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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| II. |
 | A Metrical History of England |  |
145
“And that Red King, who, while of old
“Through Boldrewood the chase he led,
“By his loved huntsman's arrow bled.”
Walter Scott.
“Through Boldrewood the chase he led,
“By his loved huntsman's arrow bled.”
Walter Scott.
“Too low for a high praise, and too little for a great praise.”
Shakespeare.
Shakespeare.
“So, so is good, very good, very excellent good, and yet it
is not, it is but so so.”
Shakespeare.
WILLIAM RUFUS.
King William Rufus wore red hair,
Was rather short, and very fat,
His eyes, we're told, were not a pair,
Yet who could blame the King for that?
Was rather short, and very fat,
His eyes, we're told, were not a pair,
Yet who could blame the King for that?
His brother Robert claim'd a right
To reign, which Bishop Odo aided,
But when they were both beat in fight,
One fled, and t'other was degraded.
To reign, which Bishop Odo aided,
But when they were both beat in fight,
One fled, and t'other was degraded.
The holy war, by zealots led,
Began, and much the muse it irks,
That Infidels like Christians bled,
And Christian soldiers fought like Turks.
Began, and much the muse it irks,
That Infidels like Christians bled,
And Christian soldiers fought like Turks.
146
Westminster Hall King William rear'd,
When finish'd swore in princely huff,
The fabrick to his eyes appear'd
Not half-a-quarter large enough.
When finish'd swore in princely huff,
The fabrick to his eyes appear'd
Not half-a-quarter large enough.
The sea, which, as Canute had shown,
Respects nor wealth, nor rank, nor pow'r,
O'erflowed Earl Godwin's land, since known
As Goodwin Quicksands, to this hour.
Respects nor wealth, nor rank, nor pow'r,
O'erflowed Earl Godwin's land, since known
As Goodwin Quicksands, to this hour.
New Forest, which the conqu'ror meant
For sport, was of his son the bane,
There by a shaft, which chance missent,
In prime of life was Rufus slain.
For sport, was of his son the bane,
There by a shaft, which chance missent,
In prime of life was Rufus slain.
Here too, his brother and his nephew fell,
By darts dispatch'd from undiscovered hand,
Which folks around, as fearful judgments tell,
On those, who for the chace despoil'd the poor man's land.
By darts dispatch'd from undiscovered hand,
Which folks around, as fearful judgments tell,
On those, who for the chace despoil'd the poor man's land.
147
Nor much lamented was the Norman King,
Whose people were in most reduced condition;
His Ministers had tax'd each sort of thing,
For there were then no Whigs in opposition.
Whose people were in most reduced condition;
His Ministers had tax'd each sort of thing,
For there were then no Whigs in opposition.
Of his attire the Sov'reign took due heed,
As you shall learn from ancient lines annex'd,
Robert of Glo'ster scripsit what you'll read,
Tho' Camden rather modernized the text.
As you shall learn from ancient lines annex'd,
Robert of Glo'ster scripsit what you'll read,
Tho' Camden rather modernized the text.
The author hopes he has not exceeded the reported character of William's coarseness and vulgarity.—When ten Englishmen had been cleared by the ordeal of fire, for the charge of killing dear, Rufus exclaimed, “Pretty justice above, indeed, to let “ten such scoundrels escape!”
J.P. Andrews.
Yet William exhibited a mixture of firmness and naivete, when a pilot was fearful of embarking with him on an expedition in tempestuous weather; the Monarch asked, “whether he had ever heard of a King being drowned.”
148
Poetry of the Year 1098.
[“His Chamberlain him brought, as he rose on a day]
“His Chamberlain him brought, as he rose on a day,“A morrow for to wear, a pair of hose of say;
“He ask'd what they costen'd? “Three shillings,” he said,
“Fie a dible,” quoth the King, “to say so vile a deed,
“King's to wear so vile a cloths, that costened no more!
“Buy a pair for a marke, or thou shall reu it sore.”
“A worse pair, sure enough, the other him brought,
“And said they costened a marke—Unneath he then bought;
“Aye!—Bel-ami,” quoth the King, “these are well bought;
“In this manner serve me, otherwise serve me not.”
| A Metrical History of England | |