 | [The princes of York, in] The Atlantic souvenir |  |
288
THE PRINCES OF YORK.
Rise, shade of Edward, from the tomb!
And shield thy sons from harm,
Protect them 'mid their prison gloom
From Gloster's murderous arm.
And shield thy sons from harm,
Protect them 'mid their prison gloom
From Gloster's murderous arm.
Still dost thou trust with dauntless eye
A brother's proffer'd care?
Lo, Arthur's spirit hovers nigh,
And warns thee to beware.
A brother's proffer'd care?
Lo, Arthur's spirit hovers nigh,
And warns thee to beware.
They sleep—and charms so bright and pure
Around those features play,
Methinks their sacred force might lure
The savage from his prey.
Around those features play,
Methinks their sacred force might lure
The savage from his prey.
Prince Edward's ruby lip was curl'd.
As when, in knightly strife,
'Mid the proud tournay's list is hurl'd
The lance for death or life.
As when, in knightly strife,
'Mid the proud tournay's list is hurl'd
The lance for death or life.
But Richard in his dream did smile
Within that fatal tower,
As if he mark'd some pageant's wile
In lady's courtly bower.
Within that fatal tower,
As if he mark'd some pageant's wile
In lady's courtly bower.
289
His arm was o'er his brother's breast,
And on the pillow lay
That book of prayer their lips had prest,
Ere slumber's hallow'd sway.
And on the pillow lay
That book of prayer their lips had prest,
Ere slumber's hallow'd sway.
Sad widow'd queen! once more to gaze
On brows so bold and fair,
Might paint a rainbow on thy days
Of weeping and despair.
On brows so bold and fair,
Might paint a rainbow on thy days
Of weeping and despair.
Once more those sunny curls to lift
Might cheer a mother's heart,
But oh! the assassin's step is swift,
And dark the usurper's art.
Might cheer a mother's heart,
But oh! the assassin's step is swift,
And dark the usurper's art.
Morn comes—those princes wake no more.
Their couch is lone and cold,
But yet no life-drops stain the floor,
To mark a deed untold.
Their couch is lone and cold,
But yet no life-drops stain the floor,
To mark a deed untold.
Dissembler!—who dost mock the sky,
And man's weak search control,
Be strong to bear heaven's burning eye
Of justice on thy soul.
And man's weak search control,
Be strong to bear heaven's burning eye
Of justice on thy soul.
The sparkling orb may bind thy brow,
A realm extol thy bliss,
Ambition have its triumph now—
Is there no world but this?
A realm extol thy bliss,
Ambition have its triumph now—
Is there no world but this?
290
It comes!—It comes!—the vengeful hour.
Stern warriors grasp the shield,
And Richmond pours his hostile power
O'er Bosworth's fatal field.
Stern warriors grasp the shield,
And Richmond pours his hostile power
O'er Bosworth's fatal field.
Haste, haste, false king! their might oppose.
Uplift thine haughty crest,
But secret throngs of spectre foes,
Ungird thy tyrant breast.
Uplift thine haughty crest,
But secret throngs of spectre foes,
Ungird thy tyrant breast.
Meek Henry, from whose royal side.
Afresh the purple flows,
Seems with his slaughter'd son to glide.
Crush'd Lancaster's last rose.
Afresh the purple flows,
Seems with his slaughter'd son to glide.
Crush'd Lancaster's last rose.
Pale Clarence from his moulder'd cell
Stalks forth with dripping hair,
And they who in their beauty fell,
Look to it!—they are there.
Stalks forth with dripping hair,
And they who in their beauty fell,
Look to it!—they are there.
Go! to thy tearless grave, go down!
Thy blood in battle spilt;
Go! weigh against thy bauble crown.
The eternal pang of guilt.
Thy blood in battle spilt;
Go! weigh against thy bauble crown.
The eternal pang of guilt.
| [The princes of York, in] The Atlantic souvenir | |