 | [Poems by Whittier in] A Study of Whittier's Apprenticeship as a Poet |  |
EDWARD AT CHARTRES
[_]
While the King of England was encamped near Chartres in 1360, there rose a storm and hurricane, one of the most terrible on record. It was accompanied by hail of extraordinary size, and the peals of thunder were so loud and incessant that the boldest warriors trembled. Edward, notwithstanding his usual intrepidity, threw himself upon his knees and turning towards the steeple of Notre Dame at Chartres, implored the assistance of the Virgin, and made a vow upon the spot to grant peace to the French people.
See Froissart, Chap. 211
He stood—the dreaded scourge of France
At closing of the day
Proudly, where banner, spear, and lance
Gave back the sunset ray
Surrounded by unconquered men,
And filled with hopes of conquest then.
At closing of the day
Proudly, where banner, spear, and lance
Gave back the sunset ray
Surrounded by unconquered men,
And filled with hopes of conquest then.
176
Night gathered swiftly on the plain,
Clouds blackened on the sky;
The tempest wind threw off its chain,
And swept in darkness by:
And the long peals of thunder passed,
Filling the pauses of the blast.
Clouds blackened on the sky;
The tempest wind threw off its chain,
And swept in darkness by:
And the long peals of thunder passed,
Filling the pauses of the blast.
Yet deeper fell the gloomy night,
Yet louder rose the storm;
And dancing with sepulchral light
On spear and mailed form,
The lurid gleams of lightning strayed
O'er many a shrinking cavalcade.
Yet louder rose the storm;
And dancing with sepulchral light
On spear and mailed form,
The lurid gleams of lightning strayed
O'er many a shrinking cavalcade.
The monarch leaned upon his spear
With troubled brow and eye,
Watching each sound and sign of fear
In that portentious sky;—
E'en as he gazed that sky sent forth
Its deadliest o'er the shuddering earth.
With troubled brow and eye,
Watching each sound and sign of fear
In that portentious sky;—
E'en as he gazed that sky sent forth
Its deadliest o'er the shuddering earth.
It came with mingled fire and flood,
Impetuous o'er the plain,
The mighty pillars of the wood
Bowed to the hurricane;
And the tall warrior girt in mail
Sunk down beneath the sweeping hail.
Impetuous o'er the plain,
The mighty pillars of the wood
Bowed to the hurricane;
And the tall warrior girt in mail
Sunk down beneath the sweeping hail.
Monarch! was this a time for thee,
To triumph in thy might;
To dream of coming victory,
Or nerve thy arm to fight?
Was this a time to look with pride,
Upon the thousands at thy side?
To triumph in thy might;
To dream of coming victory,
Or nerve thy arm to fight?
Was this a time to look with pride,
Upon the thousands at thy side?
No! thou wast bending lowly then
Thy knee upon the sod;
And yielding with thy warrior men
The altered heart to God:
And the deep vow in anguish given,
Was pouring on the winds of Heaven.
Thy knee upon the sod;
And yielding with thy warrior men
The altered heart to God:
And the deep vow in anguish given,
Was pouring on the winds of Heaven.
177
'Tis morning—but the invader's lance
Is laid in rest no more;
The scourger of thy valleys, France,
Is sweeping from the shore;
And the last line of serried spears
On ocean's winding verge appears.
Is laid in rest no more;
The scourger of thy valleys, France,
Is sweeping from the shore;
And the last line of serried spears
On ocean's winding verge appears.
And ye that watch from dome and tower
That pageant pass away
Rejoice! for vain had been your power
Its hostile march to stay—
Rejoice! but not as conquerers do,
The victor's wreath is not for you.
That pageant pass away
Rejoice! for vain had been your power
Its hostile march to stay—
Rejoice! but not as conquerers do,
The victor's wreath is not for you.
They passed unscathed by mortal harm
The princely—the brave,
Ere yet the trumpet's wild alarm
One battle signal gave,
That their deep vows in peril spoken
For fame or power might not be broken.
The princely—the brave,
Ere yet the trumpet's wild alarm
One battle signal gave,
That their deep vows in peril spoken
For fame or power might not be broken.
Boston Statesman, April 5, 1828
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