Soon round us spread the hills and dales,
Where GEOFFREY spun his magic tales,
And call'd them history. The land
Whence ARTHUR sprung, and all his band
Of gallant knights. Sire of romance,
Who led the fancy's mazy dance,
Thy tales shall please, thy name still be,
When Time forgets my verse and me.
Low sunk the sun, his ev'ning beam
Scarce reach'd us on the tranquil stream;
Shut from the world, and all its din,
Nature's own bonds had clos'd us in;
Wood, and deep dell, and rock, and ridge,
From smiling Ross to Monmouth Bridge;
From morn, till twilight stole away,
A long, unclouded, glorious day.
END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
THE BANKS OF WYE
BOOK II
CONTENTS OF BOOK II.
Henry the Fifth.--Morning on the Water.--Landoga.--Ballad, "The Maid of
Landoga."--Tintern Abbey.--Wind-Cliff.--Arrival at Chepstow.--Persfield.--
Ballad, "Morris of Persfield."--View from Wind-Cliff.--Chepstow Castle by
Moonlight.
BOOK II.
HARRY of MONMOUTH, o'er thy page,
Great chieftain of a daring age,
The stripling soldier burns to see
The spot of thy nativity;
His ardent fancy can restore
Thy castle's turrets, now no more;
See the tall plumes of victory wave,
And call old valour from the grave;
Twang the strong bow, and point the lance,
That pierc'd the shatter'd hosts of France,
When Europe, in the days of yore,
Shook at the rampant lion's roar.
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