in the shade of bush and brake?


s: "You call them thieves and pillagers; but know


s: They are the winged wardens of your farms,


s: Who from the cornfields drive the insidious foe,


s: And from your harvests keep a hundred harms;


s: Even the blackest of them all, the crow,


s: Renders good service as your man-at-arms,


s: Crushing the beetle in his coat of mail,


s: "How can I teach your children gentleness,


s: For Life, which, in its weakness or excess,


s: Or Death, which, seeming darkness, is no less


s: The selfsame light, although averted hence,


s: When by your laws, your actions, and your speech,


s: You contradict the very things I teach?"


s: With this he closed; and through the audience went


s: A murmur, like the rustle of dead leaves;


s: The farmers laughed and nodded, and some bent


s: Their yellow heads together like their sheaves;


s: Men have no faith in fine-spun sentiment


s: Who put their trust in bullocks and in beeves.


s: The birds were doomed; and, as the record shows,


s: A bounty offered for the heads of crows.


s: There was another audience out of reach,


s: Who had no voice nor vote in making laws,


s: But in the papers read his little speech,


s: And crowned his modest temples with applause;


s: They made him conscious, each one more than each,


s: He still was victor, vanquished in their cause.


s: Sweetest of all the applause he won from thee,


s: O'er fields and orchards, and o'er woodland crests,


s: Dead fell the birds, with blood-stains on their breasts,


s: Or wounded crept away from sight of man,


s: While the young died of famine in their nests;


s: A slaughter to be told in groans, not words,


s: The Summer came, and all the birds were dead;


s: The days were like hot coals; the very ground


s: Was burned to ashes; in the orchards fed


s: Hosts of devouring insects crawled, and found


s: No foe to check their march, till they had made


s: The land a desert without leaf or shade.


s: Devoured by worms, like Herod, was the town,


s: Slaughtered the Innocents. From the trees spun down


s: Upon each woman's bonnet, shawl, and gown,


s: Who shook them off with just a little cry;


s: They were the terror of each favorite walk,


s: The endless theme of all the village talk.


s: Confessed their error, and would not complain,


s: For after all, the best thing one can do


s: Then they repealed the law, although they knew


s: It would not call the dead to life again;


s: As school-boys, finding their mistake too late,


s: Draw a wet sponge across the accusing slate.


s: That year in Killingworth the Autumn came


s: The wonder of the falling tongues of flame,


s: The illumined pages of his Doom's-Day book.


s: A few lost leaves blushed crimson with their shame,


s: And drowned themselves despairing in the brook,


s: While the wild wind went moaning everywhere,


s: But the next Spring a stranger sight was seen,


s: A sight that never yet by bard was sung,


s: Upon whose boughs were wicker cages hung,


s: All full of singing birds, came down the street,


s: Filling the air with music wild and sweet.


s: From all the country round these birds were brought,


s: By order of the town, with anxious quest,


s: And, loosened from their wicker prisons, sought


s: In woods and fields the places they loved best,


s: Singing loud canticles, which many thought


s: Were satires to the authorities addressed,


s: While others, listening in green lanes, averred


s: But blither still and louder carolled they


s: Upon the morrow, for they seemed to know


s: Their songs burst forth in joyous overflow,


s: The Landlord's eyes were closed in sleep,


s: At this all laughed; the Landlord stirred,


s: And the storm-wind shouts through the pines


s: On board of the Cumberland, sloop-of-war;


s: And at times from the fortress across the bay


s: And we knew that the iron ship of our foes


s: Then comes a puff of smoke from her guns,


s: Next morn, as the sun rose over the bay,


s: Still floated our flag at the mainmast-head.


s: Ho! brave hearts that went down in the seas!


s: Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,


s: Suddenly shape in some divine expression,


s: Through every nerve, through every vein,


s: Blow, winds! and waft through all the rooms


s: Mine that so long has glowed and burned,


s: Direct from heaven, their source divine;


s: ---> _Any book on this List sent POST-PAID, on receipt of the


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s: _Interioris amat Templi jam Pegasus aulas


s: Our dons had blessed our studious looks,


s: Maine, Blackstone, Sandars, all were there,


s: I could not read; our work, heaven knows,


s: Three months, and then the Oxford Schools;


s: Had taxed my brain until the noon of night,


s: I read old law, and loathed the long dominion


s: I had consulted Coke and Cruise and Chitty,


s: The works where ancient learning reigns supreme,


s: Until exhausted nature, moved with pity,


s: Were shades like those that once the bard of Mantua


s: The first was one with countenance imperious,


s: "My name," quoth he, "is Aulus and Agerius,[B]


s: "Yet once I played my part in law proceedings,


s: And writers wrote of one they never saw,


s: I gave their point to formulæ and pleadings,


s: The second had a countenance perfidious;


s: What wonder? Prætors launched their formulæ


s: With voice of high contempt he greeted Aulus;


s: Once passed no day that students did not call us


s: We lived apart, a life that was transcendant,


s: "I hate thee, Aulus, hate thee," low he muttered,


s: "It was by thee that I was always tricked,


s: "And yet 'twas but the sentiment I hated:


s: Like thee I ne'er was drunk e'en _vi_ or _clam_,[C]


s: With wine that was no wine my thirst was sated.


s: Two country hinds in 'broidered smocks next followed,


s: Each trundled him a cart-wheel by the spokes,


s: Oblivion now their names hath well-nigh swallowed,


s: They spake no word, for speech to them was grievous,


s: "We wot not what ye will, but prithee leave us,


s: "Go," said I, "simple ones, and break your fallows,


s: Law, gaffer Stiles, thy humble name still hallows,


s: With buckles on their shoes and silken hose,


s: A garb that told it was to them who heeded


s: In the brave days of old," I heard one say;


s: To whom in contradiction snarled the other,


s: "There was no living blood our veins to fill.


s: Both you and I were nought but shadows, brother,


s: The hosts made way for passage of the king,


s: For from the darkness crept there forth a widow


s: Of Scotland sang, their cruel words so smote


s: My tender heart, that ofttimes itched my fingers


s: "He scoffed at me, dour bachelor of Glasgow,[E]


s: 'Twas all his fault who let some bonnie lass go


s: "Old friends like you will think, no doubt,


s: And for that dream to the end of my days


s: Next day there came the postman's knock,


s: And showed me a sheaf of circulars, stock


s: So Venus wrote when she ordered in Crete


s: To dine at her house to-morrow, and bring


s: As she murmurs, "How lovely--how clever!"


s: But Nature must have meant me for a poet,


s: And while I struggle with a rule or date,


s: Poetic thoughts intrude before I know it.


s: Drives forth the law of _cessio bonorum_,


s: In truth there is no sequence in the thought,


s: Suggest, not trading partners, as it ought,


s: But visions of my last night's valse with Katie?


s: But worse than this, when I have done my task,


s: 'Tis cruel 'mid the new-mown hay to bask,


s: And find one's mind is running on novation;


s: Or in the dusk, when glow-worms light the moss,


s: Dining with one who well knew how to dine us,


s: But when I slept, the charm soon fled away,


s: A poor reward it is to stand confessed as


s: In streets that Dante trod, and past the towers


s: Aslant toward heaven, and listen to the hours


s: Chimed by the bells of choirs where Dante prayed.


s: They cease; then lo! the foot of time seems stayed


s: Five hundred years and more, I find me bowers


s: Where sweet and noble ladies weave them flowers


s: For one who reads Boccaccio in the shade.


s: The cowlèd students halt by two and threes


s: To hear the voice come thrilling through the trees,


s: Then tear themselves away to themes more trite.


s: Anon I mark the diligent hands that turn


s: Unlovely parchment scrolls whereby to learn


s: While guests had come and guests had gone


s: Should dwell within the house that's named


s: We sat in the jury-box, twelve were we all,


s: And the clock was just pointing to ten in the hall,


s: His Lordship he bowed to the jury, and we


s: Bowed back to his Lordship as gravely as he.


s: The case of _De Weller_ v. _Jones_ was the first,


s: And we all settled down and prepared for the worst


s: When old Smithers, Q.C., began slowly to preach


s: Of a promise of marriage and action for breach.


s: A barmaid the plaintiff was, wondrous the skill


s: Wherewith she was wont her tall tankards to fill,


s: The defendant, a publican, sought for his bride


s: Such a paragon, urged by professional pride.


s: But the course of true love ran no smoother for her


s: Than the Pas de Calais or the bark of a fir,


s: The defendant discovered a widow with gold


s: In the bank and the plaintiff was left in the cold.


s: An hour Smithers spoke, and he said that the heart


s: Of the plaintiff at Jones's fell touch flew apart,


s: But a cheque for a thousand might help to repair


s: The destruction effected by love and despair.


s: Miss de Weller was called, and in ladylike tones


s: She described all the injury suffered from Jones,


s: How he called her at first "Angelina," and this


s: Soon cooled to "Miss Weller," and lastly to "Miss."


s: But the jury were shaken a little when Gore


s: Cross-examined about her engagements before,


s: For Jones was the sixth of the strings to her bow


s: And with five other verdicts she solaced her woe.


s: Re-examined by Smithers, she won us again,


s: For the tears of a maid are a terror to men,


s: Then his Lordship awoke from his nap and explained


s: How love that is frequent is love that is feigned.


s: Miss de Weller looked daggers, and under the paint


s: Of her cheeks she grew pale and fell down in a faint,


s: She played her trump-card in the late afternoon,


s: For damages satisfy girls who can swoon.


s: Till she fainted most thought that a farthing would do,


s: Though I was in favour of pounds--one or two;


s: But after the faint--and she _was_ so well dressed--


s: At a hundred the void in her heart was assessed.


s: Those brave old days when King Abuse did reign


s: We sigh for, but we shall not see again.


s: That grew to bounteous harvest, and with glee


s: A Bar of modest numbers shared the grain.


s: Then lived the pleaders who could issues feign,


s: Who blushed not to aver that France or Spain


s: Was in the Ward of Chepe;[I] no more can be


s: O'er pauper settlements men fought amain,


s: And golden guineas followed in their train,


s: John Doe then flourished like a lusty tree,


s: And Richard Roe brought many a noble fee,


s: Not in contempt but to our sport inclined


s: Smile on us, shades of Judges short and tall


s: Portrayed on windows of the Temple Hall;


s: There was a time that ye grave thoughts resigned,


s: Then, warm with sack, the Serjeants' hearts waxed kind,


s: In mirth Lords Keepers danced the galliard all,


s: Of pleasures past the shadows here we find,


s: Gay strife on brighter swards we thus recall,


s: Where maiden laughter winged the flying ball;


s: Declare us, fair ones, with a merry mind


s: equitable as well as common law jurisdiction.


s: Cui brevia nil forensis et quaestus valent


s: 'Twas sixscore sheets, it might have been


s: Through every court that sits in session.


s: "Five hundred pounds as stake I'll lay,"


s: "Proof me no proofs," quoth Hampden, "Nay,


s: Aid me, Muses! my endeavour is to sing a woful song,


s: How a very learned bishop in the Arches Court went wrong.


s: Aid me, for _duplex querela_ is an uninviting theme,


s: And the practice of the Arches raises no poetic dream.


s: 'Tis the Reverend Child Willis, child in name but not in age,


s: Comes he to the Court of Arches burning with a noble rage,


s: Filing his _duplex querela_, claiming for himself thereby


s: Vicarage of Drayton Parslow, or to know the reason why.


s: "Reason why?" the bishop answers; "that is not so far to seek.


s: Little Latin have you, Willis, innocent are you of Greek.


s: You were specially examined by my good Archdeacon Pott;


s: He reported to me promptly, 'Greek and Latin all forgot,


s: _Non idoneus_ is Willis, _minus et sufficiens_,


s: He may have a _sanum corpus_, but he lacks a _sana mens_.'"


s: Lord Penzance supported Willis: "Bishop, you must file," said he,


s: As it stands I cannot gather what it is you ploughed him in,


s: Whether Hellenistic aorists or the Latin word for sin."


s: But alas! the world has never known as yet what Willis did,


s: In the breast of the Archdeacon still it lies a secret hid.


s: Was his Latin prose defective? Did his style of writing show


s: More resemblance to Tertullian than to Tullius Cicero?


s: Were his dates a little shaky? Could it, could it be that he


s: Confidently made Augustine flourish at a date B.C.?


s: None will know save Pott, Archdeacon, for alas! the patroness


s: Showed no mercy to Child Willis in the day of his distress.


s: She revoked the presentation, leaving Willis in the lurch,


s: One of undisputed learning preached in Drayton Parslow church.


s: Doubly barren was his triumph, it was not a twelve-month ere


s: Death set up _his_ Court of Arches, Willis did not triumph there.


s: Passed six years, then he was wrapped in


s: Oh for the wily infant who married the widow and made


s: Profit of coke and of breeze, and never a penny he paid!


s: Oh for the Corporation of Birmingham cheated and snared,


s: Taking orders for coke that the widow and infant prepared!


s: Oh for the Court of Appeal, and oh for Lords Justices three!


s: Birmingham coke is good and good Coke upon Littleton too.


s: "Shall I take your photograph, my pretty maid?"


s: "You may if you like, kind sir," she said.


s: "Do you like your photograph, my pretty maid?"


s: "It is more than flattering, sir," she said.


s: "I'll publish your photograph, my pretty maid."


s: "Indeed but you won't, kind sir," she said.


s: "But what if I've done it, my pretty maid?"


s: "I'll get an injunction, sir," she said.


s: "You have proved the negative, my pretty maid,


s: 'Twas like a mountain crowned with trees


s: Were trained to climb its soaring towers,


s: So Brown went home and nursed his sorrow,


s: contrary to the law of Massachusetts, it was held that the court


s: Against the statutes of the Old Bay State


s: His counter, well content his gain to find


s: In pipes not pills, cigars not carbonate.


s: From breakfast till 'twas dusk at half-past eight


s: Tobacco cheered this hardened sinner's mind,


s: The price of it his pockets, disinclined


s: To add their dime to the collection plate.


s: "Cigars are no cigars," said the defence,


s: "But drugs, and we have witnesses to prove it."


s: So said the Court, and spat, and nought could move it.


s: Woe to the house whose mistress was a slave!


s: Woe to the court whose judge once spake for fees,


s: Scarce on the bench forgets his former self.


s: The statue of an advocate, as like as like can be.


s: And why? The statue cannot speak a word, no more could he.


s: The parties were as deaf as deaf could be,


s: The judge was far the deafest of the three.


s: Said plaintiff, "Sir, I ask for five months' rent."


s: Defendant, "Grinding corn all night I spent."


s: "Why," quoth the judge, "dispute? Your mother's claim


s: Is good, and you must both support the dame."


s: That 'gainst the wicked votes of "Guilty" go.


s: Thou trustest in thy cunning speech, thy power


s: Of speaking words that vary with the hour.


s: Hope what thou wilt, thy trifling tricks are vain,


s: Thou canst not make the path of law less plain.


s: Once to Diodorus came a client in a state of doubt,


s: And to that most learned counsel thus he set the matter out:


s: "Alpha Beta found a slave-girl who had run away from me:


s: To a slave of his he wed her, though she was my property,


s: Well he knew she was my chattel; she has had a child or two;


s: Now I cannot tell for certain whose the children are, can you?"


s: Diodorus thought, consulted all authorities on "Slave,"


s: To his client turned his furrowed brows and slowly answer gave:


s: "'Tis to you or to the other who, you say, has done you wrong,


s: That the children of the handmaid rightfully of course belong,


s: Your best plan will be the matter in the proper court to place,


s: So you'll get a good opinion whether you have any case."


s: "Good Hermes, only just one cabbage plant."


s: "Stop, stop, my thieving traveller, you can't."


s: "What, grudge me one poor cabbage! is it so?"


s: "Nay, I don't grudge it, but the law says no.


s: The law says, Keep your itching palms, d'ye see,


s: Hermes against a thief invokes the law."


s: 'Tis no great thing for you who roll in plenty."


s: He was an old companion, and his coffers


s: Were full enough to stand such friendly offers.


s: "Go, plead in court," said he; "'tis pleadings pay us."


s: "I want your money, not your counsel, Caius."


s: Is this advocacy, Cinna, this a type of lawyers' powers,


s: This immense oration, Cinna, some nine words in some ten hours?


s: A thousand doubts and pleadings in a day


s: Are filed in Empress Reason's court supreme


s: By angry Love--his eyes with anger gleam.


s: "Which of us twain hath been more faithful, say.


s: 'Tis all through me that Cino can display


s: The sail of fame on life's unhappy stream."


s: "Thee," quoth I, "root of all my woe I deem,


s: I found what gall beneath thy sweetness lay."


s: Then he: "Ah, traitorous and truant slave!


s: Are these the thanks thou renderest, ingrate,


s: "Thy left," cried I, "slew what thy right hand gave."


s: "Not so," said he. The judge, "Your wrath abate.


s: I must have time to give true judgment here."


s: Tell me, proud Rome, why dost these edicts read,


s: These many laws by prince or people made,


s: When now thou canst the world no longer lead?


s: Thou readest, sad one, of each ancient deed


s: Where thy unconquered sons their might displayed,


s: What boots it that thou wast of old a queen,


s: Forgive me, God, if all my days have been


s: Unless Thy law within the heart be fixed.


s: Ah! justice is a virtue bepraised and full of worth,


s: It castigates the sinner, and peoples all the earth,


s: And kings with care should guard it--instead they now forget


s: The gem that is most precious in all the coronet.


s: Some think they may do justice by cruelty, I wist;


s: But 'tis an evil counsel, for justice must consist


s: In showing deeds of mercy, in knowledge of the truth,


s: And executing judgment it executes with ruth.


s: Glory and gain thus mixed distract the thought,


s: We owe to honour all, to fortune nought;


s: The poet, like the soldier, scorns for pay


s: Peruvian gold, but seeks the wreath of bay.


s: Patru is e'en by Scarron's name weighed down.


s: The bar of Greece and Rome you point me out,


s: A bar that trained great men, I do not doubt,


s: For then chicane with language void of sense


s: Purge the tribune of all this monstrous growth,


s: I mount it, and my soul will sink, though loth,


s: Will yield to fortune and will speak in prose.


s: But since reform in this so slowly grows,


s: To hold first place in arts above the law,


s: Fraud in this age of ours unpunished can


s: Can you for spirits just and generous find


s: For client virtue, truth for counsel's wage;


s: For judge the present and the coming age.


s: _Piron_, _La Métromanie_, Act iii. Sc. 7.


s: The poem may be dealt with in two ways. It may be regarded as a


s: I have again to record my grateful acknowledgments to Dr. Richard


s: Charlotte Duchess of Richmond to be reproduced for this volume.


s: _Letters_, 1898, i. 308), he informs her that he has MSS. in his


s: Dallas was "delighted," and on the evening of the same day (July


s: considerations, were provocative and objectionable. They were


s: altogether. Not only were nine poems added to the twenty already


s: No further alterations were made in the text of the poem; but an


s: characteristic feature of _Childe Harold_ which association and


s: conclusion that Childe Harold was Byron in disguise, and idly


s: The marginal remarks pencilled occasionally were made by two


s: "Henry Drury, Harrow. Given me by Lord Byron. Being his original


s: "Sir,--I desire that you will settle any account for _Childe


s: Harold_ with Mr. R. C. Dallas, to whom I have presented the


s: "Received, April 1st, 1812, of Mr. John Murray, the sum of one


s: hundred pounds 15/8, being my entire half-share of the profits of


s: { Mem.: This receipt is for the above sum,


s: £101:15:8.  { in part of five hundred guineas agreed to


s: { be paid by Mr. Murray for the Copyright


s: "'The spell is broke, the charm is flown.'"


s: "Dear D^s.,--This is all that was contained in the MS., but the


s: outside cover has been torn off by the booby of a binder.


s: Stanza vii.       "Of all his train there was a henchman page,"--


s: Stanza xxii.      "Unhappy Vathek! in an evil hour,"--


s: Stanza xxv.       "In golden characters right well designed,"--


s: Stanza xxvii.     "But when Convention sent his handy work,"--


s: Stanza lxxxv.     "Adieu, fair Cadiz! yea, a long adieu!"--


s: Stanza lxxxix.    "Not yet, alas! the dreadful work is done,"--


s: Stanza xc.        "Not all the blood at Talavera shed,"--


s: Stanza xci.       "And thou, my friend!--since unavailing woe,"--


s: Stanza viii.      "Frown not upon me, churlish Priest! that I,"--


s: Stanza lxiii.     "Mid many things most new to ear and eye,"--


s: Stanza lxxxiv.    "For thee, who thus in too protracted song,"--


s: Stanza lxxxvii.   "Then must I plunge again into the crowd,"--


s: Stanza lxxxviii.  "What is the worst of woes that wait on Age?"--


s: The Second Canto, in the first six editions, numbers eighty-eight


s: Stanza xxvii.     "More blest the life of godly Eremite,"--


s: Stanza lxxvii.    "The city won for Allah from the Giaour,"--


s: July 6.    Arrive Lisbon. (Stanzas xvi., xvii. Letter 126.)


s: Visit Cintra. (Stanzas xviii.-xxvi. Letter 128.)


s: July 17.   Leave Lisbon. (Stanza xxviii. Letter 127.)


s: Ride through Portugal and Spain to Seville.


s: Ride to Cadiz, across the Sierra Morena. (Stanza li.)


s: Sept. 19.  Sail from Malta in brig-of-war _Spider_. (Letter 131.)


s: Sept. 27.  In the channel between Ithaca and the mainland.


s: Sept. 28.  Anchor off Prevesa (7 p.m.). (Stanza xlv.)


s: Oct. 1.    Leave Prevesa, arrive Salakhora (Salagoura).


s: Oct. 3.    Leave Salakhora, arrive Arta.


s: Oct. 4.    Leave Arta, arrive han St. Demetre (H. Dhimittrios).


s: Oct. 5.    Arrive Janina. (Stanza xlvii. Letter 131.)


s: Oct. 8.    Ride into the country. First day of Ramazan.


s: Oct. 11.   Leave Janina, arrive Zitza ("Lines written during


s: a Thunderstorm"). (Stanzas xlviii.-li. Letter 131.)


s: Oct. 13.   Leave Zitza, arrive Mossiani (Móseri).


s: Oct. 15.   Leave Delvinaki, arrive Libokhovo.


s: Oct. 17.   Leave Libokhovo, arrive Cesarades (Kestourataes).


s: Oct. 18.   Leave Cesarades, arrive Ereeneed (Irindi).


s: Oct. 19.   Leave Ereeneed, arrive Tepeleni. (Stanzas lv.-lxi.)


s: Oct. 20.   Reception by Ali Pacha. (Stanzas lxii.-lxiv.)


s: Oct. 23.   Leave Tepeleni, arrive Locavo (Lacovon).


s: Oct. 24.   Leave Locavo, arrive Delvinaki.


s: Oct. 25.   Leave Delvinaki, arrive Zitza.


s: Oct. 31.   Byron begins the First Canto of _Childe Harold_.


s: Nov. 3.    Leave Janina, arrive han St. Demetre.


s: Nov. 4.    Leave han St. Demetre, arrive Arta.


s: Nov. 5.    Leave Arta, arrive Salakhora.


s: Nov. 7.    Leave Salakhora, arrive Prevesa.


s: Nov. 8.    Sail from Prevesa, anchor off mainland near Parga.


s: Nov. 9.    Leave Parga, and, returning by land, arrive


s: Volondorako (Valanidórakhon). (Stanza lxix.)


s: Nov. 10.   Leave Volondorako, arrive Castrosikia (Kastrosykia).


s: Nov. 11.   Leave Castrosikia, arrive Prevesa.


s: Nov. 13.   Sail from Prevesa, anchor off Vonitsa.


s: Nov. 14.   Sail from Vonitsa, arrive Lutraki (Loutráki).


s: (Stanzas lxx., lxxii., Song "Tambourgi, Tambourgi;"


s: stanza written in passing the Ambracian Gulph. Letter 131.)


s: Nov. 15.   Leave Lutraki, arrive Katúna.


s: Nov. 16.   Leave Katúna, arrive Makalá (? Machalas).


s: Nov. 19.   Leave Guriá, arrive Ætolikon.


s: Nov. 20.   Leave Ætolikon, arrive Mesolonghi.


s: Nov. 23.   Sail from Mesolonghi, arrive Patras.


s: Dec. 4.    Leave Patras, sleep at _Han_ on shore.


s: Dec. 15.   Leave Larnáki (? Itea), arrive Chrysó.


s: Dec. 16.   Visit Delphi, the Pythian Cave, and stream of Castaly.


s: Dec. 17.   Leave Chrysó, arrive Arakhova (Rhakova).


s: Dec. 18.   Leave Arakhova, arrive Livadia (Livadhia).


s: Dec. 21.   Leave Livadia, arrive Mazee (Mazi).


s: Dec. 25.   Leave Skurta, pass Phyle, arrive Athens.


s: Dec. 30.   Byron finishes the First Canto of _Childe Harold_.


s: Jan. 16.   Visit Mendeli (Pentelicus). (Stanza lxxxvii.)


s: Jan. 18.   Walk round the peninsula of Munychia.


s: Jan. 23.   Visit temple of Athene at Sunium. (Stanza lxxxvi.)


s: Jan. 24.   Leave Keratéa, arrive plain of Marathon.


s: Jan. 25.   Visit plain of Marathon. (Stanzas lxxxix., xc.)


s: Jan. 26.   Leave Marathon, arrive Athens.


s: Mar. 13.   Leave Smyrna, sleep at _Han_, near the river Halesus.


s: Mar. 14.   Leave _Han_, arrive Aiasaluk (near Ephesus).


s: Mar. 16.   Leave Ephesus, return to Smyrna. (Letter 132.)


s: Mar. 28.   Byron finishes the Second Canto of _Childe Harold_.


s: April 13.  Visit ruins of Alexandria Troas.


s: April 16.  Byron attempts to swim across the Hellespont, explores


s: April 30.  Visit the springs of Bunarbashi (Bunarbási).


s: May 3.     Byron and Mr. Ekenhead swim across the Hellespont


s: May 13.    Anchor off Venaglio Point, arrive Constantinople.


s: July 14.   Sail from Constantinople in _Salsette_ frigate.


s: Notes on the MSS. of the First and Second Cantos   xvi


s: Original Draft, etc., of Canto the Fourth


s: "L'univers est une espèce de livre, dont on n'a lu que la


s: première page quand on n'a vu que son pays. J'en ai feuilleté un


s: assez grand nombre, que j'ai trouvé également mauvaises. Cet


s: m'ont reconcilié avec elle. Quand je n'aurais tiré d'autre


s: bénéfice de mes voyages que celui-là, je n'en regretterais ni les


s: A fictitious character is introduced for the sake of giving some


s: connection to the piece; which, however, makes no pretension to


s: Harold," I may incur the suspicion of having intended some real


s: With the different poems which have been published on Spanish


s: I have now waited till almost all our periodical journals have


s: Returning, therefore, to all and each my best thanks for their


s: happens that the good old times, when "l'amour du bon vieux tems,


s: Before the days of Bayard, and down to those of Sir Joseph Banks


s: (the most chaste and celebrated of ancient and modern times) few


s: exceptions will be found to this statement; and I fear a little


s: Not in those climes where I have late been straying,


s: Though Beauty long hath there been matchless deemed,


s: Not in those visions to the heart displaying


s: Forms which it sighs but to have only dreamed,


s: Hath aught like thee in Truth or Fancy seemed:


s: Nor, having seen thee, shall I vainly seek


s: To paint those charms which varied as they beamed--


s: To such as see thee not my words were weak;


s: To those who gaze on thee what language could they speak?


s: Ah! may'st thou ever be what now thou art,


s: Nor unbeseem the promise of thy Spring--


s: As fair in form, as warm yet pure in heart,


s: Love's image upon earth without his wing,


s: Thy youth, in thee, thus hourly brightening,


s: Beholds the Rainbow of her future years,


s: Before whose heavenly hues all Sorrow disappears.


s: Young Peri of the West!--'tis well for me


s: My loveless eye unmoved may gaze on thee,


s: And safely view thy ripening beauties shine;


s: Happy, I ne'er shall see them in decline;


s: Happier, that, while all younger hearts shall bleed,


s: Mine shall escape the doom thine eyes assign


s: To those whose admiration shall succeed,


s: But mixed with pangs to Love's even loveliest hours decreed.


s: Oh! let that eye, which, wild as the Gazelle's,


s: Wins as it wanders, dazzles where it dwells,


s: Glance o'er this page, nor to my verse deny


s: That smile for which my breast might vainly sigh


s: Could I to thee be ever more than friend:


s: This much, dear Maid, accord; nor question why


s: To one so young my strain I would commend,


s: But bid me with my wreath one matchless Lily blend.


s: Such is thy name with this my verse entwined;


s: And long as kinder eyes a look shall cast[i]


s: On Harold's page, Ianthe's here enshrined


s: Shall thus be _first_ beheld, forgotten _last_:


s: My days once numbered--should this homage past


s: Of him who hailed thee loveliest, as thou wast--


s: Oh, thou! in Hellas deemed of heavenly birth,[k]


s: Muse! formed or fabled at the Minstrel's will!


s: Since shamed full oft by later lyres on earth,[l]


s: Mine dares not call thee from thy sacred Hill:


s: Yet there I've wandered by thy vaunted rill;[m]


s: Yes! sighed o'er Delphi's long deserted shrine,[1.B.]


s: Where, save that feeble fountain, all is still;


s: To grace so plain a tale--this lowly lay of mine.


s: Whilome in Albion's isle there dwelt a youth,


s: Who ne in Virtue's ways did take delight;


s: But spent his days in riot most uncouth,


s: And vexed with mirth the drowsy ear of Night.


s: Ah me! in sooth he was a shameless wight,


s: Sore given to revel and ungodly glee;[n]


s: Few earthly things found favour in his sight[o]


s: And flaunting wassailers of high and low degree.


s: Childe Harold was he hight:--but whence his name[p]


s: And lineage long, it suits me not to say;


s: Suffice it, that perchance they were of fame,


s: Nor all that heralds rake from coffined clay,


s: Nor florid prose, nor honied lies of rhyme,[q]


s: Can blazon evil deeds, or consecrate a crime.


s: Childe Harold basked him in the Noontide sun,[r]


s: Nor deemed before his little day was done


s: But long ere scarce a third of his passed by,


s: Then loathed he in his native land to dwell,


s: Which seemed to him more lone than Eremite's sad cell.


s: For he through Sin's long labyrinth had run,[s]


s: Had sighed to many though he loved but one,[t]


s: And that loved one, alas! could ne'er be his.


s: Ah, happy she! to 'scape from him whose kiss


s: Had been pollution unto aught so chaste;


s: Who soon had left her charms for vulgar bliss,


s: And spoiled her goodly lands to gild his waste,


s: Nor calm domestic peace had ever deigned to taste.


s: And now Childe Harold was sore sick at heart,[u]


s: And from his fellow Bacchanals would flee;


s: 'Tis said, at times the sullen tear would start,


s: But Pride congealed the drop within his ee:


s: And from his native land resolved to go,


s: And visit scorching climes beyond the sea;


s: With pleasure drugged, he almost longed for woe,


s: And e'en for change of scene would seek the shades below.


s: The Childe departed from his father's hall:


s: Yet strength was pillared in each massy aisle.


s: Monastic dome! condemned to uses vile![w]


s: Where Superstition once had made her den


s: Now Paphian girls were known to sing and smile;[x]


s: And monks might deem their time was come agen,


s: If ancient tales say true, nor wrong these holy men.


s: Yet oft-times in his maddest mirthful mood


s: Strange pangs would flash along Childe Harold's brow,[z]


s: But this none knew, nor haply cared to know;


s: That feels relief by bidding sorrow flow,


s: Nor sought he friend to counsel or condole,


s: Whate'er this grief mote be, which he could not control.


s: And none did love him!--though to hall and bower


s: He gathered revellers from far and near,


s: He knew them flatterers of the festal hour,


s: The heartless Parasites of present cheer.


s: Yea! none did love him--not his lemans dear--[ab]


s: But pomp and power alone are Woman's care,


s: And where these are light Eros finds a feere;


s: Maidens, like moths, are ever caught by glare,


s: And Mammon wins his way where Seraphs might despair.


s: Childe Harold had a mother--not forgot,[ac]


s: Though parting from that mother he did shun;


s: If friends he had, he bade adieu to none.[ad]


s: Yet deem not thence his breast a breast of steel:[ae]


s: Ye, who have known what 'tis to dote upon


s: A few dear objects, will in sadness feel


s: Such partings break the heart they fondly hope to heal.


s: His house, his home, his heritage, his lands,[af]


s: The laughing dames in whom he did delight,[ag]


s: Whose large blue eyes, fair locks, and snowy hands,


s: Might shake the Saintship of an Anchorite,


s: His goblets brimmed with every costly wine,


s: Without a sigh he left, to cross the brine,


s: And traverse Paynim shores, and pass Earth's central line.[ah]


s: The sails were filled, and fair the light winds blew,[ai]


s: As glad to waft him from his native home;


s: And fast the white rocks faded from his view,


s: And soon were lost in circumambient foam:


s: And then, it may be, of his wish to roam


s: The silent thought, nor from his lips did come


s: One word of wail, whilst others sate and wept,


s: And to the reckless gales unmanly moaning kept.


s: He seized his harp, which he at times could string,


s: And strike, albeit with untaught melody,


s: When deemed he no strange ear was listening:


s: And now his fingers o'er it he did fling,


s: And tuned his farewell in the dim twilight;


s: While flew the vessel on her snowy wing,


s: And fleeting shores receded from his sight,


s: Thus to the elements he poured his last "Good Night."


s: The night-winds sigh, the breakers roar,


s: "Let winds be shrill, let waves roll high,[al]


s: "Come hither, hither, my staunch yeoman,


s: 'My spouse and boys dwell near thy hall,


s: "For who would trust the seeming sighs[an]


s: Fresh feeres will dry the bright blue eyes


s: On, on the vessel flies, the land is gone,


s: And winds are rude in Biscay's sleepless bay.


s: Four days are sped, but with the fifth, anon,


s: New shores descried make every bosom gay;


s: And Cintra's mountain greets them on their way,


s: And soon on board the Lusian pilots leap,


s: And steer 'twixt fertile shores where yet few rustics reap.[ap]


s: What Heaven hath done for this delicious land![aq]


s: What fruits of fragrance blush on every tree!


s: What goodly prospects o'er the hills expand!


s: But man would mar them with an impious hand:


s: And when the Almighty lifts his fiercest scourge


s: 'Gainst those who most transgress his high command,


s: With treble vengeance will his hot shafts urge


s: Gaul's locust host, and earth from fellest foemen purge[ar]


s: What beauties doth Lisboa first unfold![as]


s: Which poets vainly pave with sands of gold,[at]


s: But now whereon a thousand keels did ride


s: Of mighty strength, since Albion was allied,


s: A nation swoln with ignorance and pride,


s: Who lick yet loathe the hand that waves the sword[au]


s: To save them from the wrath of Gaul's unsparing lord.


s: That, sheening far, celestial seems to be,


s: 'Mid many things unsightly to strange ee;[av]


s: For hut and palace show like filthily:[aw]


s: The dingy denizens are reared in dirt;[ax]


s: Doth care for cleanness of surtout or shirt,


s: Poor, paltry slaves! yet born 'midst noblest scenes--


s: Why, Nature, waste thy wonders on such men?


s: Ah, me! what hand can pencil guide, or pen,


s: Through views more dazzling unto mortal ken[ay]


s: Than those whereof such things the Bard relates,


s: Who to the awe-struck world unlocked Elysium's gates.


s: The horrid crags, by toppling convent crowned,[az]


s: The cork-trees hoar that clothe the shaggy steep,


s: The mountain-moss by scorching skies imbrowned,


s: The sunken glen, whose sunless shrubs must weep,


s: The orange tints that gild the greenest bough,


s: The torrents that from cliff to valley leap,[ba]


s: The vine on high, the willow branch below,


s: Mixed in one mighty scene, with varied beauty glow.


s: From loftier rocks new loveliness survey,


s: And rest ye at "Our Lady's house of Woe;"[2.B.]


s: Where frugal monks their little relics show,


s: And sundry legends to the stranger tell:


s: Here impious men have punished been, and lo!


s: Deep in yon cave Honorius long did dwell,


s: In hope to merit Heaven by making earth a Hell.


s: And here and there, as up the crags you spring,


s: Mark many rude-carved crosses near the path:


s: Yet deem not these Devotion's offering--


s: These are memorials frail of murderous wrath:


s: For wheresoe'er the shrieking victim hath


s: Pour'd forth his blood beneath the assassin's knife,


s: Some hand erects a cross of mouldering lath;


s: And grove and glen with thousand such are rife


s: Throughout this purple land, where Law secures not life.[3.B.]


s: On sloping mounds, or in the vale beneath,


s: Are domes where whilome kings did make repair;


s: But now the wild flowers round them only breathe:


s: Yet ruined Splendour still is lingering there.


s: And yonder towers the Prince's palace fair:


s: There thou too, Vathek! England's wealthiest son,[bb]


s: When wanton Wealth her mightiest deeds hath done,[bc]


s: Meek Peace voluptuous lures was ever wont to shun.


s: Here didst thou dwell, here schemes of pleasure plan,


s: Beneath yon mountain's ever beauteous brow:


s: But now, as if a thing unblest by Man,[bd]


s: Fresh lessons to the thinking bosom, how


s: Vain are the pleasaunces on earth supplied;[be]


s: Swept into wrecks anon by Time's ungentle tide!


s: Behold the hall where chiefs were late convened![4.B.]


s: With diadem hight Foolscap, lo! a Fiend,


s: There sits in parchment robe arrayed, and by[bf]


s: His side is hung a seal and sable scroll,


s: Where blazoned glare names known to chivalry,[bg]


s: And sundry signatures adorn the roll,[bh]


s: Whereat the Urchin points and laughs with all his soul.[bi]


s: That foiled the knights in Marialva's dome:


s: Of brains (if brains they had) he them beguiled,


s: And turned a nation's shallow joy to gloom.


s: Here Folly dashed to earth the victor's plume,


s: For chiefs like ours in vain may laurels bloom!


s: Woe to the conquering, not the conquered host,


s: Since baffled Triumph droops on Lusitania's coast.


s: And folks in office at the mention fret,[bj]


s: And fain would blush, if blush they could, for shame.


s: Will not our own and fellow-nations sneer,


s: To view these champions cheated of their fame,


s: By foes in fight o'erthrown, yet victors here,


s: Where Scorn her finger points through many a coming year?


s: So deemed the Childe, as o'er the mountains he


s: Sweet was the scene, yet soon he thought to flee,


s: More restless than the swallow in the skies:[bk]


s: Though here awhile he learned to moralise,


s: And conscious Reason whispered to despise


s: His early youth, misspent in maddest whim;


s: But as he gazed on truth his aching eyes grew dim.


s: To horse! to horse! he quits, for ever quits


s: A scene of peace, though soothing to his soul:[bl]


s: But seeks not now the harlot and the bowl.[bm]


s: Onward he flies, nor fixed as yet the goal


s: Where he shall rest him on his pilgrimage;


s: And o'er him many changing scenes must roll


s: Ere toil his thirst for travel can assuage,[bn]


s: Or he shall calm his breast, or learn experience sage.


s: Yet Mafra shall one moment claim delay,[5.B.]


s: Where dwelt of yore the Lusians' luckless queen;[bo]


s: And Church and Court did mingle their array,


s: Lordlings and freres--ill-sorted fry I ween!


s: A dome, where flaunts she in such glorious sheen,


s: That men forget the blood which she hath spilt,


s: And bow the knee to Pomp that loves to varnish guilt.


s: O'er vales that teem with fruits, romantic hills,


s: (Oh, that such hills upheld a freeborn race!)


s: Whereon to gaze the eye with joyaunce fills,


s: Childe Harold wends through many a pleasant place.[bp]


s: Though sluggards deem it but a foolish chase,


s: And marvel men should quit their easy chair,


s: The toilsome way, and long, long league to trace,


s: Oh! there is sweetness in the mountain air,


s: And Life, that bloated Ease can never hope to share.


s: More bleak to view the hills at length recede,


s: And, less luxuriant, smoother vales extend:[bq]


s: Spain's realms appear whereon her shepherds tend


s: Flocks, whose rich fleece right well the trader knows--


s: Now must the Pastor's arm his _lambs_ defend:


s: For Spain is compassed by unyielding foes,


s: And _all_ must shield their _all_, or share Subjection's woes.


s: Deem ye what bounds the rival realms divide?[br]


s: Or ere the jealous Queens of Nations greet,


s: Or fence of art, like China's vasty wall?--


s: Ne barrier wall, ne river deep and wide,


s: Ne horrid crags, nor mountains dark and tall,


s: Rise like the rocks that part Hispania's land from Gaul:


s: But these between a silver streamlet glides,


s: And scarce a name distinguisheth the brook,


s: Though rival kingdoms press its verdant sides:


s: Here leans the idle shepherd on his crook,


s: And vacant on the rippling waves doth look,


s: That peaceful still 'twixt bitterest foemen flow;


s: For proud each peasant as the noblest duke:


s: Well doth the Spanish hind the difference know


s: 'Twixt him and Lusian slave, the lowest of the low.[6.B.]


s: But ere the mingling bounds have far been passed,[bs]


s: Whilome upon his banks did legions throng


s: Of Moor and Knight, in mailéd splendour drest:


s: Here ceased the swift their race, here sunk the strong;


s: The Paynim turban and the Christian crest


s: Mixed on the bleeding stream, by floating hosts oppressed.


s: Oh, lovely Spain! renowned, romantic Land!


s: Where is that standard which Pelagio bore,[bu]


s: When Cava's traitor-sire first called the band


s: That dyed thy mountain streams with Gothic gore?[7.B.]


s: Where are those bloody Banners which of yore


s: Waved o'er thy sons, victorious to the gale,


s: And drove at last the spoilers to their shore?


s: Red gleamed the Cross, and waned the Crescent pale,[bv]


s: While Afric's echoes thrilled with Moorish matrons' wail.


s: Teems not each ditty with the glorious tale?


s: Ah! such, alas! the hero's amplest fate!


s: When granite moulders and when records fail,


s: A peasant's plaint prolongs his dubious date.[bw]


s: Pride! bend thine eye from Heaven to thine estate,


s: Can Volume, Pillar, Pile preserve thee great?


s: Or must thou trust Tradition's simple tongue,


s: When Flattery sleeps with thee, and History does thee wrong?


s: Awake, ye Sons of Spain! awake! advance!


s: Lo! Chivalry, your ancient Goddess, cries,


s: But wields not, as of old, her thirsty lance,


s: Nor shakes her crimson plumage in the skies:


s: Now on the smoke of blazing bolts she flies,


s: And speaks in thunder through yon engine's roar:


s: In every peal she calls--"Awake! arise!"


s: Say, is her voice more feeble than of yore,


s: When her war-song was heard on Andalusia's shore?


s: Hark!--heard you not those hoofs of dreadful note?


s: Sounds not the clang of conflict on the heath?


s: Saw ye not whom the reeking sabre smote,


s: Nor saved your brethren ere they sank beneath


s: Tyrants and Tyrants' slaves?--the fires of Death,


s: The Bale-fires flash on high:--from rock to rock![bx]


s: Each volley tells that thousands cease to breathe;


s: Red Battle stamps his foot, and Nations feel the shock.


s: Lo! where the Giant on the mountain stands,


s: His blood-red tresses deepening in the Sun,


s: With death-shot glowing in his fiery hands,


s: And eye that scorcheth all it glares upon;


s: Restless it rolls, now fixed, and now anon


s: Destruction cowers, to mark what deeds are done;


s: For on this morn three potent Nations meet,


s: To shed before his Shrine the blood he deems most sweet.


s: By Heaven! it is a splendid sight to see


s: (For one who hath no friend, no brother there)


s: Their rival scarfs of mixed embroidery,[by]


s: Their various arms that glitter in the air!


s: What gallant War-hounds rouse them from their lair,


s: And gnash their fangs, loud yelling for the prey!


s: All join the chase, but few the triumph share;


s: The Grave shall bear the chiefest prize away,


s: And Havoc scarce for joy can number their array.


s: Three tongues prefer strange orisons on high;


s: Three gaudy standards flout the pale blue skies;


s: The shouts are France, Spain, Albion, Victory!


s: That fights for all, but ever fights in vain,


s: Are met--as if at home they could not die--


s: And fertilise the field that each pretends to gain.


s: There shall they rot--Ambition's honoured fools![bz]


s: Yes, Honour decks the turf that wraps their clay!


s: Vain Sophistry! in these behold the tools,[ca]


s: The broken tools, that Tyrants cast away


s: By myriads, when they dare to pave their way


s: With human hearts--to what?--a dream alone.


s: Can Despots compass aught that hails their sway?[cb]


s: Or call with truth one span of earth their own,


s: Save that wherein at last they crumble bone by bone?


s: Oh, Albuera! glorious field of grief![cc]


s: As o'er thy plain the Pilgrim pricked his steed,


s: Who could foresee thee, in a space so brief,


s: A scene where mingling foes should boast and bleed![cd]


s: Peace to the perished! may the warrior's meed[ce]


s: And tears of triumph their reward prolong![cf]


s: Till others fall where other chieftains lead


s: Thy name shall circle round the gaping throng,


s: And shine in worthless lays, the theme of transient song.[cg]


s: Enough of Battle's minions! let them play


s: Their game of lives, and barter breath for fame:


s: Fame that will scarce reanimate their clay,


s: Though thousands fall to deck some single name.


s: In sooth 'twere sad to thwart their noble aim


s: Who strike, blest hirelings! for their country's good,[ch]


s: And die, that living might have proved her shame;


s: Perished, perchance, in some domestic feud,


s: Or in a narrower sphere wild Rapine's path pursued.[ci]


s: Full swiftly Harold wends his lonely way[cj]


s: Where proud Sevilla triumphs unsubdued:[ck]


s: Yet is she free? the Spoiler's wished-for prey!


s: Soon, soon shall Conquest's fiery foot intrude,


s: Blackening her lovely domes with traces rude.


s: Where Desolation plants her famished brood


s: Is vain, or Ilion, Tyre might yet survive,


s: And Virtue vanquish all, and Murder cease to thrive


s: The feast, the song, the revel here abounds;


s: Strange modes of merriment the hours consume,


s: Nor bleed these patriots with their country's wounds:


s: Nor here War's clarion, but Love's rebeck sounds;[cl]


s: Here Folly still his votaries inthralls;


s: And young-eyed Lewdness walks her midnight rounds:[cm]


s: Girt with the silent crimes of Capitals,


s: Still to the last kind Vice clings to the tott'ring walls.


s: Not so the rustic--with his trembling mate


s: Lest he should view his vineyard desolate,


s: Blasted below the dun hot breath of War.


s: No more beneath soft Eve's consenting star


s: Ah, Monarchs! could ye taste the mirth ye mar,


s: Not in the toils of Glory would ye fret;[cn]


s: The hoarse dull drum would sleep, and Man be happy yet!


s: As whilome he was wont the leagues to cheer,


s: His quick bells wildly jingling on the way?


s: No! as he speeds, he chants "Vivā el Rey!"[8.B.]


s: The royal wittol Charles, and curse the day


s: When first Spain's queen beheld the black-eyed boy,


s: And gore-faced Treason sprung from her adulterate joy.


s: On yon long level plain, at distance crowned


s: With crags, whereon those Moorish turrets rest,


s: Wide-scattered hoof-marks dint the wounded ground;


s: And, scathed by fire, the greensward's darkened vest


s: Tells that the foe was Andalusia's guest:


s: Here was the camp, the watch-flame, and the host,


s: Here the bold peasant stormed the Dragon's nest;


s: Still does he mark it with triumphant boast,


s: And points to yonder cliffs, which oft were won and lost.


s: Bears in his cap the badge of crimson hue,


s: Which tells you whom to shun and whom to greet:[9.B.]


s: Woe to the man that walks in public view


s: Sharp is the knife, and sudden is the stroke;


s: If subtle poniards, wrapt beneath the cloke,


s: Could blunt the sabre's edge, or clear the cannon's smoke.


s: And, far as mortal eye can compass sight,


s: The bristling palisade, the fosse o'erflowed,


s: The stationed bands, the never-vacant watch,[co]


s: The bolstered steed beneath the shed of thatch,


s: The ball-piled pyramid, the ever-blazing match,[10.B.]


s: Portend the deeds to come:--but he whose nod


s: Has tumbled feebler despots from their sway,


s: Soon will his legions sweep through these their way;


s: The West must own the Scourger of the world.[cp]


s: Ah! Spain! how sad will be thy reckoning-day,


s: When soars Gaul's Vulture, with his wings unfurled,[cq]


s: And thou shall view thy sons in crowds to Hades hurled.


s: And must they fall? the young, the proud, the brave,


s: To swell one bloated Chiefs unwholesome reign?


s: The rise of Rapine and the fall of Spain?


s: And doth the Power that man adores ordain


s: Their doom, nor heed the suppliant's appeal?


s: Is all that desperate Valour acts in vain?


s: The Veteran's skill--Youth's fire--and Manhood's heart of steel?


s: Is it for this the Spanish maid, aroused,


s: Hangs on the willow her unstrung guitar,


s: And, all unsexed, the Anlace hath espoused,


s: Sung the loud song, and dared the deed of war?


s: And she, whom once the semblance of a scar


s: Appalled, an owlet's 'larum chilled with dread,


s: Now views the column-scattering bay'net jar,[cr]


s: The falchion flash, and o'er the yet warm dead


s: Stalks with Minerva's step where Mars might quake to tread.


s: Ye who shall marvel when you hear her tale,


s: Oh! had you known her in her softer hour,


s: Marked her black eye that mocks her coal-black veil,


s: Heard her light, lively tones in Lady's bower,


s: Seen her long locks that foil the painter's power,


s: Her fairy form, with more than female grace,


s: Scarce would you deem that Saragoza's tower


s: Beheld her smile in Danger's Gorgon face,


s: Thin the closed ranks, and lead in Glory's fearful chase.


s: Her lover sinks--she sheds no ill-timed tear;


s: Her Chief is slain--she fills his fatal post;


s: Her fellows flee--she checks their base career;


s: The Foe retires--she heads the sallying host:


s: Who can appease like her a lover's ghost?


s: What maid retrieve when man's flushed hope is lost?


s: Who hang so fiercely on the flying Gaul,


s: Foiled by a woman's hand, before a battered wall?[11.B.]


s: Yet are Spain's maids no race of Amazons,


s: But formed for all the witching arts of love:


s: Though thus in arms they emulate her sons,


s: 'Tis but the tender fierceness of the dove,


s: Pecking the hand that hovers o'er her mate:


s: Remoter females, famed for sickening prate;


s: Her mind is nobler sure, her charms perchance as great.


s: The seal Love's dimpling finger hath impressed[cs]


s: Denotes how soft that chin which bears his touch:[12.B.]


s: Her lips, whose kisses pout to leave their nest,


s: Her glance how wildly beautiful! how much


s: Hath Phoebus wooed in vain to spoil her cheek,


s: Which glows yet smoother from his amorous clutch!


s: Who round the North for paler dames would seek?


s: How poor their forms appear! how languid, wan, and weak!


s: Match me, ye climes! which poets love to laud;


s: Match me, ye harems of the land! where now


s: I strike my strain, far distant, to applaud


s: Beauties that ev'n a cynic must avow;[ct]


s: Match me those Houries, whom ye scarce allow


s: To taste the gale lest Love should ride the wind,


s: With Spain's dark-glancing daughters--deign to know,


s: There your wise Prophet's Paradise we find,


s: His black-eyed maids of Heaven, angelically kind.


s: Oh, thou Parnassus! whom I now survey,[13.B.]


s: Not in the fabled landscape of a lay,[cu]


s: But soaring snow-clad through thy native sky,


s: Would gladly woo thine Echoes with his string,


s: Though from thy heights no more one Muse will wave her wing.


s: Oft have I dreamed of Thee! whose glorious name


s: Who knows not, knows not man's divinest lore:


s: And now I view thee--'tis, alas, with shame


s: Nor raise my voice, nor vainly dare to soar,


s: In silent joy to think at last I look on Thee!


s: Happier in this than mightiest Bards have been,


s: Whose Fate to distant homes confined their lot,


s: Shall I unmoved behold the hallowed scene,


s: Which others rave of, though they know it not?


s: Though here no more Apollo haunts his Grot,


s: And thou, the Muses' seat, art now their grave,


s: Some gentle Spirit still pervades the spot,


s: Sighs in the gale, keeps silence in the Cave,


s: And glides with glassy foot o'er yon melodious wave.[cv]


s: Of thee hereafter.--Ev'n amidst my strain


s: Forgot the land, the sons, the maids of Spain;


s: And hailed thee, not perchance without a tear.


s: Now to my theme--but from thy holy haunt


s: Let me some remnant, some memorial bear;[cw]


s: Yield me one leaf of Daphne's deathless plant,


s: Nor let thy votary's hope be deemed an idle vaunt.


s: But ne'er didst thou, fair Mount! when Greece was young,


s: See round thy giant base a brighter choir,


s: Nor e'er did Delphi, when her Priestess sung


s: The Pythian hymn with more than mortal fire,


s: The song of love, than Andalusia's maids,


s: Nurst in the glowing lap of soft Desire:


s: Ah! that to these were given such peaceful shades


s: As Greece can still bestow, though Glory fly her glades.


s: Fair is proud Seville; let her country boast


s: Her strength, her wealth, her site of ancient days;[14.B.]


s: Calls forth a sweeter, though ignoble praise.


s: Ah, Vice! how soft are thy voluptuous ways!


s: While boyish blood is mantling, who can 'scape[cx]


s: And mould to every taste thy dear delusive shape.


s: When Paphos fell by Time--accurséd Time!


s: The Queen who conquers all must yield to thee--


s: The Pleasures fled, but sought as warm a clime;


s: To nought else constant, hither deigned to flee,


s: And fixed her shrine within these walls of white:


s: Though not to one dome circumscribeth She


s: A thousand Altars rise, for ever blazing bright.


s: From morn till night, from night till startled Morn


s: Peeps blushing on the Revel's laughing crew,


s: The Song is heard, the rosy Garland worn;


s: Tread on each other's kibes. A long adieu


s: He bids to sober joy that here sojourns:


s: Nought interrupts the riot, though in lieu[cy]


s: And Love and Prayer unite, or rule the hour by turns.[cz]


s: The Sabbath comes, a day of blessed rest:


s: What hallows it upon this Christian shore?


s: Hark! heard you not the forest-monarch's roar?


s: Crashing the lance, he snuffs the spouting gore


s: Of man and steed, o'erthrown beneath his horn;


s: The thronged arena shakes with shouts for more;


s: Yells the mad crowd o'er entrails freshly torn,


s: Nor shrinks the female eye, nor ev'n affects to mourn.


s: The seventh day this--the Jubilee of man!


s: London! right well thou know'st the day of prayer:


s: Then thy spruce citizen, washed artisan,


s: And smug apprentice gulp their weekly air:


s: Thy coach of hackney, whiskey, one-horse chair,


s: And humblest gig through sundry suburbs whirl,[da]


s: To Hampstead, Brentford, Harrow make repair;


s: Till the tired jade the wheel forgets to hurl,


s: Provoking envious gibe from each pedestrian churl.[db]


s: Some o'er thy Thamis row the ribboned fair,[dc]


s: Some Richmond-hill ascend, some scud to Ware,


s: Ask ye, Boeotian Shades! the reason why?[15.B.]


s: In whose dread name both men and maids are sworn,


s: And consecrate the oath with draught, and dance till morn.


s: All have their fooleries--not alike are thine,


s: Fair Cadiz, rising o'er the dark blue sea!


s: Soon as the Matin bell proclaimeth nine,


s: Much is the VIRGIN teased to shrive them free


s: From crimes as numerous as her beadsmen be;


s: Then to the crowded circus forth they fare:


s: Young, old, high, low, at once the same diversion share.


s: The lists are oped, the spacious area cleared,


s: Thousands on thousands piled are seated round;


s: Long ere the first loud trumpet's note is heard,


s: Ne vacant space for lated wight is found:


s: Here Dons, Grandees, but chiefly Dames abound,


s: Yet ever well inclined to heal the wound;


s: None through their cold disdain are doomed to die,


s: As moon-struck bards complain, by Love's sad archery.


s: Hushed is the din of tongues--on gallant steeds,


s: With milk-white crest, gold spur, and light-poised lance,


s: Four cavaliers prepare for venturous deeds,


s: Rich are their scarfs, their chargers featly prance:


s: If in the dangerous game they shine to-day,


s: The crowd's loud shout and ladies' lovely glance,


s: Best prize of better acts! they bear away,


s: And all that kings or chiefs e'er gain their toils repay.


s: In costly sheen and gaudy cloak arrayed.


s: But all afoot, the light-limbed Matadore


s: The lord of lowing herds; but not before


s: The ground, with cautious tread, is traversed o'er,


s: Lest aught unseen should lurk to thwart his speed:


s: His arms a dart, he fights aloof, nor more


s: Can Man achieve without the friendly steed--


s: Alas! too oft condemned for him to bear and bleed.


s: Thrice sounds the Clarion; lo! the signal falls,


s: Gapes round the silent circle's peopled walls.


s: Bounds with one lashing spring the mighty brute,


s: And, wildly staring, spurns, with sounding foot,


s: The sand, nor blindly rushes on his foe:


s: Here, there, he points his threatening front, to suit


s: His first attack, wide-waving to and fro