PART FIRST
Duke William stood on the Norman shore,
With all his merry men round;
And he will sail the blue seas o’er,
To land on English ground.
Saint Edward made him, ere he died,
Heir to the English throne;
But traitor Harold, in his pride,
Hath seized it for his own.
So the duke hath summon’d his vassals brave
From castle, cot, and tower;
And he will cross the rushing wave
To reckon with Harold’s power.
They came, his liegemen stout and true,
With the serfs whom they commanded;
Some brought many, and some brought few,
But none came empty-handed.
By the trumpet-sound they gather’d around,
And the drum’s inspiring roar;
And their spears shone bright as the stars of night
When they muster’d on the shore.
Whence comes yon graceful bark which glides
To the spot where the duke is standing,
And leaps the crests of the dancing tides
With an air of proud commanding?
The sails are of silk, and flutteringly
They wave in the breezes mild;
At the prow is a sculptured effigy
Of a fair and smiling child.
That smiling boy is carved in gold,
And the flag which gaily streams
Is thick with gems on every fold-
A palace that fair ship seems.
But who is the lady of lofty brow,
Bright eye, and arching lip,
Who waveth her white hand from the prow
Of the gay and stately ship?
She is known from afar by her graceful air,
And the circlet on her brows;
‘Tis the Duchess Matilda, wise and fair,
Duke William’s honour’d spouse.
To land full lightly vaulted she,
And up to the duke she came-
“My lord, accept this ship from me,
The Mora is its name.
Its chambers are deck’d for a monarch fit,
With cushions of velvet piled;
The form at the prow-look well on it-
‘Tis the form of our youngest child.
My hand it was that ‘broider’d the sail,
Though the tear was in mine eye-
God send my lord a favouring gale,
And a joyous victory!”
“Thanks, lady, thanks,” the duke replied,
“Right princely is thy gift;
Soon leaping from its painted side,
My good sword will I lift.
When its gay pennon streameth far,
My heart shall look to thee
As the pilot’s eye to the northern star,
Guiding us o’er the sea.
Farewell, my lady and my wife,
So loyal, fair, and true;
If I come back to thee with life,
I will come with honour too.”
“Farewell, my hero-knighthood’s flower-
My husband and my lord!”
Right tender was that parting hour;
Right fond each parting word.
The lady’s tears, e’en while she spake,
Did fast and freely start;
And many a sigh did slowly break
From Duke William’s mighty heart.
“Adieu!” he cried: in speechless grief
Matilda sought her bower;
And to his good ship sprang the chief,
With all his arm
(Menella Bute Smedley)
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Based on Topics: Life Poems, Night Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Fairness Poems, Name Poems, Cry Poems, Success Poems, Gold Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, Power Poems, Charity PoemsBased on Keywords: liegemen, mora, streameth, trumpet-sound, waveth, flutteringly