AT THE FEAST OF BROUGHAM CASTLE,
Upon the Restoration of Lord Clifford, the Shepherd, to the Estates and Honours of his Ancestors.
HIGH in the breathless Hall the Minstrel sate, And Emont's murmur mingled with the Song.- The words of ancient time I thus translate, A festal Strain that hath been silent long.
"From Town to Town, from Tower to Tower, The Red Rose is a gladsome Flower.
Her thirty years of Winter past,
The Red Rose is revived at last; She lifts her head for endless spring,
For everlasting blossoming:
Both Roses flourish, Red and White. In love and sisterly delight
The two that were at strife are blended, And all old troubles now are ended. Joy! joy to both! but most to her Who is the Flower of Lancaster! Behold her how She smiles to-day On this great throng, this bright array! Fair greeting doth she send to all From every corner of the Hall;
But, chiefly, from above the Board Where sits in state our rightful Lord, A Clifford to his own restored!
They came with banner, spear,
And it was proved in Bosworth-field. Not long the Avenger was withstood- Earth helped him with the cry of blood: St. George was for us, and the might Of blessed Angels crown'd the right. Loud voice the Land hath uttered forth, We loudest in the faithful North:
Our Fields rejoice, our Mountains ring, Our Streams proclaim a welcoming; Our Strong-abodes and Castles see The glory of their loyalty.
How glad is Skipton at this hour Though she is but a lonely Tower! To vacancy and silence left;
Of all her guardian sons bereft —
Knight, Squire, or Yeoman, Page or Groom; We have them at the Feast of Brough'm. How glad Pendragon - though the sleep Of years be on her! She shall
A taste of this great pleasure, viewing As in a dream her own renewing. Rejoiced is Brough, right glad I deem Beside her little humble Stream; And she that keepeth watch and ward Her statelier Eden's course to guard; They both are happy at this hour, Though each is but a lonely Tower :- But here is perfect joy and pride For one fair House by Emont's side, This day distinguished without peer To see her Master and to cheer; Him, and his Lady Mother dear!
Oh! it was a time forlorn
When the Fatherless was born
Give her wings that she may fly, Or she sees her Infant die!
Swords that are with slaughter wild Hunt the Mother and the Child. Who will take them from the light?
No, they must not enter there.
To the Caves, and to the Brooks,
To the Clouds of Heaven she looks; She is speechless, but her eyes
Pray in ghostly agonies.
Blissful Mary, Mother mild,
Maid and Mother undefiled,
Save a Mother and her Child!
Now Who is he that bounds with joy On Carrock's side, a Shepherd Boy?
No thoughts hath he but thoughts that pass Light as the wind along the grass.
Can this be He who hither came
In secret, like a smothered flame?
O'er whom such thankful tears were shed
For shelter, and a poor Man's bread!
God loves the Child; and God hath willed That those dear words should be fulfilled, The Lady's words, when forced away, The last she to her Babe did say,
My own, my own, thy Fellow-guest
For lowly Shepherd's life is best!"
Alas! when evil men are strong
No life is good, no pleasure long.
The Boy must part from Mosedale's Groves, And leave Blencathara's rugged Coves,
And quit the Flowers that Summer brings To Glenderamakin's lofty springs;
Must vanish, and his careless cheer Be turned to heaviness and fear. -Give Sir Lancelot Threlkeld praise! Hear it, good Man, old in days!
Thou Tree of covert and of rest
For this young Bird that is distrest; Among thy branches safe he lay, And he was free to sport and play, When Falcons were abroad for prey.
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