 | Poems on several occasions |  |
8
THE MANOR RUINS.
Enwrapt in thought, one summer's morn I stray'd
Unto the place by monarchs once array'd,
To find some traces of the royal pile,
But all was sunk beneath the juicy soil.
Unto the place by monarchs once array'd,
To find some traces of the royal pile,
But all was sunk beneath the juicy soil.
I view'd the spot all round with anxious care,
And sad reflection forc'd the flowing tear.
At length compos'd, in terms I thus began:
How transitory are thy works, O man!
Her turrets fall'n—the adamantine wall,
The work of time, is gone, is past recall.
Then musing stood—but quickly from my rest
Was rous'd, with wonder not to be exprest,
When from the Ruins thus I was addrest.
And sad reflection forc'd the flowing tear.
At length compos'd, in terms I thus began:
How transitory are thy works, O man!
Her turrets fall'n—the adamantine wall,
The work of time, is gone, is past recall.
Then musing stood—but quickly from my rest
Was rous'd, with wonder not to be exprest,
When from the Ruins thus I was addrest.
9
“Cease, cease fond man, cease o'er me to explore,
See what I am: know what I was before.
Of England's royal chiefs the lov'd delight,
While festive mirth did ev'ry soul invite,
With gladsome joy, the gen'rous boon to share,
And be partakers of the royal fare.
Oh pious Ethelred! Oh Alfred great!
How pure the bliss ye found in this retreat.
See what I am: know what I was before.
Of England's royal chiefs the lov'd delight,
While festive mirth did ev'ry soul invite,
With gladsome joy, the gen'rous boon to share,
And be partakers of the royal fare.
Oh pious Ethelred! Oh Alfred great!
How pure the bliss ye found in this retreat.
“After the Norman chief, whose slavish laws
To Britons, were like spurs to rouse the cause
Of dying freedom, and oppressive Will
Had fall'n a victim to his father's ill;
The learned Henry to this palace came,
And much increas'd my as yet dawning fame:
He wall'd my park around; that moss-clad pile
Supports the remnants of the royal smile.
Yea, when his warlike son brave Harry flew
To quell those broils rais'd by th'unnat'ral two,
And left his love within the twining bow'r
,
Yet refuge vain from jealousy in pow'r.
With laurels crown'd, triumphant he return'd
And heard her fate, then Rosamond he mourn'd
With poignant sorrow; but to banish grief
He me embellish'd: then I stood the chief
And lov'd abode, to lull the royal cares,
The royal court for long succeeding years.
To Britons, were like spurs to rouse the cause
Of dying freedom, and oppressive Will
Had fall'n a victim to his father's ill;
The learned Henry to this palace came,
And much increas'd my as yet dawning fame:
He wall'd my park around; that moss-clad pile
Supports the remnants of the royal smile.
Yea, when his warlike son brave Harry flew
To quell those broils rais'd by th'unnat'ral two,
10
Yet refuge vain from jealousy in pow'r.
With laurels crown'd, triumphant he return'd
And heard her fate, then Rosamond he mourn'd
With poignant sorrow; but to banish grief
He me embellish'd: then I stood the chief
And lov'd abode, to lull the royal cares,
The royal court for long succeeding years.
“Tho' time can't fathom Becket's wily ways
Which so embarrass'd Hal's declining days;
Yet, subterfuge, with all his shuffling train,
Here vow'd obedience to great Henry's reign.
Which so embarrass'd Hal's declining days;
Yet, subterfuge, with all his shuffling train,
Here vow'd obedience to great Henry's reign.
“When treason join'd with secresy profound,
The impious Ribald here detection found;
Infernal wretch, t'attempt such blood to spill,
My boast was to preserve, but thine to kill.
The impious Ribald here detection found;
11
My boast was to preserve, but thine to kill.
“Yes, I can boast this now-forgotten earth,
To many gallant princes has giv'n birth;
Yea heroes great, and champions still renown'd,
Whose worthy deeds made ev'ry court resound!
To many gallant princes has giv'n birth;
Yea heroes great, and champions still renown'd,
Whose worthy deeds made ev'ry court resound!
“Have you not heard of Edward's martial fame,
Whose glorious first-born here receiv'd his name?
Descendant, worthy, of bright Philippa,
The fair admirer of great Chaucer's lay.
Whose glorious first-born here receiv'd his name?
Descendant, worthy, of bright Philippa,
The fair admirer of great Chaucer's lay.
“Ye nymphs and swains who now glad Woodstock's clime,
Break forth' in song for Chaucer the sublime.
Your high renown yon low-roof'd ruins tell,
Existence there receiv'd, and there did dwell;
There sung the bard, warm'd with poetic fire,
While Edward gladly heard th'inchanting lyre:
Ev'n th'echo
, charm'd with his harmonious voice,
With tenfold rapture bid the woods rejoice.
Thus bright I shone, my happiness compleat,
And daily honour'd by the wise and great;
Till pride-grown fashion thro' the kingdom rang'd,
The palace then to prison was exchang'd.
The chief attendants in my fall were then
The most deceitful, most abandon'd men:
Yet in this state, it was my greatest care
To keep from harm the hopeless royal heir ,
So close confin'd, that in th'adjoining mead
Where lowing herds abounded with rich feed;
On sight of the blithe girl with milky pail,
Quite lost to care, and singing merry tale,
The rural scene so charm'd her troubled mind,
That she most willingly would have resign'd
Her right to crowns, to join the happy train
Where joy and liberty united reign.
Break forth' in song for Chaucer the sublime.
Your high renown yon low-roof'd ruins tell,
Existence there receiv'd, and there did dwell;
There sung the bard, warm'd with poetic fire,
While Edward gladly heard th'inchanting lyre:
12
With tenfold rapture bid the woods rejoice.
Thus bright I shone, my happiness compleat,
And daily honour'd by the wise and great;
Till pride-grown fashion thro' the kingdom rang'd,
The palace then to prison was exchang'd.
The chief attendants in my fall were then
The most deceitful, most abandon'd men:
Yet in this state, it was my greatest care
To keep from harm the hopeless royal heir ,
So close confin'd, that in th'adjoining mead
Where lowing herds abounded with rich feed;
On sight of the blithe girl with milky pail,
Quite lost to care, and singing merry tale,
The rural scene so charm'd her troubled mind,
That she most willingly would have resign'd
Her right to crowns, to join the happy train
Where joy and liberty united reign.
13
“Still on decline I pass'd the fleeting hour,
When wrangling faction dar'd the regal pow'r,
The sacred charge committed to my trust
I yet maintain'd 'gainst malice so accurst;
But all in vain: my royal master fell,
And now my future loss to you I tell.
When wrangling faction dar'd the regal pow'r,
The sacred charge committed to my trust
I yet maintain'd 'gainst malice so accurst;
But all in vain: my royal master fell,
And now my future loss to you I tell.
“The crown usurp'd by that abandon'd train,
Their ill-got might they strove then to maintain,
And soon they came, with hatred most intent,
To plunder me of ev'ry ornament;
Nay it extended to the very tree
That tow'ring stood erect to majesty,
On yonder heights it grew, the royal oak
Was name sufficient for the fatal stroke.
Against such factious tribes was I to strive?
When Charles was lost, oh think could I survive?
No; on these ruins be this motto plac'd,
By lawless faction was I thus disgrac'd.
Their ill-got might they strove then to maintain,
And soon they came, with hatred most intent,
To plunder me of ev'ry ornament;
Nay it extended to the very tree
That tow'ring stood erect to majesty,
On yonder heights it grew, the royal oak
Was name sufficient for the fatal stroke.
Against such factious tribes was I to strive?
When Charles was lost, oh think could I survive?
No; on these ruins be this motto plac'd,
By lawless faction was I thus disgrac'd.
14
“Now thou hast heard my sad tho' certain fate,
Listen to what I'm going to relate.
Listen to what I'm going to relate.
“When, as my shatter'd form sad pity claim'd
From all, and e'en high majesty asham'd
To see obscurity had ta'en the lead
Of one who had such loyal service paid;
Great Anna then advanc'd, and thus decreed,
(The patroness of each heroic deed.)
From all, and e'en high majesty asham'd
To see obscurity had ta'en the lead
Of one who had such loyal service paid;
Great Anna then advanc'd, and thus decreed,
(The patroness of each heroic deed.)
“Near my lov'd vill, fam'd Woodstock of renown,
Yet stands in ruins, shame to England's crown,
A royal palace; Vanburgh thither haste,
And instant raise from that neglected waste
A noble pile, by distant ages seen,
A worthy boon to Churchill from his queen.
Yes, England's hero, that renowned man,
Great Churchill's deeds shall name my fav'rite plan.
She spoke, when forthwith Blenheim high arose,
A standing triumph o'er her country's foes;
Adorn'd with all that genius can impart,
With pure invention, to the sons of art.
There stands the chief, so great in martial fame,
That e'en brave Edward yields to Marlbro's name;
And that rear'd column such brave actions tell,
Wou'd make the coward's breast with glory swell.
Yet stands in ruins, shame to England's crown,
A royal palace; Vanburgh thither haste,
And instant raise from that neglected waste
A noble pile, by distant ages seen,
A worthy boon to Churchill from his queen.
Yes, England's hero, that renowned man,
Great Churchill's deeds shall name my fav'rite plan.
She spoke, when forthwith Blenheim high arose,
A standing triumph o'er her country's foes;
15
With pure invention, to the sons of art.
There stands the chief, so great in martial fame,
That e'en brave Edward yields to Marlbro's name;
And that rear'd column such brave actions tell,
Wou'd make the coward's breast with glory swell.
“For me to shew the numberless delights
Of Blenheim's groves, fair streams, and lovely heights;
How prudence aids the sweet connubial joy
With holy rapture from all base alloy,
Wou'd far surpass th'endeavours of my theme,
As substance rises o'er the shad'wy dream.
Yet take this truth, shou'd fate decree thy lot
To be, when bounteous priv'ledge is forgot.
When foul oppression, with his heavy train,
Ambition joins, and here united reign,
Then thou beware, for freedom's in her wane.
Then bid adieu to usage, sacred found
By your forefathers, through this ancient bound;
No more shall branches from the oak adorn
The unsought chimney in a summer's morn;
Nor hawthorn bush in ev'ry street more grace
Lov'd May's return from winter's loath'd embrace.
Then, like the beast, shall man trudge round the road,
Altho' low bending with like grievous load;
And, stor'd with curses, toil to his abode.”
Of Blenheim's groves, fair streams, and lovely heights;
How prudence aids the sweet connubial joy
With holy rapture from all base alloy,
Wou'd far surpass th'endeavours of my theme,
As substance rises o'er the shad'wy dream.
Yet take this truth, shou'd fate decree thy lot
To be, when bounteous priv'ledge is forgot.
When foul oppression, with his heavy train,
Ambition joins, and here united reign,
Then thou beware, for freedom's in her wane.
Then bid adieu to usage, sacred found
By your forefathers, through this ancient bound;
16
The unsought chimney in a summer's morn;
Nor hawthorn bush in ev'ry street more grace
Lov'd May's return from winter's loath'd embrace.
Then, like the beast, shall man trudge round the road,
Altho' low bending with like grievous load;
And, stor'd with curses, toil to his abode.”
This said, calm silence did from thence ensue,
I, still amaz'd, could not the theme renew;
Yet, when recover'd, reverenc'd the ground
From whence proceeded this delightful sound;
And, quite serene, unto my cottage came,
With lesson, most replete, of ancient fame.
I, still amaz'd, could not the theme renew;
Yet, when recover'd, reverenc'd the ground
From whence proceeded this delightful sound;
And, quite serene, unto my cottage came,
With lesson, most replete, of ancient fame.
The royal palace of Woodstock stood on that oval piece of ground adjoining to the bridge; on the extremity stands two large sycamines.
Tradition reports, that the bower was situate on the side of the hill, near a fine spring called Rosamond's well; on the summit are yet seen traces of a flower-garden, which to this day bears the appellation of Rosamond's garden.
| Poems on several occasions | |