Songs of the Cavaliers and Roundheads Jacobite Ballads, &c. &c. By George W. Thornbury ... with illustrations by H. S. Marks |
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THE FIGHT IN THE HAWKING FIELD. |
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 | Songs of the Cavaliers and Roundheads |  |
105
THE FIGHT IN THE HAWKING FIELD.
Pipes blowing, drums beating, colours flying, cries and laughter,
Ribbons driving, bells jingling, merry cheering fore and after,
Mad spurring, hot whipping, and all because Sir William Ray
Has matched his dun mare Sorel against Sir Robert's bay.
Ribbons driving, bells jingling, merry cheering fore and after,
Mad spurring, hot whipping, and all because Sir William Ray
Has matched his dun mare Sorel against Sir Robert's bay.
Hawks whistling, scarves blowing, horns blasting, hither, thither,
Horses neighing, kicking, fretting, at the gall upon their wither,
Strap-pulling, stirrup-lowering, eyes looking at the sky,
When, with a blast of trumpets, they let the falcon fly,
Horses neighing, kicking, fretting, at the gall upon their wither,
Strap-pulling, stirrup-lowering, eyes looking at the sky,
When, with a blast of trumpets, they let the falcon fly,
106
Cloud-piercing, wind-scorning, lightning-pinioned, flew the falcon,
High soaring, proud of plumage, keen-talon'd for the hawking.
There was whooping, yelling, shouting, because Sir Robert swore,
A braver bird, from gentle wrist, flew never up before.
High soaring, proud of plumage, keen-talon'd for the hawking.
There was whooping, yelling, shouting, because Sir Robert swore,
A braver bird, from gentle wrist, flew never up before.
White against the dark sky, all a-smother with grey clouds,
When the sullen mists of autumn hung upon the woods in shrouds;—
Rose the falcon piercing heaven, arrow-swift, and fiery eyed,
High above the swelling vapours and the sunset's burning tide.
When the sullen mists of autumn hung upon the woods in shrouds;—
Rose the falcon piercing heaven, arrow-swift, and fiery eyed,
High above the swelling vapours and the sunset's burning tide.
Drums beating, pipes blowing, trumpet-banners, how they fluttered,
Pages gambolled, ladies whispered, falconers looked black and muttered;
And all because Sir Robert Grey drew off his falcon's hood,
And flung him up to catch his mate, above the Castle wood.
Pages gambolled, ladies whispered, falconers looked black and muttered;
And all because Sir Robert Grey drew off his falcon's hood,
And flung him up to catch his mate, above the Castle wood.
107
Now above the tallest poplar, now above the last red cloud—
“Ah! should not any gentleman of such a bird be proud?”
Now on his towering prey he falls, a smiting thunder-bolt,
And struck him in a bloody leap, stone dead upon the holt.
“Ah! should not any gentleman of such a bird be proud?”
Now on his towering prey he falls, a smiting thunder-bolt,
And struck him in a bloody leap, stone dead upon the holt.
“Ill-doing!” cruel!” “knavish!” “foul-playing!” cry a dozen,
“Fall upon them!” “this a wager?” “draw!” “don't let the villains cozen!”
“Scurvy practice!” “hear me!” “fell him!” “listen!” “tap the cuckold's blood!”
So cried the rabble, undulating, like a spring-tide at the flood.
“Fall upon them!” “this a wager?” “draw!” “don't let the villains cozen!”
“Scurvy practice!” “hear me!” “fell him!” “listen!” “tap the cuckold's blood!”
So cried the rabble, undulating, like a spring-tide at the flood.
Then flew out in face of heaven, scarcely less than thirty swords
In a circle round Sir Robert, who grew angry at these frauds.
Horns blowing, drums beating, horsemen hurried in and out,
Calm hands were laid on hasty weapons, as the murmur grew a shout.
In a circle round Sir Robert, who grew angry at these frauds.
Horns blowing, drums beating, horsemen hurried in and out,
Calm hands were laid on hasty weapons, as the murmur grew a shout.
108
There was pawing and curvetting, snatches at the helmet laces;
There was slashing off of feathers, long gloves flung in troopers' faces.
Pulling strong men from their saddles, gashes bleeding at their breast—
Groans and screaming, cries and clamours, running east and running west.
There was slashing off of feathers, long gloves flung in troopers' faces.
Pulling strong men from their saddles, gashes bleeding at their breast—
Groans and screaming, cries and clamours, running east and running west.
In among the press and struggle rode Sir Robert on his sable,
He had hand on every gullet, and he swore down all the Babel.
When he struck, flew out the crimson, on the satin and the lace;
When he frown'd, a coward pallor spread on every brawler's face.
He had hand on every gullet, and he swore down all the Babel.
When he struck, flew out the crimson, on the satin and the lace;
When he frown'd, a coward pallor spread on every brawler's face.
Tearing trumpet from a villain puffing out his swollen cheek,
Striking down a dozen weapons, stopping one who would fain speak,
Spurring, pushing, till curvettings bore him to Sir William's side;
Then he smote him on the jaw-bone in his anger and his pride.
Striking down a dozen weapons, stopping one who would fain speak,
Spurring, pushing, till curvettings bore him to Sir William's side;
Then he smote him on the jaw-bone in his anger and his pride.
109
Bridle-cutting, there is stabbing, rapiers flashing keen and deadly,
Arrows flying, bullets ringing, swords dripping, bright and redly,
Beaver-chopping, wound-making, steel-crossing, clishing, clashing,
Gun-loading, match-lighting, yellow light of sulphur flashing.
Arrows flying, bullets ringing, swords dripping, bright and redly,
Beaver-chopping, wound-making, steel-crossing, clishing, clashing,
Gun-loading, match-lighting, yellow light of sulphur flashing.
When the melee broke and scatter'd, pages dragg'd away the dead;
There were feathers wet and crimson, there were trappings burnt and red.
On a bier of boughs and hurdles they bore Sir William Ray,
As night came down, a dreary pall, and closed the hunting day.
There were feathers wet and crimson, there were trappings burnt and red.
On a bier of boughs and hurdles they bore Sir William Ray,
As night came down, a dreary pall, and closed the hunting day.
| Songs of the Cavaliers and Roundheads | |