Wrapt in their sorrow and their fear
At parting of their Mistress dear,
Tear-blinded to the Castle-hall,1
Came as to bear her funeral pall.

XVII.

All that expression base was gone,
When waked the guest his minstrel tone;
It fled at inspiration's call,

As erst the demon fled from Saul.2

More noble glance he cast around,

More free-drawn breath inspired the sound,
His pulse beat bolder and more high,
In all the pride of minstrelsy!
Alas! too soon that pride was o'er,
Sunk with the lay that bade it soar!
His soul resumed, with habit's chain,
Its vices wild and follies vain,

And gave the talent, with him born,
To be a common curse and scorn.

Such was the youth whom Rokeby's Maid,
With condescending kindness, pray'd

1 [MS.-"Came blindfold to the Castle-hall,

As if to bear her funeral pall."]

2 ["But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

And it came to

"And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: So Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." -1 SAMUEL, chap. xvi. 14, 17, 23.]

Here to renew the strains she loved,
At distance heard and well approved.

XVIII.

SONG.

THE HARP.

I was a wild and wayward boy,

My childhood scorn'd each childish toy:
Retired from all, reserved and coy,
To musing prone,

I woo'd my solitary joy,
My Harp alone.

My youth, with bold Ambition's mood,
Despised the humble stream and wood,
Where my poor father's cottage stood,
To fame unknown ;-

What should my soaring views make good?
My Harp alone!

Love came with all his frantic fire,
And wild romance of vain desire :1
The baron's daughter heard my lyre,
And praised the tone ;-

What could presumptuous hope inspire?
My Harp alone!

1 [MS.-"Love came, with all his ardent fire, His frantic dream, his wild desire."]

At manhood's touch the bubble burst, And manhood's pride the vision curst, And all that had my folly nursed Love's sway to own;

Yet spared the spell that lull'd me first, My Harp alone!

Wo came with war, and want with wo;
And it was mine to undergo

Each outrage of the rebel foe :-1
Can aught atone

My fields laid waste, my cot laid low?
My Harp alone!

Ambition's dreams I've seen depart,
Have rued of penury the smart,
Have felt of love the venom'd dart,
When hope was flown;

Yet rests one solace to my heart,—
My Harp alone!

Then over mountain, moor, and hill,
My faithful Harp, I'll bear thee still;
And when this life of want and ill
Is wellnigh gone,

Thy strings mine elegy shall thrill,
My Harp alone!

1 [MS" And doom'd at once to undergo, Each varied outrage of the foe."]

XIX.

"A pleasing lay!" Matilda said;
But Harpool shook his old grey head,
And took his baton and his torch,

To seek his guard-room in the porch.
Edmund observed-with sudden change,
Among the strings his fingers range,
Until they waked a bolder glee
Of military melody;

Then paused amid the martial sound,

And look'd with well-feign'd fear around ;-1
"None to this noble house belong,"
He said, "that would a Minstrel wrong,
Whose fate has been, through good and ill,
To love his Royal Master still;

And, with your honour'd leave, would fain
Rejoice you with a loyal strain.”

Then, as assured by sign and look,
The warlike tone again he took ;

And Harpool stopp'd, and turn'd to hear
A ditty of the Cavalier.

1

XX.

SONG.

THE CAVALIER.

While the dawn on the mountain was misty and

gray,

My true love has mounted his steed and away,

1 [MS." And looking timidly around."]

Over hill, over valley, o'er dale, and o'er down ; Heaven shield the brave Gallant that fights for the Crown!

He has doff'd the silk doublet the breast-plate to bear,

He has placed the steel-cap o'er his long flowing

hair,

From his belt to his stirrup his broadsword hangs down,

Heaven shield the brave Gallant that fights for the Crown!

For the rights of fair England that broadsword he draws,

Her King is his leader, her Church is his cause; His watchword is honour, his pay is renown,— GOD strike with the Gallant that strikes for the Crown!

They may boast of their Fairfax, their Waller, and all

The roundheaded rebels of Westminster Hall; But tell these bold traitors of London's proud

town,

That the spears of the North have encircled the Crown.1

1 [MS.

"of proud London town,

That the North has brave nobles to fight for the

Crown."]