"Prince! thy father's deeds are told, And the prince came arm'd, like a leader's son, Britain calls the strong in heart!” And the bended Bow and the voice pass'd on, HE NEVER SMILED AGAIN.* It is recorded of Henry the First, that after the death of his son, Prince William, who perished in a shipwreck off the coast of Nor mandy, he was never seen to smile. THE bark that held a prince went down, And what was England's glorious crown He lived-for life may long be borne Ere sorrow break its chain ; Why comes not death to those who mourn? He never smiled again! There stood proud forms around his throne, But which could fill the place of one, *Originally published in the Literary Gazette. VOL. II. 50 LAYS OF MANY LANDS. Before him pass'd the young and fair, But seas dash'd o'er his son's bright hair-- He sat where festal bowls went round; A murmur of the restless deep A voice of winds that would not sleep- Hearts, in that time, closed o'er the trace And strangers took the kinsman's place At many a joyous board; Graves, which true love had bathed with tears, Fresh hopes were born for other years— CŒUR-DE-LION AT THE BIER OF HIS FATHER. The body of Henry the Second lay in state in the abbey church of Fontevraud, where it was visited by Richard Coeur-de-Lion, who, on heholding it, was struck with horror and remorse, and bitterly reproached himself for that rebellious conduct which had been the means of bringing his father to an untimely grave. TORCHES were blazing clear, And warriors slept beneath, And light, as Noon's broad light, was flung On the settled face of death A strong and ruddy glare, Though dimm'd at times by the censer's breath, Of earthly years to show,- The marble floor was swept As the kneeling priests round him that slept, And solemn were the strains they pour'd With the cross above, and the crown and sword, There was heard a heavy clang, As of steel-girt men the tread, And the tombs and the hollow pavement rang With a sounding thrill of dread; And the holy chant was hush'd awhile, As, by the torch's flame, A gleam of arms, up the sweeping aisle, He came with haughty look, An eagle-glance and clear, But his proud heart through its breast-plate shook, He stood there still with a drooping brow, It was Coeur-de-Lion gazed! And silently he strove With the workings of his breast, -But there's more in late repentant love. And his tears brake forth, at last, like rain- For his face was seen by his warrior-train, He look'd upon the dead, 52 LAYS OF MANY LANDS. He stoop'd-and kiss'd the frozen cheek, "Oh, father! is it vain, "Speak to me! mighty grief "Thy silver hairs I see, "Thou wert the noblest king, And thou didst wear, in knightly ring, Of all, the stateliest mien; And thou didst prove, where spears are proved In war, the bravest heart -Oh! ever the renown'd and loved Thou wert-and there thou art! "Thou that my boyhood's guide How will that sad still face of thine THE VASSAL'S LAMENT FOR THE "Here (at Brereton in Cheshire) is one thing incredibly strange, but attested, as I myself have heard, by many persons, and commonly believed. Before any heir of this family dies, there are seen, in a lake adjoining, the bodies of trees swimming on the water for several days." Camden's Britannia. YES! I have seen the ancient oak And it was not fell'd by the woodman's stroke For the axe might never touch that tree, I saw it fall, as falls a chief By an arrow in the fight, And the old woods shook, to their loftiest leaf And the startled deer to their coverts drew, 'Tis fall'n! but think thou not I weep But by that sign too well I know, A youthful head, with its shining hair, But on his brow the mark is set Oh! could my life redeem him yet! He bounded by me as I gazed Alone on the fatal sign, And it seem'd like sunshine when he raised His joyous glance to mine! With a stag's fleet step he bounded by, So full of life--but he must die! |