The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker Edited from the original manuscripts and annotated copies together with a prefatory notice and bibliography by Alfred Wallis |
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THE RINGERS OF LANCELL'S TOWERS. |
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 | The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker |  |
THE RINGERS OF LANCELL'S TOWERS.
[_]
These ancient men rang at the accession of George the Third and all again at his jubilee. Three of them lived on to ring in George the Fourth; and two survived to celebrate, in their native tower, the coronation of King William the Fourth.
They meet once more! that ancient band,
With furrow'd cheek and failing hand;
One peal to-day they fain would ring,
The jubilee of England's king!
With furrow'd cheek and failing hand;
One peal to-day they fain would ring,
The jubilee of England's king!
They meet once more! but where are now
The sinewy arm, the laughing brow,
The strength that hailed, in happier times,
King George the Third with lusty chimes?
The sinewy arm, the laughing brow,
The strength that hailed, in happier times,
King George the Third with lusty chimes?
Yet proudly gaze on that lone tower,
No goodlier sight hath hall or bower;
Meekly they strive—and closing day
Gilds with soft light their locks of grey.
No goodlier sight hath hall or bower;
Meekly they strive—and closing day
Gilds with soft light their locks of grey.
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Hark! proudly hark! with that true tone
They welcomed him to land and throne;
So ere they die they fain would ring
The jubilee of England's king.
They welcomed him to land and throne;
So ere they die they fain would ring
The jubilee of England's king.
Hearts of old Cornwall, fare ye well!
Fast fade such scenes from field and dell;
How wilt thou lack, my own dear land,
Those trusty arms, that faithful band!
Fast fade such scenes from field and dell;
How wilt thou lack, my own dear land,
Those trusty arms, that faithful band!
Old times methinks are breathing here,”
was my very natural thought on a recent visit to the school and
church of this parish; wherein I found “whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report,” most nobly and vigorously upheld
by the young Vicar, the Rev. W. K. Buck.—
| The poetical works of Robert Stephen Hawker | |