The Poetical Works of William Lisle Bowles Volume Ii Part 10

[Footnote 67: The people of the country consult the spirit of the well for their future destiny, by dropping a pebble into it, striking the ground, and other methods of divination, derived, no doubt, from the Druids.--_Polwhele._]

[Footnote 68: Bay of St Michael's Mount.]

[Footnote 69: The blue jay of the Mississippi. See Chateaubriand's Indian song in "Atala."]

[Footnote 70: Called the Flying Dutchman, the phantom ship of the Cape.]

[Footnote 71: Sudden storms are very common in this bay.]

[Footnote 72: A wild flower of the most beautiful blue, adorning profusely, in spring, the green banks of lanes and hedgerows.]

[Footnote 73: Called _Chickell_, in Cornwall, the wheat-ear. This should have been mentioned before, where the small well is spoken of in the garden-plot:--

"From time to time, a small bird dipped its bill."]

[Footnote 74: Alluding to the well-known story.]

[Footnote 75: Having gained the University prize the first year.]

[Footnote 76: J. P. Miles, Esq., whose fine collection of paintings, at his magnificent seat, Leigh Court, is well known.]

[Footnote 77: Married, whilst these pages were in the press, to a son of my early friend.]

[Footnote 78: A wild, desolate, and craggy vale, so called most appropriately, and forming a contrast to the open downs of Fayland, and the picturesque beauties of Brockley.]

[Footnote 79: Langford Court, the seat of the late Right Hon. Hely Addington.]

[Footnote 80: The Rev. Thomas Wickham, Rector of Yatton.]

[Footnote 81: Langhorne, the poet, Rector of Blagdon.]

[Footnote 82: Mrs Hannah More, of Barley-Wood, near Wrington, since dead.]

[Footnote 83: The Rector of Wrington, Mr Leaves, was the composer of the _popular_ melody; but there is an old Scotch tune, to which the words were originally adapted. By melody, I mean the music to the words.]

[Footnote 84: Miss Stephens, now the Countess Dowager of Ess.e.x.]

[Footnote 85: "She looked in my face, till my heart was like to break."--_Auld Robin Gray._ Nothing can exceed the pathos with which Miss Stephens sings these words.]

[Footnote 86: This song, set to music by the author, was originally written for an oratorio.]

[Footnote 87: Banwell church is eminently beautiful, as are all the churches in Somersetshire. Dr Randolph has lately added improvements to the altar-piece.]

THE

GRAVE OF THE LAST SAXON;

OR,

THE LEGEND OF THE CURFEW.

INTRODUCTION.

The circ.u.mstance of the late critical controversy with Lord Byron having recalled my attention to a poem, sketched some years ago, on a subject of national history, I have been induced to revise and correct, and now venture to offer it to the public.

The subject, though taken from an early period of our history, is, so far as relates to the grave of Harold, purely imaginary, as are all the characters, except those of the Conqueror, and of Edgar Atheling. History, I think, justifies me in representing William as acting constantly under strong religious impressions. A few circ.u.mstances in his life will clearly show this. When Harold was with him in Normandy, he took an oath of him on two altars, within which were concealed miraculous relics.[88] His banner was sent from Rome, consecrated by the Pope, for the especial purpose of the invasion of England. Without adverting to the night spent in prayer before the battle of Hastings, was not this impression more decidedly shown when he pitched his tent among the dead on that night, and vowed to build an abbey on the spot? The event of the battle was so much against all human probability, that his undertaking it, at the place and time, can only be reconciled by supposing that he acted under some extraordinary impression.

When the battle was gained, he knew not on what course to determine: instead of marching to London, he retired towards Dover.

When he was met by the Kentish men, with green boughs, the quaint historian says, "He was _daunted_." These and many other incidental circ.u.mstances may occur to the reader.

In representing him, therefore, as under the control of superst.i.tious impressions, I trust I have not transgressed, at least, poetical verisimilitude. An earthquake actually happened about the period at which the poem commences, followed by storms and inundations. Of these facts I have availed myself.

I fear the poem will be thought less interesting, from having nothing of _love_ in it, except, in accordance with the received ideas of the gentleness of Atheling's character, I have made him not insensible to one of my imaginary females; and have, therefore, to mark his character, made him advert to the pastoral scenes of Scotland, where he had been a resident. There is a similarity between my "Monk," and "The Missionary," but their offices and the scenes are entirely different, and some degree of resemblance was unavoidable in characters of the same description.

Filial affection, love of our country, bravery, sternness (inflexible, except under religions fears); the loftier feelings of a desolate female, under want and affliction, with something of the wild prophetical cast; religious submission, and deep acquiescence in the will of G.o.d;--these pa.s.sions are brought into action, around one centre, if I may use the word, THE GRAVE OF THE LAST SAXON.

That Harold's sons landed with a large fleet from Denmark, and were joined by an immense confederate army, in the third year of William's reign, is a well-known historical fact. That York was taken by the confederate army, and that all the Normans, except Sir William Malet, and his family, were killed, is also matter of record.[89] That afterwards, the blow against William failing, the whole country, from the Humber to Tyne, from the east to the west, was depopulated by sword and famine, are facts which are also to be found in all historians.

Some slight anachronisms may I hope, be pardoned--if anachronisms they are--such as the year in which the Tower was built, _etc._

The plan of the Poem will be found, I trust, simple and coherent, the characters sufficiently marked and contrasted, and the whole conducive, however deficient in other respects, to the excitement of virtuous sympathy, and subservient to that which alone can give dignity to poetry--the cause of moral and religious truth.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 88: See the picture in Stodhard's Travels.]

[Footnote 89: _Vide_ Drake's History of York, and Turner's History of England.]

THE

GRAVE OF THE LAST SAXON.

INTRODUCTORY CANTO.

Subject--Grave and children of Harold--Confederate army of Danes, Scottish, and English arrived in the Humber the third year of the Conqueror, and marching to York.

"Know ye the land where the bright orange glows!"