 | Lays of Leisure Hours |  |
THE STIRRING DAYS OF OLD.
Bright were the stirring Days of Old,
When Chivalry's proud sons and bold
Their shining feats performed;
Faith, and Enthusiasm, and Zeal,
Clad them in proof from head to heel,
And their brave spirits warmed.
When Chivalry's proud sons and bold
Their shining feats performed;
Faith, and Enthusiasm, and Zeal,
Clad them in proof from head to heel,
And their brave spirits warmed.
Bright, stirring, glorious Days of Old!
When shall we more your like behold
On this dull Earth below!
Ye're past, and much hath passed with ye
Of fair and famous, fine and free,
Which we no more may know!
When shall we more your like behold
On this dull Earth below!
Ye're past, and much hath passed with ye
Of fair and famous, fine and free,
Which we no more may know!
2
Then for some high and worthy prize
Did knights to combat bold arise,
Fired with true Valour's glow—
The measured lists were marked and traced,
The crested champion firmly faced
His helmed and haughty foe!
Did knights to combat bold arise,
Fired with true Valour's glow—
The measured lists were marked and traced,
The crested champion firmly faced
His helmed and haughty foe!
Then watched around the courtly crowd,
Then rang the bugle sharp and loud,
Then spoke the Herald forth—
Then were the styles of each proclaimed,
And met the antagonists, far-famed,
To try their martial worth.
Then rang the bugle sharp and loud,
Then spoke the Herald forth—
Then were the styles of each proclaimed,
And met the antagonists, far-famed,
To try their martial worth.
By high endeavour, glorious strife,
Were beautified this barren Life,
And roused keen hopes and fears—
Even as their aims were high and bold,
So did their spirits' powers unfold
In those romantic years.
Were beautified this barren Life,
And roused keen hopes and fears—
Even as their aims were high and bold,
So did their spirits' powers unfold
In those romantic years.
3
The stately, stirring, olden days!
When honour, and renown, and praise,
Were dear to every heart!
The natural glow of honest pride
Too often now seems thrown aside,
These days are days of Art!
When honour, and renown, and praise,
Were dear to every heart!
The natural glow of honest pride
Too often now seems thrown aside,
These days are days of Art!
The elevation and the zeal
Too seldom is it ours to feel—
Too seldom shine displayed—
Different these days from days of Old!
All is more cautious now and cold—
And measured, proved, and weighed!
Too seldom is it ours to feel—
Too seldom shine displayed—
Different these days from days of Old!
All is more cautious now and cold—
And measured, proved, and weighed!
The stirring, glorious, olden days!—
Oh! they shall win our meed of praise,
Midst all our toils and cares—
While something like a dim regret
For grandeurs sunk, and glories set,
Man's living spirit shares!
Oh! they shall win our meed of praise,
Midst all our toils and cares—
While something like a dim regret
For grandeurs sunk, and glories set,
Man's living spirit shares!
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