!BBICEU!Y\ .IBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA KENWITH CASTLE, other fl 0*m0. BY ELIZA DOWN. SAMUEL TINSLEY & CO. SOUTHAMPTON STREET, STRAND. 1878. LOAN STACK TO COLONEL PALMER, OF TORRINGTON, DEVON, AS A SLIGHT TRIBUTE OF GRATITUDE AND ESTEEM ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED. 099 CONTENTS. PAGE KENWITH ... ... ... ... ... ... I BALDER ... ' ... ... ... ... ... 47 NIGHT AND DAY ... ... ... ... ... 52 NIORD AND SKADDA ... . ... ... ... 56 THE NORNS ... ... ... .,. ... ... 58 ASGARD ... ... ... ... ... ... 60 THE MESSENGER OF FRIGGA ... ... ... ... 63 THE GOD OF THE WINDS ... ... ... ... 64 THE VALKYRS ... ... ... ... ... 65 FREY ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 LIFE ... ... ... ... ... ... 72 JAIRUS' DAUGHTER ... ... ... ... ... 76 THE MAGI ... ... ... ... ... ... 80 REST ... ... ... ... ... ... 82 THE CROSS ... ... ... ... ... ... 85 "NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE" ... ... ... 87 CHRISTMAS, 1877 ... ... ... ... ... 91 THE NEST ... ... ... ... ... ... 94 MAY... ... ... ... ... ... ... 96 TO A CUCKOO ... ... ... ... ... 98 A SUMMER SONG ... ... ... ... ... IOO THE BURIED TEMPLE ... ... ... ... IO2 INDIA ... ... ... ... ... ... IOS EVELINE ... ... ... ... ... ... Ill Vi CONTENTS. PAGE THE BURIAL OF MOSES ... ... ... ... 114 TO A BUTTERFLY ... ... ... ... ... 117 THE THREE KINGS ... ... ... ... ... I2O FAILURES ... ... ... ... ... ... 123 THE RIVER ... ... ... ... ... ... 125 THE MOTHER'S PRAYER ... ... ... ... 127 THE HIGHER AND THE LOWER VOICE ... ... 130 ST. PATRICK'S EASTER FIRE ... ... ... ... 133 JACOB'S DREAM ... ... ... ... ... 137 HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP ... ... ... 142 MESSERIA ... ... ... ... ... 151 KENWITH. PART I. WHERE the long channel broadens its blue arm, Stretched to the main, 1 and rolls its heavy waves Upon the pebbly girdle of the land, High on its circular mount, with walls enringed, Uprose the tower of Kenwith, hoar and grey, Built by some Briton chief in days far back, Before the Saxon rose to power of rule ; And therein lay Odune, the Devon Earl, The servant of King Alfred, 2 and with him A scanty remnant of his following, Few men, but brave and of determined soul. They held the place 'gainst the barbaric hordes Led by the Viking Hubba, Regnor's son, 3 Of all the Norsemen fiercest and most fell. i 2 KENWITH. With his long ships, from summer raid returned From the Demetian coast, which he had swept With fire and sword, harrying the mountain kings, He anchored on the Devon shore a tract As yet unshorn of its rich growths, where spread Green pastures, and in season waved, full-eared, The yellow-bearded corn. Upon the banks Washed by the mingled Taw and Torridge ere They pour their tribute waters to the deep, The troops of the Berseger camped, and reared On high their standard ; central 'mong their tents, The giant ensign waved, its voluminous folds Opening and closing with the wild sea gales. Sacred was that great gemmed and broidered flag To the rude war-sons of the north ; their Scalds Sang of it in wild lays : fabling, they told How Hubba, son of Lodbrok, in his youth Received it, wrought by spell in one brief hour, By the weird three 4 who in the sombre depths Of a pine-forest suddenly fronted him With crowned brows. From out the hoary gloom, Exceeding beautiful of face they shone, KENWITH. J Women, but taller than of mortal mould ; White-raimented, and glistening like the moon, Silvered with frost. Chanting the runic lay, They deftly wove those pale Queens of the North The mighty raven standard, gave it him, And faded out of sight ; and evermore He bore it with his armies where he passed, Throughout all lands ; and ever in the fray The bird of Odin, wrought thereon by these, The fateful three, raising the giant wing, Or drooping it, gave sign of victory Or loss ; in many a field its blazonry Had streamed, and round its stand had strove and fought Their noblest, bravest ! With Odune the Earl, And with the remnant of his following Entrenched in the rude fortress, lived that hour The hope of Alfred's kingdom. The fair land Lay in the grasp of the rapacious foe, Sucked dry of all her wealth : northward, from where Northumbria stretched her line, to the towered city - 4 KENWITH. Built by the Roman lords of old, and thence, Beyond the streams of Avon, bordering The land of the West-Saxons, Alfred's seat, The barbaric troops had poured, and filled The ways with blood and violence. The Saxon King, Forsaken of his best in that dark strife, Stood single 'gainst his enemies, and passed, Crownless and sceptreless, to the marsh wilds Of Somerset ; 5 and there, in secret hold Abiding, tarried till his hour should come To strike once more for throne and kingdom. Thus Through all the desolate land one wail went forth : The glare of temples reddened in the skies, The peaceful homesteads lay in smouldering heaps, And still the spoiler spoiled ! Near ten decades, The feet of heathen in the land had bruised Her fields, and trampled down her fruits, at first Small pirate bands, roving the restless seas, Which swooped for plunder on the unguarded coast, Gorged them and fled ; they slowly gathered head, And waxing bolder, led their armies on KENWITH. ? To sack her cities and pull down her forts. Oft the strong-handed Saxon lords smote them, But still the hydra-headed foe afresh Rose up ; and for her slain and vanquished sons, The teeming North gave from her breast new sons To more than fill their place ! Men told of signs Presaging evil, ere the heathen hordes Poured from their native forests of the North : In the night heavens a fiery meteor blazed, Shaped like a crucifix ; 6 each eve it rose, After the set of sun, stretching its arms Athwart the western blue ; upon the disc Of the blanched moon, paling toward the dawn, Dark spots like drops of sprinkled blood were seen ; And on the eve of the Nativity, The year that Egbert set the regal throne Above the petty princedoms of the land, Her broad and silver shield, eclipsed, burned red, With dusky glare, turned wholly into blood. And there were wondrous adders in the woods Of Andreds lea, skirting the Kentish coast, O KENWITH. Where Hengist had his seat of power of old ; Which hissing glid into the homes of men And wrought them mischief. Thus they spake, and held Those things prophetic of the direful times When shrine and altar of the heavenly Christ Were overthrown and holy place despoiled, By the red-handed worshippers of Thor. * * * * # * Within the chamber of the turret sate The Saxon chieftain, gazing on the sea, Seen through the lattice of the tower, broad, smooth. And darkly blue, with all its level waves Reposed. It was the eve; the sun was low Upon the waters, and above its disc, Dark, fiery, hung a single heavy cloud, Its rough and jagged lines incarnadined With the red glare beneath. Beside the Earl A lady stood, of noble mien, his wife ; Her face was white and worn, yet beautiful As some Greek dream of beauty, like the calm Grand front of Pallas, with the regal brow Set with the seal of the high soul She leant KENWITH. Upon the chieftain's shoulder, and her eyes, Like his, were turned toward the great red sun Slowly descending in the mighty breast Of waters, crimsoned with the fiery flush Along the line of waves. Thus for a while The twain ; then, turning to his wife, the Earl Broke silence, saying, " One sole hope remains One only ; on it will I stake our all. Fear not the issue ; we have hewn our way Through ranks of foes as stout as these which now Encompass us. " Rememberest thou my wife, That sunrise on the fatal Wilton hills, The morning after battle ? 7 (Thou wasc there, For all night long thou wanderedst o'er the field Seeking our Saxon dead.) Not yet the sun Was risen, but above a pile of clouds A thin and narrow band of light appeared, Pale herald of the day. Then, wearing still His armour, clotted with the battle-drops, The King came by, and stood by me and spake : 4 What thinkest thou, Odune ; shall in this land & KENW1TH. The foe prevail, and all of God be gulfed In heathen blackness ?' and I made reply, Not wisting what to answer, for mine heart Was smitten with the sense of our great loss, ' What thinkest thou, my liege ?' He answered not A moment's space ; then said he, while his eyes Rested upon that narrow rim of dawn Which brightened in the heavens, 'I have thought much ; Haply God's purpose broadens slowly through These bloody times to its full arc of day. Not Thor, but Christ ; not Dane, nor Saxon, Celt, Nor Angle, but one people in the land, And in them all the Christ.' Grieving, I spake, ' Oh, my dread lord, how should this be, for we Are rather like wild beasts that rend each other?' Still gazing on that line of gold, which waxed And broadened till the hills were bathed in light, And all the melancholy field revealed, With its great clumps of slain, the king replied, ' Methinks it will be so.' He added not, But as he turned I marked his countenance, KENWITH. Sublime as some great angel's. Still the words Live in my mind. Can their fulfilment be ? Or shall this goodly realm of Christ slide back Upon the edge of hell, and sink itself Into the bestial slough, knowing not God ? Bruised underneath the Pagan heel we lie. Oh, England ! oh, my country ! oh, poor land, Of thine own sons betrayed ! aliens, not sons. Shall in the eagle's nest be reared the wren ? Or at the udders of the lioness Young hares ? Yet such are we, even such." She bent Closer toward him, and as he spake her cheek Waxed paler, whiter than the white storm-foam Borne on the livid wave. Yet her clear eyes Shone on him in their beauty, as she said, " Not all, oh Earl ! The winnowing of God Doth separate the precious from the vile ; Yet are there left some loyal English hearts, Enough to raise King Alfred's throne once more From out its ruins, such thou hast with thee. 10 KENWITH. These few most noble ones redeem the base." " Yea," said the Saxon, " there are that remain, As precious grains in our great heap of chaff ; Nor deem I that the king's high hopes can fail Wholly their issues. The foul Pagan dark Cannot out-quench the light. The higher power Surely subdues the lower. The human doth Out-tower the brute, and slowly master it, Though with long steps of pain. " But to our task. My men await my bidding ; they will go Whither I lead ; yea, into any gulfs Of death I choose to leap, they will not blench To follow. We will dare all chance, all risk, And beard this heathen foe ; before the dawn, Under the covert of the early dusk Make we our sally from the fort." He paused, And all his iron will gathered its power Upon his massive brows, and set the lines Sterner round the firm mouth ; nor more he spake, Nor she to him replied. Silent they sate, KENWITH. 1 1 Hand clasped in hand, with hearts too passion-fraught For speech. The mournful sea moaned in her bed, Rolling from off the beach her tide, and from The woods a solitary eagle's cry Resounded in the stillness ; such great strain And stress of agony could come but once Within a life, even as the death-pang Doth come but once. So the slow moments crept. And then they spoke, in broken passionate words Fragments of speech, shivered with the strong pain, Like riven stones from the hot entrails thrown Of fiery ^tna, when its sulphurous womb Heaves with volcanic birth their farewells. Rose They both and stood ; then turned, and hand from hand Lingeringly drew, and the Earl passed from forth The turret chamber, and the massy door Clanged after him. Beneath the edge of cloud The last red embers of the sunset fires Faded, and the night fell upon the face Of the broad waters : the pale stars wheeled forth Upon their courses to fulfil their paths 12 KENWIT1I. In the high heavens ; the moon was not, or young, And as a colourless crescent gave faint light To rip the gloom ; so over all the scene The descending night her shadowy mantle spread, Nature's great peace, as ever. Then the Earl, Moving among his followers, spake, " Arise, Prepare yourselves, for know my purpose stands To lead you forth. Be ready ere the dawn Plant her pale prints upon the eastern hills. Haply we may take by surprise the foe, Who, haughty in his strength, relaxes watch." ****** Beneath the raven standard, whose large folds Swayed slowly in the wind, within his tent, The Berserk sat, carousing with his jarls. The bearded vikings grim, lolling at ease, Filled to the brim the horns with fragrant mead, Trolling the wassail song from clangorous throats, While rose and rolled the low hoarse laugh, as breaks The sullen surf upon the jagged rocks With all their cavernous hollows ! KENWITH. 1.3 Large of frame And strong of limb were they, these Norseland jarls : Upon their arms the brawny muscle swelled, Like gnarled roots of ancient British oaks, Knotted and large. Dinted with strokes of war, Tanned with the winds, those bold sea-rovers ; each Gaunt form was like a furrow-cloven cliff, On whose keen ledge the eagle sits at watch. Or like some granite peak far out at sea, Wave-washed and rent. So drank the Berserk bold Huge draughts ; and all the captains of his war Drank deep with him, and the wild laugh leapt up, And rang in peals a-down the table ; while The large and measured horns passed to and fro, And each man strove his fellow to out drink. " A goodly land, here will we take our ease: Large woods and pastures, and fair rivers, where Glance the bright shoals of fish, tumbles and leaps The large white salmon, foam-like in the foam ! The Sceptre of the Saxons, where is he ? Ask the wild boars, question the wallowing swine, 14 KENWITH. If with them herds the sometime Wessex King." So passed the scornful jest, tossed like a ball From each to each, nor spared the Devon Earl, Late foe in arms, whom with his men they deemed Meshed in their net. Towered the Norse chiefs form, Uprising ; with his heavy fist he smote Upon the boards, as some huge hammer strikes Heavily on the anvil of the smith, And saying, "We have run the fox to earth, And he cannot escape us," scoffing laughed, And laid his massive form again at ease. And when the lazy laughter of his scorn Died on his lips, lazily he turned him round, And his eye lighted on his favourite Scald, Who stood apart, leaning upon his harp. An aged man was he, with length of beard In cataracts of snow tossed o'er his breast, Down to the girdled waist ; to him the chief Spake carelessly, raised on his elbow : " Sing ; Give us one of your sagas ; let us hear The clangour of Thor's hammer as it smites Upon the rocks, the hurtle and the clash KEN WITH. I Of the great gods contending in their halls." Straightway the hoary Scald bent o'er his harp, And with his fingers swept the chords, with voice Accompanying ; he sang the ancient strife Betwixt the -^Esir and the giant race, Waged in the realms of ever-during frost ; And how the hammer of the Thunderer cleft The mountains to their spurs, rent with their trees Asunder ; and of the great halls of the gods, And of fair Asgard diademed with towers, The hundred-gated city which poured forth Her hosts to battle on the sacred plains, Her choicest flower of warriors daily slain, To be with each new morn renewed; then changed, And like the mournful music of the wind, 'Mong the pine tops, within the vast hoar woods Of Orkadale, low melancholy flowed The melodious song, the lay of Balder, first Of sons of heaven, whom all men did love, So fair was he, and gentler than the breath Of spring first breathing o'er her violets. Howbeit by craft he fell, and the sun-god 1 6 KEN WITH. Passed to the shades of Hela. All the deep Burned with the great funereal ship on which His pallid corse lay decked ; 8 far off it shone, Like the red meteorous blaze which sometimes lights The sunless heavens of Norroway in deep Mid winter a colossal pyre of fire, A mount of ruby tipped with gold ; while ran The earth with human tears, more fast than streams That sudden gush in genial warmth of spring. But when the strings thrilled to th' impassioned touch, Suddenly 'neath the hand, the central chord Snapped, and the music ceased. Then in the pause Ensuing, lifting up his glooming brows 'Mong the grand rugged heads that ringed him round, The Scald said gloomily, " An evil sign ; I like it not, oh jarl ! Sea-king, beware. The misty remnants of an ominous dream Trouble my memory ; last night it was, Methought I stood upon the beach, and gazed Upon the waters of a turgid sea. Not this which lips yon belt of pebbly stones KENWITH. 17 But the great northern sea, with all her waves Rolled heavily, as after storm scarce sunk To rest. Above the crest of a large wave, Hollowed and livid green below, uprose A head, gigantic, armed, the vizor drawn. Upon the helm, what seemed a kingly crown Was set; but as I gazed the circlet paled And vanished utterly, and the crowned head Descended crownless to the wave ; strange runes Ran wailingly along the deep and died In silence. I awoke, and knew my dream Foreboded evil. Son of Lodobrok Beware !" He hearkened, the Norse chief; his brows, Like granite rocks o'erhanging scowling floods, Grew darker in their wrath ; yet light he laughed, And, striking with his sword on the harp-strings, Said, " Dream no more or dream to better aim. Let the reft chord be mended ; for the rest, Fear not for us : what the sword wins the sword Can hold." 9 And to his men, " Oh, jarls, rest you, 2 1 8 KEN WITH. We verge upon the dawn." He raised the screen Which parted off the inner tent, passed in, And on a couch of skins stretched his huge frame ; The fret-work veinage on his temples sank, And the broad chest to gentler breathings fell, And gradually as some large braund dies down From flame to smouldering brightness on the hearth, The fiery gleams quenched out and paled themselves In the deep glowing eyes, and with a low Bubble of laughter, murmuring brokenly, Half dreaming, "Hares caught in the gin, safe trapped/* The hardy northern chieftain sank to sleep, The slumberous thought of scorn within his heart. PART II. IT neared the dawn, but yet no shafts of light Pierced the dull east ; the swathes of a thick mist Clung closely to the cold face of the earth ; The leaves were wet as if with heavy rain, But rain was not, only the sheeted mist Slowly dissolved itself in clammy drops. KEN WITH. 19 Within the ancient castle's beetling walls, The men of Ken with gathered silently Around their chief ; a single torch, With foggy rings begirt, burned in the midst, And cast its light upon the warrior's face, Revealing it like to some early god's, Divinely calm : and calm, and stern, and set, The faces which surrounded him, as if Hewn from the rock, so stamped was every brow With steadfast purpose ; for they knew, these men, They moved into the very jaws of death, Following their leader's call. The rivulets Babbled among their osiers, and the sea Murmured amid her surges chill and cold. Then spake Odune, chief of the Saxons, " Rise, Let us go forth ; follow me close, oh friends ! Strike when I give the word. Strike, O great hearts, For Christ and for the King !" So outward passed, And underneath the pall of the thick mist In silent march went on : no clink of sword 20 KEN WITH. Betrayed them, nor the glint of armour shone, Splintering with rays the dark ; no feather waved In all the band, nor did they bear aloft The dragon of the western Saxons, which Their chiefs and heroes old were wont to bear In battle. As the drops of the night-dew Softly distil upon the delicate flower, Soundless their motion ; and as silently And gently as the white curled mist glides up On a still morn from some smooth river's brink, Along the grassy marge, they onward moved. Thus stealthily approached they unperceived The Norseman's camp. Between the deadly fans Of the out-lying lines the Saxons passed, Close to the ring of dusky tents. They crept On hands and knees along the slimy ground, Each man apart, slowly, with bated breath, And with enormous toil. The camp-fires pricked With spiry flame the dull moist air, and round About them slept the spearmen of the Dane, Their arms piled near, while the lax sentinels, With wassail filled, forbore the wonted watch, KENWITH. 2 1 Dreading no foe. So won they way within The camp of the Dane-King, of him unknown. The raven standard waved its heavy folds From the raised staff athwart the shadowy tents, Dim-gleaming in the dusk, like the white wing Of some pale swan gliding the azure wave, The silver broiderings shone on the huge flag Woven around the bird of the war-gods. And now from off the bosom of the sea, With the incoming tide, a breeze began To rise, which, blowing softly, freshened still, And the mist lifted as a curtain lifts, Suddenly, and the dawn smote on the field, The chill faint dawn, revealing the dark orb Of tents more clear ; and as the obscured morn Touched with her melancholy rays the plain, The careless sentinels, sleeping on watch, Started, and lifting eye, beheld the foe Close at their side. Then a great cry went forth, And voices called to arms ; the trumpets brayed, Hoarse-voiced and deep, and ere the Saxon chief Could muster round himself his men at arms, 22 KENWITH. As if the shadowy earth brought forth a crop Of giant sons, new-sown with dragons' teeth, The field up-heaved her host of warriors. Then came he with a shout from forth his tent The grim sea-king, the son of Lodobrok ! A great voice, " Up, jarls, and arm ye ! up, Danes, Kings of the deep !" And shrilled the battle-cry Of the West Saxons, " Out for holy rood And for the King !" And Odune formed his men In order as he best might, being few. Each Saxon Thane led on his sons and carles. These, under him, their head formed into close And narrowed phalanx, forward moved, to make Assault upon the foe, who, on his part, Gathered and fronted with great shields enlocked, Bristling his lines with points of spears. Then charged The Saxons, and with wedge-like force cleft way Through the thick hostile ranks. These swerved, and now, Fierce with great hate, the Dane and Saxon strove, Man against man, mixed, interwoven, crushed, In grapple of close fight. So through the morn KENWITH. 23 The cries of battle rang among the hills By the grey sea, the while the tardy sun Arose behind thick bars of heavy clouds, Between whose openings glared blood-red the light, As if beneath closed portals slowly oozed A stream of gore. And fiercely raged the strife, Nor ceased, nor slacked, until the Saxon band Was thinned with slaughter, and the northern jarls Had, man by man, fallen about their flag. Then, in the midst of a great ring of slain, 'Mid tumbled helms and shields to pieces hacked, The Saxon saw his foeman standing. Proud He towered his height, unhelmed his head, and loose His tawny lion-like locks flowed to the wind. Down at his feet was dropped the large round shield, Silvered, as the pale moon upon a lake Uprisen, but his grasp retained the axe, The dread war-weapon of the northern kings. Toward him advanced Odune the Earl, nor paused, Though spent with toils of fight, and dyed with blood Of heathen, redder than the flame-hued sun, Which from the shoulders of the enormous clouds 24 KENWITH. Ascended eastward, while the battle passed With thunderous shoutings 'long the hilly banks Skirting the coast. Over the heaps of dead The Saxon warrior stepped, and planted foot, Facing his foe ; nor turned that chieftain grim, But moveless as a rock awaited him With front of pride. But when the Ealdor saw More near the pallor of the unhelmed brow, And how the mighty frame, steadfast at first, Began to sway, as some Norwegian pine Rocks slowly to and fro, when in a gale The furious wind tugs at the deep-fanged roots (For he was wounded with a grievous hurt ) The noble heart was touched within his breast With pity, and, saying, " Oh, mine enemy, Accept thy life ;" he bent toward him, and threw Aside with generous hand his orbed shield. But the Dane answered not, nor vouched reply, But knotted into frowns his terrific brows Heavy with anger. Suddenly he bowed Toward the earth, then with swift motion drew Erect his stature ; on his forehead swelled KENWITH. 2 The purple veinage, and the muscles rose Quivering and large on the magnific frame, Strained to the utmost. Quick he raised the axe, With fierce two-handed clutch, the knuckles large And whitened with their grip, hurling his blow Straight at the Saxon's undefended breast. But ere the flashing axe, whirling aloft, Cut through the air descending, Odune saw The imminent peril, and though waxen faint With wounds which bled unheeded in the strife, Stepped quickly back ; but moving, smote his heel Upon a broken sword-blade on the ground, And swerved thereby, dropped to his knee on earth, And over him up-towered the grisly jarl. In act to strike he stood, when one who served The Devon Prince came in between the twain, Shielding his fallen lord from his fierce foe With the exposure of his own unmailed breast A carle of the Earl's house ; youthful he seemed, And slender moulded as a woman's was The supple form in its light coat of hide. On him, the devoted liegeman, fell the stroke 26 KENWITII. Aimed at his lord ; through nerve and bone it shore Even to the seat of life. But he who smote Staggered a step or two backward, and sank At foot of the great standard of the host. There lay beneath the shadow of the folds, And threw his angry eyes upon the Earl Scowling vehement hate, balked of his prey. Half from the ground he reared his massive bulk, Lifted his right arm, and a hoarse sound rolled Like laughter from his lips, 10 deep volumed, hoarse. As crashing of the billow when it curls Its livid greenness in the wild north sea Into more livid white of angry foam, So from his lips that laugh. It rolled, and passed Into the silences of death ; he dropped Heavily forward on the blood-stained ground. So fell the heathen King before his flag, And his men panic-stricken fled the field; As a great mass of snow, hung on the breast Of some vast Alp, upon a sudden slips With thunderous sound down to the mountain's base, KENWITH. 27 The pagans broke and fled ; with cries like howls Of the strong storm in a dense forest where No foot of man doth come, shrieking 'twixt rows Of twisted trees : precipitate they fled, And gat them to their ships moored on the strand, Nor tarried. Over the crushed piteous corse, A piece of bleeding wreck, of that young slave Who died to save his lord, bent the great Earl Grievingly, and with gentle hands unlaced The tight drawn casque, disclosing the white face Whose lineaments of most delicate mould Showed in their native nobleness most pure. A lovely face was it, crowned with soft rings Of paly golden curls about the brow Lovely yet awful, the smile on the lips Frozen by death ; and the Earl stood at gaze, Anchoring his steadfast eyes upon its cold Serenity. He did not stir nor move, But his face slowly changed, as told in myths Wondrous of old-world ^bards, theirs changed who looked 28 KENWITH. Upon the beautiful horror of the face Gorgonic; cold, stone-like, rigid as death, Pale as the terrible white polar seas, When o'er their ribs of icebergs the lean bears, Shiveringly, in the Arctic winter's cold, Pass to and fro. Anon he drew aside The riven pieces of the leather hide Covering the mangled flesh, and moving them, Revealed to sight the breasts of woman, crushed, Battered, yet visibly the large twin orbs Female, once lovelier than hills of snow Or lilies touched with morning's first pale pink. Upon those mangled breasts the warrior bowed The grandeur of his head, with a great cry, Sharp as of one who feels the sword pass through His loins death-wounded ; so he cried and bowed Lowly the helmed grandeur of his head. Anon he raised himself and to his thanes, Who gathered round in silent reverence, Noting the greatness of his sorrow, turned, And saying simply : " It is my wife ; she Hath followed me into the battle, and given KENWITH. 29 y Her o\vn life for my sake,' 7 bowed him again Over his dead, and his hands wanderingly Passed o'er the beauty of the face, as one Blind feels the statue, seeking by the touch To inform the mind, closed at the gates of sight From knowledge. O'er the brow and lips and hair Strayed softly those strong battl e-hardened hands, Dyed with red stains. So long he dumbly knelt By the crushed body, that the faithful thanes, Fearing to touch the precincts of a woe So dread, looked each on each in silent doubt, Till one approached the Earl, a soldier who Had loved the Earl his father in old days, A hard and wrinkled man, but sweet of heart, And laying on his hand his own, while tears Dropped from his aged eyes, said: "Dear my lord, Remember England and the King ; to them As a flower- wreathed sacrifice to Heaven Is offered up this sacred woman-life \ Think of it so, and be consoled." The Earl Lifted himself thereat, and 'neath his feet The solid earth seemed heaving, as a boat 30 KENWITH. Rocks underneath the feet of one unused To the rough dancing of the wild sea's breast ; Yet calmly spake, and curbed th' internal pangs, As a strong hand controls a wild war-steed Furious with pain. " Yea," said the Earl, " enough ; Cover from sight the face of my dead wife, I cannot longer look thereon and be As man should be. Call back pursuit, and show Mercy to these the vanquished. To the fort ; Take up the body, lay it tenderly Upon your shields, so ; let us hence, oh friends, Sharers of mine heart's sorrow !" The grey sea Rocked in her bed, and lifted up her voice, Mystic and wonderful. So in slow inarch Toward the fortress-rock passed on the thanes, Bearing the noble dead ; and 'long the ranks, From man to man through all the Saxon band, There went a sound of mourning, like the cry Of melancholy birds, heard in the night Flitting across the dim and misty wolds. KENWITH. 31 And all the women of the castle wept, Issuing from out the gates 11 to meet the bier Of their dead lady, and they kissed her face, Lifting the veil from off the solemn brows : Kissed it, and wept bitterly, loud and long.] * * # * * # The night had darkened o'er the battle-field And o'er the antique tower, and silence was. Upon the borders of the lonely shore, The fallen chieftain's grave was made, And over it was heaped a cairn of stones, According to the wont of burial Of the old kings of Northland : in the dim And clouded night, empty of noises, save The plashing of the waves upon the beach, Stood by the grave the Norse chiefs ancient scald. His lean gaunt form was leaner and more gaunt, All shrivelled as a lightning-blasted pine Whose bark is bleached and dry ; moveless he stood Within the shadow of the tumulus, Silently thus a while, and then began, Moving with measured pace round the grey cairn 32 KENWITH. To chant a weird, wild rune, mournfully low, A song, as 'twere, all fraught with human tears. And when the chant had dragged its length and died, The ancient saga-man turned from the grave And bent his heavy steps toward the beach, Where floated on the waters, large and dark, The esk of Hubba, with the dragon crest Carved on the prow, gold scaled, and by its side The smaller war-craft, empty, silent all, With idly flapping sails (for they that fled The sword which hacked them flying, the red field, Seizing the foremost of their ships, had put To sea, delaying not). The wrinkled scald Looked on the large-ribbed barque, and on the line Of drooping sails shadowing the midnight wave, With eyes of mournful ire, and murmuring : " It is the twilight of the gods, the dread Regnorock, let the great earth rive her sides, And topple down her cities to the grim shades, Of mist-swathed Hela," clenched his lean hard palms Driving the claw-like nails deep in the flesh. KEN WITH. 33 Beside the esk a little boat lay moored, Held by a chain thereto : a slender skiff, Without or sail or rudder, without oars. Muttering his words of doom, the saga-man Approached the boat, and, loosening the chain Which held it to the esk, he stepped therein. He stood, he turned, with long lean arms outstretched, Bending his face toward the burial place Of the dead King and his fall'n warriors : " Last of a line of chiefs, from Odin sprung, Great chief and brave, the Valkyrs call thee up To feast in wide Valhalla, and to quaff, From cups of skulls, thine enemies' warm blood, If that the trumpets of Regnorock yet Delay to sound the direful day of doom !" So spake, and pushed the boat from off the shore, And seaward passed, into the hungry dark, And no man saw him any more. There stood, Not far removed from the old Castle's seat, Westering, a hillock ; on its crown a grove Of trees, which, hearse-like, waved against the line 3 34 KENWITII. Of golden cloud, when the great star of day Rolled on the waters his bright wheels of flame, Nightly descending. There the wind sang soft Among the muffling trees, with faint low stops, A sorrowful hymn, when, as the third morn rose, Weeping with showers upon the saddened earth, They laid the lady of Devonia low Beneath the shadow of the tender boughs, Wetting the wet earth of her grave with tears. Pearl of all women, noblest, best of wives, They named her; not more true Alceste, who, For love of him she spoused, being great of soul, Descended to the nether shades, where dwell The dead of old ; nor her made sacrifice By the rash Gileaditish Prince's vow, The virgin of Israel, whom Hebrew maids Yearly with songs lamented. Shine star-like From the pale night of death, oh noblest name Of women ! The great glory born of thee Shall light the rim and dusk of aftertime With radiance, and our sons to be shall call Thee bless'd. Thus they, the Wessex Thanes, KEN WITH. 35 Their shining armour dimmed with rain of tears While women's voio With funeral music. While women's voices shrilled along the dawn Sorely hurt With gashes taken in the grisly fight, Odune the Earl lay stricken nigh to death, Muttering and wailing ever in his pain, Unweeting of the things his dry lips spake ; For a great fire burned at the core of life, And fumed the wholesome brain with mists of dreams Fantastic. Babbled he of fields and woods, And pleasant streams that ran by shadowy trees, The waters lily-snowed ; anon, across The whirling phantasy of his dimmed mind Terror and darkness drifted the long shriek, And pass'd the heathen, with a thousand spears Flashed ; then the dream remade itself to beauty. So they who listened gathered from his words, Which told of his own halls, and her who came, The girl-bride to his home. So tossed and throbbed The fevered soul. But when the seventh night Paled its bright moon, wax'd to the perfect shield, 32 36 KENWITH. Passing into the grey of earliest dawn, He raised himself from off the wolf-skin couch, And leaning heavily on his servant's arm, Drew to the lattice of the turret-tower, And gazed therefrom across the dim blue sea, ' Knowing'the desolation of his life, Stripped bare and lone ; weakened, but clear of mind, He looked upon the wide breast of the sea, Touched with the first gold of the climbing lights. And on the bridal earth, veiled in her dews, While now the fleecy east flushed its red rose Of dawning (for the rains were overpast, And in the fields the flowers began to blow, Faint sweet, and voice of birds was in the groves) r And knew that there had passed from out his life Its glory, and from the earth and from the seas Their glory ; yet knew in his deepest soul That the great purpose of his life changed not, And wasted not no, not a single jot. And as the strong man after sickness runs His fingers o'er his arm to find if that KENWITH. 37 The muscle swell its loops and knots as wont, Before he close in grapple with his foe, He felt his higher purpose, and uprose, God's warrior-servant, ready as erst to strive In service of the King, against the might Of heathen breaking flood-like on the land, The hordes of Thor. Then, ere his hurt was whole, There went a Bode from the great Earl, and bore To Alfred, then in hiding in the thick Of the entangled woods of Somerset, The tidings of the victory, saying : " Oh King, Thine enemies are smitten, and their flag Ravenna taken ; it is in our hands The standard of the north, the sign of Thor. The power of the war-god unto its base Is shak'n, for the meek Christ doth live and reign And is the greater !" And when the feathery trees Began to spread the full green fan of leaf In the far-stretching woods, about the time Men celebrate the rising from the dead 38 KKNWITH. Of the immortal life, 12 the King went forth, Leading his followers from their secret hold. To Egbert's stone he rode; and thither came To the great forest-heart, the men of Wilts And Somerset, their thanes and earldormen, All such as had not fled beyond the seas For terror of the Pagans ; and the King Cheered them, and heartened them, and, moving through The dim woods, at the dimly-glimmering dawn Pitched camp in open space, and there unfurled His standards, near the wooded heights where lay The army of the North, under their chief, Guthrum the aged. Him the Christian King, Heading his troops, gave straightway battle to, And drove him back with rout unto his forts. Then sued for peace the heathen, and their chief, With thirty of his best, sware to the King Submission ; who received their oaths, and gave To them large grace and king-like, saying : " Go, Settle yourselves within our eastern shires ; There dwell in peace, and sow the fields with seed, KENWITH. 39 And reap their increase ; learn the dignity Of labour ; live ye there in peace, O Danes, Serving the Christ under one yoke with us." So the great Saxon made secure his seat, Bastioned on truth and righteousness, and built The greatness of a kingdom up, to rise Rock-like amid the roll of centuries, A grandeur of the earth. To him his own Grew like a fruitful vine ; beneath his sway, His poor had rest, for those clear eyes discerned Beneath the peasant's lowly vest, the divine one, The son of God, though named slave of the soil. The ever-jarring kinglets of the land, Who tangled into knots the web of power, He set at one, and 'neath his guiding hand Made of their loose divergent sways one whole Of kingliness, pacific rule and strong, Perfect as bridal music. His strong arm Smote the fierce heads of riot, as they rose, Raised by the lawless heathen from the north Surging, or lifting up themselves again Within the realm, and under foot pressed them, 40 KENWITH. And bruised their power. The sweet arts, flower-like, Opened, and ampler lights of learning spread Themselves within the cloisters of the land, Heretofore darkly wrapped in ignorance. The East stretched out her hands unto the Prince Of Saxons, and his pioneers went forth, Piercing the icy bars of unsunned seas, 13 Where stream the meteors o'er the shifting" bergs, Varying their splendours. Large his aims and high, And alway pure ; so lived and wrought his work, And passed, but left behind that work to stand Thro* all the centuries, a kingdom's base Of power, until the kingdoms of this world Pass into the one kingdom of the Christ. NOTES TO KENWITH. NOTE i, p. i. " Where the long channel broadens its blue arm, Stretched to the main." The spot which tradition assigns as the site of the old castle of Cynuit (Kenwith), is in the neighbourhood of Westward Ho, on the coast of North Devon, where a long pebbly ridge, extending by the sea-shore, forms one of the most remarkable features of the West of England. There are no vestiges whatever remaining of the old castle on the circular hill on which it is supposed to have once stood ; but this is not surprising, considering the lapse of a thousand years, and the few remains of Saxon buildings of whatever description we possess ; for, unlike the Romans who preceded and the Normans who followed, the Celts and Saxons built their forts and castles in the rudest possible manner, and the masonry of the walls of the old fortress of Cynuit, of which Asser writes, wherever situated, would not have been of a character to stand the wear and tear of centuries. In all likelihood the traditionary site is the correct one, the historical evidence going far to confirm it. It is such a place as some Celtic chieftain or Saxon earldorman might have chosen in the old times whereon to erect his stronghold, from whose turret-tower his glance might sweep the wide breast of the blue waters opening to the broad Atlantic. 42 KENWITH. Traditions lingering in the locality point to the scene of the battle between the Saxons and the invaders, and to the burial place or tumulus of the Danish chieftain, Hubba, the leader of the Northmen, on the borders of the bay, where the little town of Appledore now stands. In former years several large stones lay scattered about near the spot, one of immense size, named the Hubba stone, but they have long since disappeared, and only the ringer of tradition points to the place where the chief of the wild Norsemen was laid, together with his warriors, by the quiet and wave- washed shore. NOTE 2 ? p. i. " Odune, the Devon Earl, The servant of King Alfred." The historical accounts of the Devon Earl are very brief, but sufficient to show him to have been a man of high and fearless soul, a true hero, whom Devonia may well be proud to reckon among the number of those noble sons of whom she has good cause to glory. Ethelwerd's Chron. contains a brief mention : " In the same year (878) arrived the brother of the tyrant Hingwar, with thirty galleys, in the western parts of the Angles, and besieged Odda (Odune), Duke of Devon, in a certain castle." Asser gives fuller particulars relating to the besiegement of the castle, without, however, mentioning the name of the leader of the Saxons, Odune, the Earldor of Devon. See Asser's Life of Alfred, under date of the year 878. NOTE 3, p. i. " Led by the Viking Hubba, Regnor's son." Hubba was one of the three sanguinary sons of Regnor, a prince of the Danes, surnamed Lodobrok, a personage who figures largely in Scandinavian history and fable, to whom some extraordinary feats are attributed, among others that of slaying a monstrous dragon which encircled with its folds the rock-hewn tower of Thora, a princess descended of the race of ALsir ; the hero delivered the NOTES TO KENWITH. 43 captive damsel and took her for his wife. Regnor is said to have met his death in a cruel manner at the hands of Ella, a Saxon chief of Northumbria, and his vindictive sons are supposed to have been actuated with the desire of avenging his death in s the cruelties they practised on the Saxon people. NOTE 4, p. 2. " The weird three.' 7 I.e. The Norns, or the Northern Fates. They are de- scribed as three beautiful maidens who sit by the tree of life and guard it, the great world-tree, whose roots and branches are being continually gnawed, but as continually renewed. They allot the destinies of men. We find them under another aspect, as the Valkyrs, the three war nymphs of Odin, the choosers of the slain, who are present on the battle-field, and conduct the heroes to the feast in the halls of the gods. The three weird sisters of Shakspere will no doubt occur to the reader, as well as the three queens of a living poet, each different presentations of the rulers of the secret forces of destiny. NOTE 5, p. 4. " And passed, Crownless and sceptreless, to the marsh wilds Of Somerset " At the time when Alfred was forced to seek a hiding- place in the marshy isle of Athelney, in Somerset, the Saxons were reduced to the lowest extremity of misery, the whole country being overrun and pillaged by various bands of the Danes, the dispirited people offering no resistance to the cruel despoilers of their homes. The following from the Saxon Chron. will give some faint idea of the state of the unfortunate country. " 878. This year, during mid-winter, after twelfth-night, the army stole away to Chippenham, and overran the land of the West-Saxons, and sat down there, and many of the people they drove beyond the sea, and of the remainder, 44- KENWITH. the greater part they subdued and forced to obey them, except King Alfred ; and he, with a small band, with difficulty retreated to the woods and fastnesses of, the moors." NOTE 6, p. 5. " A fiery meteor blazed, Shaped like a crucifix." " The sign of Our Lord's Cross appeared in the heavens after sunset," (773) EthelwercFs Chron. See also Saxon Chronicle, etc., for this and the other phenomena, which, to the superstitious belief of the Saxon people, were prophetic of the evil calamities of the heathen invasion. NOTE 7, p. 7. " That sunrise on the fatal Wilton hills The morning after battle." The Saxon arms met a disastrous defeat on the field of Wilton about six years previous to the engagement re- corded in the poem. NOTE 8, p. 1 6. " All the deep Burned with the great funereal ship on which His pallid corse lay decked." Odin caused the body of Balder the beautiful and beloved to be adorned and laid in state on the deck of a large ship, which was then set fire to. The vessel floated away in flames over the great waters to the regions of perpetual mists. The passing of the sun-browed god to the shades of death is no doubt the syrnbolization of the going down of the setting sun, sinking amid his fires upon his ocean-bed to the darkness of night. NOTE 9, p. 17. " What the sword wins, the sword Can hold." There is reason to suppose that Hubba contemplated a settlement in Wessex. His brother Halfdene had already NOTES TO KENWITH. 45 portioned out the lands of Northumbria among his fol- lowers, and the Danes had effected a settlement in the eastern parts of England, as well as in the midland districts. NOTE 10, p. 26. " Lifted his right arm, and a hoarse sound'rolled Like laughter from his lips." It was a frequent boast of the wild warriors of the North that they would die laughing. Indeed, to them death on the battle-field presented no terrors, but, on the contrary, was a thing to be greatly desired, as it secured an imme- diate entrance to the halls of Odin, while those who died ingloriously, by reason of sickness or old age, passed to the dolorous vales of Hela. NOTE n, p. 31. " And all the women of the castle wept, Issuing from out the gates. 7 ^ Florence of Worcester states that "Many of king thanes, with their families , had shut themselves up in the fortress for protection." NOTE 12, p. 38. "And when the feathery trees Began to spread the full green fan of leaf In the far-stretching woods, about the time Men celebrate the rising from the dead Of the immortal life.".^ I.e. The Easter of 878, a few weeks after the victory of Kenwith, which probably occurred in the month of March. " Meanwhile, after Easter of that year (878), King Alfred fought against the army that was in Chippenham, at a place called Ethandune, and obtained the victory, and after the decision of the battle the barbarians promise peace, ask a truce, give hostages, and bind themselves by 4 6 KENWITII. oath ; their king submits to be baptised, and Alfred the King receives him from the laver in the marshy Isle of Athelney." Etheliverd's Chron. See also Asser, Life of Alfred^ Florence of Worcester, and Saxon Chron. for fuller particulars of the decisive victory of Alfred over the pagans at this time. NOTE 13, p. 40. " The East stretched out her hands unto the Prince Of Saxons, and his pioneers went forth, Piercing the icy bars of unsunned seas." Alfred sent help to missions in India, and is said to have sent out explorers to the arctic seas. BALDER. BALDER the beautiful in Asgard fell ; Him did all living things swear not to harm, All trees, all birds, all beasts, were under spell, All earth and air owned the great charm ! The mistletoe alone no worship paid Of all that breathes, or moves, or greens the earth, And by its slender shaft was lowly laid Of the great heavens the noblest birth ! He fell, and there was weeping in the plain Of Ida, and they wept for many days ; He fell, and Hela claimed her prey : not slain In war, he passed to her dim ways 48 BALDER. And made abode among the dead. Then spake The goddess-mother, she who drew all life From out her breast, " He will no more awake, No more be glorious in the strife Where gods with giants contend. Ho ! which of you Among the doleful shades will seek my son? Which of you dare dread Hela's gates pass through, So that the god from death be won ?" She spoke ; then rose Hermode the swift of foot, " I will go seek the mighty dead," he said, " I, even I, will go ;" and all the gods stood mute, Stricken with grief for him low laid. He took the horse of Odin, the great steed, More fleet than rushing winds; nine days, nine nights, He travelled through th' abyss, nor slacked his speed, Till through the darkness dawned dim lights Faint, pale, a misty twilight which revealed Above a gloomy flood, a single arc Of mightiest span ; the waters lay congealed And cold ; there never the swift barque BALDER. 49 Might pass, or vessel plough the murky wave, The ever-silent river of the dead ! O'er the dread bridge he urged his steed, nor gave One pause till its gigantic head Upreared, with northern front, the awful gate Of Hela's halls, wide yawned its doors, he passed Within, then spake the spectral queen, " But late In many a mighty squadron massed " The countless dead passed o'er yon bridge, yet shook Nor echoed not its arch, but thou did'st make The crashing thunders roll the deep, thy look Is that of those who joyful wake " The glories of the strife. Whence comest thou ? And what thy mission here ?" He made reply, " Balder seek I, he of the sun-bright brow, Who wrapped in thy cold mists doth lie ! " Yield back thy prey ; him all the weeping gods Do crave of thee, thou sovereign of the dead ! Behold the nations tremble 'neath their rods, These sue to thee, O queen most dread !" 4 50 BALDER. She answered him, " Weep they ? go thou and say,] Let gods and men, let every creature weep, Let the whole world run tears, and in that day Shall he go free whom else I keep. " But if one thing refuse to weep, I hold, Yea, hold him to the end of days/' Then passed Hermode to the great Odin, and he told The words of the pale queen. The vast And hundred-gated city made one wail Of weeping, and the earth wept, and each flower, Each nestling bird, each beast, all in the dale, All on the hills mourned in that hour ! As when the frozen earth, touched by the warm Sweet breath of spring makes all her rivers flow, So ran that rain of tears, yet one wrought- harm, By malice moved to work them woe Who dwelt in Ida, weeping not when all Gave tears ; so the pale Hela kept her prey, In vain the sacred cities wailed his fall, The ages roll, she holds her sway ! BALDER. Yet shall he come again and build his throne In Asgard, when the days are ripe, there make His forehead like the sun girt with its zone Of rays, and all his prowess take. 42 NIGHT AND DAY. " WHAT of the night and day ?" he asked Who questioned of the sage of old The secrets of the universe, And cause of things, and thus was told : " Chief of the great primordial powers Rose one, a woman giant-born, They gave her name, Night, dark-browed Night, Night of the sable locks unshorn ! " Not then was sea nor land ; no star Shot forth its ray in heaven ; the moon Hung not its silver lamp on high, Nor made the sun its lambent noon. NIGHT AND DAY. 53 " 'Mong the frost-giants had she home. With one of them she wed ; by him Conceived, and when her time was come Brought forth a daughter, Earth. The dim " Times spun their course, he died, her spouse, Then she espoused one of the race Of ^Esir, and with him 'mong gods Made dwelling. Beautiful of face " Was he ; and unto him she bore, Like to himself, a son most fair. More goodly child was never born In heavenly household ; his bright hair " Did with a glory crown his brows j He stood before the gods and they Did own him fair. They gave him name According to his nature, Day, "Sweet Day, the golden bright-browed Day ! Well pleased the great Al-fader smiled, And in him took delight ; he smiledj Approval of the beauteous child ; 54 NIGHT AND DAY. " And unto him he gave in sign Of favour a white winged-steed, And bade him ride in orbits round The spacious sky with unslaked speed ; " And to the mother likewise gave The kingliest of the Gods a steed, Coal-black, of mighty moulded limbs, Such as might serve untired her need, ' And bear her round the measured space In the appointed course. So they, The mother and the wondrous child, Do ever track the selfsame way.j " She first doth ride, for she was first ; And when, her mighty journey done, She feeds her steed in Ida's vale, On the ambrosial food, her son " Speeds forth ; the gleaming gates of Morn Open to give him way, he moves Majestic through the firmament, And all his lofty prowess proves, NIGHT AND DAY. 5$ " In eyes of the beholding Gods. So run the twain their mighty course, For thus hath Odin willed, and they Obey. From the great phantom-horse " The woman rides, each morning fall The beaded drops that dew the ground ; They from the panting courser's bit Roll down when he doth touch the bound " And limit of his course. The white And beauteous steed that Day bestrides Shakes from his mane o'er heaven and earth Sweet rays of light, great glory-tides " Of splendour, brightening all the fields Of space. So do they keep their way, Nor swerve aside, nor faint nor flag, The regent-powers of night and day !" NIORD AND SKADDA. Two voices spake, One of the seas, one of the hills, Thus said great Niord the river-God : " My rest I make Beside the Waters that I love, Where sing to me the wild white s.vans. There do I take Delight ; how beautiful the seas, The river's arrowy rush, the spread Of the smooth lake, On which the heavens come down with moon And stars ! in mine ownrealm I dwell. Can I forsake For thee, Oh daughter of the hills, The wide, free-flowing deep, whose shores NIORD AND SKADDA. 57 I haunt, to make Abode with the night-prowling wolves, With thee among thine own dim hills ?" Then a voice spake ; Thus said the daughter of the hills In answer : " How can I repose With thee, and make My rest upon the sea-god's couch, When flocks of forest-birds, each morn Returning, take Captive my ear with sounds of home ? How can I find delight to dwell Beside the lake, Or by the murmuring stream thou lov'st ? No more ; get thee a river spouse. Not for thy sake Will I forego mine ancient joys. I bind my skates, I take my bow Once more, and make Chase of the beasts that haunt the wilds, Among mine own loud-echoing hills. THE NORNS. BY the Udar fount sit The beautiful Norns, The mystical nymphs, With eyes like the morn's. The tall stately ash Spreads o'er them its shade, Yggsbrasil its name ; From of old they have made Their rest by the fount, By the clear-welling spring. They weave and they shape, As they eerily sing, The fates of mankind. THE NORNS. 59 To each nation and race, To each soul that is born, They give portion and grace ; And the destinies form Of the children of time, With the magical charm Of their wild runic rhyme. So dwell the fair three, By the fountain of life 'Neath the tall stately tree. ASGARD. THE weird, grand city of the ancient gods. It towered high up, upon a mighty hill Of Ida, whose enamelled meads spread wide, Pressed by the feet of the immortal ones. Vast were the gates, and huge the girdling walls, While countless pinnacles pricked the fine air With spires of throbbing gold, as if the light Of setting suns kindled them to a blaze ; And over them, upon the topmost ridge And crown of Asgard, rose a massive pile, With row of sculptured pillars. The large dome And stately halls were lightened with the flash Of glittering swords new-drawn, great brands unsheathed ASGARD. 6[ Perpetually. The large-browed Odin there Sat on his throne, hearkening the ravens wise, Which told the secrets of the circled world. Thor, with his thunders clenched in his strong fist, And he whose delicate ear, bent at the core Of Nature's heart, discerned the musical Soft growing of the grass and fresh green buds, The rise of wool upon the young lamb's back,J Couched by its dam in daisied meads ; with these In primal golden days passed in and out The sweet-lipped god, the rosy god of dawn, Whose fall first cast a shade on Ida's joys. The warrior-chiefs of earth and Vikings bold, Who furrowed the rude sea with venturous prow, Came thither after death, and feasted with The ^Esir, shared with them the listed fight And tournament. Far off the evil sights And sounds ; not there was heard the howl of wolves Within the iron wood which lies beyond Midgard ; the scaly dragon's glittering crest, Coiled in the swathing deep, disturbed not ; far Like thunderous cloud on the horizon's edge 62 ASGARD. Far off the glooming of the day of doom, Regnarock, when the gods with demon-gods Shall fight, and the huge world roll into dark ! They in Vahalla heed not ; wiselier say, "The tree doth live although the leaf fall off; Beauty and good do aye renew themselves ; So shall the ^Esir fall, yet shall they live* Evil is but the lower side of good, So the great wheel shall orb about again 1" THE MESSENGER OF FRIGGA. THE herald goddess through the air Glided ; the Vanir saw and spake : " 'Neath the dim sky what goeth there ? What chariot and courser make Swift passage through the gloomful night, With trail like meteor to the sight?" She said, " With my great steed through air Thus do I glide, for Frigga spake, * Go thou / she is supreme e'en there Where gods have seats ; and I do make Her will my rule. Thus through the night I flash like meteor to the sight !" THE GOD OF THE WINDS. LIKE to some eagle in a lonely land Which clasps the rugged peak of the huge crag, Northward upon the edge of the great heavens He sits ; he lifts his giant wings, he spreads His pinions : from them rush earthward the winds. THE VALKYRS. THE three with helmed brows shot through the night ; Spectral their steeds, more pale than the wan light Which lives above the clouded moon. With shield Uplift they rode, and o'er the direful field, Where lay the hero-king, fall'ii with his dead, Passed swift. Then spake the chiefest, the most dread Of the war-nymphs of Odin, first in power Of these the fateful three which rule the battle hour; Leaning upon her lance, she spake : " Behold, The circle of the exulting gods shall fold One hero more ; the prince of men shall bring His warrior-train to Asgard's halls, and king 5 66 THE VALKYRS. " Among the great world-kings shall sit him down." This heard, where with the glittering jewelled crown About his brows low lay the smitten chief. He heard, and to the nymphs thus said in grief : " Lo ! these mine hosts, with them we overthrew, Have fall'n ; one doom hath wrapped us both ; we slew, And slaying, fell. Ye whose pale tresses take The moony beams as in the wind they shake, " Ye fates ! were we not worthy to achieve More perfect victory ?" Then they : " We weave The destinies, and we did smite thy foes With utter loss ; we gave strength to the blows " With which thine arm did quell their pride." Then thus Gondola to her nymphs : " He gave to us High charge in synod of the throned powers. Pass we to where vast Asgard rears her towers, " And say, ' Behold, great Odin, the approaching king ; Him, as thou bad'st us, to thine halls we bring.' Come, let us urge our steeds o'er the fair worlds Where roam the mighty gods." They shook their curls THE VALKYRS. 6/ Loose on the wind, and darted through the night. Then from his halls did Odin send the light, Swift-footed Hermone, saying : " Go, attend Upon his way yon warrior-chief, my friend. " Greet him with honours like a god, and say The champions in Valhalla wait, and stay The listed fight that they may welcome thee." So sent he him, for fleet of foot was he, And he did pass, swifter than falling star. Then Hacon came, red with the stains of war ; The starry bosses of his shield were dimmed, And all his golden armour dashed and grimed With clots of gore. To him the heavenly powers Gave welcome large, and where uplifts her towers The sacred citadel, great Ida's crown, In circle of the gods he sat him down. FREY. FREY, god of fountains and fresh streams, whom men Invoke for fruitful harvests, he who gives The soft shower in his season, and the clear Sweet shining which doth bring the young green blade To perfect ear, the blossom unto fruit, Rose from among his fountains and upclomb The throne of Odin, thence looked o'er the world, For great is it, a seat built up of old, Enormous, wonderful. He clomb, and saw from thence The high-towered cities, river, and spacious plain, The battle and the goodly pomp of arms ; He saw the great pine-forests, and afar, The iron coast and murky waves. But where The mountains of the giants towered and scaled FKEY. 69 The northern firmament, the god beheld A castle seated on a craggy height, From forth whose portals moved a woman fair And queenlike, daughter of the giant kings. Beautiful to sight was she, and from her brows, Gold-bound, there streamed a light which flamed the lakes And mountain meres, as when the brazen shield Of the descending sun its brilliance throws On the translucent waters. So the god Beheld her, and his soul went after her With longing, and he loved. Then was he weighed With sadness, and he moved through heavenly halls Silent and mournful, and none wist the cause. Frey, god of fountains, loved ; no more he found Delight in hunt or the swift chase, no more Beside the shadowed streams, as he was wont, He, flower-crowned, roamed. With passionate desire His soul was stricken, and he sighed for her Gerda, the beauteous maiden of the hills. He had a weapon famed from ancient times, 70 FREY. A sword which self-directed at his word Unsheathed itself, and whirling round, bestrewed a'^field With carnage. This he took, and spake to one, A servant of his train : " Go thou and win Consent of Gerda to become iny spouse ; Fairest of women is she, and my soul Doth languish after her. Go thou and take For guerdon, if successful, this my sword." And Skirnir, messenger of Frey, went forth, And in due time returned and brought his lord The pledge of Gerda, daughter of the hills, On the ninth night from thence to wed with him. In Beri she appointed there to hold The nuptials, and to keep high festival. And Skirnir made demand of the great brand, And Frey did yield it him. Then was he sad, Th* enamoured god, and went he forth and sate Among his flowery fountains ; and he sighed, " Long is one night to him who loves and waits The fruition of his love ; more tedious two; But how shall I endure the third ? how wait Thrice three ? The orbing of the crystal moon FREY. Hath often seemed more brief than is to me This time of waiting !" Thus did Frey forego His glory as a warrior for love, Yielding the mighty brand ; after he slew In combat Beli of the giant race, With branchy antlers of a forest stag ; For he was great of strength, and heeded not The loss of his good sword. Yet when the days Of final strife shall come, and conflict with The anarchic sons of fire, will he repent He gave away the falchion which did hew In pieces every foe, self-drawn and aimed. LIFE. I WALKED in woods at Easter-tide, And noted how the tender shafts of green Pushed from the boughs, while far and wide Mixed with the delicate moss the wild flowers' sheen Spangled the ground ! Waked by sweet touch from sleep, the earth Felt her delicious life, and crowned with flowers Of her deep heart the glorious birth With throb of joyous wings in all her bower?, Sprang to the sound Of her Creator's voice of love ! Zoned with her young fresh buds, beauteous and fair. The mighty mother round her wove Still more of life, more rich, more full, more rare, The wealth of God 1 LIFE. 73 A while ago, lapped in her snow, Like a pale corse she lay, on whose cold lips The breath plays not, but now the glow Of daisies with their tender blushing tips Brightened the road ! A while ago, stricken and mute, But now her thousand voices carolled forth Jubilant songs, and like a lute, Sweet-toned and tender and of priceless worth, Warbling flowed her streams ! Life evermore renewed from death, Life in its beauty won from the grim tomb, With sweetness of the new warm breath, Brought forth from out the dark and breathless womb Of its chaotic dreams. o real, warm and sweet to touch, So beautiful as with the kiss of God ! We shape it still, and dare avouch The spiritual thought in us, which looms so broad, Substance and power, 74 LIFE. The kernel of all outward things This vision of the death-won deathless life. We name it in the Christ, it flings From Him its radiance o'er the awful strife Of our life's hour ! Nor less the thinkers of old time Bodied it forth in legends wild and grand : The Persian in his creed sublime, The Grecian in the fables of his land, Gave it a being. Changing and multiform the waves, But one the sea, through all the human tribes Differing, yet the one truth it saves, And in it all fair hope imbibes, For dimly seeing The faint day-dawn on the high hills, Watchers in many places as we stand, We eastward turn, or like the rills, Seaward that flow through all the spacious land, We bend one way. LIFE. Hither in Thee the streams are met, So think we, Christ, oh living deathless One ! Toward Thee the human still is set, Watching and yearning till its goal be won, Its summer-day. 75 JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. LAY her hands upon her breast : Oh the rapture of her rest ! Smile the lips as they were wont? only with a tenderer smile. Hush ! be still ; surely she but sleeps a little while ! The closed lids of those sweet eyes Presently will ope and rise, And their inner lights reveal; seem they not to quiver now, As they were about to lift, and those hidden glories show? But her brow is marble cold, And her tresses of pale gold JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. 77 Lie upon her breast, unstirred with its heave or fall. The soft light Of the silver hanging lamps streams upon that face so white. Woe, alas ! for she is dead ! Throw the lilies on her bed, Bid the mourners raise their dirge ! weep, oh mother ! for your child, Weep the lately springing hopes so strong and wild Of the coming Kingly One Who the spoils from death hath won, Healing with a touch the sick, speaking words of mightiest power. Oh ! the hopes, the fears, the passionate longings of that hour When she hung above her child, Though her face was calm and mild For her gentle darling's sake ! Weep, oh ! stricken mother, weep ; Shear one tress of hair, this is all of what WAS THINE to keep. 78 JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. Hush ! weep not, He cometh now ! Mark the sadness on His brow ; And His voice- how full of ruth those low tones of wondrous power, Sweet to the heart as summer's breath upon the flower ! Can the mournful mother guess That a love than hers no less, Greater perhaps, and more divine, lives in Him, the stranger there That in all that mighty grief He no lesser part doth bear? By the bed He takes His stand, The caressing of His hand Closing o'er the fingers cold, on the lifeless pulseless breast, The keen watching of His eyes, as He bends, as if addressed To catch her first faint sigh ! Closer still, and yet more nigh His face to hers. So the mother o'er her sleeping child Bends when the morning rays the eastern heavens gild. JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. 79 My little one, mine own, awake ! Awake, my sweet one, for my sake ! As the babe wakes and laughs back into the mother's face, So wakes the fair dead maiden at that call of grace ! THE MAGI. Kiss the dimpled hands ot the infant Christ, oh ye aged men ! The first rippling smile of those baby v lips is yours ; was it then For this ye came from far, Led by the prophetic star ? Oh ye sages of the East ! wist ye that a little child, The high gift of God could be j discerned ye in that infant mild Our humanity's true king, Who the golden time should bring ? Turning from the warrior king, with his pageantry of power, To the virgin mother and the babe, in that quiet hour, THE MAGI. 8 1 Saw ye not the uprising light Of the day-spring infinite ? Oh, the woes, the strife of earth, the voice of them that weep ! Hear ye not the bitter wailing voices from the deep ? Turn and look upon the child, Look into those eyes so mild ! Oh, the shapings grand and dim, in the dreamy Eastern mind, Of the great restoring one, this is He whom now ye find : Yea, behold a little child, Look into those eyes so mild ! REST. THE Christ was sleeping. On His great amplitude of brow was peace, And smiles upleaping On the calm lips. Hath He awhile found ease, The Man of Sorrows ? Hath His great heart fore-gone its bitter toil, And bliss, which borrows All heaven, in dreams, come to Him without soil ? The waves up-heaving Break not His rest ; the tempest ploughs the deep, The wild winds cleaving \Vildly their way over the waters' sweep, REST. 83 But He is resting, The Man who wept, who suffered, toiled, and loved ; He, who, divesting Himself of glory, among men still moved, Their changeless lover, Working to ends of changeless love, now rests. The storm sweeps over The vexed and harried deep ; their white foam crests The waves are rearing. Around the sleeping Christ amazed they stand ; Such terrors wearing, The scene appals their hearts. Why doth His hand Lie thus all nerveless ? The hand which grasped the seed-germs of the world, Which guided, swerveless, The great life-forces, when all forms unfurled To life and beauty. Peace, ye, and wake Him not. O slow of heart! The higher duty Is faith in that ineffable calm. Your part, 62 84 REST. O unbelieving ! Is meek reposing in the unbounded love, From it receiving Peace in the paths where storm and tempest move. THE CROSS. THEY led Him forth without the gates, Wherf morning dawned upon the city, To the high place without the gates, They, the men who knew no pity ! Patient and meek, and king-like still, All the beauty of His great soul keeping, Fainting and weak, yet king-like still, See the strong men round Him weeping ! Bears He to that place the bitter cross, He. the Christ of our race, the passionate lover, Faints He underneath the bitter cross, Of all worlds the primal mover ! 86 THE CROSS. Hangs He there between the earth and heaven, On the shameful tree in shame uplifted, Hangs the dead Christ 'twixt the earth and heaven, He, with all great glories gifted ! Lo, the dimmed and bloody sun mourns His death, Slowly from out its long eclipse passing, With pale light emerging after His death, Where the great clouds are massing. Behind the darkly looming cross, The solid rocks are ripped and cleaving, As if, for sorrow of the cross, All Nature's heart was grieving. NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE." ALL in the midnight of her hair She grovelled at His feet, her fair White hands crushed under her; she lay Bruised, helpless, like a flower whose stay Has slipped away. The cruel eyes had turned their scorn On her, the sinful woman, the forlorn, Searing e'en to the quivering quick Of her pained soul, till faint and sick She did not reck 83 "NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE." Or care if fell the iron shower To batter her orbed breast that hour ! The torrent roar of a wild woe Deafened her to the voices low Which, speaking slow, Meted her doom ; she felt, not saw, The stare upon her shame, so raw And bleeding ; like a trapped wild thing She quivered, taken in the spring, While the close ring Of bearded men drew closer round Her cowering form. Then came a sound As of caged beasts clamouring for food, More fierce, more savage in their mood Than these withstood. A pause, and then a voice that spake As though an organ-anthem brake On solemn silence in the night, Pealing through aisles all hoar and white, Sounds of delight ! "NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE/' 89 She felt a hand which lightly passed, And rested on the tresses massed On her bowed shoulders ; soft it fell, Soft as the beams which gently tell The lily-bell To waken in the golden morn. All the fierce clamour of their scorn Broke fiercer when it fell, that touch, So soft upon her, was it much, That one avouch For her the sin-stained woman pity ? They cried, " Cast her without the city ; Hale her unto the stony death ; Batter her till she hath no breath, So Moses saith." Again was heard that voice so sweet, While she crouched lower at the feet Of Him that spoke ; down on the ground, Clasping those sacred feet around, Making no sound. 90 " NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE." Like wind that through a forest goes, And as its strong tide onward flows Bends all the trees one way, the power Of that great voice came in that hour, Until the lour Of evil brows was turned aside. Silently one by one they glide, The haughty scribes, from out the place, Leaving her there before His face, Left to His grace. And over her the tender voice Said, " Woman sin no more ; rejoice In that the boundless breast of God Is open, and the heavenly road Lies clear and broad." CHRISTMAS, 1877. GOD'S greatest, oh Thou little child ! Man's least, laid with the beasts in stall. In the high round of heaven the battalions bright Sang Thee earth's new-born King ! The shepherds watching o'er their flocks Saw rising on the dark the sheen Of Seraph wings, and heard that mighty song As torrent waters rolled ! Heard they through the great host the song Roll on, as trumpet-echoes blown From cliff to cliff in the deep hollowed heart Of mountains in a ring ! 92 CHRISTMAS, Kiss ye the azure-tinted lids Of the meek babe, rocked to its sleep Upon the virgin breast ; ye shepherds, bend And worship the young child ! And now we listen, but, alas ! We hear no waft of angel-song, But shouts of them that strive, the dying groans, The fallen war-steeds' cries. The sullen cannon's deadly roar, And the red leap of angry flame, The mangled bodies, and the smoking towns, These are the things that be. And from across the Eastern seas The voice of weeping for the dead, The Indian Rachel mourning for her sons : Oh ! Thou great God, how long ! And yet each day is born anew, In meekness and in lowliness, The Christ of God into our world, in shapes Diverse and multiform. CHRISTMAS, 1877. 93 In deeds of love, of purity, In all self sacrifice, in all Great striving after truth, in him who toils, Or him who quietly thinks. In him who does a servant's work, In him who lifts the statesman's voice, In those who meekly suffer, without word To speak their suffering. God's mystery of power is shut Into low forms, or such we deem Low forms, yet ever to His clearer eyes The inner glory shines. And some there be that hear e'en now The song of the Great Seraphin Floating adown the silences of night, This night of our earth's woe ! Peal out, and louder, heavenly song, Burst on our ears this Christmas morn, On God's high hills ye sing, ch Seraphin J The Christ new born to men. THE NEST. I FOUND a lark's nest yesterday, I found it in the grass, on the low ground, But in the sapphire heights above The spirit bird, the lark, did make a sound Of music, raining down a flood Of song. On the low ground it had its nest ; But in the heart of. highest heaven It poured full tide of glorious song: the rest So lowly, but the song so high. Oh bird, oh voice, oh living melody ! Is it because you build so low You soar so high ? Is thy great ecstacy THE NEST. 95 Fed from the low earth-source ? and hath The dim sweet mystery of folded life In yon small nest filled all thine heart, Until it overbrims in song so rife Of joy, so jubilant, so wild? I know not ; it may be all joy, all love, Have lowly source : that earthly love Feeds that which is divine. To heights above All measure love and joy ascend, Which yet have fountain in most lowly place : No poet song but hath its spring In simplest thing ; the sweet home-life doth trace Outward its deep divinity In patriot and^sage ; no love of child But hath its growth toward largest love Of man. All loves, all feelings soft and mild, Do cluster like the sweet rose-leaves Round the red core, about one central love ; So mounts the soul on lark-like wings, So sings, like thee, oh bird ! in heaven above. MAY. COME with me, love, a-maying ! Come, ere the bees are playing ; Come, while the dew is lying, And cloud with cloud is vying, And lightly floating by, In the soft morning sky. Come to the flowery mead, Where the sweet pleasures lead The airy dance and mirthful song, For ever fair and ever young ; Come, love, with me ! Sit with me, love, a-maying, 'Neath the white branches swaying, MAY. 97 Where the young violet, dying, Sends out her soul in sighing, And breathes of nought but love, To the rapt breeze above. Here, on a flowery bed, Mine heart to thine I'd wed, And all the sweetness of the May Pour out in many a tender lay, My love, to thee ! TO A CUCKOO. OH welcome ! welcome to our land, Thou spiritual thing ! As silent here I tranced stand, I hear thy voice, As from a heart of mystery, Ringing soft and clear, Distant, faintly, then more near, Floating on the air ! A sweet and artless melody, Two notes no more. Oh welcome ! welcome ! and more dear Than flowers to spring, Thou bird unseen ! I hear thy voice From out the woods, TO A CUCKOO. Or dropping from a cloud on high, As thou floatest by, Through the broad ethereal sky, Strangely, sweetly comes The sound. I hear it and rejoice ! 99 72 A SUMMER SONG. Now blows the crimson rose, and the sweet white, Now lolls the lily on the silver wave, Now the full-throated thrush sings to delight His brooding mate. The swans their plumage lave, Gliding ad own The azure lake. Now sweetens in the fruit the tender juice, The cherry's ruby clusters ripening glow ; Shakes the laburnum her bright tresses loose, While honey-suckles their sweet breathings blow ; Where shades embrown, June's wood flowers wake. With softest rustlings from the balmy south, Young Zephyr comes to fan the dreamy flowers, A SUMMER SONG. IOI Sweeter than sweetest kisses on the mouth ; Led in by meek-eyed Morn, with dewy showers Dropped on the meads Like orient pearls. Within the woodland's green and dusky glades, The running rivulet laughs and brawls, now leaps And gleams in sunshine, now glooms in the shades ; Where the warm sunlight falls subdued and sleeps, The fern 'mong weeds Lifts its brown curls. Now in the deep of night, in secret place, The nightingale her passionate music pours On the thrilled air, so hath she only grace To sing in silence, and these hearts of ours Float into love's Own deep divine ! Now, oh dear love of mine, my Psyche sweet, With golden zone, gaze, in mine eyes with thine, And let the gorgeous blooms of summer meet In our twinned souls, more pure, spiritual fine, Than in her groves Oh love of mine ! THE BURIED TEMPLE. IN cavernous gloom, Far under the earth, A temple doth stand, Duskily grand. Perfect its pillars, and columns, and roof, Exquisite, delicate traceries gleam on the walls, Flowerets and fruitage woven in woof, With the fan of the palm, and the fir trees' dark balls. The pomegranates bloom As when they had birth In the carving's first glory, In the dead cycles hoary. THE BURIED TEMPLE. IO3 Before the high altar the ancient priest waits ; Dark raimented, mournful, and grand, Keeping watch at the vast sculptured gates, The old Hebrew prophets silently stand. Never light of the sun, Or the moon's pale beam, Never throb of the star, Trembling from far, Doth shine on that temple so mighty and old. In cavernous gloom of the deep hollow earth, It uplifteth its great dome of gold, There, where never a thing of beauty hath birth ! Not a motion or tone ! Like a weird dream, The mute white priest, The watchers at the east, The prophets so stern with their grand stony gaze, Immovable fixed ; changeless and still, Huge shapes in that strange spectral haze, They loom like the brow of a mist-circled hill ! 104 TH E BURIED TEMPLE. In the times of the kings Who made Israel to sin, When the Gentile drew sword In the land of the Lord, When the fierce hosts rolled on like the billows that leap, To slay and to spoil in the holy place, The hard earth was cleft to its innermost deep, And the temple sank, nor left a trace ! Misty radiance rings The dome a thin Pale belt of light Or else would night Enshroud that mighty temple there. The gates clang not, nor ever move, Nor e'er is heard the voice of prayer, Or music that the Hebrews love ! No breath, no sound Of living thing : Ghostly and dim In the faint light's rim, THE BURIED TEMPLE. 105 The temple of Solomon the wise ! Far down below the summer rills, For ever hid from mortal eyes, 'Neath the foundations of the hills. O'er the charmed ground No bird doth wing Its flight, or ever Its pinions quiver ; No foot of man hath ever passed The dim gigantic porch, or trod The shadowy outer court, so vast, Of that wondrous hidden house of God. It standeth aye, It hath no change ; A mystery No man may see. So till the sublime word be given To bid the buried grandeur rise ; From the abyss it shall be riven To tower in sunlight of the skies. IC6 THE BURIED TEMPLE. Glorious that day Through earth's wide range, From Afric's sands To the cold northern lands. The sea shall yield her precious things, And give her jewels to bestrew the shores, With low melodious murmurings She shall pour forth her hidden stores. On the great mount Which God shall raise, And with his hand Make fair and grand With Carmel's grace, and Sinai's weird Sublimity, with Lebanon's glory, With cedars crowned shall be upreared, Grander than erst, that temple hoary ! Then the Talmudists count, With its jewels ablaze, Shall be brought forth, Priceless in worth THE BURIED TEMPLE. ID/ The crown of the ancient Hebrew kings ; And the Christ shall place it within the shrine : There, 'neath the spread of the great seraph wings, The circlet of David shall glitter and shine. INDIA. THE cry of babes and women lo, we say, Four millions hunger : can we part the lump And take to heart each pining, wailing babe, Each woman with wan lips, each gaunt worn man ? But God doth so, not we, for unto Him Single the sparrow falls, The half-fledged raven calls ! Sadder than all the battle-fields these deaths ; These women with dry breasts, dragged by the mouths That fain would suck, are more to pain the heart Than the fall'n warrior gashed with many wounds. And shall we let them die, we who are set The foremost of the earth To lead Christ's kingdom forth ? INDIA. IO9 The iron wheels of nature roll and grind Her faultful peoples ; say they have not learned Aright her laws, for she hath .warned and bid Them take the larger foresight to provide Against the evil, but they lived, as lives The insect in the bower, Fluttering its little hour ! We too are shallow : we have heaped all filth, All scum within our midst, till the keen sword Smote for our sin, and with rash hand have let Our human jewels in our gutters drop, Our unowned children sink in hells of slush. The curse of broken law Is ours stand we in awe ! Oh people ! mighty in the days of old, Whose sages in the dim gray dawn of time Fronted with lifted brows the uprising sun, Ye were a glory in the ancient earth, And from your lofty natures did evolve A creed sublime and grand When barbarous was our land. 110 INDIA. Yet to be great hereafter, when we wed, In golden marriage with your antique race, The vigour of our new, our western strength, With all that dreamy sweetness which is soul Of eastern life ; no longer twain that day, But one, by the great hand Of God conjoined, we stand ! Then shall the kingdom of the future rise, Like the fine vision of the heavenly mount Within the prophet's mind the city of God, Wherein no evil thing shall come, from whence Through open gates pour forth the glorious hosts, From the great throne, God's river, For ever and for ever ! August, 1877. EVELINE. MY large-browed Eveline I Tell me, did the great soul, Which from those eyes of thine Mingles and melts in mine, Form with my soul one whole Of life in some forgotten world ? For when those eyes divine Lift on me sudden light/ Within my mind the fine And subtle thought doth shine, As when the fire makes bright Some dim, weird tracery. Unfurled I 1 2 EVELINE. The past, or mine, or thine, Or both, when some low tone Trembles, or when you twine, Like clasplets of the vine, Your fingers round my own ; Tell me, dear love, what things do make Such echo-music fine ? What spirit-voices haunt The hour, oh, Eveline? The aeons that combine Eternity, and daunt The mind with vastness, they do take My large-souled Eveline, Stand round us, shadowy, dim, When thou, by flash divine, Makest my thinkings thine, Scanning the utmost rim Of my still thought, to give it life. Pierce through my soul with thine, You of the dreamy eyes, EVELINE. And let the fringes fine, The skirts of the divine, Sweep dimly in such guise Of memory o'er our souls, sweet wife ! THE BURIAL OF MOSES. SOLEMNLY the shafts of dawning Lance the shadowy infinite heavens, Touch the craggy mountain summits, Pierce the hanging folds of silver, Strike upon the mournful grandeur Of the face of the dead prophet ! In the silence and the stillness, While the pale east slowly brightens, Flushes into loveliest splendour, Gold and crimson and vermilion, Pours the radiance of the dawning Of the mystic solemn morning, On the white and sublime forehead Of the mighty Hebrew ruler. THE BURIAL OF MOSES. 11$ Swiftly through the vasty spaces, Through the measureless distances, Of the golden-clouded heavens, Shoots a giant dusky figure, With a smouldering brightness burning In its folds of vapoury blackness. With the swooping of the fierce hawk On the prey in grey of dawning, Down upon the mountain craglet, Where the great dead seer reposes, Swoops the mighty evil angel, He, the fallen star of morning ; Then from heaven passes downward, Swifter than the arrowy light-beam Travels through the endless spaces Of the mighty countless sun-worlds, Silent, gently as the snow-flake On the stainless flower of winter, The pure Angel of the Highest, He, the glorious son of morning, God-like conqueror of evil ! 82 Il6 THE BURIAL OF MOSES. In the silence and the stillness Of the mystic solemn dawning ' O'er the dead form of the prophet, There upon the lonely craglet, Spread the great seraphic pinions, And the evil angel, baffled The Abaddon, the Destroyer Rolled far off his vapoury blackness, With the sound of rushing storm-winds, O'er the seething troubled ocean, Touching not the sacred body ; For the Angel of the Highest, He, the guardian of the human, Who doth watch the seed-germs Of the deathless and immortal, Held it safely in his keeping, Holds it ever in his keeping, While the ages roll their courses. Sepulchred by God he lieth In the deep heart of the mountains, Guarded by seraphic watchers. TO A BUTTERFLY. COME, rest by me, With gilded wing upon the flower, And charm me for one fleeting hour ! Come, rest by me, And make me joyful with the sight Of an embodied beam of light ! Dear child of spring ! Sweet April's fairest darling thou, That gently flutterest round her brow, When from her heart Goes up through leaf and bud above The first faint thrill of virgin love ! IlS TO A BUTTERFLY, Most beauteous thing That Nature has, how fair thou art, And yet of strength how small thy part ! One touch of mine Would brush the beauty from thy wing, And unto dust thy glory bring ! Great Nature's child, Go, sport upon the mother's breast ! But for a moment is thy rest. I own I feel A life whose vast immensity Ages unroll : and yet there be Some ties which bind My soul to thee, thou trembling thing. And there be thoughts untold that bring Tremblingly bring- The tear-drops to mine eyes : sweet thought And tender memory are brought Of days long past : The joy and sorrow of a dream With thy bright flickering gleam. TO A BUTTERFLY. Creature so frail, I, that am human, own with thee Some links of sympathy : to me, Sweet wanderer, Thou art no insect, but a light From out the past, tender and bright ! 119 THE THREE KINGS. THERE were three kings with crowns of gold They were great and they were bold, They were mighty kings of old ! With them were courtiers fair and grand, A glittering and a goodly band, They rode so gay with hawk on hand ! They stood beneath the greenwood tree, They laughed and talked right merrilie, They were a joyful companie ! Then came a man both old and dree, Like one from a far countrk ; He bowed him, and thus spake he : THE THREE KINGS. 121 " You are three kings with crowns of gold, You are great and you are bold Listen till my tale be told. " Know ye that I once was fair ; There was naught I would not dare, When the shield and spear I bare. " In the joust and in the fight, I shone in armour silver bright, I was like a star of light. " Come ye with me now and see, Learn ye what the proud shall be, For you, ah woe ! shall fall, like me !" He spake with words so sad and low, In such heavy tones of woe, That they could not choose but go. To the charnel did he lead, To the dwellings of the dead, To the place of woe and dread. 122 THE THREE KINGS. There, in coffins, lay three kings : All the air around them flings The stench of putrefying things ! Loathsome, vile to sense were they, Foul to sight, unfit for day : Each a rotting mass there lay. Then spake the man both old and dree, Like one from a far countre, He bowed him, and thus said he : " Look ye now, oh kings ! and see, Learn ye what yourselves shall be, For you, ah woe ! shall fall like me !" He ceased : he crumbled into dust Before their eyes. Silent and hushed, They went their way with thoughts more just. FAILURES. THERE stood an archer in the dark, The arrows of his quiver spent, Erring, he still had missed the mark, Till the last rays of daylight went ! One climbed an Alpine mount when morn Reddened the eastward, but the night Sheeted with mists the glen forlorn, Wherein he lay, that youth so bright ! One strove to weave a rope of sand, Ghost-like in a dim spectral haze, For ever to the shadowy land Turning the wistful, hungered gaze. 124 FAILURES. One crowned with laurel proudly stood, Where shoutings rent the thickened air ; Said he, " Is this the promised good, This restless throb, this fevered care ?" And one bent grieving o'er the shreds Of a waste life a glorious thing To tatters rent When great thought weds Great action the sweet angels sing. Fainting one strove to clasp and win The holy vision far away ; Struggling from deepest sloughs of sin, Could this, could this be failure, say ? Fainting ere reached the lowest round Of the great starry ladder, which Leads up to God ; sought, but not found, The Divine, which makes the human rich. THE RIVER. OH, lazy meandering river, 'Tween grassy banks and lolling flowers, Through all the golden summer hours, Flowing on softly ever, Toward the far-off mighty sea, What singeth thy low wave to me ? Though lapped in such sweet feeling, As folds the odorous heart of flowers, When fed with rains in July hours, Some weirdly strange revealing, Oft dashes the soul's laughter With shade of the hereafter ! 126 THE RIVER. Our most delicious dreaming Though we do couch on honeyed flowers, While dance around the rose bright hours- Is with an innate sorrow teeming, And from our gleefullest gladness Start tears with freight of sadness. Thou flowest on, oh river ! 'Tween grassy banks with lolling flowers, Through all the golden summer hours, To fall and be for ever Enwrapped within the infinite sea So pass we on to mystery. THE MOTHER'S PRAYER. SHE moved from the ranks of the shining ones, That mother saintly and white, She stood at the feet of the Lord of life, She stood in the angels' sight, And unto the heavenly King she said : " Oh Father, that lovest all, I hear the cry of my child in the earth I hear my little one call ! The little one weepeth sore," she said ; " He was my joy ; my breast Did give him suck, my voice at night Did lull him into rest j 128 THE MOTHER'S PRAYER. But now no hands do fondle him, My babe, my tender one ! No eyes do kindle his to smiles, My lambkin weak and lone ! Let me go to tend mine hapless babe, Till the days when he shall stand A man 'mong men, noble and strong Let me to yon dim land, For this return, Father of all !" So prayed ; and the angel bands Made pause of song to hear what the Lord Should speak, then laid He His hands On her saintly head, and said : " Not so ; My daughter abide thou still, In the realms of light, 'mong my holy ones, Tarry thou here secure of ill" " The little one needeth me," she said ; " Let me go to tend my child, For I know that he must suffer woe, In life so rough and wild. The young child weepeth sore," she said ; " Let me shield my tender one THE MOTHER'S PRAYER. 129 From the storm and blast of the bitter earth, Till the days of trial be done." Then the Lord made answer unto her : .. " Oh woman, not so ! behold, I work my ends through ill to good ; Through the damp and heavy mould, The shafted leaves do push to life, From the seed which dies below, The spiritual flower doth rise and grow, With sun-dyed hues aglow ! And through the shapings manifold Of suffering and pain, The human growth attains its end ; Nothing is void, nor vain, For evil doth work the work of good. THE HIGHER AND THE LOWER VOICE. HEW down the woods to find the stars ! The axe is slid from out our hands, Into the infinite waters. Sunder the iron prison bars ! The dull corse doth not heed its bonds If men be bound, what matters ? Soar as the eagle sun-ward soars ! Our life is as the wounded snake, Which in the dust doth quiver. Turn to the east, the golden doors ! Alas ! we wake ; and sleep to wake, Haply, no more for ever ! THE HIGHER AND THE LOWER VOICE. 131 Build we a glory of proud towers ? Our own works dwarf us, and we stand Pigmies before their vastness. Make we a rest within green bowers ? The arrowy rivers through the land Run sea- ward in their fastness; And we, ah whither ? Lo, we sit, Reading a riddle in the dark Born blind, we guess at colours ! And yet our clearer thinkings hit For evermore one central mark ; Amid our dingiest squalors One perfect image standeth forth The divine man, the perfect one, The human of the human. A sublime dream of the whole earth, Unique in beauty of its own, Nor Hebrew, Greek, nor Roman ! Shine out, and clearer, heavenly light, Rise, sun-like, on the edge of night 92 132 THE HIGHER AND THE LOWER VOICE. Shine on the waiting nations ! Wax, sun-like, to thy fulness bright, And to thy clearest noon of light, Lead on the generations ! ST. PATRICK'S EASTER FIRE. SAID the King to his Druids grey, On the eve of Easter-day, " See ye the fire on the crown of yon hill, Red as the sun when the winds are still, And it riseth in a mist ? From the heart Of the hoary hills the red flames upstart What meaneth it, oh ! ye wise men say ?" Said the Druids grey to the King : " Know the meaning of the thing ! The Priest of the pale Nazarene doth light That great fire in the deep of the night In contempt of thee, oh King ! He doth stand, Uplifting the cross of the Christ in his hand, E'en there where the eagle flaps his wing !" 134 ST. PATRICK'S EASTER FIRE. Said the Druids, old and wise : " See the kindling flames uprise ; Ruby and golden on high they mount He maketh thy word of no account ! Ere the trumpets sound through the silent land, Ere the word hath passed to the warrior band, He hath lit his fire behold with thine eyes." Said the Druids, like towers of rocks, That stand the great wave-shocks : " He hath put to scorn thy kingly throne. That old man, worn, feeble, and lone, That single priest of the crucified, Doth rise against thee in his pride, And flout thee with his bitter mocks !" To the Druids grey said the King : " Look ye into this thing ; For the man shall die that doth make his fire Ere our kingly beacon flash, and higher And star-like rise on the pale night's rim, From the heart of the mountains vast and dim. This haughty priest unto us bring !" ST. PATRICK'S EASTER FIRE. 135 Then the Druids went their way, That eve of the Easter-day, To the saintly man on the lone hill crown, While the glare from the ribs of the rocks upthrown Reddened the breadth of the eastern heaven, As when the clouds with the dawn are riven ; And they told, these weird priests, old and grey, The words of their lord the king. Like a brooklet murmuring A gliding brook when the woods are green Flowed the speech from the saintly lips, and the sheen Of a great light shone on the solemn brow, As if, with the throb of its glory aglow, Quivered above it an angel's wing. With the Druids stern he went, Stooping with age and bent. That old man, worn, feeble, and lone, He fronted the angry chief 'mong his own ; That single priest of the crucified Spake to the King in his place of pride, Of the greater King to this dark world sent ! 136 ST. PATRICK'S EASTER FIRE. 'Mong the Druids, like towers of rocks That stand the great wave-shocks 'Mong the bearded warriors stout and bold, With shield and lance and chains of goldj Stood the saintly man, and as to the song Of a lovely voice they hearkened long, Nor raised, as he spake, their wonted mocks. To the Druids grey said the King : " Wondrous and new is this thing : The rise of the deathless life from the tomb ; Wondrous the child from the mother's womb Each day's new wonder; but this life More wonderful. Turn we from strife To Him who life and peace doth bring." JACOB'S DREAM. HE slept, and over him the Syrian night Watched with her stars ; around, the mountains towered On stony pillow slept, far from the light Of the loved tent, spread where the trees embowered, Beside the smoothly-flowing streams Which glassed the morn and sunset beams ! Tier above tier the mighty hills uprose, Scaling the infinite skies peak over peak, Lifted aloft ; all solemn in repose, The lonely land : or ere the morning meek, Dropping cool dews advanced her way, To loose the massy gates of day ! 138 JACOB'S DREAM. The milky archway shot its lofty span Across the sapphire ; the great starry host Clustered and burned on high not pale and wan, As in our northern climes, on heaven's high coast Fiery or golden, the great stars, Arcturus, Orion, Mars, Shone glorious in the mazy train, and lit Th' illimitable vault. On the stilled earth, With her hushed creatures, a great awe did sit, Brooding as 'twere with covering wings : from forth That heart of silent mystery Issued no sound ; only a tree Made o'er the sleeper's head a whisper low, With waving of its leaves. Wearied he slept, Forgetful of his toils and all the woe Which held his life in travail ; he had wept When from his father's house he turned, While still his rage within him burned With smouldering fires half-quenched; for he had bought The birthright, as he deemed, but might not take The purchased prize, nor had he yet one thought How mean his craft, while still the wily snake JACOB'S DREAM. 139 Of that great sin folded his heart, With her foul coils o'er every part ! The glory of the heavenly doth arise Within the vision of the soul in dreams ; Shadowed in likeness of the seen ; our eyes But look through a thick veil, which hath no seams Nor any rent, but whole and one, Hangeth before the infinite sun ! We see the type ; but that which lies behind The type we faintly guess at. There doth come, Borne from afar, a whispering like the wind. We hear, and name the spirit-voice ; the womb Of darkness darkly shuts us in, As creatures yet unborn, though thin The fleshly covering which surrounds our being, And hides from us the spiritual. We still By sense discern the things above our seeing ; Upward to God, and his ambrosial hill, We climb from the low sensual earth, As from dank mould the flower hath birth ! 140 JACOB'S DREAM. So in the mind of him that slept, the scene Of outer glory built itself anew A spiritual grandeur ; as upon a screen Reflected, the great heavenly splendours grew Within the mirror of that dream, Where mystic meanings thickly teem. From the low earth, where lay the breathing things, Where the birds nestled, he beheld a glory, A ladder rising with great luminous rings, Piercing through the star-spaces white and hoary, A starry ladder great and high, Reaching from earth unto the sky ! The lowest round bedded among the flowers, But the high topmost shaft hidden in God ; And over it there fell the glory-showers Of angels : all along the golden road Passed to and fro the angelic throng, The seraphs of the highest song ! And over it and up and down they passed Unceasing ; he beheld it with his eyes, This dreamer of old time : along the vast Unbroken chain, immeasurable of size, JACOB'S DREAM. 141 Ascending and descending moved, God's chosen angels whom he loved ! He saw the astral radiance climb the skies, Stretching itself into the infinite, As mountain peaks one after one arise. In a long chain of mounts, in dazzling light, Went up the steps of those great stairs, Swept by the breath of heaven's own airs ! From the wet grasses where the young lambs lay Went up the glory, up to the high God. Then saw he how that man might find a way Unto the heavenly throne above A ladder knit with links of love ! How man might climb by steps of mountain-stairs Unto his Maker, and by starry rounds Ascend ; yea, from the lonely desert lairs Scale to the heavenly city's glorious bounds The guarded and the sacred mount Whence blessings flow as from a fount ! HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP. SHE sleeps ; we would not wake her no ! God hushed her to her rest, with low Whisperings of love. Oh, sleep, not death- Call it not death ! sweet sleep, life's wreath, And crown of balmiest blessing ! For whom the Highest loveth best, He earliest gathers to His breast. Like shadowing of an angel's wing, Soft as the shade, when the young Spring, With sweet flowers the earth dressing, Brings over it an April cloud, Fell that soft balm of rest. The loud HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP. 143 And turbulent life doth vex our souls : The mad world's crashing thunder-rolls Of battle j the wild sad moaning Of an ever-heaving sea of doubt, Which swathes our isle of life about : For alway in the mist we stand, And see not clear His face and hand, Who loveth us, still groaning " He hath forsaken," though He love, E'en as a mother loves. Sweet dove, Thou hast found rest within His breast ! Into the calm art passed, and bless'd With Christ's own face uplifted, Rejoicest evermore. Oh flower ! Oh lily of our hearts, thine hour Was come ! He saw thy bloom, and took Thee for His lily. Now we look On thy bare place. But shifted Art thou, sweet flower, from earth to heaven ; For unto thee such grace is given, 144 HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP. To live, dear one, within His sight, To grow in beauty stainless white, Breathing for Him thy sweetness. Yea, we miss thee much ; our tears Must flow ; and through the long slow years Our grief must live, so dear wast thou : Yet the great peace upon thy brow, And thy young soul's full meetness For Christ and heaven, forbid our grief, Else wild ; and but a moment brief, And the thin veil of this our life Shall part, and we beyond the strife, The turmoil and the weeping Shall pass, and find thee yet again Our own ; and all the bitter pain Pass into joy. Meanwhile, rest thou Beneath the shadowing of God's brow, Safe in His holy keeping ! NOTES. BALDER. Page 51, lines i, 2. " Yet shall he come again and build his throne In Asgard, when the days are ripe/' etc. The story of Balder the Beautiful is well known. The goddess Frigga being apprehensive for the fate of her son, took an oath of everything in creation not to do him harm, the mistletoe alone excepted, possibly on account of its insignificance. Loki, the evil one, the contriver of mis- chief against the gods, having discovered this, causes a shaft made of the mistletoe to be aimed at Balder by one of his companions. The missile effects his death, and as he dies ingloriously, he falls under the dominion of Hela, the goddess of the dead. The mission of Hermode, who is despatched to effect his release, proving a failure through a certain old woman in a cave (who is supposed to be Toki in disguise) refusing to afford the tribute of tears which every other creature gives, he remains under the power of the pale goddess of the shades until the end of time, when it is predicted he will return from the dismal halls of Hela and resume his former glory, restoring the earth, which has been desolated, and establishing universal peace and happiness. Balder resembles in some respects Apollo, the sun-god of the GreekSj and in others may be compared to Sosiosh, 10 146 NOTES. the redeemer of the Persian system. He is the god of eloquence, of music, and of poetry, so fair and beautiful in person that rays of light issue from his forehead, adorn- ing it with a crown of sun-rays. Like the Greek Apollo he endures a long exile from the abodes of the gods. The myth is one of the finest of the many really fine things of the Northern mythology. In its primary signifi- cance it is like most of the myths of the old religions, a shadow from the outward and external on the mind of men. The restoration of the god from the doleful shades of Hela is simply the emergence of the sun in its morning glory from the gloom of night, or the return of spring to the earth after the rigours of winter ; and this, grand in its conception as it would appear to the people of the cold Northern clime, has, beyond this, a certain deeper and more spiritual meaning : it speaks of a hope of immor- tality, of a life utterly imperishable and divine, which must loose the bands of death because it is not possible it should be holden of them. There is nothing finer in its way than the story of Balder in the whole range of Persian, Hindostanic, or Hellenic myths. THE NORNS. Page 58, lines i, 2. " By the Udar fount sit The beautiful Norns." The three mysterious maidens who have the regulating the affairs of gods and men. They sit by the fountain, under the branches of the sacred ash. Yggdrasil is of great size, the branches reaching above the heavens, while the roots extend through the whole universe. Both roots and branches are being continually gnawed, the former by serpents, the latter by four harts that are always running across the branches ; but the beautiful maidens daily take water from the holy fountain NOTES. 147 and sprinkle the leaves of the ash, and the tree is pre- served in life and verdure. The dews which fall in the vales of earth are the drops which roll from the leaves when sprinkled with the water. The gods daily hold their council under the great ash in the midst of Ida-voll. Yggdrasil is to stand for ever. Even when the world is destroyed, and the ^Esir themselves perish, the tree, ft Time's hoary nurse," will abide in its pristine bloom. It is apparently a symbol of universal nature. The whole myth is significant and full of beauty, and is unique in its kind. AS CARD. Page 60, lines 11 13. " The large dome And stately halls were lightened with the flash Of glittering swords new-drawn." In the Edda the hall of Odin is described as lighted up in this manner. The splendid passage in Milton will be recalled to mind : " Out flew Millions of flaming swords . . . the sudden blaze Far round illumined hell." It is remarkable the magnificence ascribed to the cities of the ALsir. We read of Odin's hails being roofed with shields of gold, and the palace of Gimli, in which the good are to dwell for ever, is said to be more resplendent than the sun, being adorned within and without with the finest gold. The Scandinavians were not a race of builders, yet they delight in descriptions of the stately palaces of their gods. Probably the great Germanic tribes were wanderers from Asia, who brought with them into Europe some lingering recollections of the grandeur of the ancient cities of the old world, which thus embedded themselves in the traditions of their religioji. 10 2 148 NOTES. Page 61, lines 5, 6. " And he whose delicate ear, bent at the core Of Nature's heart, discerned," etc. I.e., the god Heimdall, whose sense of hearing is said to be so acute that he can discern the sound of the grow- ing of the grass and the wool on the back of the sheep. He is the warder of the gods, and is appointed to keep watch at the great bridge Bifrost (the rainbow), across which the /Esir daily ride to the doomstead under the sacred ash. The myth would seem to express that the inner subtle harmony of Nature reveals itself to patient loving observation, that there is a certain rhythm of beauty in the most simple and common of her operations which he who listens can at all times discern. THE VALKYRS. Page 65, line i. " The three with helmed brows shot through the night. " The Valkyrs are three warlike maidens appointed by Odin to make choice of those who shall be slain in battle. They are not looked at as evil beings, although endued with attributes of terror. Hacon, whose virtues and whose triumphant entrance into heaven the Icelandic Scald has seen fit to celebrate, was King of Norway, and flourished in the tenth century. FREY. Page 71, lines 9, 10. " Yet when the days Of final strife shall come," etc. At the end of the world the genii of fire, allied with Loki and the brood of evil monsters, will issue from the fiery region of Muspelhem to make war upon the gods. NOTES. 149 The ysir are overcome, or rather both the evil powers and "the mild gods" mutually destroy each other and bring themselves to an end at the same time ; the world is consumed with fire, and the human race perish, with the exception of a solitary pair, who afterwards replenish the earth with their offspring. The god Balder, after the universal wreck, returns from the abodes of death, and with a remnant of the ALsir will rebuild the sacred cities, and establishing his throne once more restore the earth to more than its former fertility and beauty. The Eddaic poems give us no idea of an ever-existing and omnipotent deity. The ALsir are rather the life- principles of the universe the great and beneficent powers of Nature seen in conflict with the destructive and anarchic forces ; the Northern sages, however, taught very < clearly the immortality of the soul of man. THE BURIED TEMPLE. Page 102, lines i 3. " In cavernous gloom, Far under the earth, A temple doth stand." There is a tradition in the Talmud that the Temple of Solomon is still existent, concealed in the depths of the earth ; and that when the nation of Israel shall be again restored to their own land, it will re-appear as perfect as when first erected on Mount Zion. At the taking of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, the Rabbis believe the Temple, by the Ministry of Angels, was pre- served from destruction by being hidden beneath the earth, where it still remains. ISO NOTES. ST. PATRICK'S EASTER FIRE. Page 133, lines i, 2. " Said the King to his Druids grey, On the eve of Easter-day." It is related in tradition that St. Patrick converted to Christianity King Leoghire of Ireland, and his nobles, at Easter of the year 433, on which occasion the King held his yearly Court, when he was wont to cause a large fire to be kindled on the top of some eminence, after which his chief men and the people of the country responded with their bonfires in various places. Contrary to the edict of the King, St. Patrick kindled his fire first, thereby pro- claiming the Divine King, and perhaps typifying the rising of light from the darkness of the tomb in the resurrection. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN (2). THE COUNTESS OF PORTSMOUTH (4), THE COUNTESS OF CHARLEMONT. THE LADY GERTRUDE ROLLE (2). THE LADY CHURCHILL. THE LADY BRUCE CHICHESTER. THE RIGHT HON. EARL OF PORTSMOUTH (4). THE RIGHT HON. EARL OF DEVON (2). THE RIGHT HON. EARL OF MOUNT EDGCUMBE, THE RIGHT HON. LORD CLINTON (2). THE RIGHT HON. LORD COLERIDGE (2). THE RIGHT HON. SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, BT. (2). SIR THOMAS ACKLAND, BART. (2). SIR ARTHUR CHICHESTER, BART. SIR HENRY DAVIE, BART. (2). SIR JOHN KENNAWAY, BART* (2), LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Abbott, Mr., Monkleigh. Ackland, Dr., Bideford. Ackland, Mr., (2). Adams, J., Esq., Bickington. Adams, Mr., Barnstaple. Adams, Mr., Crediton. Adams, Mrs. J., Torrington. Adams, Mrs. R., Ainsworth, Mr., Alford, Mrs. J. Pitton, Barnstaple. Alford, Mrs. Allen, Mr., Barnstaple. Amery, J. S., Esq., Ashburton. Andrews, Mr. D., Northam. Andrews, Mr. J., Parkham. Andrews, Rev. T., Hatherleigh. Andrews, Mrs., Westleigh. Andrews, Miss, Torrington. Arnold, G., Esq., Dolton. Arthurs, Mr., jun., Rectory, Atherington. Arthurs, Mrs., Ascott, Mr. 3 Bideford. Ashplant, Mr., Torrington. Ashplant, Mr., Beaford. Ashplant, Mrs., St. Gilts'. Ashton, Mr., jun., Beaford. Ashton, Mrs. J., Meriou. Ashton, Mrs. L., Ashton, Miss M. A., Atherton, Mrs., Ayre, Mrs., Southmolton. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. ill Babb, Mrs., Barnstaple. Babbage, Mrs., Bideford. Babbage, Mrs., Langtree. Backhouse, T., Esq., Bideford. Badcock, Mrs., Braunton. Bailey, Mrs., Buckland Brewer, Bailey, Mrs., Sheepwash. Bailey, Mrs., Merton. Bainton, Rev. J., Bideford. Bainton, Rev. J., Ilfracombe, Baker, Mr. G., Appledore, Baker, Mr,, Northam. Baker, Mr., Barnstaple, Baker, Mr., Baker, Mr,, Bideford Baker, Rev. W., Shipion Bellinger. Bale, Mrs,, Bickington. Ball, Mrs,, Frithelstock. Ball, Miss, Torrington. Balsdon, Mr., Wear Gifford, Balsdon, Mrs,, Torrington. Banbrock, Mr., Wear Gifford, Banbrock, Mrs., Bangham, Mrs., Torrington. Barnes, Rev. H., Langtree. Barnett, G., Esq., Ilfracombe. Barr, Dr., Aldershot. Barrett, Mr,, Torrington. Barrett, Mrs., Castle Hill Barrie, Mr., Stevenstone. Barren, Miss, Torrington. Barrow, Miss, Instow, Bassett, Mrs., Braunton. Bates, Mrs., Plymouth. IV LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Batson, J., Esq., Ebberleigh. Baylis, Mr., Pilton, Burnstaple. Bazeley, H. M., Esq., Bideford. Bazeley, Rev. F., Bi ieford, Beara, Mr., Appledore. Bedford, Miss, Hig'i Bickington. Beer, Mr., Torringtjn. Beer, Miss, Beman, , Esq., Cnydon. Bencraft, L., Esq., B_irnstaple, Bencraft, L, Esq., Bending, Mrs. High Bickington. Benge, G., Esq., B irnstaple. Benington, Mrs., Kent. Bennett^ Mrs. Torrington. Berry, Mr., Pilton, Barnstaple. Berry, Mrs., Ashford. Besley, Rev. H. B. Peters, Marland. Besley, Mrs., Barnstaple. Besley, Miss E., Winkleigh. Best, Mr., Barnstaple. Bicknell, Mr., jun., Southmolton. Bidgood, Mr., Instow. Bilney, A., Esq., Barnstaple. Bird, Mrs., High Bickington. Bishop, Mr., Roborough. Blackmore, Mrs., Kingston-on-Thames. Blackwell, T., Esq., Barnstaple. Blake, Mr., Lankey. Blake, Mrs., Southmolton. Blatchford, Mr., Hatherleigh. Blatchford, Mr. H., Torrington. Blythe, Dr., Barnstaple. Boatfield, Mr., IrlST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Bolt, Miss, London. Bolt, Miss, Yarnscombe. Bond, Mr., Ilfracombe. Bond, Mrs., Frithelstock. Bond, Mrs., Monkleigh. Bonifant, Mrs., Marland. Bonifant, Miss, Torrington. Boundy, Mrs., Appledore. Bowden, Mr., Huish. Bowden, Mr., London. Bowden, Mrs., Appledore. Bowen, Mrs., Bideford. Boxer, Mr., Torrington. Boyden, Mr., Bristol. Boyles, Mr., Bideford. Bradford, Mrs., Torrington. Brailey, Mr., Ashford. Brailey, Mrs., Exeter. Braithwaite, Rev. C. F., Southmolton. Braund, Mr., Bideford. Braund, Mr., Hatherleigh. Braund, Mr., jun., Little Torrington. Braund, Mr., jun., Ilfracombe. Braund, Mrs., Fremington. Bray, Mr., Bideford. Bray, Mrs., Barnstaple. Brenton, Rev. J., Southmolton. Brereton, A., Esq., Liverpool. Brereton, O., Esq., Brereton, A. J., Esq., Mold. Bridgeman, Mrs., Shebear. Brierly, Rev. J., Leytonstone. Brimsmead, Miss, Newport, Mon. Brindle, Rev. Provost, Barnstaple. VI LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Brinsmead, Mr., London. Brinsmead, Mr., St. Giles 7 . Brock, Mr., Bideford. Bounscombe, Mr. E., Hunshaw. Brounscombe, Mrs., High Bickington. Brown, G., Esq., Barnstaple. Brown, Mr., Barnstaple. Bryant, Mr., Barnstaple. Buckingham, Mr., Barnstaple. Buckingham, Mr., Lankey. Buckinham, W., Esq., Exeter. Buckland, Rev. S., Torrington. Buckland, Mrs., Croydon. Buckpitt, J., Esq., Taunton. Budd, Dr., Barnstaple. Bull, Rev. J. H., Barnstaple. Bullied, Mr., Hatherleigh. Bullied, Mr. J., Bullied, Mr. S., Bulmer, Mr., Southmolton. Buncombe, W., Esq., High Bickington. Burrington, F., Esq., Exeter. Burrows, Mrs., Frithelstock. Burton, Mrs., Exeter. Buttard, Mrs., Instow. Caddy, Miss, Buckland Brewer. Callard, Miss, Yarnscombe. Campbell, E., Esq., Westward Ho I Cann, Mr., Alverdiscott. Cann, Mr., Torrington. Capern, E., Esq., Birmingham. Carew, T., Esq., Tiverton. Carter, Mrs.* Torrington, LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Vll Cato, Mr., Merton. Cawker, Mrs., Swansea (2). Chamings, Mr., Yarnscombe. Chammings, Mr., Beaford. Champion, Madame, Barnstaple. Channel, Mrs., Richmond. Chanter, J. H., Esq., Barnstaple. Chanter, Rev. J. W., Ilfracombe. Chapel, Mr., Torrington. Chapel, Miss, Chapman, Mr., Black Torrington. Chapman, Mrs., Sheepwash. Chappel, Mr., Black Torrington. Chappie, Mr., Southmolton. Charlewood, Admiral, Northam. Chevalier, Mr., Liverpool. Chevalier, Mr., Manchester. Chichester, Capt., Bickington. Chichester, C, Esq., Barnstaple. Chowins, Mrs., Torrington. Christopher, Mrs., Churchill, Miss, Barnstaple. Churchward, Rev. Dimond, Northam. Clare, Rev. R., Appledore. Clarke, Mr., Bideford. Clarke, Mr., sen., Torrington. Clarke, Mrs., Merton. Clarke, Mrs., Wear Gifford. Clements, Mrs., Yarnscombe. Coates, Mr., High Bickington. Cock, Mr., jun., Southmolton. Cocks, Mr., Torquay. Coffin, Pyne, J., Esq., Bideford (2), Colby, Rev. E. R., Torquay. Cole, Mrs., Southmolton. Vlll LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS Cole, Miss, St. Giles'. Colemb, CoL, London. Coles, Mrs., High Bickington. Colin, Mr., Torrington. Collihole, Mr. T., Winkleigh. Collihole, Mrs., Collin, Miss, Torrington* Colwill, Mr., Tomngton,,. Colwill, Mr. T., Ilfracombe. Colwill, Mrs. W., Torrington. Comins, Mrs., Southmokon. Cook, Mr., Appledore. Cook, Mr., Barn staple. Cook, J., Esq., Barnstaple. Cooke, J.,, Esq., London. Cooke, Rev. Canon, Exeter. Coombe, Mr., Exeter. Coombe, Mrs., Torrington. Cooper, G. Groves, Esq., Bideford (2)1 Cooper, Miss, Monkleigh. Copp, Mr,, Beaford. Copp> Mr., Torrington. Copp, Mr. J., Copp, Mrs., Peter's Marland. Copp, Mrs.,. Torrington. Cork, Mrs., Monkleigh.. Cormer, G.,, Esq., Mold. Cotton, > Esq., Exeter.. Couch, Mr.,. High Bickingtoix Cowell, Mr., Westward Ho ! Cowling, Mr., Barnstaple. Cox, E., Esq., Bideford. Cox, Mrs., Yarnscombe. Crang, Mrs.^ Barnstaple. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. IX Crang, Mrs., Thorne. Griddle, Mrs., Exeter. Croft. W. C., Esq., Westward Ho ! Crooke, Mr., Instow. Croscombe, Mr., Roborough. Grossman, Mr., Bideford. Cruwys, Mr., Bideford. Cudmore, Mr., Merton. Cull, Mr., Torrington. Culliford, Rev. V. H., Winkleigh. Currie, Miss, Ilfracombe. Curtis, Mr., Barnstaple. Curtis, Miss, Lankey. Dalby, Mr., Torrington. Dalby, Rev. F. H., Barnstaple. Darracott, Mrs., Appledore. Davey, G., Esq., Bradiford. Davey, Mrs., Buckland Brewer. Davidson, J. B., Esq., London. Davies, Mr., Barnstaple. Davies, Rev. D. B., Braunton. Davies, Mrs., Swansea (2). Davis, Mr., Torrington. Dawe, Mr., Barnstaple. Dawe, Mr., Exeter. Dawson, J., Esq., London. Day, Mrs. A., Appledore. Day, Mr. G. H., Braunton. Deane, A., Esq., Webbery, Bideford, Dendle, Mr., Barnstaple. Dennis, Mr., Hunshaw. Dennis, Mr., Barnstaple. Dennis, Mrs., X LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Didham, Capt, Bideford. Dilling, Mrs., Barnstaple. Dillon, Mr., Taunton. Dingwell, Mr., Barnstaple. Docker, Mr., Torrington. Dodd, Mr., Castle Hill. Doe, G., Esq., Torrington. Doe, Mrs., Chas., Doe, Miss, Doidge, Rev. J., Southmolton. Dodge, S., Esq., Torrington. Dowding, Rev. T., Dowell, Mrs., Bideford. Down, Mr., Bickirigton. Down, Mrs., High Bickington. Down, Miss, Cardiff (10). Down, Miss, Bideford. Down, Miss, London. Downing, Mr., Hatherleigh. Downing, Mr., Wear Gifford. Downing, Mrs. J., Downing, Mr. R., Atherington. Downing, Miss, Torrington. Drake, Mrs., Braunton. Drake, Miss, Dredge, Rev. J. T., Buckland Brewer. Drew, H., Esq., Exeter. Drew, J., Esq., Dufty, T., Esq., Winkleigh. Dunn, Miss, Northam. Dunning, Miss, Winkleigh. Dyer, Mr. R., Braunton. Dyer, Miss, Southmolton. Dymond, Mr., Bideford. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. xi Earl, A., Esq., Black Torrington. Eastmond, Mr., Bideford. Edger, Miss, Pilton, Barnstaple. Edwards, Rev. E., Torquay. Edwards, J., Esq. Barnstaple. Edwards, Mr., Petrockston. Edwards, Miss, Torrington. Eland, Mr., Exeter (2). Eland, Rev. J., Bideford. - Elias, J. R., Esq., Pentraeth. Ellacombe, Rev. H., Clyst St. George. Ellis, Rev. J., Appledore. Ellis, Mrs., Westward Ho ! Embery, Mrs., Bideford. Essery, Mr., Hatherleigh. Evans, Mr., Dolton. Eveny, F., Esq. Exeter. Eyre, Mrs. F. T., Instow. Fairchild, Mr., Great Torrington. Fairchild, Mr., Torrington. Farleigh, Mr., Farleigh, J., Mr., Barnstaple. Farringdon, Mrs., London. Featherstone, Mr., Bideford. Fergusson, Miss, West Linton, Scotland. Finch, Mr., Exeter. Fisher, Mr., Barnstaple. Fisher, Mr., Frithelstock. Fisher, G., Esq., Torrington. Fisher, T., Esq., Buckland House. Fisher, Mrs., Huntshaw. Fisher, Mrs., Northam. Fisher, Miss, Frithelstock. xii LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Fisher, Miss, Pilton, Barnstaple. Fitze, Mrs., Exeter (2). Fleck, Mr., Bideford. Folland, Mr., Barnstaple. Folland, Mr., Dolton. Folland, Mr., Torrington. Follett, C., Esq., Exeter. Folley, Mrs., Torrington. Forest, Mr., Barnstaple. Foster, R., Esq., Torrington. Foweraker, Rev. E. T., Exeter. Fowler, Rev. H., Gloucester. Fowler, Rev. N., Utting (2). Fowler, P., Esq., Mold. Fowler, Mr., H., Fowler, Mrs., Torrington. Fowler, Miss, Fox, J. B., Esq., Ilfracombe. Foxwell, Mrs., Torrington. Frances, C., Esq., Ilfracombe. Frances, Mrs., Westward Ho ! Fraser, Mrs., Instow. Freeman, Mrs., Torrington. Freeman, Miss, Frithelstock. Friend, Mr., Dolton. Friend, Mr., Braunton. Friend, Mr., Winkleigh. Friendship, Mrs., Torrington. Friendship, Miss, Torrington. Froude, Mrs., Barnstaple. Fry, Mr., Wear Gifford. Fry, Miss, Bickington. Fulford, Mr., Bideford. Fulford, Mr. E., Buckland Brewer. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. xili Fulford, E. J., Esq., Exeter. Fulford, R. W., Esq., Exeter. Fulford, Mr. T., Buckland Brewer, Furse, E., Esq., Southmolton. Furse, Mrs., Torrington. Furse, Miss, Pilton, Barnstaple. Furseman, Mrs., Langtree. Fursey, Mr., Appledore, Fursey, Mr., Jun., Appledore. Furze, Miss, Torrington. Galliford, E., Esq., Southmolton, Gamble, C, Esq., Barnstaple. Gammon, Rev. J., Shebear. Gard, Mr., YeoviL Gardener, Mrs , High Bickington. Gardener, F., Esq., Ilfracombe. Gatenbury, Miss, Braunton. Gawtry, Miss., Torrington. Gaydon, Mr., Kingston-on-Thames, Gaydon, Mr., Barnstaple. Gaydon, Mr. G. T., Barnstaple. Gayton, Mrs., High Bickington. Gaywood, Mr., London. Geoeghan, Mr., Bideford, Gilbert, Mr., Exeter. Gilbert, Miss, Black Torrington. Gill, Mr., High Bickington. Gill, Mr., Torrington (2). Gill, H. S., Esq., Tiverton. Gimblett, Mr., Crediton. Glubb, W., Esq., Torrington. Glyde, Mr., Barnstaple. Godfrey, Mr., Castle Hill. Goman, Mr., Bideford. XIV LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Gomer, Mrs., Wear GifFord. Good, Mr., Southmolton. Goode, Mr., St. Giles'. Goodwin, A., Esq., Ilfracombe. Gordon, Capt, Appledore.(2). Gordon, Mr., Castle HilL Goss, Mrs., Merton. Gossett, Rev. J., Westward Ho ! Gould, Mr., Barnstaple. Gould, Mr. G. H., Barnstaple. Gould, G., Esq., Hatherleigh. Gould, R., Esq., Barnstaple. Gould, W., Esq., Ilfracombe. Gowman, Mrs., Appledore. Grant, Mr., Torrington. Granville, Rev. R., Bideford. Greek, Miss, Barnstaple. Green, Mr., Exeter. Gregory, Mr., Bideford. Gregory, Rev. R., Tavistock. Gregory, W. H., Esq., London. Gregory, Mrs. M. A., Barnstaple. Gribble, J., Esq., Barnstaple. Grigg, Mr., Parkham. Guard, Mr., Torrington. Guest, Mrs., Bristol (2). Guille, Mrs., Rectory, Great Torrington. Gunn, Mr., Exeter. Gunn, Mr., Torrington. Gurney, Rev. W., Roborough. Hackwill, Mrs., Langtree. Hagley, Mrs., Torrington. Hall, Rev. W. C., Pilton, Barnstaple. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XV Hames, Mr., Braunton. Hamlyn, Mrs., Hamlyn, Mrs., Thorne. Hancock, Mrs., Pilton, Barnstaple. Handcock, Mr., Little Torrington. Handford, Mr., Torrington. Handford, Mr. H., Taunton. Handford, Mr. T. E., Torrington. Harding, Col., Pilton, Barnstaple. Harding, Mr., Exeter. Harding, Mrs., Barnstaple. Harper, J., Esq., Harpley, Rev. J., Tiverton. Harris, Mr., Bideford. Harris, Mr., Exeter (2). Harris, Rev. E., Exeter. Harris, J., Esq., Harris, W., Esq., Braunton. Harris, W. P., Esq., Harris, Mrs.. Appledore. Harris, Mrs., Buckland Brewer. Harris, Mrs., Merton. Harris, Mrs. S., Roborough. Harris, Miss S., Harriss, Mr., Barnstaple. Hart, Mrs., Stevenstone. Hartnoll, Mr., Braunton. Hartnoll, Mr., Barnstaple. Haslam, T. W., Esq., Westward Ho ! Hatherley, J., Esq., Bideford. Haverfield, Mrs., Torrington. Hawker, Rev. Treasurer, Ilfracombe. Havel, Mrs., London (2). Haydon, Mrs., Langtree. XVI LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Heale, Mrs. E., Fremington. Heale, Mr. G. A., Parkham. Heape, Mr., Braunton. Heard, Mr., Beaford. Hearn, Mrs., Hearn, Mrs. S., Barn staple. Hearn, Miss, Heather, Mr., Heddon, Mrs., Braunton. Hemans, Mrs., High Bickington. Hencott, Mr., Exeter. Henry, Rev. J., Southmolton. Hensley, Rev. E., Parkham (2). Herniman, Mr., Pilton, Barnstaple. Heywood, Mr., Bideford. Hey wood, Mr., Torrington. Heywood, Mrs., Plymouth. Hick, Mr. C, Black Torrington. Hiern, J., Esq., Barnstaple. Higman, Rev. R., Torrington. Hill, Mr., Barnstaple. Hill, Mr., Hill, Mr., Southmolton. Hockley, Major, Barnstaple. Hodge, Miss, Braunton. Hodge, Mrs., Torrington. Hodges, Mr., Bideford. Hogg, Mr., Holderness, Rev. W., Woolfardis worthy. Hole, C., Esq., Bideford. Hole, T., Esq., Ilfracombe. Hole, Mrs., Beam House, Torrington. Hole, Mrs., Torrington. Hole, Miss, LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. xvit Hole, Miss D,, Torrington, Holland, Miss, Bickington* Holwill, Mr., Torrington. Holwill, Miss, Bideford. Honey, Mr., Hatherleigh. Hookway, Mr., Bideford. Hookway, Mrs., Kingscott, Hooper, S., Esq., Hatherleigk Hooper, Mrs., Exeter. Hooper, Mrs., Exeter. Hore, Rev. W. S., Barnstaple. Horn, Mrs., Black Torrington. Horn, Mrs., Horner, Mrs., Barnstaple, Hosken, Mr., Lankey. Hoskins, Mr., Marazion. How, A., Esq., Barnstaple* How, J., Esq., Bideford. How, Mr., Little Torrington. Howard, Mr., Braunton. Hughes, J. C, Esq., Caersws. Hugo, W. J., Esq., Barnstaple. Hurdon, Rev. J., Barnstaple (2). Hussey, Mr., Wrafton. Huswaite, Mr., Buckland Brewen Hutchings, J., Esq., Torrington, Hutchings, Mr. Lee, Bideford. Hutchinson, General, Northam. Huxtable, Mr., Southmolton. Huxtable, Mrs., Langtree. Ireland, Mr., Barnstaple. Irish, Mrs., Barnstaple. Isaac, Mr., Roborough. XVlll LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Isaac r Mr., Winkleigh. Isaac, Mrs., Hatherleigh. Isaac, Mrs., Wear Gifford. Jackson, H., Esq., Barnstaple. Jackson, J., Esq., Croydon. Jackson, Mr., Torrington. Jackson, Mr. J., Jackson, Mr. T., Jackson, S., Esq., Pembroke. Jackson, Mrs., London (2). James, Mrs., Glenburnie, Bideford (2). Jardine, Rev. , Great -Torrington. Jarman, Miss, Northam. Jenn, Mr., Black Torrington, Jewell, Mr., Torrington. Jewell, Mr. H., Parkham. Joce, Mr., Bideford. Johns, Mrs., Torrington. Johnson, E., Esq., Farringdon House, Exeter. Johnson, Mrs., Cross, Little Torrington (2). Johnson, Miss, Rosemoor, Torrington (2). Jones, Rev. R., London. Jones, Dr., Torrington. Jones, Mr. Juniper, Mr., Stevenstone. Kay, , Esq., Barnstaple. Kearsley, G., Esq., Exeter. Kelland, Mrs., Southmolton. Kellow, Mr., Bickington. Kelly, Mr., Black Torrington. Kemp, Miss, Merton. Kempe, Rev. Prebendary, Merton. Kempe, A., Esq., Exeter. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XIX Kempe, Mrs., Bideford. Kennard, Mrs., Taunton (2), King, J. R., Esq., Crediton. King, Mr., Ilfracombe. Kingdon, Mr., Torrington. Kingdon, J. A., Esq., Southmolton. Knight, Mr., Torquay. Knill, Mr., Barnstaple. Knill, Mr., Pilton, Barnstaple. Knill, Mr. T. J., Barnstaple. Knott, Mr., Stevenstone. Laffere, Mr., Hatherleigh. Lait, W., Esq., Torrington. Lake, Mr. J., London. Lake, Mr. J., Lake, Mrs., Buckland Brewer* Lamperd, Miss, Torrington. Lamping, Mr., Braunton, Landon, Rev. C, Ashford. Landon, Rev. J. W., Braunton. Lang, Rev. Dashwood, Instow. Langbridge, Mr., London. Langdon, Rev. A., High Bickington. Langdon, Mrs., Braunton. Latey, John, Esq., London. Law, Dr., Barnstaple. Lawrence, Mr., Torrington. Leathern, Mrs., Northam. Lee, Mr., Torrington. Lemon, Mrs., Appledore. Lemons, Mrs., Atherington. Lendon, Mr., Exeter. Lethaby, R. P., Esq., Barnstaple. b 2 XX LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS, Lethbridge, Mr., Exeter. Lethern, Miss, Winkleigh, Ley, Mr., Barnstaple. Ley, Mr. ? Langtree. Ley, Mr. T., Lile, Mrs,, Barnstaple. Lind, Mrs., Bideford, Lind, Mrs,, Northam (2) Linington, Mr., Winkleigh, Lipscombe', J., Esq., Exeter. Literary Institution, Barnstaple, Littlejohns, Mrs,, Exeter. Littledale, Rev. C, E. Kingscott. Littleworth, Mr., Barnstaple Lock, G., Esq, 7 Instow, Lock, T., Esq., Loftus, Mrs., Croydon. Loveband, Rev. W. A., Pilton. Loveband, Mrs., Torrington, Lovelace, Mrs. 7 Plymouth. Lovell, Mrs,, Frennington. Lovering, Mrs., Braunton. Lownes, Rev. J., Bideford. Lownes, Rev. W., Lucas, Mr., Torrington. Ludlow, Rev. A,, Northam. Lukey, Mr. W., Plymouth. Luxton, Mr., Winkleigh. Luxton, G., Esq., Winkleigh, Luxton, Mrs., Hatherleigh. Luxton, Mrs. T., Winkleigh. Lyddon, Mr., jun,, Southmolton. Lyne, Mr., Dolton. Lyne, Mrs., Petrockstow. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XXI Macartnay, Major, Torrington. MacDonald, Rev. A., Barnstaple. MacGregor, Mrs., BideforcL Mackay, Mrs., Barnstaple. Mackay, Mrs., London. Mackelvie, Torrington. Mackencie, Mr., Barnstaple. Maine, Mrs., Atherington. Maine, Mrs., Northam. Maine, Miss, Bideford. Majendie, Rev. C. W., Barnstaple (2). Mallett, Mr., Torrington. Mallett, Mrs., Frithelstock. Mallett, Mrs., Swansea. Mallett, Mrs., Torrington. Manley, J., Esq., London. Manning, Mr., Barnstaple. Marks, G., Esq., Beaford. Marsh, Mr., Barnstaple. Marsh, Mrs. S. W., Barnstaple. Marshall, Rev. J., Beaford. Marshall, T., Esq., Barnstaple. Martin, Mr., Barnstaple. Martin, Mr., Parkham. Martin, Mrs., Wear GifTord. Mason, Mrs., Langtree. Mathews, Mrs. S., Appledore. Mathews, Miss, Petrockstow. May, Mrs., Exeter. May, Mrs., London (2). May, Mrs., Stevenstones. May, Mrs., St. Giles 7 . May, Mrs., Torrington. Medland, Mr., Torrington. Muxworthy, Mr., Barnstaple. XXll LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Miller, J., Esq., Barnstaple. Miller, Mr., Winkleigh. Millett, Colonel, Wear Gifford (4). Mills, A., Esq., Bude. Mills, Mr., Langtree. Mills, Mrs., Marland. Mills, Miss, Torrington. Milroy, J., Esq., Barnstaple. Milton, Miss, Barnstaple. Milton, Miss, Southmolton. Mitchell, C, Esq., Dolton. Mitchell, Mr. S., Winkleigh. Mitchell, Mrs., Barnstaple. Molesworth, General, Kenwith, Bideford. Molesworth, Mrs., Kenwith, Bideford. Molland, Mr., Winkleigh. Monkleigh, Mr., Bideford. Moon, Mrs., London. Moor, Mr., Southmolton. Moore, Mr., Barnstaple. Moore, Mrs., Moore, Mrs., Torrington. Morgan, Rev. J., Dolton. Morley, Mr., Torrington. Morris, Mr., Langtree. Mortimer, , Esq., Barnstaple. Mortimer, Mr., Petrockstow. Morton, F., Esq., Southmolton. Mosley, Mr., Hatherleigh. Mountjoy, Mr., Bradiford. Mountj oy, Mr. G., Southmolton. Mules, Mr., Southmolton. Murphy, Mr., Bideford. Murray, Mr., London. Muxworthy, Mr., Yarnscombe. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XXlll Nance-Rievel, Mr., Langtree. Nance-Rievell, Mrs., Kingscott, Narraway, Bideford. Nations, Mr., Torrington. . Neale, Rev. E. S., Exeter. Nicholls, Mr., Bristol. Nicholls, Mr., Winkleigh. Nichols, Mr., jun., Bristol. Nichols, Mrs., Langtree. Nightingale, Rev. T., Exeter. Noble, Rev. R., Torrington. Norman, J. H,, Esq., Winkleigh, Norman, Mrs., Monkleigh. Norman, Mrs., Westward, Ho ! Norman, Miss, London. Northcote, Mr., Petrockstow. Oatway, Mr., Bideford. Oatway, Mn, Oatway, Mr. R., Yarnscombe. Oatway, Mrs., Yarnscombe. Oldham, E. J., Esq., Hatherleigh. Oliver, W., Esq., Barnstaple. Oliver, Mrs., Bideford. Owen, A. W., Esq., Black Torrington. Page, Mrs. J., Roborough. Palmer, Colonel, Torrington. Palmer, Rev. C, Palmer, C. E., Esq., Barnstaple. Pardon, Mr. H., Winkleigh. Pardon, Mrs. R., Roborough. Parfitt, Mr., Exeter. Parks ; Mr., Barnstaple. XXIV LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Parminter, Mrs., Pilton, Barn staple. Parr, Mr., Sheepwash. Partridge, Mrs,, Monkleigh. Passmore, Mr., Buckland Brewer. Passmore, Mr., Exeter. Passmore, Mr., Southmolton. Passmore, Mrs., Torrington. Passmore, Mrs* J., Peters MarlancL Pearce, Mr., Barnstaple. Pearce, Mr., High Bickington. Pearce, Rev. J., Hatherleigh. Pearce, Mr., Yarnscombe. Pearce, Mrs., Pilton, Barnstaple. Pearce, Mrs., Torrington. Pearse, J., Esq., Hatherleigh, Pearse, Mrs., Northarru Pearse, Mr., Exeter. Peake, Mr., Barnstaple. Peake, Mr., High Bickingtora. Peake, Mrs* Plymouth. Peake, Mrs., Southmolton. Pease, Miss, Darlington (2). Pedlar, C, Esq., Bideford. Pedlar, Mrs. R., High Bickington. Peel, C., Esq., Saint Giles 7 . Pengelly, Mr., Yarnscombe. Pengelly, W., Esq., Torquay. Penhale, Mrs., Barnstaple. Penleaze, Rev. J^ Black Torrington. Pennington, Mr. A., Parkham. Pennington, Mrs., Northam. Perking, Mr., Wear Gifford. Perry, Mr., Torrington. Petherick, J. W., Esq., Exeter, LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XXV Fetter, Mr., Barnstaple. Fetter, Mr.,jtm., Ilfracombe. Fettle, Mr., Torrington. Fettle, Miss, Ashford. Phare, Mrs., Hatherleigh. Phillips, Mrs., Torrington. Phillips, Miss, London. Pidgeon, Mr., Torrington. Pigott, Rev. T. F., Fremington. Pike, Mrs., Bideford. Pinkett, Mrs., Barnstaple. Pinkett, Mrs., Instow. Pittwood, Mrs., Hunshaw. Plimsoll, Dr., Exmouth. Pollard, Mr., jun., Bideford. Ponsford, Mrs., Pilton, Barnstaple. Pope, T., Esq., Exeter. Pope, Mrs., Merton. Pope, Mrs., Torrington. Popham, Mrs., Appledore. Pound, Mr., Bideford. Powell, B., Esq., Mold. Power, J., Esq., Northam. Prance, Mrs., Appledore. Pratt, Dr., Appledore. Pratt, Dr. C., Pratt, Mrs., Darlington. Pratt, Mrs., Winkleigh. Predeaux, Mr., Barnstaple. Price, Dr., Ilfracombe. Price, C., Esq., Westward Ho ! (2). Price, W. E., Esq., Torrington (2). Pronger, C. E., Esq., Barnstaple. Prouse, Mr., Bideford. XXVI LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Puddicombe, Mrs., Bideford. Puddicombe, Miss, Pilton, Barnstaple. Pulsford, Mr., Barnstaple. Pynsent, G., Esq., Westward Ho ! Quance, Mrs., Merton. Quick, Miss, Instow. Quicke, Mrs., Exeter. Rafferelle, Mr., Barnstaple (2). Ramson, J. L., Esq., Sidmouth (2). Ratcliffe, Mrs., Barnstaple. Rawle, Mrs. S., Raymond, Mr., London (2). Reed, Mr., Torrington. Reed, Rev. W. B., Holsworthy. Rendell, J. M., Esq., Exeter. Restarick, Mr., Bideford. Rew, Mr., London. Reynolds, Rev. C, Appledore. Riccard, R. M., Esq., Southmolton. Richards, Mr., Devonport. Richards, Mr., Exeter. Richards, Mr., High Bickington. Rickard, Mrs., Bideford. Ridge, Mr., Petrockstow. Ridley, Mr., Bideford (2). Righton, Mr., Northam. Roberts, Mr., Exeter. Roberts, Rev. E., Braunton. Robertson, Mr., Little Torrington. Robins, W., Esq., Ilfracombe. Robins, Mrs., Buckland Brewer. Robinson, Capt., Braunton. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XXV11 Rock, W. F., Esq., Blackheath (16). Rockhey, Mr., Barnstaple. Rockhey, Mrs., Roborough. Rodd, Mrs., Northam. Rogers, T., Esq., Orleigh Court, Buckland Brewer. Rooker, J., Esq., Bideford. Rose, Miss, Exeter (2). Rough, Mrs., Winkleigh. Rounsefell, Rev. B., Plymouth. Rouse, L., Esq., Sheepwash. Rouse, Mrs., Torrington. Rouse, Miss de St. Vincent, Barnstaple. Rousham, P., Esq., Torrington. Row, Mr., Kingscott. Rowe, Mr., Barnstaple. Rowe, W., Esq., Barnstaple. Rucker, Miss, London. Rucker, Miss A., London. Rudall, Miss, Sheepwash. Rudd, Mrs., Torrington (2). Ruddle, T., Esq., Shebear. Rude, Mr., Barnstaple. Rude, Mrs., Torrington. Rush, Mr., Barnstaple. Russell, Colonel, Barnstaple. Russell, Rev. J., Swymbridge. Russell, R. R., Esq., Atherington. Russell, Mr. W., Atherington. Rutter, Miss, Cork (4). Rutty, Rev. J., Barnstaple. Sage, Mr., Bristol. Sandercock, J., Esq., Northam. Sanders, Miss, Hatherleigh. xxviii LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Sanders, Mrs., Instow. Sanders, Mr., Southmolton. Sandford, Mr., Torrington. Sandford, Mr. R., Sandford, Mrs., Sandford, Miss, Sangster, Captain, Northam. Salter, Mr., Torrington. Sargent, Mrs., Leamington. Satterley, Mr., Barnstaple. Saunders, Mr., jun., Northam. Saunders, Mr. C, Buckland Brewer. Saunders, Mr. J., Saunders, Mrs., Langtree. Sawer, T., Esq., Northam. Saxon, Mrs., Barnstaple. Scott, Captain (Smytham), Little Torrington. Scott, Mr., Hatherleigh. Scott, Mr., Kingscott. Scott, Rev. T., Bideford. Searle, Mr., Barnstaple. Seldon, Mr., Seldon, Mr., Lankey. Seldon, Mr. T. P., Barnstaple. Sellick, Mr., Bideford. Sellick, Mr., Plymouth. Sellick, W., Esq., Taunton. Sergent, Mrs., Alwington. Sewell, Mrs., Barnstaple. Seymour, Rev. E. A., Barnstaple. Shackerley, Mrs., Ilfracombe (2). Shapland, Dr. D., Croydon. Shapland, Mr., Wear Gifford. Shapland, Mr. A., Barnstaple. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. xxix Shapland, H., Esq., Pilton, Barnstaple (4). Sharpe, Mr., Stevenstone. Shaw, Rev. J., Torrington (4). Shearm, Mr., Beaford. Shedlock, Mr., Bideford. Shepherd, Mrs., High Bickington (2). Short, Mr., Wear Gifford. Short, Mrs., Merton. Short, Mrs., Torrington. Short, Mrs., Shute, Mr., Buckland Brewer. Sidgwick, Rev. J. B., Hunshaw. Sillifant, Mr., Frithelstock. Sillifant, Rev. C. W., Wear Gifford. Sillifant, J., Esq., Wear Gifford. Sillifant, T., Esq., Eggesford. Sing, Mr., Torrington. Sinkins, Mrs., Bideford. Skemp, Rev. C., Newcastle-on-Tyne (2). Skinard, Miss, Instow. Slade, D., Esq., Ilfracombe, Sleath, J., Esq., Barnstaple. Slee, Mr., Torrington. Slee, Mrs. J., High Bickington. Slocomb, Mrs., Thorne. Sloggett, Mr., Bristol. Slowman, Mrs., Barnstaple. Smale, C., Esq., Bideford. Smale, Mrs., Hatherleigh. Smith, Heywood, Esq., London (2). Smith, Mr., Torrington. Smoldon, Miss, Castle Hill. Smyth, Mr., Barnstaple. Snell, Mrs., Little Torrington. XXX LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Snow, T., Esq., Exeter. Snow, Mr., Southmolton. Soady, Mrs., Brooking, Ilfracombe. Somes, Mrs., Annery, Bideford. Southcott, Miss, Southmolton. Spear, Rev. J., Modbury. Squire, Mr., Langtree. Squire, Mr., London. Squire, Mr., Wear Gifford. Squire, Mr. C., Bideford. Squire, Mr. J., Bideford. Squire, Miss, Torrington. Stabb, T., Esq., Ilfracombe. Stafford, Mrs., Dolton. Stapleton, Mr., Merton. Stevens, Mr., Barnstaple. Stevens, Mr., Litton. Stevens, Mr., Taddiport. Stevens, Mrs. Moore, Winscott, Peter's Marland. Stewart, Mr., Barnstaple. Stewart, Mr. J., Barnstaple. Stiff, Mrs., Barnstaple. Stockham, Mrs., Exeter. Stone, Mr., Bideford. Stoneham, P., Esq., Ilfracombe (2). Stoneman, Mr., Torrington. Stoneman, E., Esq., Plymouth. Stoneman, Mr., Merton. Strang, Mr., Hatherleigh. Studdy, J., Esq., Buckland Brewer. Sully, Mr., Exeter. Sutcliff, Dr., Torrington. Symons, Mr., Barnstaple. Symons, Mr., London (2). LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XXXI Svvinburn, Mr., Southmolton. Symons, Mrs., Fremington. Tanner, Mr., Southmolton. Tanton, Miss, Bideford. Tapley, R. L., Esq., Milton Damerel. Tapscott, Mr., Exeter. Tatham, Mr., Barnstaple. Taylor, H. Lowman, Esq., London (2). Telfer, Rev. E. A., London (4). Thelwell, Rev. T., Westleigh. Thiers, Mrs., Appledore. Thomas, Mr., Ilfracombe. Thomas, H. D., Esq., Exeter. Thomas, J. L., Esq., Thomas, Mr., Pilton, Barnstaple. Thomas, Rev. W. G., St. Asaph. Thompson, Dr., Bideford. Thompson, Rev. D., Atherton. Thompson, J., Esq., West Buckland. Thorne, J. A., Esq., Barnstaple. Thorne, Mr. R., Langtree. Thorne, Rev. S. L., Bradford. Thorne, Mr. W., Langtree. Thorne, Mrs., Bickington. Tilke, Mrs., Peter's Marland. Till, Mrs., St. Giles'. Todd, G., Esq., Bideford. Toller, W. H., Esq., Barnstaple. Toms, Mr., Torrington. Townsend, Mr., Exeter. Trace, Mr., Petrockstow. Tremear, Miss, Torrington. Trickey, Mr., Merton. xxxii LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Tucker, Mr., Bideford. Tucker, Mr., Exeter (2). Tucker, Mr., Petrockstow. Tucker, Mr., Peter's Marland. Tucker, Mr. J E., Langtree. Tucker, Pitts, Esq., Barnstaple. Tucker, Mr. W., Appledore. Tucker, Mrs., Buckland Brewer. Turner, Mr., Winkleigh. Turner, G., Esq., Bideford. Turner, Mrs., Dolton. Turrall, Mr., Torrington. Turton, Mrs., Ilfracombe. Underbill, Mr., Exeter. Upstyle, Mrs., Torrington (2). Vanstone, Mr., Black Torrington. Vanstone, Mrs., Instovv. Vaughan, Mr., Torrington. Veale, Mrs., Hatherleigh. Vellacott, Mr., Bideford. Venner, Mr., Southmolton. Verney, Miss, Wrafton. Vibert, Miss, Bideford. Vicary, Mr., Merton. Vicary, T., Esq., Plymouth. Vidal, E., Esq., Cornborough, Bideford. Vincent, Mr., Bideford. Vinson, Mr., Vodden, Miss, Kingscott. Vodden, Miss, Torrington. Vye, Captain, Ilfracombe. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XXX1U Wadham, Mrs., Darlington. Wagner, J. H., Esq., Barnstaple. Walche, Mrs. Devenish, London. Wallop, The Hon. John, Eggsford. Walters, Mr., Langtree. Ward, Mr., Merton. Ward, Mr., Petrockstow. Ward, Mr., Torrington. Ware, C, Esq., Exeter. Warman, Mrs., Wear Gifford. Watson, Rev. J., Torrington. Watts, Mr., Barnstaple. Watts, Miss, Torrington. Way, Mrs., Braunton. Way, Mrs., London. Weatherall, Mr., Bideford. Webber, Mrs., Atherington. Welch, T., Esq., Ilfracombe (2). Wells, Mrs., West, T., Esq., Westacott, Mr., Barnstaple. Westacott, Mrs., Torrington. Westacott, Miss, London. Westaway, Mr., Merton. Westaway, Mr., Torrington. Westcott, Mr., Beaford. Westlake, Mrs., Torrington, Weston, C., Esq., Exeter (2). Whale, Rev. J., Dolton. Wheatley, Miss, Stevenstone. Wheaton, Mr., Exeter. Wheeler, E. G., Esq., Little Silver. Whitchurch, Mrs., Barnstaple. White, Mr., Torrington. xxxiv LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. White, R., Esq., Instow. Whitlock, Mr., Parkham. Whitlock, Mrs., Langtree. Whitmore, Mr., Torrington. Widicott, Mr., Buckland Brewer. Widlake, Mr., Roborough. Willett, Rev. C, Saltreen, Monkleigh. Willett, Mrs., Williams, Mr. H. R., Barnstaple. Williams, Miss, Herts. Williams, Miss, Winkleigh. Willis, Mr., Petrockstow. Wills, C, Esq., Dursley. Wills, I., Esq., Plymouth. Wills, T., Esq., Brighton. Wills, Mrs., Barnstaple* Wills, Miss, Torrington. Willshire, C., Esq., Barnstaple. Wilson, Mr., Bideford. Wilson, Mr., Castle Hill. Wilson, Mrs., Little Torrington. Wilson, Miss, Torrington, Winter, Mrs., Withecombe, Mrs,, Buckland Brewer, Wolstenholme, Miss, Alverdiscott. Wonacott, Miss, Atherington. Wonnacott, Rev. J., Exeter. Wood, Mr., Bideford. Wood, Miss N., Wood, Rev. W. J,, Atherington. Woodgate, Miss, High Bickington. Woolcombe, Rev. Archdeacon, Exeter, Wooley, Rev. W. S., Bideford. Woolner, Rev. J., Exeter. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. XXXV Worth, Mr., Exeter. Wreford, Mr., Wren, Major, Northam. Wren, Mrs., ,, Wright, Mrs., Black Torrington. Wylde, Miss, London. Yeateman, Rev. R., Frithelstock. Yeo, Mr., Bideford. Yeo, Miss, ' Yeo, Mr. C., Torrington. Youatt, Mr., Monkleigh. Youings, Mr., Barnstaple. Young, Mr., Bideford (2). C 2