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 |  |
86
“Pleas'd let me trifle life away,
“And sing of love.”
Hammond's Tibullus.
“And sing of love.”
Hammond's Tibullus.
“None but the brave deserve the fair.”
Dryden.
Dryden.
“Equal to both, and arm'd for either field.”
Rowe.
Rowe.
EDGAR THE PEACEABLE.
Edgar encreas'd our navy—he was right,Tho', toujours prêt, he'd little cause to fight.
Next, he obliged the Prince of Wales
To pay three hundred wolves a year;
Which, with three amatory tales,
Is all that of his Majesty we hear.
Whether these tales are worthy of perusal,
Or, whether their contents are false or true,
They wait acceptance or refusal,
As may, my readers kind, seem good to you.
87
LOVE TALE THE FIRST.
Wilfrida
was the fairest of the fair;
So thought the King, for lovers think on stilts;
Which made her parents, with most proper care,
Immure her in a Nunnery of Wilts.
(Whether 'twas Amesbury, where ancient Q
Imported Nuns from France, I never knew.)
So thought the King, for lovers think on stilts;
Which made her parents, with most proper care,
Immure her in a Nunnery of Wilts.
(Whether 'twas Amesbury, where ancient Q
Imported Nuns from France, I never knew.)
King Edgar, living in such days as those,
When Dunstan took the Devil by the nose,
Was doubtful in what manner to proceed.
Now Dunstan and the Devil were not foes
(But in appearance) for, tout autre chose,
They help'd each other in the time of need.
When Dunstan took the Devil by the nose,
Was doubtful in what manner to proceed.
Now Dunstan and the Devil were not foes
(But in appearance) for, tout autre chose,
They help'd each other in the time of need.
To Dunstan quoth Old Nick, “My plans 'twill aid,
“If Edgar from yon abbey force the maid,
“Then, prithee, brother Dunny, don't impede him.”
Quoth Dunstan to Old Nick, “'Tis my design
“To let him take her, then a glorious fine,
“I'll levy first, and next the Pope shall bleed him.”
“If Edgar from yon abbey force the maid,
88
Quoth Dunstan to Old Nick, “'Tis my design
“To let him take her, then a glorious fine,
“I'll levy first, and next the Pope shall bleed him.”
In short, the Monarch took the Nun away,
There was, in consequence, I scarce need say,
The Devil and the Friar both to pay.
There was, in consequence, I scarce need say,
The Devil and the Friar both to pay.
The Monks whom Dunstan and Edgar put in possession of Convents, were so nearly perfect, that they knew nothing of religion but continence and obedience. Ingulphus.
LOVE TALE THE SECOND.
At Andover with great applause
A pair dwelt, sans rebuke;
The wife a Duchess was, because
The husband was a Duke!
A pair dwelt, sans rebuke;
The wife a Duchess was, because
The husband was a Duke!
A lovely daughter eke had they,
Well-favored, fair, and mild,
They had no other, for folks say,
She was an only child.
Well-favored, fair, and mild,
They had no other, for folks say,
She was an only child.
89
King Edgar lov'd, King Edgar woo'd,
You'll all allow, I ween,
'Twas grossierté, 'twas wrong, 'twas rude!
For Edgar had a Queen.
You'll all allow, I ween,
'Twas grossierté, 'twas wrong, 'twas rude!
For Edgar had a Queen.
In vain he offered heaps of gold,
In vain to work he went,
More ways than we have yet been told,
To win the maid's consent;
In vain to work he went,
More ways than we have yet been told,
To win the maid's consent;
When words, and sighs, and tears had fail'd,
He feign'd him deadly sick,
The Lady, since nought else prevail'd,
Then play'd a King a trick.
He feign'd him deadly sick,
The Lady, since nought else prevail'd,
Then play'd a King a trick.
All in the dark she made believe,
She'd grace the Monarch's bed,
Then sent, nor did the Prince perceive,
Another in her stead.
She'd grace the Monarch's bed,
Then sent, nor did the Prince perceive,
Another in her stead.
At Highgate, I am much afraid.
They ne'er had sworn his Grace,
Else had he never let the Maid,
Assume her Lady's place.
They ne'er had sworn his Grace,
Else had he never let the Maid,
Assume her Lady's place.
90
Such shocking things
Prove, modern Kings
Are better than of yore;
Which probably,
Is reason why,
Some folks abuse them more.
Prove, modern Kings
Are better than of yore;
Which probably,
Is reason why,
Some folks abuse them more.
LOVE TALE THE THIRD.
Yet how dare I attempt to tell a story,
Which Mason has related con amore?
No matter, whether good or bad, my song,
I'll promise this, shall not be very long.
Which Mason has related con amore?
No matter, whether good or bad, my song,
I'll promise this, shall not be very long.
Elfrida with her father liv'd retired,
Few eyes beheld her, yet, who saw, admired;
And fame, of beauty ever prone to sing,
Proclaim'd her modest merits to the King;
Who, 'ere he credence gave, resolv'd to send,
The truth to ascertain, a fancied friend.
Who read my simple legend, ah, beware!
Those are not always friends who say they are.
Few eyes beheld her, yet, who saw, admired;
And fame, of beauty ever prone to sing,
Proclaim'd her modest merits to the King;
Who, 'ere he credence gave, resolv'd to send,
The truth to ascertain, a fancied friend.
Who read my simple legend, ah, beware!
Those are not always friends who say they are.
91
When Athelwold beheld the beauteous maid
Too soon his trust from Edgar was betray'd;
With false report his master's ear abus'd,
He weds the fair the cheated King refus'd;
Triumph'd awhile in baseness and deceit,
Nor fear'd the vengeance he was doom'd to meet.
My legend who peruse, on this depend,
Dishonest dealing ne'er meets happy end.
Too soon his trust from Edgar was betray'd;
With false report his master's ear abus'd,
He weds the fair the cheated King refus'd;
Triumph'd awhile in baseness and deceit,
Nor fear'd the vengeance he was doom'd to meet.
My legend who peruse, on this depend,
Dishonest dealing ne'er meets happy end.
The King by other favorites made wise,
For favorites on fav'rites still are spies,
Views his friend's treason in Elfrida's charms,
Who flies from Athelwold to Edgar's arms:
The faulty Earl is slain, and on the spot,
Another abbey falls to Dunstan's lot.—
For favorites on fav'rites still are spies,
Views his friend's treason in Elfrida's charms,
Who flies from Athelwold to Edgar's arms:
The faulty Earl is slain, and on the spot,
Another abbey falls to Dunstan's lot.—
So much for love!—the gallant King expires,
And, scarcely he reposes with his sires,
'Ere fell Elfrida (like the Scottish Dame,
Who fann'd Macbeth's ambitions flame,)
Her sex forgot, her soul's repose disdain'd,
With blood of deepest dye the empire stain'd.
And, scarcely he reposes with his sires,
'Ere fell Elfrida (like the Scottish Dame,
Who fann'd Macbeth's ambitions flame,)
Her sex forgot, her soul's repose disdain'd,
With blood of deepest dye the empire stain'd.
92
By way of Postcript, suffer me to add,
The King his Magistrates with care inspected,
The just rewarded; woe betide the bad!
Whom neither rank, nor friends, nor place, protected.
The King his Magistrates with care inspected,
The just rewarded; woe betide the bad!
Whom neither rank, nor friends, nor place, protected.
He taught the Clergy to reform their lives,
Clergy who deem'd it wicked to have wives;
And therefore openly “withouten shame,”
Were kind to Ladies with another name.
Clergy who deem'd it wicked to have wives;
And therefore openly “withouten shame,”
Were kind to Ladies with another name.
Edgar, and it was noble in the Prince,
Made yearly circuits to discover
Where pardon might reform and more convince
Than punishment. Of Peace an ardent lover.
Where more congenially cou'd Mercy rest,
Than thus companion'd in a Monarch's breast?
Made yearly circuits to discover
Where pardon might reform and more convince
Than punishment. Of Peace an ardent lover.
Where more congenially cou'd Mercy rest,
Than thus companion'd in a Monarch's breast?
| A Metrical History of England | |