Poems, chiefly dramatic and lyric by the Revd. H. Boyd ... containing the following dramatic poems: The Helots, a tragedy, The Temple of Vesta, The Rivals, The Royal Message. Prize Poems, &c. &c |
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WOODSTOCK.
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 | Poems, chiefly dramatic and lyric |  |
467
WOODSTOCK.
THE PRIZE POEM FOR THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SEVEN.
468
[_]
The scene of the following little piece is laid at Woodstock, during the captivity of Elizabeth, who was confined there by her sister Queen Mary.
469
Ye lonely shades, where Rosamond allur'd
Her Henry's steps from Glory's paths to stray;
Where, in the roseate bow'r of bliss immur'd,
Reckless, he saw his laurel'd pride decay.
Her Henry's steps from Glory's paths to stray;
Where, in the roseate bow'r of bliss immur'd,
Reckless, he saw his laurel'd pride decay.
How brook'd the genius of yon solemn grove,
His ancient haunts by lawless love profan'd?
Disdain'd not his pure feet those lawns to rove,
Till late the lyre once more his presence gain'd!
His ancient haunts by lawless love profan'd?
Disdain'd not his pure feet those lawns to rove,
Till late the lyre once more his presence gain'd!
His magic lyre the mighty minstrel ply'd;
The list'ning Dryads to their haunts return'd:
A fresher verdure cloath'd the prospect wide,
And brighter hues the flow'ry banks adorn'd.
The list'ning Dryads to their haunts return'd:
A fresher verdure cloath'd the prospect wide,
And brighter hues the flow'ry banks adorn'd.
470
No trivial purpose bids his numbers flow;
No trivial guest those hallow'd bounds await:
—Meek virtue here shall shun th'impending blow,
And here religion lodge her sacred freight.
No trivial guest those hallow'd bounds await:
—Meek virtue here shall shun th'impending blow,
And here religion lodge her sacred freight.
Hark! superstition lifts her savage voice!
See! kindred bands dissolve, and love recede!
The pastor's hand th'imploring flock destroys;
And persecution bares her ruffian blade!
See! kindred bands dissolve, and love recede!
The pastor's hand th'imploring flock destroys;
And persecution bares her ruffian blade!
Ev'n mercy's self forsakes the bloody throne;
The Queen, relentless, sees a sister led
By alien hands, unfriended and alone,
Where he rude prison rears her awful head.
The Queen, relentless, sees a sister led
By alien hands, unfriended and alone,
Where he rude prison rears her awful head.
Thy gates, O Woodstock! ope with sullen sound;
In dismal view thy haggard walls appear!
Starting, the royal captive gaz'd around,
And down her pale cheek stole th'unheeded tear.
In dismal view thy haggard walls appear!
Starting, the royal captive gaz'd around,
And down her pale cheek stole th'unheeded tear.
The jarring valves the stern attendants close!
Her dreary lot the silent Princess eyes;
And as her fancy teem'd with future woes,
Thus burst her passion intermix'd with sighs:
Her dreary lot the silent Princess eyes;
And as her fancy teem'd with future woes,
Thus burst her passion intermix'd with sighs:
“Look down, great Henry! from the realms above,
If earthly cares can reach thy holy rest,
Behold the fruits of thine ill-omen'd love,
Friendless, forlorn, by causeless hate opprest!”
If earthly cares can reach thy holy rest,
Behold the fruits of thine ill-omen'd love,
Friendless, forlorn, by causeless hate opprest!”
471
“Oh! would to Heav'n, thy unrelenting rage
Had erst involv'd me in a mother's doom;
How easy death in that unthinking age,
How soft the passage to an early tomb?”
Had erst involv'd me in a mother's doom;
How easy death in that unthinking age,
How soft the passage to an early tomb?”
“But now reflection points the coming blow,
And mem'ry joins her keen, malignant light;
I see the deadly purpose of the foe,
And deprecate in vain the dreadful sight!”
And mem'ry joins her keen, malignant light;
I see the deadly purpose of the foe,
And deprecate in vain the dreadful sight!”
“But who shall dare her private woes to mourn,
When bleeding England pours the gen'ral groan?
When pale religion points to Cranmer's urn,
And holy frenzy guards the bloody throne?”
When bleeding England pours the gen'ral groan?
When pale religion points to Cranmer's urn,
And holy frenzy guards the bloody throne?”
“Ill-fated England! unsubdu'd before!
'Tis thine to suffer, and 'tis mine to weep;
In vain the frowning cliffs protect thy shore,
And vain, with all her storms, thy circling deep.”
'Tis thine to suffer, and 'tis mine to weep;
In vain the frowning cliffs protect thy shore,
And vain, with all her storms, thy circling deep.”
“Thine inbred foe, the demon of the soul,
Converts thy sceptre to an iron rod;
Soft pity sinks beneath his dire controul,
And the proud Hierarch dares belie his God.”
Converts thy sceptre to an iron rod;
Soft pity sinks beneath his dire controul,
And the proud Hierarch dares belie his God.”
“Rome's abject hirelings now infest the coast,
Where erst the hardy Roman learn'd to fear;
Where Gaul's proud victor saw the British host
Mock the keen light'ning of the lifted spear.”
Where erst the hardy Roman learn'd to fear;
Where Gaul's proud victor saw the British host
Mock the keen light'ning of the lifted spear.”
472
“But now, even hope forsakes the mourning plain,
No friendly ray pervades the settled gloom;
The prospect lours beneath the frown of Spain,
And silent nations wait th'impending doom.”
No friendly ray pervades the settled gloom;
The prospect lours beneath the frown of Spain,
And silent nations wait th'impending doom.”
While thus the royal maid her sorrow spoke,
Night stole unheeded on her rising woes;
And slumber lock'd her sense, but fancy woke,
And, in her dreams, an aged minstrel rose.
Night stole unheeded on her rising woes;
And slumber lock'd her sense, but fancy woke,
And, in her dreams, an aged minstrel rose.
A tuneful harp of antique form he bore,
Drest like the bards of old, a quaint attire!
And tho' long years had snow'd his temples o'er,
His eye preserv'd the poet's genuine fire.
Drest like the bards of old, a quaint attire!
And tho' long years had snow'd his temples o'er,
His eye preserv'd the poet's genuine fire.
And this the awful prelude of his song:
“Hope shall revisit soon the mourning plain;
Even now thy name yon heav'nly choirs among
Resounds, the future sov'reign of the main.
“Hope shall revisit soon the mourning plain;
Even now thy name yon heav'nly choirs among
Resounds, the future sov'reign of the main.
“Heav'n-sent, those once-lov'd bounds my steps invade;
Thy causeless grief commission'd to expel!
Of old a tenant of this fairy shade,
Where oft my wood-notes wild were heard to swell.
Thy causeless grief commission'd to expel!
Of old a tenant of this fairy shade,
Where oft my wood-notes wild were heard to swell.
“Here,
warlike Henry his unhelmed brow
Would oft recline to listen to my lyre;
Oft would his
son his genuine race avow,
And shew faint glimm'rings of his future sires.
Would oft recline to listen to my lyre;
473
And shew faint glimm'rings of his future sires.
“Yet to have pleas'd the royal ear of old
Seems poor ambition to my present charge;
Of fate the glorious purpose to unfold,
And shew the counsels of the sky at large.
Seems poor ambition to my present charge;
Of fate the glorious purpose to unfold,
And shew the counsels of the sky at large.
“Trac'd by the awful counsels of the sky,
Two paths of glory to thy choice are giv'n;
Mark! as the visions flit before thine eye,
And may thine option meet the smile of Heav'n.”
Two paths of glory to thy choice are giv'n;
Mark! as the visions flit before thine eye,
And may thine option meet the smile of Heav'n.”
He said; and soon, obedient to his wand,
Wide o'er the prospect spread an iron gleam;
The throng'd pavilions hide the martial strand,
And in the air unnumber'd ensigns stream.
Wide o'er the prospect spread an iron gleam;
The throng'd pavilions hide the martial strand,
And in the air unnumber'd ensigns stream.
But lo! the cross of England waves afar;
The banded millions mix in mortal fight;
And, hov'ring o'er the wide-extended war,
The foe of mankind soars with stern delight.
The banded millions mix in mortal fight;
And, hov'ring o'er the wide-extended war,
The foe of mankind soars with stern delight.
Those
to sustain, and these to overthrow
Th'imperial ensign, toil in bloody fray;
And still the deadly contest seems to grow
Where'er the winds its crimson folds display.
Th'imperial ensign, toil in bloody fray;
474
Where'er the winds its crimson folds display.
Where'er the fiery meteor seems to wave,
In civil rage the broken bands disjoin;
Loud discord's voice is heard around to rave,
And busy fiends the social tyes untwine.
In civil rage the broken bands disjoin;
Loud discord's voice is heard around to rave,
And busy fiends the social tyes untwine.
Then the stern ruler of the azure deep,
Seem'd o'er the scene his triple mace to wield;
The wild waves spread around, with murm'ring sweep,
And ocean hid the late ensanguin'd field.
Seem'd o'er the scene his triple mace to wield;
The wild waves spread around, with murm'ring sweep,
And ocean hid the late ensanguin'd field.
Around the stormy capes the fleets, far seen
Advancing in a line, for battle form;
And now, a narrow interval between,
They meet with loud salute and dire alarm!
Advancing in a line, for battle form;
And now, a narrow interval between,
They meet with loud salute and dire alarm!
The flash, abrupt, foreruns the brazen roar;
Responsive thunders roll around the bay;
The sulph'rous vapour spreads from shore to shore,
Hiding the horrors of the doubtful day.
Responsive thunders roll around the bay;
The sulph'rous vapour spreads from shore to shore,
Hiding the horrors of the doubtful day.
The curtain'd clouds divide; a scene appears
Of flames, and driving wrecks, and recent gore!
Eliza's name the gale in triumph bears!
Eliza's name resounds from shore to shore!
Of flames, and driving wrecks, and recent gore!
Eliza's name the gale in triumph bears!
Eliza's name resounds from shore to shore!
475
Distant at length the martial notes decay,
And soon the whit'ning sails are lost to view;
With silent ebb retires the peaceful sea,
And smiling summer clothes the fields anew.
And soon the whit'ning sails are lost to view;
With silent ebb retires the peaceful sea,
And smiling summer clothes the fields anew.
Fair seem'd the scene, but unsubdu'd and wild,
With, here and there reclin'd, an uncouth swain,
Who, with rude songs, the vacant hours beguil'd,
Or, musing, hear'd the pebbled rill complain.
With, here and there reclin'd, an uncouth swain,
Who, with rude songs, the vacant hours beguil'd,
Or, musing, hear'd the pebbled rill complain.
Sudden the deep and lonely woods among
Was heard the solemn music of the lyre;
The rude tribes crowd around the magic song,
And rapture seem to catch the heav'nly sire.
Was heard the solemn music of the lyre;
The rude tribes crowd around the magic song,
And rapture seem to catch the heav'nly sire.
Nor caught in vain; for o'er the savage sense
Mild reason seem'd to steal with gentle pace:
New habits grow, and new designs commence,
As on the nymph the thronging rustics gaze.
Mild reason seem'd to steal with gentle pace:
New habits grow, and new designs commence,
As on the nymph the thronging rustics gaze.
Alma her name, her golden locks betray'd;
Her race deriv'd from him who rules the day;
A pearly zone her azure vest upstay'd,
Giv'n by the sov'reign whom the floods obey.
Her race deriv'd from him who rules the day;
A pearly zone her azure vest upstay'd,
Giv'n by the sov'reign whom the floods obey.
Her voice explain'd the lessons of her lyre;
Her sainted look enforc'd the heav'nly song:
Her lectures seem'd new wisdom to inspire,
And mould the instinct of th'admiring throng.
Her sainted look enforc'd the heav'nly song:
Her lectures seem'd new wisdom to inspire,
And mould the instinct of th'admiring throng.
476
Soon o'er the fields the congregation spread;
A milder aspect soon adorn'd the plain;
Instant before their steps disorder fled,
And arts and culture follow'd in her train.
A milder aspect soon adorn'd the plain;
Instant before their steps disorder fled,
And arts and culture follow'd in her train.
Scatter'd around, the jocund hamlet rose,
And, girt with harvests boon, the village gay,
Wide-stretching mounds the echoing main oppose,
And cities far their spiry pride display.
And, girt with harvests boon, the village gay,
Wide-stretching mounds the echoing main oppose,
And cities far their spiry pride display.
Above the rest a stately pile was seen,
And issuing radiant thence a chosen band,
Who mark'd in measur'd lots the smiling green,
And portion'd to the swains their destin'd land.
And issuing radiant thence a chosen band,
Who mark'd in measur'd lots the smiling green,
And portion'd to the swains their destin'd land.
Some, when rude contests rose the swains among,
With healing words dispell'd the rising jar;
And some were taught with soft mellifluous song,
To chear their toils beneath the sultry star.
With healing words dispell'd the rising jar;
And some were taught with soft mellifluous song,
To chear their toils beneath the sultry star.
Some taught the seaman to direct his prow
O'er the broad Main, by mild Arcturus led;
And some explor'd the secret depths below,
To find what nature there in silence bred.
O'er the broad Main, by mild Arcturus led;
And some explor'd the secret depths below,
To find what nature there in silence bred.
Some o'er the glebe induc'd the kindly show'r,
Hast'ning the tardy spring with potent pray'r;
And when the wintry sky began to lour,
With Heav'n-taught voice beguil'd the pangs of care.
Hast'ning the tardy spring with potent pray'r;
477
With Heav'n-taught voice beguil'd the pangs of care.
The scene smil'd lovely, and in smiles withdrew;
The bard alone remain'd, and thus began:
“These future prospects op'ning to thy view,
'Tis thine, with Heav'n-directed eye to scan.”
The bard alone remain'd, and thus began:
“These future prospects op'ning to thy view,
'Tis thine, with Heav'n-directed eye to scan.”
“Either on conquest's purple wing to rise,
Or deck with peaceful hand the savage plain;
To raise Old England's flag in hostile skies,
Or nobler realms, with peaceful arts, to gain.”
Or deck with peaceful hand the savage plain;
To raise Old England's flag in hostile skies,
Or nobler realms, with peaceful arts, to gain.”
“'Tis thine to chuse”—“Nor be the choice delay'd,”
Sudden, tho' still entranc'd, the maid reply'd;
“Be mine to triumph in the peaceful shade,
Far from the dazzling pomp of martial pride.”
Sudden, tho' still entranc'd, the maid reply'd;
“Be mine to triumph in the peaceful shade,
Far from the dazzling pomp of martial pride.”
“His captive legions let the victor shew;
Be mine the empire o'er the willing soul;
The veteran bands of vice to overthrow,
And ignorance and error to controul.”
Be mine the empire o'er the willing soul;
The veteran bands of vice to overthrow,
And ignorance and error to controul.”
“Be mine to rule the silent, studious train,
Who form the manners and the man refine:
Whose milder glories own no guilty stain,
Whose peaceful brows no bloody wreath entwine.
Who form the manners and the man refine:
Whose milder glories own no guilty stain,
Whose peaceful brows no bloody wreath entwine.
“Thus myriads yet unborn shall gladly own,
With unbought praise, my long remember'd sway,
And, plausive, hail my academic throne,
When trophied arches fall, and urns decay.”
With unbought praise, my long remember'd sway,
478
When trophied arches fall, and urns decay.”
“Some new Pythagoras then may boast an eye
To trace the deeper wonders of the sphere;
Some Tully's thunder shake the northern sky,
And pour conviction on the gen'ral ear.”
To trace the deeper wonders of the sphere;
Some Tully's thunder shake the northern sky,
And pour conviction on the gen'ral ear.”
“Some kindly hand may bid the laurel spring,
Even in yon drear uncultivated soil;
Some friendly patron teach the muse to sing,
And deathless strains reward the gen'rous toil.”
Even in yon drear uncultivated soil;
Some friendly patron teach the muse to sing,
And deathless strains reward the gen'rous toil.”
She spoke: and thus the gentle bard reply'd:
“Still may you thus protect the gentle muse;
Lo! Heav'n, by me, hath thus thy judgment try'd,
And mark'd, well pleas'd, thy far-extended views.
“Still may you thus protect the gentle muse;
Lo! Heav'n, by me, hath thus thy judgment try'd,
And mark'd, well pleas'd, thy far-extended views.
“Alike in arts of peace and martial might,
Old England's genius dooms thee to excell:”
He spoke—and mingled with the shades of night;
His lyre symphonious sent a sweet farewell.
Old England's genius dooms thee to excell:”
He spoke—and mingled with the shades of night;
His lyre symphonious sent a sweet farewell.
FINIS.
| Poems, chiefly dramatic and lyric | |