The poetical works of William Lisle Bowles ... with memoir, critical dissertation, and explanatory notes, by the Rev. George Gilfillan |
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 | The poetical works of William Lisle Bowles |  |
ON THE FUNERAL OF CHARLES THE FIRST,
AT NIGHT, IN ST GEORGE'S CHAPEL, WINDSOR.
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The castle clock had tolled midnight:With mattock and with spade,
And silent, by the torches' light,
His corse in earth we laid.
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The coffin bore his name, that thoseOf other years might know,
When earth its secrets should disclose,
Whose bones were laid below.
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“Peace to the dead” no children sung,Slow pacing up the nave,—
No prayers were read, no knell was rung,
As deep we dug his grave.
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We only heard the winter's wind,In many a sullen gust,
As, o'er the open grave inclined,
We murmured, “Dust to dust!”
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A moonbeam from the arch's heightStreamed, as we placed the stone;
The long aisles started into light,
And all the windows shone.
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We thought we saw the banners then,That shook along the walls,
Whilst the sad shades of mailèd men
Were gazing on the stalls.
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'Tis gone! again on tombs defacedSits darkness more profound;
And only by the torch we traced
The shadows on the ground.
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And now the chilling, freezing airWithout blew long and loud;
Upon our knees we breathed one prayer,
Where he slept in his shroud.
9
We laid the broken marble floor,—No name, no trace appears,—
And when we closed the sounding door,
We thought of him with tears.
| The poetical works of William Lisle Bowles | |