DRAWING NEAR THE LIGHT (From the same) Lo, when we wade the tangled wood, 5 But looking up, at last we see So now, amidst our day of strife, Rudyard Kipling 1865 RECESSIONAL (1897) God of our fathers, known of old- Dominion over palm and pine5 Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget-lest we forget! The tumult and the shouting dies The captains and the kings depart 10 Still stands Thine ancient Sacrifice, Far-called our navies melt away— On dune and headland sinks the fire15 Lo, all our pomp of yesterday 20 Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! If, drunk with sight of power, we loose Or lesser breeds without the Law- 25 For heathen heart that puts her trust And guarding calls not Thee to guard- 30 Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord! Amen. NOTES The heavy-faced figures refer to pages, the ordinary figures to lines. Int. Eng. Lit. indicates the editor's Introduction to English Literature. BALLADS (OF VARIOUS AND UNCERTAIN DATES.) CHEVY CHASE. 1. This ballad, like its companion the still older Battle of Otterbourne, is a famous expression in popular song of the fierce antagonism, the jealousy, and the daring fostered and kept alive among the dwellers in the Borders, or Marches, between England and Scotland, by frequent wars and continual forays. Percy says, speaking of the origin of the poem: "The ballad, without being historical, may have had some foundation in fact. The law of the Marches interdicted either nation from hunting on the borders of the other, without leave from the proprietors, or their deputies. The long rivalry between the martial families of Percy and Douglas must have burst into many sharp feuds and little incursions not recorded in history; and the old ballad of the Hunting a' the Cheviat,' which was the original title, may have sprung out of such a quarrel." (Reliques.) Chevy Chase, now one of the most familiar and representative ballads, easily won a high place in the popular esteem. In 1711, Addison (who, however, knew the poem only in an inferior and more modern version) wrote: "The old Song of Chevy-Chase is the favorite ballad of the common people of England: and Ben Jonson used to say that he had rather have been the author of it than of all of his works." He then quotes the now-familiar passage from Sir Philip Sidney's Defense of Poesie (1581?): "I never heard the old song of Piercy and Douglas, that I found not my heart more moved than with a trumpet, etc." (Spectator, LXX. and LXXIV.) Prof. Child remarks that Sidney's words are equally applicable to the Battle of Otterbourne, at least so far as the subject is concerned, that being also a song of "Piercy and Douglas." Nevertheless, he thinks that the superior poetic quality of Chevy Chase makes it probable that Sidney had that ballad in mind as is generally supposed. (Ballads, Pt. VI. 305.) DATE.-It has been thought that Chevy Chase is really a modified account of the Battle of Otterbourne, celebrated in the ballad of that name, which took place in 1388. Dr. Child holds that the differences in the story of the two ballads are not so great as to prevent us from holding this view. As James of Scotland is mentioned, we know that it was not before 1424, the date of the accession of James I. (Child, ib. p. 304.) The date of actual composition was of course an indefinite time after the occurrence of the event celebrated, while Sidney's allusion makes it clear that the ballad was well known in 1580. 1.-5. Magger = mauger = in spite of, or against the will of. (O. F. malgré.)-10. Let prevent. (A. S. laet = slow. Hence to let is to make later or to hinder.)-12. Meany pany, or following of retainers. 2.-20. Reas com rouse.-21. Byckarte uppone the bent = skirmished upon the coarse grass, or the moor. Beaters appear to have been sent into the woods to drive the game into the open, where the hunters awaited them.-23. Wyld, i.e. the wild deer.-25. glent flashed. The word, which is related to glitter, glisten, etc., here includes the idea of rapid motion. -31. Mort the series of notes blown upon the horn to announce the death of the deer. (Fr. mort death.)-32. Shear in different directions. On sydis shear on all sides.—33. Quyrry the slaughtered game. See Skeat's Etymol. Dict. = 34. Bryttlynge the cutting, or, literally, the breaking up, of the deer. (A. S. brecan = to break.)-37. Verament (Fr. vrai truth; vraiment = truly.) = = truly. 3.-43. Bylle: bill, a battle-axe. Brande = a sword, v. Skeat.-57. Glede = a glowing coal. (A. S. glowan = to glow.) --72. Ton of us one of us.-78. Yerle earl.-81. Cors = curse. = 5.-110. Wouche wrong, damage.-122. Basnites basinet, "a steel cap, originally of very simple form, named from its resemblance to a little basin." (Cent. Dict.)-123. Myneyeple = "manople, a gauntlet covering hand and forearm (Skeat.)-125. Freyke: = man, a warrior. (A. S. frecca = a bold man, analogous to Lat. vir. Fre free-born, generous.) 6.-129. Swapte struck, or slashed. (A. S. swappen, to strike.)-130. Myllan Milan steel.-133. Sprente = sprang. (A. S. sprengan = to spring.)-140. Hight promise. (A. S. Haten.)-148. Wane: according to Skeat the word means here a great number, hence "a single arrow out of a vast quantity.” Gummere suggests that wane "might wone one; a = = = mighty one," but declares this also to be unsatisfactory. 8.-194. Stour conflict, battle.-201. The tocke |