Lays and Legends or Ballads of the New World By G. W. Thornbury |
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THE PILGRIM'S DEPARTURE. |
 | Lays and Legends or Ballads of the New World |  |
THE PILGRIM'S DEPARTURE.
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[The long robe, the bourdon, or staff, to which the bottle was fastened, the scrip, and the cockled hat of the pilgrim, were consecrated by the village priest on the eve of his departure. The novice, having confessed his sins, threw himself before the altar. Prayers were then said over him; he was invested in his robes, and conducted in procession to the limits of his native village; the cross and holy water borne before him. What a beautiful scene the pilgrim's parting would make for the pencil!]
The sun in flaming splendour,
Sank down behind the hill;
Its rays grew faint on mountain-top,
On river and on rill,
When down before a holy shrine
Knelt one who's bound for Palestine.
Sank down behind the hill;
Its rays grew faint on mountain-top,
On river and on rill,
When down before a holy shrine
Knelt one who's bound for Palestine.
The altar's neath the storied pane,
That dyes the sun-light red,
Like a saint's bright crown of glory,
It glowed upon his head;
And many a peasant gathered there,
Joined in the solemn parting prayer.
That dyes the sun-light red,
Like a saint's bright crown of glory,
It glowed upon his head;
And many a peasant gathered there,
Joined in the solemn parting prayer.
The priest stood at the altar
In chasuble arrayed;
The sun burnt red and fiery,
Amid the forest's glade;
Mother and sire together stood,
With youth and maiden, beside the rood.
In chasuble arrayed;
The sun burnt red and fiery,
Amid the forest's glade;
Mother and sire together stood,
With youth and maiden, beside the rood.
137
O'er hat and staff and sandalled shoon
The priest repeats the charm;
That whether in Ind or Araby,
Shall keep the soul from harm;
'Twas a touching sight the priest to see
Sign o'er the robe the crosses three.
The priest repeats the charm;
That whether in Ind or Araby,
Shall keep the soul from harm;
'Twas a touching sight the priest to see
Sign o'er the robe the crosses three.
“God guide the staff that guides thy feet
O'er boiling desert sand;
God guard the shoon that clothe thy feet,
In many a savage land;
This cockle hat, remember thee,
Proclaims one bound for Galilee.
O'er boiling desert sand;
God guard the shoon that clothe thy feet,
In many a savage land;
This cockle hat, remember thee,
Proclaims one bound for Galilee.
“God keep thee from the desert asp,
Christ's mother shield thee well
From spear, and shaft, and crescent sword,
From Moor and Infidel.
Wherever, pilgrim, thou shalt be,
Christ's holy benison on thee.”
Christ's mother shield thee well
From spear, and shaft, and crescent sword,
From Moor and Infidel.
Wherever, pilgrim, thou shalt be,
Christ's holy benison on thee.”
Still lower sank the blood-red sun;
The moon shone faint on high,
Though scarce the flame-crowned monarch
Had left the summer sky,
That sin-soiled pilgrim of the West,
Crossed his hands on his guilty breast.
The moon shone faint on high,
Though scarce the flame-crowned monarch
Had left the summer sky,
That sin-soiled pilgrim of the West,
Crossed his hands on his guilty breast.
No sound broke on the stillness
As from the ground he leapt;
No sound, save one deep heart-sob,
The cry of one that wept;
He filled his bottle at the rill,
Then hied him o'er the Eastern hill.
As from the ground he leapt;
No sound, save one deep heart-sob,
The cry of one that wept;
He filled his bottle at the rill,
Then hied him o'er the Eastern hill.
One look at fading village,
And the old tower on high,
As still its cross stood dark and clear
Against the western sky.
His father's home the darkness shrouds,
As o'er the moon steal dusky clouds.
And the old tower on high,
As still its cross stood dark and clear
Against the western sky.
His father's home the darkness shrouds,
As o'er the moon steal dusky clouds.
138
Last look the pilgrim's taken
Of that dear father land;
His bone shall parch and whiten
Upon the desert sand;
His last faint gaze was turned on ye,
Ye deep, dark waves of Galilee.
Of that dear father land;
His bone shall parch and whiten
Upon the desert sand;
His last faint gaze was turned on ye,
Ye deep, dark waves of Galilee.
| Lays and Legends or Ballads of the New World | |