 | Petition to the Deil |  |
57
CROXDALE-ON-THE-WEAR.
September 16, 1915.
Ere history yet had dawn'd on life
A Celtic rover came
And viewed from Croxdale, with his wife,
This scene—that's still the same;
A Celtic rover came
And viewed from Croxdale, with his wife,
This scene—that's still the same;
A fair expanse of fertile haugh,
With oaks and osiers crown'd,
And Wear, by willow-weed and saugh,
In freedom winding round.
With oaks and osiers crown'd,
And Wear, by willow-weed and saugh,
In freedom winding round.
“And here,” he cried, “I make my claim:
We will no longer roam.”
And Croxdale, yet without a name,
Became the wanderer's home.
We will no longer roam.”
And Croxdale, yet without a name,
Became the wanderer's home.
And silent years in centuries pass'd,
And more and more endear'd
The happy valley; but at last
The Roman casques appear'd.
And more and more endear'd
The happy valley; but at last
The Roman casques appear'd.
58
And soon those Celtic pastures all,
By Roman ploughshares torn,
To feed old Adrian's length of wall,
Waved with abundant corn.
By Roman ploughshares torn,
To feed old Adrian's length of wall,
Waved with abundant corn.
Then came an Anglian, stout of limb,
With yellow beard aflame;
This was the chosen spot for him,
And here he set his name.
With yellow beard aflame;
This was the chosen spot for him,
And here he set his name.
Now speed in peace each changing year,
Range fortune as it will;
Croxdale will hold beside the Wear
An Anglian owner still!
Range fortune as it will;
Croxdale will hold beside the Wear
An Anglian owner still!
No German here shall pace the ground,
Or gloat with greedy eye;
The land its rightful owner found
Long centuries gone by.
Or gloat with greedy eye;
The land its rightful owner found
Long centuries gone by.
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