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28
THE RED EARL
“The heron fishes in the reeds,
The sun is sinking low,
The lake, between its tangled weeds,
Reflects a lurid glow;
The sun is sinking low,
The lake, between its tangled weeds,
Reflects a lurid glow;
“The rooks, above the hoary elms,
Go circling round and round;
Soon may I leave these gloomy realms
And tread familiar ground,
Go circling round and round;
Soon may I leave these gloomy realms
And tread familiar ground,
“Where those who late frequent the road
Will pale at sight of me,
Whilst owl, and bat, and creeping toad
Shall bear me company,
Will pale at sight of me,
Whilst owl, and bat, and creeping toad
Shall bear me company,
29
“To those old grey ancestral halls,
The cradle of my race,
Upon whose oaken-panell'd walls
My portrait had its place,
The cradle of my race,
Upon whose oaken-panell'd walls
My portrait had its place,
“Along with many a knight and dame
In raiment rich and rare;
But lo! when yesterday I came,
Both walls and floors were bare;
In raiment rich and rare;
But lo! when yesterday I came,
Both walls and floors were bare;
“The arras hangings were pull'd down,
The Persian rugs uptorn;
My precious tomes had gone to town
Upon that very morn.
The Persian rugs uptorn;
My precious tomes had gone to town
Upon that very morn.
“Where were the tables and the chairs?
The broider'd beds of State?
My ivories and ancient wares?
My gold and silver plate? . . .
The broider'd beds of State?
My ivories and ancient wares?
My gold and silver plate? . . .
30
“My Grecian statues, where were they?
My old Italian busts?
The armour, that, in many a fray,
Had borne such dints and thrusts?
My old Italian busts?
The armour, that, in many a fray,
Had borne such dints and thrusts?
“All, all was desolate and bare;
Food, fuel, there was none,—
The rats and mice had grown so spare
I scarce could see them run.
Food, fuel, there was none,—
The rats and mice had grown so spare
I scarce could see them run.
“I glided here, I glided there,
As 'tis my wont to glide,
When, by-and-by, I found a pair
Were sitting side by side.
As 'tis my wont to glide,
When, by-and-by, I found a pair
Were sitting side by side.
“Henchman and serving-maid were they,
They sipp'd some steaming brew;
Though now grown palsied, bent, and grey,
Their lineaments I knew.
They sipp'd some steaming brew;
Though now grown palsied, bent, and grey,
Their lineaments I knew.
31
“There, crouching by the hearth-stone, low,
Where burnt a feeble flame,
In tearful tones they told of how
All this misfortune came;
Where burnt a feeble flame,
In tearful tones they told of how
All this misfortune came;
“Of failing banks and falling stocks,
Untoward droughts and rains,
Of unproductive farms and flocks,
Broad lands that brought no gains;
Untoward droughts and rains,
Of unproductive farms and flocks,
Broad lands that brought no gains;
“Of lavish folly, sinful waste,
In one that bore my name;
Then dice and debts, and trust misplaced,
And infamy and shame;
In one that bore my name;
Then dice and debts, and trust misplaced,
And infamy and shame;
“Then came to pass, to men's dismay,
A new succession tax;
‘'Tis the last straw’ (I heard them say)
‘That breaks the camels' backs!’
A new succession tax;
‘'Tis the last straw’ (I heard them say)
‘That breaks the camels' backs!’
32
“They wept anew, and wrung their hands,
My grandson died in jail;
His boy had fled to foreign lands,
The place was all for sale.
My grandson died in jail;
His boy had fled to foreign lands,
The place was all for sale.
“The peacock-yews were lying prone
Among the garden-plots,
Whence plant and flow'r alike were gone,
The Park was sold in lots.
Among the garden-plots,
Whence plant and flow'r alike were gone,
The Park was sold in lots.
“Amongst the elms and hoary oaks,
From dawn to setting sun,
You heard the lusty woodman's strokes
Whose task would soon be done.
From dawn to setting sun,
You heard the lusty woodman's strokes
Whose task would soon be done.
“The ancient henchman beat his breast,
His looks were full of woe—
‘'Tis time we follow'd with the rest;
We and the rooks must go!’
His looks were full of woe—
‘'Tis time we follow'd with the rest;
We and the rooks must go!’
33
“‘Alack!’ then sigh'd that ancient dame,
‘That I should live to see
The fouling of so proud a name;
Alack! and woe is me!’
‘That I should live to see
The fouling of so proud a name;
Alack! and woe is me!’
“I glided in as still as Death,
As 'tis my wont to glide;
They only felt an icy breath
And shiver'd as they sighed—
As 'tis my wont to glide;
They only felt an icy breath
And shiver'd as they sighed—
“(Since all had gone so much amiss
That none might spare or save,)
‘If the Red Earl could know of this
He'd rise from out his grave!’”
That none might spare or save,)
‘If the Red Earl could know of this
He'd rise from out his grave!’”
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