The Reliquary By Bernard and Lucy Barton. With A Prefatory Appeal for Poetry and Poets |
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| II. |
ASH HIGH HOUSE,
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 | The Reliquary |  |
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ASH HIGH HOUSE,
A SKETCH FROM MEMORY.
With much of art's proud pomp array'd,
Adorn'd by nature's gentler grace,
I felt in all that I survey'd
The magic genius of the place.
Adorn'd by nature's gentler grace,
I felt in all that I survey'd
The magic genius of the place.
Within, the ceiling's ample height,
Each pannell'd and each pictur'd wall,
Or wrapt in shade, or rich in light,
Seem'd days departed to recall.
Each pannell'd and each pictur'd wall,
Or wrapt in shade, or rich in light,
Seem'd days departed to recall.
Without, it was a varied scene
Of strange enchantment, ever new,
Here living walls of brightest green,
O'er the broad paths their shadows threw.
Of strange enchantment, ever new,
Here living walls of brightest green,
O'er the broad paths their shadows threw.
There, ancient cedars, tow'ring high,
Or, widely branching from the ground,
And stately beech of purple dye,
Silent and dream-like rose around!
Or, widely branching from the ground,
And stately beech of purple dye,
Silent and dream-like rose around!
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Beneath the willow's quivering shade,
Sail'd the proud swan, reflected clear;
While under limes or chestnuts strayed,
In scatter'd groups, the graceful deer.
Sail'd the proud swan, reflected clear;
While under limes or chestnuts strayed,
In scatter'd groups, the graceful deer.
All these beheld in that rich hue,
By sunset lent to aid the vision,
Made every walk and avenue
Vistas to fairy land Elysian.
By sunset lent to aid the vision,
Made every walk and avenue
Vistas to fairy land Elysian.
And many a glory, many a grace,
Which then struck admiration dumb,
Shall memory faithfully retrace,
With fresh delight in days to come.
Which then struck admiration dumb,
Shall memory faithfully retrace,
With fresh delight in days to come.
For unto hearts that truly feel,
And minds that estimate their worth,
Such objects make no brief appeal,
But waken thoughts of loftiest birth.
And minds that estimate their worth,
Such objects make no brief appeal,
But waken thoughts of loftiest birth.
Of upstart wealth—the transient might,
Has less to charm than to repel;—
While these—by old, ancestral right,
O'er feeling cast a purer spell.
Has less to charm than to repel;—
While these—by old, ancestral right,
O'er feeling cast a purer spell.
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They speak of home-born virtues old,
Once wont to dwell in scenes like this;
Making their halls, seem worth's strong-hold,
And rallying-points of household bliss.
Once wont to dwell in scenes like this;
Making their halls, seem worth's strong-hold,
And rallying-points of household bliss.
They tell of days when power and wealth,
Were look'd at with no evil eye,
Diffusing unto sickness—health,
And aid to grief and poverty.
Were look'd at with no evil eye,
Diffusing unto sickness—health,
And aid to grief and poverty.
Thou! who from childhood hast upgrown
'Mid haunts by many a tie made dear;
When manhood shall make these thine own,
Thy glorious privilege revere!
'Mid haunts by many a tie made dear;
When manhood shall make these thine own,
Thy glorious privilege revere!
Be like thy grand-sire in his day,
Thy father's virtues emulate,
And prove how godlike is the sway
Which fortune gives the good, and great!
Thy father's virtues emulate,
And prove how godlike is the sway
Which fortune gives the good, and great!
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