9. Where now the bats their wavering wings extend 10. Years roll on years; to ages, ages yield; 11. One holy HENRY§ rear'd the gothic walls, And bids devotion's hallow'd echoes cease. 12. Vain is each threat or supplicating prayer; No friend, no home, no refuge, but their God. * As "gloaming," the Scottish word for twilight, is far more poetical, and has been recommended by many eminent literary men, particularly by Dr. Moore in his Letters to Burns, I have ventured to use it on account of its harmony. + Gloaming spreads her waning shade. In the private volume, Twilight winds a waning shade.-ED. The priory was dedicated to the Virgin. § At the dissolution of the monasteries, Henry VIII. bestowed Newstead Abbey on Sir John Byron. 13. Hark how the hall, resounding to the strain, 14. Of changing sentinels the distant hum, The mirth of feasts, the clang of burnish'd arms, 15. An abbey once, a regal fortress* now, War's dread machines o'erhang thy threatening brow, 16. Ah vain defence! the hostile traitor's siege, Though oft repulsed by guile, o'ercomes the brave; His thronging foes oppress the faithful liege, Rebellion's reeking standards o'er him wave. 17. - Not unavenged the raging baron yields; The blood of traitors smears the purple plain: Unconquer'd still, his falchion there he wields, And days of glory yet for him remain. * Newstead sustained a considerable siege in the war between Charles I. and his parliament. 18. Still in that hour the warrior wish'd to strew The monarch's friend, the monarch's hope, to save. 19. Trembling, she snatch'd him* from th' unequal strife, In other fields the torrent to repel; For nobler combats, here, reserved his life, To lead the band where godlike FALKLAND† fell. 20. From thee, poor pile! to lawless plunder given, 21. There many a pale and ruthless robber's corse, • Lord Byron and his brother Sir William held high command in the royal army: the former was general in chief in Ireland, lieutenant of the Tower, and governor to James, Duke of York, afterwards the unhappy James II.; the latter had a principal share in many actions.-Vide Clarendon, Hume, &c. + Lucius Cary, Lord Viscount Falkland, the most accomplished man of his age, was killed at the battle of Newberry, charging in the ranks of Lord Byron's regiment of cavalry. 22. Graves, long with rank and sighing weeds o'erspread, 23. Hush'd is the harp, unstrung the warlike lyre, The minstrel's palsied hand reclines in death; No more he strikes the quivering chords with fire, Or sings the glories of the martial* wreath. 24. At length the sated murderers, gorged with prey, 25. Here Desolation holds her dreary court: 26. Soon a new morn's restoring beams dispel *Martial. The private volume reads laurell'd.-ED. + Sable Horror. In the private volume, Horror stalking.-ED. 27. With storms she welcomes his expiring groans; Whirlwinds, responsive, greet his labouring breath; Earth shudders as her caves receive his bones, 28. The legal ruler† now resumes the helm, He guides through gentle seas the prow of state; Hope cheers, with wonted smiles, the peaceful realm, And heals the bleeding wounds of wearied hate. 29. The gloomy tenants, Newstead! of thy cells, Again the master on his tenure dwells, *30. Vassals, within thy hospitable pale, Loudly carousing, bless their lord's return; Culture again adorns the gladdening vale, And matrons, once lamenting, cease to mourn. *This is an historical fact. A violent tempest occurred immediately subsequent to the death or interment of Cromwell, which occasioned many disputes between his partisans and the cavaliers : both interpreted the circumstance into divine interposition; but whether as approbation or condemnation, we leave to the casuists of that age to decide. I have made such use of the occurrence as suited the subject of my poem. + Charles II. |