Glimpses of Antiquity Being a collection of metrical sketches, in the form of ballads, lyrics, &c., with main reference to mediaeval times or classical subjects. By George F. Preston [i.e. J. B. L. Warren] |
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THE MINSTREL. |
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 | Glimpses of Antiquity |  |
56
THE MINSTREL.
A boy has ta'en his harp, and forth has wended,
Far from the purple vineyards of his land;
Since then long years have rolled them on, and ended,
Melted to past by Time's transmuting wand.
Far from the purple vineyards of his land;
Since then long years have rolled them on, and ended,
Melted to past by Time's transmuting wand.
And while he traversed many a warlike nation,
And while he sang in many a lordly hall,
He told of lofty hope and aspiration,—
He tuned his lays to valour one and all.
And while he sang in many a lordly hall,
He told of lofty hope and aspiration,—
He tuned his lays to valour one and all.
He taught of nature's high and noble fancies,
No slothful visions of a gilded dream,
Mere empty raptures of the bard's romances,
But as of erring lives the guides supreme.
No slothful visions of a gilded dream,
Mere empty raptures of the bard's romances,
But as of erring lives the guides supreme.
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And next he sung how earthly love and beauty,
For vain delights to mortals never given,
Were watchwords for the soldier in his duty,—
Fair beacons on that upward road towards heaven.
For vain delights to mortals never given,
Were watchwords for the soldier in his duty,—
Fair beacons on that upward road towards heaven.
As thus he wanders on, his heart rejoices,
Although at times he feels some homesick pain,—
Longs for his vineyards—hears those well-known voices,
That, save in dreams, he never heard again.
Although at times he feels some homesick pain,—
Longs for his vineyards—hears those well-known voices,
That, save in dreams, he never heard again.
Still sang he, till his strength and vigour faded,—
Till gently sped his soul away at last:
And with one sigh for his beloved country,
He died—and to a fairer country passed!
Till gently sped his soul away at last:
And with one sigh for his beloved country,
He died—and to a fairer country passed!
| Glimpses of Antiquity | |