Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British Poets Part 115

The flight of the rhapsody is ever upheld by the strength of the wing, and while the reading discovered is enormous for a boy, the depth of feeling exhibited is equally extraordinary; and the clear, firm judgment which did not characterise his conduct, forms the root and the trunk of much of his poetry. It was said of his eyes that it seemed as if fire rolled under them; and it rolls still, and shall ever roll, below many of his verses.

BRISTOWE TRAGEDY.

1 The feathered songster, chanticleer, Hath wound his bugle-horn, And told the early villager The coming of the morn.

2 King Edward saw the ruddy streaks Of light eclipse the gray, And heard the raven's croaking throat Proclaim the fated day.

3 'Thou'rt right,' quoth he, 'for by the G.o.d That sits enthroned on high!

Charles Bawdin and his fellows twain To-day shall surely die.'

4 Then with a jug of nappy ale His knights did on him wait; 'Go tell the traitor that to-day He leaves this mortal state.'

5 Sir Canterlone then bended low, With heart brimful of woe; He journeyed to the castle-gate, And to Sir Charles did go.

6 But when he came, his children twain, And eke his loving wife, With briny tears did wet the floor, For good Sir Charles' life.

7 'O good Sir Charles!' said Canterlone, 'Bad tidings I do bring.'

'Speak boldly, man,' said brave Sir Charles; 'What says the traitor king?'

8 'I grieve to tell; before that sun Doth from the heaven fly, He hath upon his honour sworn, That thou shalt surely die.'

9 'We all must die,' quoth brave Sir Charles; 'Of that I'm not afeard; What boots to live a little s.p.a.ce?

Thank Jesus, I'm prepared:

10 'But tell thy king, for mine he's not, I'd sooner die to-day Than live his slave, as many are, Though I should live for aye.'

11 Then Canterlone he did go out, To tell the mayor straight To get all things in readiness For good Sir Charles' fate.

12 Then Master Canynge sought the king, And fell down on his knee; 'I'm come,' quoth he, 'unto your Grace To move your clemency.'

13 'Then,' quoth the king, 'your tale speak out; You have been much our friend; Whatever your request may be, We will to it attend.'

14 'My n.o.ble liege! all my request Is for a n.o.ble knight, Who, though perhaps he has done wrong, He thought it still was right:

15 'He has a spouse and children twain-- All ruined are for aye, If that you are resolved to let Charles Bawdin die to-day.'

16 'Speak not of such a traitor vile,'

The king in fury said; 'Before the evening star doth shine, Bawdin shall lose his head:

17 'Justice does loudly for him call, And he shall have his meed; Speak, Master Canynge! what thing else At present do you need?'

18 'My n.o.ble liege!' good Canynge said, 'Leave justice to our G.o.d, And lay the iron rule aside;-- Be thine the olive rod.

19 'Was G.o.d to search our hearts and reins, The best were sinners great; Christ's vicar only knows no sin, In all this mortal state.

20 'Let mercy rule thine infant reign; 'Twill fix thy crown full sure; From race to race thy family All sovereigns shall endure:

21 'But if with blood and slaughter thou Begin thy infant reign, Thy crown upon thy children's brow Will never long remain.'

22 'Canynge, away! this traitor vile Has scorned my power and me; How canst thou then for such a man Entreat my clemency?'

23 'My n.o.ble liege! the truly brave Will valorous actions prize; Respect a brave and n.o.ble mind, Although in enemies.'

24 'Canynge, away! By G.o.d in heaven, That did me being give, I will not taste a bit of bread While this Sir Charles doth live.

25 'By Mary, and all saints in heaven, This sun shall be his last.'-- Then Canynge dropped a briny tear, And from the presence pa.s.sed.

26 With heart brimful of gnawing grief, He to Sir Charles did go, And sat him down upon a stool, And tears began to flow.

27 'We all must die,' quoth brave Sir Charles; 'What boots it how or when?

Death is the sure, the certain fate Of all us mortal men.

28 'Say why, my friend, thy honest soul Runs over at thine eye?

Is it for my most welcome doom That thou dost child-like cry?'

29 Quoth G.o.dly Canynge, 'I do weep, That thou so soon must die, And leave thy sons and helpless wife; 'Tis this that wets mine eye.'

30 'Then dry the tears that out thine eye From G.o.dly fountains spring; Death I despise, and all the power Of Edward, traitor king.

31 'When through the tyrant's welcome means I shall resign my life, The G.o.d I serve will soon provide For both my sons and wife.

32 'Before I saw the lightsome sun, This was appointed me;-- Shall mortal man repine or grudge What G.o.d ordains to be?

33 'How oft in battle have I stood, When thousands died around; When smoking streams of crimson blood Imbrued the fattened ground?

34 'How did I know that every dart, That cut the airy way, Might not find pa.s.sage to my heart, And close mine eyes for aye?

35 'And shall I now from fear of death Look wan and be dismayed?

No! from my heart fly childish fear, Be all the man displayed.

36 'Ah, G.o.dlike Henry! G.o.d forefend And guard thee and thy son, If 'tis his will; but if 'tis not, Why, then his will be done.

37 'My honest friend, my fault has been To serve G.o.d and my prince; And that I no timeserver am, My death will soon convince.

38 'In London city was I born, Of parents of great note; My father did a n.o.ble arms Emblazon on his coat:

39 'I make no doubt that he is gone 'Where soon I hope to go; Where we for ever shall be blest, From out the reach of woe.

40 'He taught me justice and the laws With pity to unite; And likewise taught me how to know The wrong cause from the right:

41 'He taught me with a prudent hand To feed the hungry poor; Nor let my servants drive away The hungry from my door:

42 'And none can say but all my life I have his counsel kept, And summed the actions of each day Each night before I slept.

43 'I have a spouse; go ask of her If I denied her bed; I have a king, and none can lay Black treason on my head.

44 'In Lent, and on the holy eve, From flesh I did refrain; Why should I then appear dismayed To leave this world of pain?