Page images
PDF
EPUB

Whatever is rung on that noisy bell-
Chime of the hour, or funeral knell —

The dove in the belfry must hear it well.

When the tongue swings out to the midnight moon,
When the sexton cheerily rings for noon,

When the clock strikes clear at morning light,
When the child is waked with "nine at night,"
When the chimes play soft in the Sabbath air,
Filling the spirit with tones of prayer,-
Whatever tale in the bell is heard,

He broods on his folded feet unstirred,
Or, rising half in his rounded nest,
He takes the time to smooth his breast,
Then drops again, with filméd eyes,
And sleeps as the last vibration dies.
Sweet bird, I would that I could be
A hermit in the crowd like thee!
With wings to fly to wood and glen,
Thy lot, like mine, is cast with men;
And daily, with unwilling feet,
I tread, like thee, the crowded street;
But unlike me, when day is o'er,
Thou canst dismiss the world and soar,
Or, at a half-felt wish for rest,
Canst smooth the feathers on thy breast,
And drop, forgetful, to thy nest.

LADY UNA AND THE LION.

EDMUND SPENSER.

EDMUND SPENSER was a famous English poet who lived in the time of Queen Elizabeth. He was born in London in 1553 and received his education at Cambridge, where he was a sizar. There is a mulberry tree, which Spenser is said to have planted, still standing in the garden of the

[graphic]

college.

His early boyhood was passed in London, with frequent visits among the glens of northern England.

Spenser left Cambridge when he was twenty-four years old, and spent several years with his relations in the north of England. On his return to London, he published a series of twelve poems named after the

months, and called "The Shephearde's Calender." This gained

him a name as the first poet of the day. The next summer he went to Ireland as secretary to Lord Grey.

Several years later he was awarded the Castle of Kilcolman 20 for his services. Here he was visited by Sir Walter Raleigh. Spenser had written three books of "The Faerie Queene," his greatest poem, and Raleigh listened to them as the two poets sat beneath the alder trees beside the River Mulla, which flowed through the castle grounds. Raleigh was delighted with the 25 poem, and persuaded Spenser to accompany him to England, where he was presented to the Queen.

The first three books of "The Faerie Queene" were dedicated to Queen Elizabeth. It was the first great allegorical poem that England had produced, and it has never lost its power.

30

10

Spenser possessed a wonderful imagination, and had but to close his eyes and he was in an enchanted land.

"The Faerie Queene" is the story of noble knights fighting against wrong, and a beautiful lady rescued from danger. 5 Only six books of the twelve which Spenser planned were published.

The last years of Spenser's life were filled with sadness. During a rebellion his castle was burnt, and he and his family fled to England.

He died in London in 1599, at the age of forty-six, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

NOUGHT is there under heaven's wide hallowness
That moves more dear compassiön of mind,
Than beauty brought t' unworthy wretchedness
Through envy's snares, or fortune's freaks unkind.
I, whether lately through her brightness blind,
Or through allegiance and fast feälty,

Which I do owe unto all womankind,

Feel my heart pierced with so great agony, When such I see, that all for pity I could die.

And now it is empassionèd so deep,

For fairest Una's sake, of whom I sing,
That my frail eyes these lines with tears do steep,
To think how she through guileful handeling,
Though true as touch, though daughter of a king,
Though fair as ever living wight was fair,
Though nor in word nor deed ill meriting,

Is from her Knight divorced in despair,

And her due loves derived to that vile Witch's share.

Yet she, most faithful Lady all this while,
Forsaken, woeful, solitary maid,

Far from all people's press, as in exile,
In wilderness and wasteful deserts stray'd
To seek her Knight; who, subtilly betray'd

Through that late vision which th' Enchanter wrought,
Had her abandon'd: she, of nought affray'd,

Through woods and wasteness wide him daily sought; Yet wished tidings none of him unto her brought.

One day, nigh weary of the irksome way,
From her unhasty beast she did alight;
And on the grass her dainty limbs did lay
In secret shadow, far from all men's sight;
From her fair head her fillet she undight,
And laid her stole aside: her angel's face,
As the great eye of heaven, shinèd bright,
And made a sunshine in the shady place:
Did never mortal eye behold such heavenly grace.

It fortunèd, out of the thickest wood
A ramping lion rushèd suddenly,

Hunting full greedy after savage blood:
Soon as the royal Virgin he did spy,
With gaping mouth at her ran greedily,
To have at once devour'd her tender corse;
But to the prey when as he drew more nigh,
His bloody rage assuagèd with remorse,

And, with the sight amazed, forgat his furious force.

Instead thereof, he kiss'd her weary feet,
And lick'd her lily hands with fawning tongue,
As he her wrongèd innocence did weet.

O, how can beauty master the most strong,
And simple truth subdue avenging wrong!
Whose yielded pride and proud submissiön,
Still dreading death, when she had markèd long,
Her heart 'gan melt in great compassion;
And drizzling tears did shed for
pure affectiön.

"The lion, lord of every beast in field,"
Quoth she, "his princely puissance doth abate,
And mighty proud to humble weak does yield,
Forgetful of the hungry rage which late
Him prick'd, in pity of my sad estate: -
But he, my lion, and my noble lord,
How does he find in cruel heart to hate

Her that him loved, and ever most adored

As the god of my life? why hath he me abhorr'd?"

Redounding tears did choke th' end of her plaint,
Which softly echo'd from the neighbor wood;
And, sad to see her sorrowful constraint,
The kingly beast upon her gazing stood;
With pity calm'd, down fell his angry mood.
At last, in close heart shutting up her pain,
Arose the Virgin born of heavenly brood,
And to her snowy palfrey got again,

To seek her strayèd Champion if she might attain.

« PreviousContinue »