A Metrical History of England Or, Recollections, in Rhyme, Of some of the most prominent Features in our National Chronology, from the Landing of Julius Caesar to the Commencement of the Regency, in 1812. In Two Volumes ... By Thomas Dibdin |
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 | A Metrical History of England |  |
74
“Thou nature art my goddess!”
Shakespeare.
Shakespeare.
“Ay, my mother,
“With all my heart, I thank thee for my father.”
Shakespeare.
“With all my heart, I thank thee for my father.”
Shakespeare.
ATHELSTAN.
Athelstan's birthright (if they say not well,
Blame older tales,) was doubtful.—From his brother,
However born, Athelstan bore the belle,
I. E. the throne
He made his own,
And tho' the chances are, he had a mother,
Her name, not knowing, we forbear to tell:
Where heirs claim interest doubts like these grow double,
And hence the King experienced no small trouble.
Blame older tales,) was doubtful.—From his brother,
However born, Athelstan bore the belle,
I. E. the throne
He made his own,
And tho' the chances are, he had a mother,
Her name, not knowing, we forbear to tell:
Where heirs claim interest doubts like these grow double,
And hence the King experienced no small trouble.
One Alfred first conspired, but being seized,
And losing every gleam of hope,
Declared, if so his Liege would be appeas'd,
He'd swear his innocence before the Pope.
And losing every gleam of hope,
Declared, if so his Liege would be appeas'd,
He'd swear his innocence before the Pope.
75
The Pope was then a wight of some renown,
“Viceroy o'er Monarchs” he no equal knew,
And, sans façon, wou'd crack the iron crown
Of any Emperor that look'd askew.
“Viceroy o'er Monarchs” he no equal knew,
And, sans façon, wou'd crack the iron crown
Of any Emperor that look'd askew.
Well, Alfred went, and tho' you may despise
My tale, 'tis what my betters 'erst have wrote,
The oath he took, of most tremendous size,
Stuck in his throat.
My tale, 'tis what my betters 'erst have wrote,
The oath he took, of most tremendous size,
Stuck in his throat.
To bear with patience is my muse's pride,
Not e'en by incredulity provoked,
She asks you'll but believe Lord Alfred died
As soon as he was choked.
Not e'en by incredulity provoked,
She asks you'll but believe Lord Alfred died
As soon as he was choked.
Anlaff, the Dane, against the King essay'd,
In minstrel garb, to count his loyal bands;
And failing, proved, however well he play'd,
The part was better when in Alfred's hands .
In minstrel garb, to count his loyal bands;
And failing, proved, however well he play'd,
The part was better when in Alfred's hands .
76
Discover'd, and compell'd to open fight,
His stratagems and projects end in flight
At Brunsbury, where, man to man,
The Chancellor of England led the van.
His stratagems and projects end in flight
At Brunsbury, where, man to man,
The Chancellor of England led the van.
And much it grieves the muse to tell,
Among the slain a Bishop fell;
Thus Lawn and Woolsack both upheld the crown,
Not only in the senate, bar, and church,
But 'ere they'd leave the Sov'reign in the lurch,
E'en Bishops from beneath their beavers frown;
While law's great leader, in the place
Of painted, gilded, wooden mace,
With mace of iron knocks invaders down.
Among the slain a Bishop fell;
Thus Lawn and Woolsack both upheld the crown,
Not only in the senate, bar, and church,
But 'ere they'd leave the Sov'reign in the lurch,
E'en Bishops from beneath their beavers frown;
While law's great leader, in the place
Of painted, gilded, wooden mace,
With mace of iron knocks invaders down.
And thus in latter days I ween,
England's Lord Chancellor I've seen,
(With dignity and grace no less,
Than when in pride of legal dress. )
In Bloomsbury, at daily drill,
Grasp not the ancient weapon 'clep'd Brown Bill,
But a more modern mischief, call'd Brown Bess.
Guy, Earl of Warwick, now was famed
Colbrand, the Danish Chief, he slew,
And other deeds he did are named,
And many more he did not do.
England's Lord Chancellor I've seen,
(With dignity and grace no less,
Than when in pride of legal dress. )
In Bloomsbury, at daily drill,
Grasp not the ancient weapon 'clep'd Brown Bill,
But a more modern mischief, call'd Brown Bess.
77
Colbrand, the Danish Chief, he slew,
And other deeds he did are named,
And many more he did not do.
To foster our commercial school,
Athelstan made a useful rule;
Three voyages for merchants should acquire
The rank and place of gentleman, or squire;
Had all the squires we daily see
So earn'd the right of their assumed degree,
Lord! what a travell'd nation we shou'd be!
Athelstan made a useful rule;
Three voyages for merchants should acquire
The rank and place of gentleman, or squire;
Had all the squires we daily see
So earn'd the right of their assumed degree,
Lord! what a travell'd nation we shou'd be!
At Glocester, after sixteen well spent years,
Athelstan's exit caus'd some genuine tears,
And it bespeaks their mutual worth,
That Edmund of more certain birth,
Against the King his name wou'd never lend,
But, like a brother, liv'd his brother's friend,
And mourn'd with others his lamented end.
Athelstan's exit caus'd some genuine tears,
And it bespeaks their mutual worth,
That Edmund of more certain birth,
Against the King his name wou'd never lend,
But, like a brother, liv'd his brother's friend,
And mourn'd with others his lamented end.
| A Metrical History of England | |