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 |  |
114
“Nought hath he done for us and nought deserved.”
Voltaire.
Voltaire.
“En vain, du sang des Rois, dont je suis l'oppresseur,
“Les peuples abusés m'ont cru le défenseur,
“De quinze ans de travaux j'ai perdu tout le fruit.
“Croi moi, ces préjugés de sang et de naissance
“Revivront dans les cœurs, y prendront sa defense.”
Ibidem.
“Les peuples abusés m'ont cru le défenseur,
“De quinze ans de travaux j'ai perdu tout le fruit.
“Croi moi, ces préjugés de sang et de naissance
“Revivront dans les cœurs, y prendront sa defense.”
Ibidem.
“In vain have I oppressed the blood of Kings, whilst the
deluded people adored me as their friend, if yet there lives
a hateful offspring, all the prejudice of birth and blood
revives.”
Smollet's Voltaire.
HAROLD HAREFOOT.
By mutual accord, it was decreed,
Hardicanute his father should succeed;
But absence seldom helps the claim of right,
And Harold, in fraternal honour's spite,
Usurp'd the Crown.—His reign was short, and these,
Some of his acts, are little fram'd to please;
Mixture of insignificance and pride,
(Proud to love walking better than to ride. )
To narrowness of soul he added guilt,
And caus'd the blood of Alfred to be spilt.
Alfred, (of Edmund Ironside the Son,)
Who cross'd the seas, by Harold's treachery won.
Hardicanute his father should succeed;
But absence seldom helps the claim of right,
And Harold, in fraternal honour's spite,
Usurp'd the Crown.—His reign was short, and these,
Some of his acts, are little fram'd to please;
Mixture of insignificance and pride,
(Proud to love walking better than to ride. )
115
And caus'd the blood of Alfred to be spilt.
Alfred, (of Edmund Ironside the Son,)
Who cross'd the seas, by Harold's treachery won.
Well may my reader tire of tasteless rhymes,
Which but repeat a catalogue of crimes;
But faithful narrative must be content
With fact, nor seek for bland embellishment.
Else had some episode or harmless joke
Your present comfortable slumbers broke.
Edward, the brother of the Prince who fell,
Escap'd the snare, and 'twill be ours to tell
Hereafter of his fate; it now remains,
That Hardic'nute a pow'rful army gains,
Against King Harold to assert his right;
But, while the doubtful issue of the fight
Depends, the reigning Monarch yields his breath,
And civil strife is ended by his death.
Which but repeat a catalogue of crimes;
But faithful narrative must be content
With fact, nor seek for bland embellishment.
Else had some episode or harmless joke
Your present comfortable slumbers broke.
Edward, the brother of the Prince who fell,
Escap'd the snare, and 'twill be ours to tell
Hereafter of his fate; it now remains,
That Hardic'nute a pow'rful army gains,
Against King Harold to assert his right;
But, while the doubtful issue of the fight
Depends, the reigning Monarch yields his breath,
And civil strife is ended by his death.
Earl Godwin, lord of the once fertile land
Where many a bark now moulders in the sand;
First flourish'd in this reign, and by his aid,
The selfish King his brother's right betray'd.
Where many a bark now moulders in the sand;
First flourish'd in this reign, and by his aid,
The selfish King his brother's right betray'd.
| A Metrical History of England | |