Before him went the council-men, In scarlet robes and gold, And tassels spangling in the sun, Much glorious to behold:
The friars of Saint Augustine next Appeared to the sight,
All clad in homely russet weeds, Of godly monkish plight:
In different parts a godly psalm Most sweetly they did chant; Behind their back six minstrels came, Who tuned the strange bataunt.
Then five-and-twenty archers came; Each one the bow did bend, From rescue of King Henry's friends Sir Charles for to defend.
Bold as a lion came Sir Charles,
Drawn on a cloth-laid sledde,
By two black steeds in trappings white, With plumes upon their head.
Behind him five and twenty more
Of archers strong and stout, With bended bow each one in hand, Marched in goodly rout.
Saint James's friars marched next, Each one his part did chant; Behind their backs six minstrels came, Who tuned the strange bataunt.
Then came the mayor and aldermen, In cloth of scarlet deck'd; And their attending men each one, Like eastern princes trick'd.
And after them a multitude
Of citizens did throng;
The windows were all full of heads, As he did pass along.
And when he came to the high cross, Sir Charles did turn and say, "O Thou that savest man from sin, Wash my soul clean this day."
At the great minster window sat The king in mickle state, To see Charles Bawdin go along To his most welcome fate.
Soon as the sledde drew nigh enough, That Edward he might hear,
The brave Sir Charles he did stand up, And thus his words declare:
"Thou seest me, Edward! traitor vile! Exposed to infamy;
But be assured, disloyal man, I'm greater now than thee.
By foul proceedings, murder, blood, Thou wearest now a crown; And hast appointed me to die By power not thine own.
Thou thinkest I shall die to-day;
I have been dead till now,
And soon shall live to wear a crown For aye upon my brow;
Whilst thou, perhaps, for some few years, Shalt rule this fickle land,
To let them know how wide the rule 'Twixt king and tyrant hand.
Thy power unjust, thou traitor slave! Shall fall on thy own head"- From out of hearing of the king Departed then the sledde.
King Edward's soul rush'd to his face, He turn'd his head away, And to his brother Gloucester He thus did speak and say:
"To him that so-much-dreaded death No ghastly terrors bring; Behold the man! he spake the truth; He's greater than a king!"
"So let him die!" Duke Richard said; "And may each one our foes Bend down their necks to bloody axe, And feed the carrion crows."
And now the horses gently drew Sir Charles up the high hill; The axe did glister in the sun,
His precious blood to spill.
Sir Charles did up the scaffold go, As up a gilded car
Of victory, by valorous chiefs Gain'd in the bloody war.
And to the people he did say : "Behold you see me die, For serving loyally my king, My king most rightfully.
As long as Edward rules this land, No quiet you will know; Your sons and husbands shall be slain, And brooks with blood shall flow.
You leave your good and lawful king, When in adversity;
Like me, unto the true cause stick, And for the true cause die."
Then he, with priests, upon his knees, A prayer to God did make, Beseeching him unto himself
His parting soul to take.
Then, kneeling down, he laid his head Most seemly on the block; Which from his body fair at once The able headsman stroke:
And out the blood began to flow, And round the scaffold twine; And tears, enough to wash 't away, Did flow from each man's eyne.
Here, upon my true-love's grave, Shall the garish flowers be laid, Nor one holy saint to save
All the sorrows of a maid. My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow tree.
With my hands I'll bind the briers, Round his holy cors to gre; Elfin-fairy, light your fires, Here my body still shall be. My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed, All under the willow tree.
Come with acorn cup and thorn,
Drain my heart's blood all away; Life and all its good I scorn, Dance by night, or feast by day. My love is dead,
Gone to his death-bed,
All under the willow tree.
Water-witches, crowned with reytes, Bear me to your deadly tide. I die I come-my true-love waits. Thus the damsel spake, and died. Chatterton.-Born 1752, Died 1770.
945.-CHARACTER OF THE SHIP'S OFFICERS.
O'er the gay vessel, and her daring band, Experienced Albert held the chief command: Though train'd in boisterous elements, his mind
Was yet by soft humanity refined. Each joy of wedded love at home he knew ; Abroad confess'd the father of his crew! Brave, liberal, just, the calm domestic scene Had o'er his temper breathed a gay serene. Him science taught by mystic lore to trace The planets wheeling in eternal race; To mark the ship in floating balance held, By earth attracted and by seas repell'd; Or point her devious track, through climes unknown,
That leads to every shore and every zone. He saw the moon through heaven's blue con- cave glide,
And into motion charm th' expanding tide; While earth impetuous round her axle rolls, Exalts her watery zone, and sinks the poles. Light and attraction, from their genial source, He saw still wandering with diminish'd force; While on the margin of declining day, Night's shadowy cone reluctant melts away.— Inured to peril, with unconquer'd soul, The chief beheld tempestuous ocean's roll; His genius, ever for the event prepared, Rose with the storm, and all its dangers
The second powers and office Rodmond bore:
A hardy son of England's furthest shore. Where bleak Northumbria pours her savage train
In sable squadrons o'er the northern main; That, with her pitchy entrails stored, resort, A sooty tribe! to fair Augusta's port. Where'er in ambush lurk the fatal sands, They claim the danger; proud of skilful bands;
For while with darkling course their vessels sweep
The winding shore, or plough the faithless deep,
O'er bar and shelf the watery path they sound,
With dexterous arm; sagacious of the ground: Fearless they combat ev'ry hostile wind, Wheeling in mazy tracks with course inclined. Expert to moor, where terrors line the road; Or win the anchor from its dark abode : But drooping and relax'd in climes afar, Tumultuous and undisciplined in war. Such Rodmond was; by learning unrefined, That oft enlightens to corrupt the mind: Boisterous of manners; train'd in early youth To scenes that shame the conscious cheek of truth;
To scenes that nature's struggling voice control,
And freeze compassion rising in the soul! Where the grim hell-hounds, prowling round the shore,
With foul intent the stranded bark exploreDeaf to the voice of woe, her decks they board,
While tardy justice slumbers o'er her swordTh' indignant Muse, severely taught to feel, Shrinks from a theme she blushes to reveal! Too oft example, arm'd with poisons fell, Pollutes the shrine where mercy loves to dwell:
Thus Rodmond, train'd by this unhallow'd
The sacred social passions never knew: Unskill'd to argue; in dispute yet loud; Bold without cantion; without honours proud; In art unschool'd, each veteran rule he prized, And all improvement haughtily despised: Yet though full oft to future perils blind, With skill superior glow'd his daring mind, Through snares of death the reeling bark to guide,
When midnight shades involve the raging tide.
To Rodmond next, in order of command, Succeeds the youngest of our naval band. But what avails it to record a name
That courts no rank among the sons of fame?
While yet a stripling, oft, with fond alarms, His bosom danced to nature's boundless charms;
On him fair science dawn'd in happier hour, Awakening into bloom young fancy's flower;
But frowning fortune with untimely blast The blossom wither'd, and the dawn o'ercast. Forlorn of heart, and by severe decree Condemn'd reluctant to the faithless sea, With long farewell he left the laurel grove, Where science and the tuneful sisters rove.- Hither he wander'd, anxious to explore Antiquities of nations now no more;
To penetrate each distant realm unknown, And range excursive o'er th' untravell'd zone. In vain!-for rude adversity's command, Still on the margin of each famous land, With unrelenting ire his steps opposed, And every gate of hope against him closed. Permit my verse, ye bless'd Pierian train, To call Arion this ill-fated swain!
For, like that bard unhappy, on his head Malignant stars their hostile influence shed. Both, in lamenting numbers, o'er the deep, With conscious anguish taught the harp to
And both the raging surge in safety bore Amid destruction panting to the shore. This last our tragic story from the wave Of dark oblivion haply yet may save; With genuine sympathy may yet complain, While sad remembrance bleeds at ev'ry vein. Such were the pilots; tutor'd to divine Th' untravell'd course by geometric line; Train'd to command, and range the various sail,
Whose various force conforms to every gale.
Charged with the commerce, hither also came A gallant youth, Palemon was his name; A father's stern resentment doom'd to prove, He came, the victim of unhappy love! His heart for Albert's beauteous daughter bled;
For her a secret flame his bosom fed. Nor let the wretched slaves of folly scorn This genuine passion, nature's eldest born! 'Twas his with lasting anguish to complain, While blooming Anna mourn'd the cause in vain.
Graceful of form, by nature taught to please,
Of power to melt the female breast with ease, To her Palemon told his tender tale, Soft as the voice of summer's evening gale. O'erjoy'd, he saw her lovely eyes relent; The blushing maiden smiled with sweet con- sent.
Oft in the mazes of a neighbouring grove, Unheard, they breathed alternate vows of love: By fond society their passion grew, Like the young blossom fed with vernal dew. In evil hour th' officious tongue of fame Betray'd the secret of their mutual flame. With grief and anger struggling in his breast, Palemon's father heard the tale confest. Long had he listen'd with suspicion's ear, And learn'd, sagacious, this event to fear. Too well, fair youth! thy liberal heart he
A heart to nature's warm impressions true!
Full oft his wisdom strove, with fruitless toil,
With avarice to pollute that generous soil: That soil impregnated with nobler seed, Refused the culture of so rank a weed. Elate with wealth, in active commerce won, And basking in the smile of fortune's sun, With scorn the parent eyed the lowly shade That veil'd the beauties of this charming maid.
Indignant he rebuked th' enamour'd boy, The flattering promise of his future joy: He soothed and menaced, anxious to reclaim This hopeless passion, or divert its aim: Oft led the youth where circling joys delight The ravish'd sense, or beauty charms the sight.
With all her powers enchanting music fail'd, And pleasure's syren voice no more prevail'd. The merchant, kindling then with proud dis- dain,
In look and voice assumed a harsher strain. In absence now his only hope remain'd; And such the stern decree his will ordain'd. Deep anguish, while Palemon heard his doom, Drew o'er his lovely face a saddening gloom. In vain with bitter sorrow he repined, No tender pity touch'd that sordid mind; To thee, brave Albert, was the charge con- sign'd.
The stately ship, forsaking England's shore, To regions far remote Palemon bore. Incapable of change, th' unhappy youth Still loved fair Anna with eternal truth: From clime to clime an exile doom'd to roam, His heart still panted for its secret home.
Falconer.-Born 1730, Died 1769.
946.-THE SHIP DEPARTING FROM THE HAVEN.
The sun's bright orb, declining all serene, Now glanced obliquely o'er the woodland
Creation smiles around; on every spray The warbling birds exalt their evening lay. Blithe skipping o'er yon hill, the fleecy train Join the deep chorus of the lowing plain : The golden lime and orange there were seen, On fragrant branches of perpetual green. The crystal streams, that velvet meadows lave,
To the green ocean roll with chiding wave. The glassy ocean hush'd forgets to roar, But trembling murmurs on the sandy shore : And lo! his surface, lovely to behold! Glows in the west, a sea of living gold! While all above, a thousand liveries gay The skies with pomp ineffable array. Arabian sweets perfume the happy plains: Above, beneath, around enchantment reigns! While yet the shades, on time's eternal scale, With long vibration deepen o'er the vale;
While yet the songsters of the vocal grove With dying numbers tune the soul to love; With joyful eyes th' attentive master sees Th' auspicious omens of an eastern breeze.— Now radiant Vesper leads the starry train, And night slow draws her veil o'er land and main ;
Round the charged bowl the sailors form a ring;
By turns recount the wondrous tale or sing; As love or battle, hardships of the main, Or genial wine awake their homely strain: Then some the watch of night alternate keep, The rest lie buried in oblivious sleep.
Deep midnight now involves the livid skies, While infant breezes from the shore arise. The waning moon, behind a wat'ry shroud, Pale-glimmer'd o'er the long-protracted cloud.│ A mighty ring around her silver throne, With parting meteors cross'd, portentous shone.
This in the troubled sky full oft prevails; Oft deem'd a signal of tempestuous gales.— While young Arion sleeps, before his sight Tumultuous swim the visions of the night. Now blooming Anna, with her happy swain, Approach'd the sacred hymeneal fane: Anon tremendous lightnings flash between, And funeral pomp and weeping loves are
Now with Palemon up a rocky steep, Whose summit trembles o'er the roaring
With painful step he climb'd; while far above Sweet Anna charm'd them with the voice of love.
Then sudden from the slippery height they fell,
While dreadful yawn'd beneath the jaws of hell
Amid this fearful trance, a thundering sound He hears-and thrice the hollow decks rebound.
Upstarting from his couch on deck he
Thrice with shrill note the boatswain's whistle
"All hands unmoor!" proclaims a boisterous cry:
"All hands unmoor!" the cavern rocks reply. Roused from repose aloft the sailors swarm, And with their levers soon the windlass arm. The order given, up-springing with a bound They lodge the bars, and wheel their engine
At every turn the clanging pauls resound. Uptorn reluctant from its oozy cave, The ponderous anchor rises o'er the wave. Along their slippery masts the yards ascend, And high in air the canvas wings extend: Redoubling cords the lofty canvas guide, And through inextricable mazes glide. The lunar rays with long reflection gleam, To light the vessel o'er the silver stream: Along the glassy plain serene she glides, While azure radiance trembles on her sides.
From east to north the transient breezes play;
And in the Egyptian quarter soon decay. A calm ensues; they dread th' adjacent shore ;
The boats with rowers arm'd are sent before: With cordage fasten'd to the lofty prow, Aloof to sea the stately ship they tow.
The nervous crew their sweeping oars extend; And pealing shouts the shore of Candia rend. Success attends their skill; the danger's o'er : The port is doubled and beheld no more.
Now morn, her lamp pale glimmering on the sight,
Scatter'd before her van reluctant night. She comes not in refulgent pomp array'd, But sternly frowning, wrapt in sullen shade. Above incumbent vapours, Ida's height, Tremendous rock! emerges on the sight. North-east the guardian isle of Standia lies, And westward Freschin's woody capes arise. With winning postures now the wanton sails
Spread all their snares to charm th' inconstant
The swelling stu'n sails now their wings extend,
Then stay-sails sidelong to the breeze ascend: While all to court the wandering breeze are placed;
With yards now thwarting, now obliquely braced.
The dim horizon lowering vapours shroud, And blot the sun yet struggling in the cloud:
Through the wide atmosphere condensed with haze,
His glaring orb emits a sanguine blaze. The pilots now their rules of art apply, The mystic needle's devious aim to try. The compass placed to catch the rising ray, The quadrant's shadows studious they survey. Along the arch the gradual index slides, While Phoebus down the vertic circle glides. Now, seen on ocean's utmost verge to swim, He sweeps it vibrant with his nether limb. Their sage experience thus explores the height
And polar distance of the source of light: Then through the chiliads' triple maze they trace
Th' analogy that proves the magnet's place. The wayward steel, to truth thus reconciled, No more the attentive pilot's eye beguiled.
The natives, while the ship departs the land,
Ashore with admiration gazing stand. Majestically slow, before the breeze,
In silent pomp she marches on the seas. Her milk-white bottom casts a softer gleam, While trembling through the green translucent stream.
The wales, that close above in contrast shone, Clasp the long fabric with a jetty zone, Britannia, riding awful on the prow,
Gazed o'er the vassal-wave that roll'd below:
Where'er she moved the vassal-waves were
To yield obsequious, and confess their queen. Th' imperial trident graced her dexter-hand, Of power to rule the surge, like Moses' wand, Th' eternal empire of the main to keep, And guide her squadrons o'er the trembling deep.
Her left propitious bore a mystic shield, Around whose margin rolls the wat'ry field. There her bold genius, in his floating car, O'er the wild billow hurls the storm of war- And lo! the beasts, that oft with jealous rage In bloody combat met, from age to age, Tamed into union, yoked in friendship's chain, Draw his proud chariot round the vanquish'd main.
From the broad margin to the centre grew Shelves, rocks, and whirlpools, hideous to the view!
Th' immortal. shield from Neptune she received,
When first her head above the waters heaved. Loose floated o'er her limbs an azure vest; A figured scutcheon glitter'd on her breast; There, from one parent soil, for ever young, The blooming rose and hardy thistle sprung. Around her head an oaken wreath was seen, Inwove with laurels of unfading green.
Such was the sculptured prow from van to
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