Then threw Frithiof down his mantle, and upon the greensward spread, On his shield, calm as an infant sleepeth in its mother's arms. Then seemed to me this world far less in size, Likewise it seemed to me less wicked Like points in heaven, I saw the stars And longed for wings that I might I saw the moon behind the island fade, I could find out of what the moon is Find out how large it is, how round, Wondering, I saw God's sun through Sink in the ocean's golden lap at And yet upon the morrow early rise, crimson light; And thought of God, the gracious Who made me, and that lovely sun DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP TURPIN. THE archbishop, whom God loved in high degree, "Rest, Sire," he cried,-"for rest thy suffering needs. In paradise, where the almoners live again, There are our couches spread,-there shall we rest from pain." When he revived, with a "O Heavenly Father! Holy Saint Marie! The archbishop, then,-on whom God's benison rest!- Towards heaven he raised his dying hands and prayed That God, who for our sins was mortal made,- In paradise would place him by his side. Then Turpin died in service of Charlon, In battle great and eke great orison; 'Gainst Pagan host alway strong champion ;God grant to him his holy benison ! RONDEL. FROM THE FRENCH. LOVE, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine? I do not know thee,-nor what deeds are thine: Shall I be mute, or vows with prayers combine? RONDEL. FROM THE FRENCH. HENCE away, begone, begone, With your mournful company, RENOUVEAU. FROM THE FRENCH. Now Time throws off his cloak again In new-made suit they merry look; FRIAR LUBIN. FROM THE FRENCH. To gallop off to town post-haste, So oft, the times I cannot tell; To do vile deed, nor feel disgraced,Friar Lubin will do it well. But a sober life to lead, To honour virtue, and pursue it, That's a pious, Christian deed,Friar Lubin cannot do it. To mingle with a knowing smile, The goods of others with his own, yours is all in vain, With flattering words and gentle tone, Loud preacheth he sobriety, But as for water, doth eschew it; Your dog may drink it,-but not he; Friar Lubin cannot do it. ENVOI. When an evil deed's to do, [THE following Ballad was suggested to me while riding on the seashore at Newport. A year or two previous a skeleton had been dug up at Fall River, clad in broken and corroded armour; and the idea occurred to me of connecting it with the Round Tower at Newport, generally known hitherto as the Old Windmill, though now claimed by the Danes as a work of their early ancestors. Professor Rafn, in the Mémoires de la Société Royale des Antiquaires du Nord, for 1838-9, says, "There is no mistaking in this instance the style in which the more ancient stone edifices of the North were constructed, the style which belongs to the Roman or Ante-Gothic architecture, and which, especially after the time of Charlemagne, diffused itself from Italy over the whole of the West and North of Europe, where it continued to predominate until the close of the twelfth century; that style which some authors have, from one of its most striking characteristics, called the round arch style, the same which in England is denominated Saxon and sometimes Norman architecture. "On the ancient structure in Newport there are no ornaments remaining which might possibly have served to guide us in assigning the probable date of its erection. That no vestige whatever is found of the pointed arch, nor any approximation to it, is indicative of an earlier rather than of a later period. From such characteristics as remain, however, we can scarcely form any other inference than one, in which I am persuaded that all who are familiar with Old Northern architecture will concur, THAT THIS BUILDING WAS ERECTED AT A PERIOD DECIDEDLY NOT LATER THAN THE TWELFTH CENTURY. This remark applies, of course, to the original building only, and not to the alterations that it subsequently received; for there are several such alterations in the upper part of the building which cannot be mistaken, and which were most likely occasioned by its being adapted in modern times to various uses, for example, as the substructure of a windmill, and latterly as a hay magazine. To the same times may be referred the windows, the fireplace, and the apertures made above the columns. That this building could not have been erected for a windmill is what an architect will easily discern." I will not enter into a discussion of the point. It is sufficiently well established for the purpose of a ballad, though doubtless many an honest citizen of Newport, who has passed his days within sight of the Round Tower, will be ready to exclaim with Sancho, "God bless me! did I not warn you to have a care of what you were doing, for that it was nothing but a windmill? and nobody could mistake it but one who had the like in his head."] "SPEAK! speak! thou fearful guest! Who, with thy hollow breast Still in rude armour drest, Comest to daunt me! Why dost thou haunt me?" Gleam in December; And, like the water's flow From the heart's chamber. No Saga taught thee! |