Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs By Walter Thornbury. Illustrated by J. Whistler, F. Walker, John Tenniel, J. D. Watson, W. Small, F. Sandys, G. J. Pinwell, T. Morten, M. J. Lawless, and many others |
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The Pilgrim's Departure.
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 | Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs |  |
269
The Pilgrim's Departure.
The sun in golden splendour
Was sinking o'er the hill,
Shedding its rays on mountain-top.
On river, and on rill;
When down before a holy shrine,
Knelt one, bound straight for Palestine.
Was sinking o'er the hill,
Shedding its rays on mountain-top.
On river, and on rill;
When down before a holy shrine,
Knelt one, bound straight for Palestine.
The altar stood beneath a pane,
Which dyed the sunlight red;
Like a saint's bright crown of glory,
It glowed around his head.
And many a peasant gathered there,
Joined in the solemn parting prayer.
Which dyed the sunlight red;
Like a saint's bright crown of glory,
It glowed around his head.
And many a peasant gathered there,
Joined in the solemn parting prayer.
270
The priest stood at the altar,
In chasuble arrayed,
The sun burnt red and fiery
All down the forest glade;
And youth and maid beside the road,
With sire and mother, praying stood.
In chasuble arrayed,
The sun burnt red and fiery
All down the forest glade;
And youth and maid beside the road,
With sire and mother, praying stood.
O'er hat and staff and sandalled shoon,
The priest repeats the charm
That, whether in Ind or Araby,
Will keep his soul from harm.
'T was a touching sight the priest to see
Sign on the robe the crosses three.
The priest repeats the charm
That, whether in Ind or Araby,
Will keep his soul from harm.
'T was a touching sight the priest to see
Sign on the robe the crosses three.
Still lower sank the blood-red sun,
The moon shone faint on high
Ere scarce day's mighty monarch
Had left the summer sky.
That sin-soiled pilgrim of the west
Crossed his hands on his guilty breast.
The moon shone faint on high
Ere scarce day's mighty monarch
Had left the summer sky.
That sin-soiled pilgrim of the west
Crossed his hands on his guilty breast.
No sound broke the sad stillness.
From the altar step he leapt:
No sound, save one deep heart-sob—
Deep as from one that wept.
He filled his bottle at the rill,
Then hied him o'er the eastern hill.
From the altar step he leapt:
No sound, save one deep heart-sob—
Deep as from one that wept.
He filled his bottle at the rill,
Then hied him o'er the eastern hill.
“God guide the staff that guides thy feet
O'er many a league of sand!
God guard the cowl that fends thy head
In many a savage land!
Thy cockle hat, remember thee,
Proclaims one bound for Galilee.
O'er many a league of sand!
God guard the cowl that fends thy head
In many a savage land!
Thy cockle hat, remember thee,
Proclaims one bound for Galilee.
“God keep thee from the desert asp!
Christ's Mother shield thee well
From spear and shaft and catapult
Of Moor and Infidel!
Wherever, pilgrim, thou shalt be,
Christ's holy benison on thee!”
Christ's Mother shield thee well
From spear and shaft and catapult
Of Moor and Infidel!
Wherever, pilgrim, thou shalt be,
Christ's holy benison on thee!”
| Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs | |