The complete poetical works of Thomas Campbell Oxford edition: Edited, with notes by J. Logie Robertson |
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LINES
ON THE CAMP HILL NEAR HASTINGS |
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 | The complete poetical works of Thomas Campbell |  |
LINES ON THE CAMP HILL NEAR HASTINGS
In the deep blue of eve,
Ere the twinkling of stars had begun,
Or the lark took his leave
Of the skies and the sweet setting sun,
Ere the twinkling of stars had begun,
Or the lark took his leave
Of the skies and the sweet setting sun,
I climbed to yon heights
Where the Norman encamped him of old
With his bowmen and knights
And his banner all burnished with gold.
Where the Norman encamped him of old
With his bowmen and knights
And his banner all burnished with gold.
At the Conqueror's side
There his minstrelsy sat harp in hand
In pavilion wide;
And they chanted the deeds of Roland.
There his minstrelsy sat harp in hand
In pavilion wide;
And they chanted the deeds of Roland.
Still the ramparted ground
With a vision my fancy inspires,
And I hear the trump sound
As it marshalled our chivalry's sires.
With a vision my fancy inspires,
And I hear the trump sound
As it marshalled our chivalry's sires.
174
On each turf of that mead
Stood the captors of England's domains
That ennobled her breed
And high-mettled the blood of her veins.
Stood the captors of England's domains
That ennobled her breed
And high-mettled the blood of her veins.
Over hauberk and helm
As the sun's setting splendour was thrown,
Thence they looked o'er a realm—
And to-morrow beheld it their own.
As the sun's setting splendour was thrown,
Thence they looked o'er a realm—
And to-morrow beheld it their own.
| The complete poetical works of Thomas Campbell | |