-™r*G«i , *^fe.«SfSaa fe ®&'-"»^' OWEN BLAKET GOLE. THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES N THE MIDNIGHT RIDE, * AN IRISH LEGEND DRAMATISED, WITH CHRISTMAS & NEW-YEAR CAROLS, &>c. BY OWEN BLAYNEY COLE. Post equitem sedet atra cura. Hor. III. i. 40. PORTISH E AD. MDCCCLXXXVI, C6 7J3 ***e*S CONTENTS. PAGE. Prologue to the Midnight Ride 5 Dramatis Persons ... 7 The Midnight Ride 9 Christmas Carols ... 28 For the New Year... 31 Winter 34 An Evening Landscape 35 NCENIA 36 The Sonnet... 37 The Watek-Lily and the Swan ... 33 From Afar ... ... 38 Farewell of the Pkincks of Powis .. 39 Merlin's Reply to the Farewell 39 The Mostyn Harp ... 40 PROLOGUE TO THE MIDNIGHT RIDE. In this little drama I have, as in several previous compositions, mostly in the ballad form, endeavoured to perpetuate in verse local or family legends, grains gleaned from the parental acres, deeming the sheaves containing such better worth my threshing out than those of foreign growth ; though, failing the former, the latter are not by any means to be rejected. For the legend here dramatised I am indebted to the late Rev. Alexander Ross, Rector of Banagher, in the county of Londonderry, Ireland, whose guest I was so long ago as the year 1831, when of a summer day I would direct my steps up the glen of the waterfall, where was a thorn garlanded with the offerings of votaries, suggest- ing by anticipation (for the picture was not yet painted) Sir Frederick Burton's chef d'ceuvrc, "The Blind Girl at the Holy Well." It is scarcely necessary to say that Dungiven Castle, the ruins of which [then partially existed, is greatly magnified as to its importance in the scenic poem, DRAMATIS PERSON-*. Carew, Sir George, The Lord of the Castle. Beresford, Brother of Lady Carew. Knox, Chaplain of the Castle. Campbell, A young Scottish Chieftain. Ogilby, Seneschal of the Castle. Donald, The Warder. Macarthy, A Celtic Chieftain. Lady Carew. Rosa, Her Daughter. CANARA, Sister of Macarthy. MORLACA, A Sennachie. or Prophetess. Time— morning, noon, afternoon, evening, and midnight of the same day. Era— about the year 1599. SCENE I. f 7/fo? bell-tower of Dungiven Castle, Londonderry, Ireland. Early morning.) OGILBY. While clambering these steps the thought arose, Whereabouts now the lady whom we saw Departing on her hazardous emprise ' Some two months since ; should she be fortunate, As 'tis my prayer she may, 'tis nearly time That thy long silent bell her welcome sound, Winner of the brave race for house and lands. DONALD. But for thy presence here as visitant My watch-tower would be as a dungeon, worse ; For they who are imprison'd take no thought Save for themselves, regardless of the world Without, from responsibility exempt ; Whilst I, with none to aid me, must defend This castle from the accident of fire Or greater danger that awaits us oft From the retainers of Macarthy, men Cruel as wild cats, sighted in the dark To catch a mouse ; but we can bell the cat, Else would it matter little whether won Or lost the wager, from conspiracies Safe neither way. OGILBY. Aye, luckless are the odds ; For even should her Ladyship attain IO To Essex, the Lord Deputy, her request Free to refuse, even should she find her way Thither on palfrey, might not her first gains Result in loss? himself incapable Of any base malevolent design, Might not some caitiff of Macarthy's clan Without recourse to open violence Confront the traveller at Pellipar * So that she be belated ? — a month since She had been here but for an accident. 'Tis now St. Lammas Eve, if she should fail Ere midnight at the castle gate to knock The wager will be lost, DONALD. True, 'tis the latest date ; But may she not, exempt from accident, By such impediment have been delay'd, As most besets the great, the law's constraint ? Under the highest many the degrees, Each an impediment ; yet win she must. Is not our Lady gifted with the wand, The snow-white wand that in her hand she bears f The knotted whip instead ? Was e'er such show As when our Lady on her palfrey black Quitted the court-yard, to the iron hoofs Resounding, sweeter music than of bells ? Clad in her purple riding robe enlac'd With gold, on her fair shoulders a snake chain, And on her head a plumed coronal Starr'd with an emerald, she looked the form Of victory. Let men in England prate Of their Godiva and her Peeping Tom, The Lady of Dungiven be my toast. * Pellipar, near Dungiven, now a country seat. t As in Moore's Irish melody, " Rich and rare," &c- I 1 OGILBY. And mine, meriting most our fealty; Veil'd our first mother when from Paradise Departing, and she went afoot, unlike Our lady, of the saddle capable, Nor heeding to be hidden from the view ; Of dignified demeanour, in her pride Is no presumption, though not Scottish born, Like some of us whose parentage lies north * Nearest the head, not distant from the heart, Is our good lady. DONALD. By her energy Making amends for her lord's quietude, Who soldier though he be would stay at home Rather than ride save with the cavalry As their commander ; Rosa after him Takes more than after her, beauty except ; To the Macarthy wed, heal'd were the feud Betwixt the families, such headlong race Again preventing. OG1LBV. Not so — the gage lost Not thus would she regain her heritage ; Her heart belongs to Campbell, trust my word 'Tis Campbell not Macarthy wins the Rose. But now must I betake me up Glenshane Thither as her attendant bid — Farewell. [Exeunt. *The Scotch settlement in Derry is here anticipated, it was not until the following reign that Derry became Londonderry. I 2 SCENE II. (The Glen of the Serpent among the mountains of the Slieve Gallion range, near BanagJicr. Time — noon.) ROSA. Tw.vs at thy summons, Morlaca, I came, Hoping thy promis'd aid in hour of need, Trustful yet hesitating, threading the glen Precipitously gloomy, but for growth Of various foliage that o'ercanopies The stream ; tended by Ogilby, who yon Awaits conclusion of our conference. Hither I come, a maiden half forlorn, Thee visiting in thy sequester'd cell Saintly enshrin'd : yet dost thou seem akin To the mysterious being that, 'tis said, Haunts, prison'd here, the watery element, Pent in the grotto of the cataract, The reservoir by crevices supplied From the tremendous precipice : how mute The pool, how loud the torrent, contrast strange Of calm and tempest, peace and strife ! This thorn With ribbons garlanded that simulate The aureola of Iris smiling yon ; This stunted thorn wet from the cataract Attests the healing virtues of the well, Just tribute to the snake medicinal That cures infirmities of sight, — many The votaries : but not to lave mine eyes, My outward orbs, that shrink not from the ray, ( )ome I to thee, 'twas by thy promise led To read the mirror of the waterfall, The glassy book oracular. I come Trusting mid the delineated forms Therein descried, to thee intelligible, Expert in auguries, I may some tidings Hear of my mother. 13 MORLACA. Who should now return, Having been absent the allotted term. Such tidings as are mine to give be thine. But ere we vex the mirror, on this couch Of moss reclining 'neath o'ershadowing boughs, List of the Saint and Serpent while I tell, That thou may'st not depart in ignorance Of that which coming hither thou shouldst know. — Long ages since when holy Patrick preached The wrong requiting by the serpent done To our first parents, this glen, far remote From the apostle, was inhabited , By a huge snake, voluminous with scales That glitt'ring as he glided in the sun Showed like a burning city, being dangerous When from the hills the hoarded icicles Dissolved in floods inundulating the vale And plains beyond ; with men and cattle thus His maw he fed, by his tempestuous tail The crops destroying and their tenements. With anguish'd tears the desolated folk Besought O'Heeney,* saint to Patrick dear, Who dwelt at Banagher, with gifts and prayers, To interpose in their extremity. Not deaf to their petition, with his staff, Gift of St. Patrick, fatal to the toad And reptiles all of species venomous, The serpent was arrested, and in rings Concentrical revolving, settled down In small circumference of this crystal font Bright with the molten silver of his scales, And with his quicken'd soul intelligent, Restoring sight, and to the dubious mind Giving to fathom the invisible, •St. O'llccney, otherwise St. Owen. Banagher, a village near Dungiven, not the Banagher on the Shannon. H Deep sounding as the serpent of the sea ^Yhereof 'twas spawn'd : hence is it that this pool Is fraught with blessings like that sacred sign, The Brazen Serpent of the wilderness, Or Siloam's basin by an angel stirr'd. But coupled with the metamorphosis Was this strange covenant, whether by saint Ordain'd or serpent mystery remains ; Though for the sphinx more suitable than saint, Being enigmatic : — 'twas this : After years A thousand the first lady in the land Nearest to where the miracle was wrought Should ride a thousand miles betwixt the Feast Of Pentecost and Lammas, and that blood Should stain her palfrey's fetlocks : 'tis now time For the fulfilment of the oracle ; And for thy better knowledge list the rune ; Qftcx a thousand years have pass'd Since the serpent's scales were cast, The lady of the land must ride 'Twixt Pentecost and Lammas tide A thousand miles — for years a mile Islands twain to reconcile, And her horse's hoofs be red With the blood at midnight shed. At fulfilment of the gage Lost and won a heritage. ROSA. Su marvellous a legend ne'er was said Or sung in prose or verse : this canticle Quaint though it be disquiets me yet more Breathing of bloodshed : terrify me not AYith such presentiments ; to thee Come I for consolation, not alarm. Yet of the serpent would I make a friend, Clasping him to my bosom, by the coils Acquiring knowledge, not of evil but good, So might I of my mother's safety learn. MORLACA. Was e'er such duteous daughter ! safe arriv'd, Thy mother having ridden a thousand miles Alone or aided, will the prize resign To Rosa and her lover : — chide me not — Hush, 'tis the auspicious moment ; the warm sun Has to the centre climb'd of the blue vault — But not for thee to gaze into the pool ; Too delicate thy limbs for the rough floor Framing the lucid mirror, and thy sight Untaught to read the mystic characters By the initiate scarcely legible, Might suffer injury requiring cure, Whereto prevention is preferable. Myself alone descending to the marge On bended knees will question the abyss. Follow not thou, await me by the thorn. (Morlaca retires to the pool, from whence offer an interval she returns.) ROSA. What hast thou witness'd ? Is my mother safe, And has she prosper'd in her enterprise ? MORLACA. Not yet has Lady Carew reached the gate Of Purgatory, region in thy creed Unmapt, she lives, nor is her scarlet coat With travel stain'd or changeful atmosphere. Already has she passed the battlements Of Derry, and before to-morrow morn Will have embrac'd thee, accident except. i6 ROSA. And is my mother veiFd from evil eye Of jealously which all unknown to thee Is said to tempt thy kindred? MORLACA. In yon well Shrin'd Truth, nor may I cheat the oracle Concealing half; truth in her nakedness Most beautiful scant drapery requires Disparaging — thy mother though secure, Behind her rides a noble cavalier From whom she would continually escape As from the darkness. ROSA. Yet more would I learn. Is the pursuer of thy race or mine, Celtic or Saxon ? MORLACA. By his sword and mantle. Tann'd boots voluminous, and haughty mien, He might be deem'd a Spanish cavalier. Yet of Milesians have I known the like. (Ogilby now stepping forward conducts Rosa homewards through the glen.) I? SCENE III. (The castle-hall — afternoon of the same day.) BERESFORD. Strange tidings these, Sir George, which from Coleraine Arriv'd in haste I bring; in the offing yon Rides a galleon which by her lofty stern, Gilded and carv'd, may be another bird -r jf- Of the Armada's feather; feigning trade, Tis stow'd, they say, with wine of Xeres rare, Her freight rank treason, contraband of war, Both crew and captain with the Spaniard leagued, Ocampo the confederate of O'Niel.* carew. Dangerous news, but my intelligence Surpasses thine ; Earl Essex has resign'd, And in his stead reigns Mountjoy, now Vice-King. Nay, interrupt me not, more is there yet to tell. Never before was such a desperate race As that by Devereux run ; soon as the Earl Had certain intimation from the Queen Of her displeasure, how that by his fault Ocampo with the rebels had combin'd, O'Neil abetting, reinforcements spite From England sent at her own regal cost. Soon as these plaints to Essex were conveyed, Her anger to avert, and in her grace Himself to reinstate, hot-foot he went O'er stormy waves and unexpected roads Arriving at the presence, resolute Himself to exculpate, before the queen Prostrate he knelt ; with haggard countenance, Unkempt his love -locks, negligent his dress, *Here again a paranomasia ; Ocampo's sphere of action was in the south of Ireland, where embarking at Kinsale he was taken prisoner by Mountjoy, and obliged to quit the kingdom. i8 How chang'd from him, the gallant Devereux To Leicester scarce inferior in renown (Himself once fain to bend the suppliant knee, Unbid returning from the Netherlands, Where he miscarried, e'en as Essex here). 'Twas thus beholding Devereux at her feet, The royal breast to pity was inclin'd. This the result : the queen by him surpris'd In her dishevell'd charms — the rumour such. Her frown relaxing, after conference held With Burghley and Sir Francis Walsingham, Acquitted Devereux of deliberate wrong, And sends us Mountjoy as his substitute. KNOX. Being chaplain of the castle, mundane things Not much concern me ; more my thoughts incline Towards her who doth exemplify the text, Though in a race run all, one wins the prize.* But not of Isthmian or Olympic dust Speaks holy Paul, save as by allegory ; Tis of the heavenly race, whereto compar'd All else is retrograde — yet do my prayers Follow our Lady dear, steadfast in faith, Who forth hath ventur'd in a righteous cause. Of her have tidings come ? CAREW. No news as yet Save from the solar herald, whose red rays Predict a bright to-morrow when the bars That would prevent the rising shall be broken. To-night the moon is in her plenitude, Smiling upon a hopeful enterprise Plann'd by a lady vindicating rights * I Cor. i.\. 24. ] 9 Peculiar to her sex : three ways, methinks, There be of doing things ; by head or heart, Or dexterous hand auxiliary to both. The three combin'd are best. KNOX. Perplexities Must oft by contradictories be met, To many shifting winds the mariner Shapes his adventurous course ; wanting the voice That stilled the waters of Gennesaret. CAMPBELL. With thee, Sir George, the strong hand gauntleted Holds foremost place, controlling head and heart ; Be mine the heart, though for the iron hand Need is there, doubtless, on occasion fit. CAREW. Not much amiss thou speakest, my young friend, E'en as becomes thy quality and race, That like the thistle of thy native hills None may encounter with impunity. Symbol not here quite inappropriate — This castle mine more by inheritance Than by alliance with the Beresfords Has not been held without exchange of blows Ourselves betw.xt and naturals of the soil, Whose antiquated title to excel Must be obtain'd a charter from the queen Or representing her, the deputy, Which to secure remonstrances despite My Lady hath set fofth ambassador. KNOX. Prudence may over violence prevail. Be wise as serpents, harmless as the dove, 20 Saith Scripture, and from Flaccus we may learn How force devoid of counsel harms itself,--" Precipitated by its senseless weight To the abyss, by our antagonists Better exemplified than by ourselves. \Exeunt. SCENE IV. (A ruinous church on the sandy shore of the stream flowing jrom the Glen of the Serpent, and not far from the castle.) CANARA. Unheeding consequences hither have I come To this dismantled church founded erewhile By St. O'Heeney when by miracle He quelled the snake yonder umbrageous glen Frequenting, so tradition saith : not this Our first encounter here, but 'tis the last, For us no future. CAMPBELL. The future who can tell, Save those the orbits of the sleepless stars Who calculate : — the present time is proof Both to the past and future ; by its use The past may be aton'd, the future blest. But why this boding tone? Why should we part Never to meet again ? CANARA. Our paths diverge — Thine is with flowers enamell'd, thorny mine. * Vis consilii expert mole ruit sua. — IIor. III. iv. 66. 21 Another loves thee, Archibald — one born To make thee happy, not unfortunate As were thy lot united unto him Whose parentage is a rebuke to thine — Saxon usurpers of our heritage ; Of whom art thou though guiltless of offence Intentional ; this the stern lesson taught By those to whom our tutelage belongs, E'en from the altar preached by holy priests Who blessing us curse those without the Church. CAMPBELL. But what if, Canara, I could disprove Their doctrine, what an' I could demonstrate By history, than legendary lore Less dubious, that our Caledonian clans And the Hibernian are of kindred stock, Both branches of the apostolic vine By the Culdees transplanted from the East. Scots both ! — if this to thee I can make plain, Would'st thou not stoop, hoping to reconcile The threads by discord sever'd ? List to me Preceptor of a pupil yet untaught Save how to wound by beautiful disdain. Turn not away those glances that most charm When scornful. List, a thousand years ago In the sixth century : — nay, hear me out. The time is pass'd and can no more offend— A thousand years ago, in the sixth century Reigned Cabra Ruada, surnam'd the Red, Grandson of Con, hero of hundred fights. Thron'd in the northern province of this isle Amid the wooded hills of Donegal ; His aid to supplicate came fugitives From Caledon, ambassadors elect Of the despairing monarch of the Picts By Scandinavian Vikings overpower'd. 11 The Caledonian prince to reinstate Sailed the three sons of Ruada renown'd — Again that scornful smile : nay, hear me out, Dalriads were they and Christians ; by their aid From Norsemen freed was Albany, so call'd, Whom to requite for their heroic deeds On each of the three Dalriads was bestow'd A Caledonian spouse with regal dower, So that the Caledonians Scots became. From whom derive the Campbells of the clan Diarmid, known as children of the Mist. Thus, Canara, have I prov'd we are akin And owe each other love. CANARA. Such love, indeed, As sister owes to brother, owe I to thee. Be thou as brother ! more endearing ties If such there are, which well may be denied, To me are interdicted as to thee ; Of the church catholic am I, by thine Calumniated as of Babylon. Hast thou not heard such heresy from Knox, The castle chaplain, who shall thee unite With Rosa, thine already, if my heart Reads hers aright : in conquering her hand Me hast thou for auxiliary, convine'd That by such wedlock all may yet end well. Thus fondly would I compensate the love, The words of love that ne'er may be renew'd Twixt thee and me ; far better for us both They never had been spoken : — part we now No more to meet. CAMPBELL. Oh, say not so, or yet If part we must, resume thy haughty CAMPBELL. yet mien, Nor break my heart by insincerity. Why should we part ? hush, we are not alone. Seest thou yon kerle, who with malignant scowl Controls our movements ? Is he of thy house Or an invidious spy ? 'Twas only now His dangerous swarthy features caught my sight. Him had I known observant, my discourse Had been less audible, but thee my words Could never harm. CANARA. Tis Fergus, gallowglass, The henchman of Macarthy who awaits To be my escort homewards : fear him not Even had he heard thee, in the Saxon speech Wholly unlearn'd he could not comprehend. Since the departure of my brother, absent still I scarce know why unless it be to quench The hopeless passion smould'ring in his breast, By the Confessor deem'd heretical, By me calamitous ; e'er since he went Fergus has been my squire importunate, Now beckoning me impatient of delay. Yet ere we part, if parting cost thee pain, To my poor presence if inclin'd : — to-night Know that by Rosa to the castle bid Again we meet. CAMPBELL. Merciful words- Let come what will, a tutelary star, Thou never canst be distant from my sight. [Exeunt. 24 S< ENE V. (Midnight and moonlight. The castle bell announces the approach of Lady Carew. Fergus, the gallon/glass, concealed in the shadow of the archway stabs Macarthy, mistaking him for Lady Carew.) CANARA. My brother, oh, my brother, lift thy head, Speak to me ere the torrent of thy blood Have borne me with thee to the silent tomb. MACARTHY. Dying the wager I have won — to Rosa My love till now unspoken I bequeath. (He dies.) KNOX. His days are ended, his life's youthful race Completed ere arriving at the goal Where should have been renewal of his might ! Now may the castle tocsin be attun'd To dying knell. BERESFORD. Where is the homicide ? The doer of this felon deed, where is he ? And what his motive ? he cannot be of ours. OGILBY. 'Tis Fergus, gallowglass of him he slew, Who would have slain another, even her The Lady of the castle deem'd the bar, So he imagined in his ignorance, Most villainous, to his chieftain's rights. First in the race Macarthy by the arch O'ershadow'd met th' assassin's vengeful pike 25 Falling as at the sacrificial shrine Instead of her sav'd by angelic hand. Thus may the passage be interpreted, The caitiff who would doom anticipate Fast have we bound, no language hath the wretch To us intelligible, but in his looks Is that which dungeon dark doth best beseem. (The scene here changes from the court-yard to the great hall of the castle.) LADY CAREW. Silent save for my anguish, even now Scarce am I able to find utterance, My joy is chang'd to grief, knowing too late By whom accompanied I would escape, Fearful to cast an anxious look behind, Lest Orpheus-like failing of my emprise My purpose should in disappointment end. Alas for him my rash competitor Who me o'ertaking even at the goal, Dying hath turn'd my triumph to defeat, Penalty paying that would have been mine, But for Macarthy whose disastrous love Hath oft disquieted me. Where is Rosa ? CAREW. Gone with Canara, Sister to slain Macarthy ; gone with her To help her weep. BERESFORD. No better comforter. Honour and votive tears are tribute due To the Macarthy. But now that thou art safe, My sister, and again in thy own home, Forgetting for awhile this ghastly deed, 0.6 Wilt of thy wondrous quest give the result ; Hast thou achiev'cl thy purpose ? LADY CAREW. Yea and No ! This parchment scroll sign'd by Elizabeth And pictur'd with her royal frontispiece, This grant of lands in perpetuity * Reads now as a death warrant. BERESFORD. By the queen If sign'd, seal'd, and delivered, treason 'twere The document to question, and the death Of the competitor, no longer such, Doth more enhance the price — a soldier speaks - Nor yet uncharitably, had he speech Whose lips are clos'd for ever, his discourse Would doubtless show that to defend the cause Of womanhood he trod the path believ'd Most chivalrous. CAREW. This blood hath countervail^ The tidings of Ocampo's overthrow ; The wily Spaniard counting on the aid Of Hugh O'Neil, Tyrone's rebellious Earl, Whose force was intercepted by Mountjoy Now captive taken, must depart the coast, His ransom paid. How had we all rejoic'd At this success of the Lord Deputy, But for mischance of this eventful night. (Reenter Canara with Rosa.) * Royal grants of land in Ireland formerly bore the portrait of the reigning sovereign. I have seen such among my own family parchments and else where.— O.B.C. 27 CAMPBELL. Sad meeting this, too strangely terrible — Scarce dare I now approach thee, Canara, Yet would I comfort speak : is there no balm, No sweet alleviation in the thought That he is honour'd as thyself belov'd, That with thee dwells the sympathies of all ! CANARA. If balm there be alleviating pain, 'Tis in the consciousness that by the fate Of him the object more of fear than love, The bar is broken parting thee and thee, Rosa from Archibald, betrothed by death Of him the winner of the heavenly race. ( Canara Joins the hands of Rosa and Campbell in the presence of the other persons of the drama.) [curtain.] %* "After all my researches I cannot authenticate the history of one of our finest specimens of architecture, that of the old church of Banagher. Built of cut freestone in a good and even elegant style ; some modern characters engraven on the west door date its foundation a.d. 477, which needs other evidence. Beside the church stands the monastery, the only remaining one in the country— it is entire except the roof."— Sampson's Londonderry. 28 CJrristmHs (took The lark that to the sunny skies Uplifts its rapid wing, Cuckoo that to itself replies When welcoming the spring ; Nor other bird the woods among Of Philomel can match the song. The Day with its external glare. Its vanities and shows, Can never with the Night compare, That more brings than repose, Peopling the palaces of gloom With forms of visionary bloom. Far sweeter than of Philomel, Melodious refrain Was by shepherds heard of Israel A new nocturnal strain ; By them were beauteous forms beheld Poetic visions that excelled. Of what those shepherds saw and heard In land of Palestine We come to tell, unto our word, Good people, ail incline; Though chill the air the strain hath charm Of hoary age the heart to warm. 2 9 Beneath the shelter of a rock Reclin'd the shepherds lay, No other thought except their flock To guard from wolves had they, Unless, perchance, in Scripture taught, Of Him that was to come they thought. Yet scarce did those poor peasants deem That they of low degree Should be included in the scheme, That theirs the first to see The child who should the curse retrieve, The wrong requiting done to Eve. To them reclining on the grass An angel bright appeared, Not knowing how it came to pass Of him were they afear'd, Until the silence thus he broke — Was ne'er such voice as his who spoke ! "Fear not," the angel said to them, "To you this happy morn, In David's city, Bethlehem, The Prince of Peace is born ; And this to you shall be for sign, A manger doth the babe enshrine. "Good tidings of great joy I bring- To you and all the world.*' E'en as he said their radiant wing The seraphim unfurled ; And ere to heaven they reascend Their voices thus in chorus blend 3° " Glory be to God above, Enthron'd o'er highest height ; To men who dwell on earth be Love, Wherein He doth delight.'"' This carol heard from year to year Again we sing your hearts to cheer. II. Two Books there be, two wondrous books- The sacred, the profane ; And none prevailed in former time To reconcile the twain, Until from heaven an angel came The joyful tidings to proclaim. How war the Titans waged with Jove The cyclic poets told ; How Danai and Dardans fought, By Homer was enroll'd, Ended Virgilian epic lay At dawning of the gospel day. "Twas now that in Judgean mead, Where shepherds watched their fleece, To them glad tidings were reveal'd Of universal peace ; To them was open'd wide a page At distance view'd by Syrian Mage. 3 l The Book of the Evangelist, Which Sinai's doth excel, Reflected may we now behold In glass of Raphael. More precious than a diadem The Book that tells of Bethlehem.* iax tin Etto tar. Of thy progenitors, New Year, Full many have we known, Now dubious whether with a cheer To greet thee or a groan, The latter the alternative, Unless thy parent we forgive. Forgive we may, but scarce forget The disappointments dire, The various causes of regret Bequeath'd us by thy sire ; The brave Crusaders slain, whose fame Serves only to augment our blame. The heroes at the water brinks Eager their thirst to assuage, Tempted by the Egyptian sphinx To treacherous Mirage ; Such ills who strove not to prevent Merits not praise but punishment. *In allusion to Raphael's "Madonna degl' Ansidei" purchased for the National Gallery. 32 Hence is it that we hesitate At the coming to rejoice Of one impos'd on us by fate, Regardless of our choice ; Since unsolicited our vote, Why waste on welcoming a groat Thus mused a grey-beard anchorite Awaiting midnight stroke, When suddenly a Phantom bright Appearing thus outspoke : " Why is thy countenance so sad ? Oh, look on me and be thou glad ! " Dost thou lament the brave who shed Their blood in the Soudan, Heroes the scymetars who fed Of the fierce Musselman ? Of him the martyr of Kartoum Would'st thou avenge the cruel doom ? " Know that their names are now enroll'd 'Mongst those escap'd the strife, Who quaff from cup of beaten gold Beneath the Tree of Life The water of that crystal well Surpassing Eden's Hiddekel. " For all things is a time confest, 'Vails not the past to chide ; Look forwards, ever hope the best, In Providence confide ; So shalt thou welcome with good cheer As heretofore the coming year." 33 Thus saying, a pictorial shower Scattering, the Phantom went, E'en as the bells from the church tower Announced the new event, Replacing him aboard on Styx, Eighteen Hundred and Eighty-Six. II. A rugged nurse hath the New Year, January her name, Yet not averse to social cheer The reputable dame. With quip and crank and merry wile Expert the infant to beguile. Not long will she retain her place, No sooner born than bred, This gouvernante the youth will chase, Impatient to be wed ; Of Spring enamour'd to her bower, He hastes at blossoming of flower. Expiring in his loving arms, Brief space hath he for tears, Comes Summer with her riper charms And passion that endears, Quick'ning the pulses of his heart, Alas, that they should ever part ! 34 Yet such the ordinance of fate, Widow'd again he wooes, In Autumn finding next a mate Whom he again must lose ; But not before to soothe his grief, Enrich'd is he with cereal sheaf. So oft in matrimony tried Still doth its ties engage, In Winter now he finds a bride Adapted to his age ; Wedded to her for life and death, To her his heir he will bequeath. Urates Der Winter steigt, ein Riesenschwan, hernieder. Anastasius Grun. Winter, a giant swan with wings unfurl'd, Descending gradual whitens the wide world, He sings no song, seems it as though his mood 'Twere only on the slumb'ring seeds to brood, Till spring that on his breast finding repose, Thence draws the nutriment whereby she grows ; Soon will a thousand flowers their bloom display, A thousand song-birds wake the sweet love lay. Another Swan there is, the angel Death, Brooding upon the seeds the sod beneath, Silent and solemn far extends his power, None knoweth of his coming day or hour. The grass-green grave, the ossuary blest, Alike he cherishes unto his breast ; The while we watch and pray, until the spring The flowers and fruits of Paradise shall bring. 3S Goldncr schcin deckt den ./%*/;.— Matthison. Golden shine decks the pine, In the grove the leafy glimmer Grows continually dimmer. Calm the wave forgets to rave, Tow'rds the isle with swan-like motion Glides a pinnace from the ocean. Yellow sand streaks the strand, Clouds now white, now red as roses, Horizen of the West discloses. To and fro the rushes throw Their arms as 'twere a welcome flinging To the wild fowl yonder winging ig« On the height the anchorite, The ivy-mantled belfry's warden, Tends his myrtle-tinted garden. O'er the stream dies the gleam, Already is the vale forsaken, By the shadows overtaken. Silver shine bathes the pine, From heroic graves ascending Myths are with the moonbeams blending. 36 Urmia. Auch das Schone muss sterben, das Menschen und Gdtte beewinget! — Schiller. E'en the Beautiful must die, Death is the portion of mortals \ Ne'er doth brazen heart melt of the Stygian Jove. Once and once only, by Love beguil'd, he relented ; But, on the threshold recalPd, Orpheus again lost his bride. Strove Aphrodite in vain to save her darling Adonis, Viewing his delicate limbs torn by th' infuriate boar. Thetis, herself divine, failed her godlike sw to recover When at the Scsean gate, falling, his doom he fulfilled ; Yet from the flood arising sad with the daughters of Nereus, Greatest of heroes for him sounded funereal dirge. Hence may we learn that the Gods are not unconscious of sorrow, .When the excellent die, seen never more on the earth. Thus it becomes us mortals to mourn for the good and heroic, While unto Orcus their home songless th' ignoble descend. 37 Wat Sfoinut. Zwei Reime heifs' ich viermal kehren wieder. — A. W. Schlegl. Four rhymes within my compass I contain, ' These rhymes distributed in such a way That one assume of couplets the array, Each interpos'd betwixt an outer twain ; Then of the fourfold strophe lest the chain Should exercise too arbitrary sway Over the fancy, checking its free play Changes the cadence to a triple strain. — Him would I ne'er with laurel garland grace, Who thinks to measure by its mere extent My worth, nor knows that deepest mysteries May be conceal'd in limitary space ; Symmetrical my form, and I present Truths with advantage of antithesis. 3* 5Htc §8fater-$tlir iini> ifo Shratt. Zfe j////i» Wasserrcsc steigt aits dem blanen See. — Geibel. The gentle Water-Lily that in the lake doth grow, Its moist leaves softly quiver, its cup is white as snow, The moon when she arises with beams to fill it up, The treasures of her radiance will empty in that cup. A swan towards the Lily is crossing the blue lake, The snow-white swan is singing its farewell food to take. It sings so sadly, sweetly, in singing 'twill expire, Oh, lily, water-lily, didst thou that song inspire ! Jxam %im. Dicse Rose pfluck' ich hier in der fremden Feme. — Lenau. These roses that I've gather'd in a foreign garden here How gladly would I bring to thee, oh, Lady fair, Yet miles many interposing, soon faded were the bloom — Love ne'er from love should sever beyond a flower's perfume, No farther than the nightingale to chambers of the West Can carry mossy filaments to decorate its nest. 39 Jw*fottll jof tbt l§xhxttn at fate. There is one Almighty power, one supreme above all thrones, One, exalted only Ruler who all earthly kingdoms owns ; By Him kings and princes govern, in His gift is every crown, He it is that lifts up nations from the dust and casts them down. Now the crown is leaving Cambria where it has for ages been, But fond liberty smiles on us as the azure sky serene, Though dark clouds around may gather while His blessings crown the land, What can humbled Wales do better than leave all in His hand ! erlitfs gfrjjijr la th JwdwII. Bravely princes have ye spoken while the humble knee was bent, Him confessing who of nations doth the rise and fall prevent ; Though the sun withhold his splendour, ne'er forsaken is the year, Soon the roses and the lilies after winter reappear. Of Cambria, though the harp be shatter'd, silent ne'er the song of bard, And the heroes slain in battle shall not fail of their reward. From the country of the vanquish'd shall be nam'd proud Albion's heir, And to earth's remotest regions Cambria's prowess shall declare. 4 o IStosip f arjj. This silver harp excels th' Homeric shield, Stain'd is the buckler oft with drops of gore ; Few would desire Pelides' brand to wield, Or bend the bow Odysseus twanged of yore. But even now this harp has power to charm As in the glorious days of good Queen Bess, Whose gracious proclamation freed from harm The loyal Bard who should its chords caress. E'en such the lyre that Taliessin woke, Cadwallon, Modred, and pindaric Gray, Whose minstrelsy the cloud of error broke, Concealing Cambria's mountains from the ray. — Long as the Harp of Mostyn shall endure Wild Wales of royal favour is secure. *V*The silver harp inherited by the Mostyns from their ancestors is the subject of a letter from Queen Elizabeth (dated October 23, 1568 — in the 9th year of her reign) sanctioning " in our Marchesses of Wales" its use as against the vagrants naming themselves " Minstrels, Rhythmers, or Barths." UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-50m-7,'54(5990)444 THE LIBRARY LSSIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA U)& ANGELES UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 368 723 3