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Full Title
The complete poetical works of William Wordsworth: together with a description of the country of the lakes in the north of England, now first published with his works ... / edited by Henry Reed.
Author
Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850. Melville, Herman, 1819-1891.
Date Added
8 January 2014
Language
English
Publish Date
1839
Publisher
Philadelphia: J. Kay, Jun. and brother; Boston: J. Munroe and Co.; [etc., etc.]
Source
Woodstock Theological Center Library, Georgetown University.
Topic
Wordsworth, William, 1770-1850. Melville, Herman, 1819-1891. English poetry.
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OCR
7
CANTO FIFTH.
Hien on a point of rugged ground
Among the wastes of Rylstone Fell,
Above the loftiest ridge or mound
Where Foresters or Shepherds dwell,
An Edifice of warlike. frame
Stands single (Norton Tower its name) ;*
It fronts all quarters, and looks round
O’er path and road, and plain and dell,
- Dark moor, and gleam of pool and stream,
Upon a prospect without bound.
The summit of this bold ascent,
Though bleak and bare, and seldom free
‘As Pendle-hill or Pennygent
From wind, or frost, or vapours wet,
Had often heard the sound of glee
When there the youthful, Nortons met,
To practise games and archery:
How proud and happy they! the crowd
Of Lookers-on how pleased and proud!
And from the scorching noon-tide sun,
. From showers, or when the prize was won,
They to the Watch-tower did repair,
Commodious Pleasure-house! and there
Would mirth run round, with generous fare ;
And the stern old Lord of Rylstone-hall,
He was the proudest of them all!
But now, his Child, with anguish pale,
Upon the height walks to and fro;
*T is well that she hath heard the tale,
Received the bitterness of woe: .
For she had hoped, had hoped and feared,
Such rights did feeble nature. claim ;
And oft her steps had hither steered,
Though not unconscious of self-blame ;
_ For she her brother’s charge revered,
His farewell words; and by the same,
Yea, by her brother’s very name,
Had, in her solitude, been cheered.
* It is so called to this day, and is thus described by Dr. Whit-
aker: —“Rylstone Fell yet exhibits a monument of the old
warfare between the Nortons and Cliffords. On a point of
very high ground, commanding an immense prospect, and pro-
tected by two deep ravines, are the remains of a square tower,
expressly said by Dodsworth to have been. built by. Richard
_ Norton. The walls are of strong grout-work, about four feet
thick. Itseems to have been three stories high. Breaches have
been industriously made in all the sides, almost to the ground,
to render it untenable.
“But Norton Tower was probably a sort of pleasure-house
in summer, as there are, adjoining to it, several large mounds,
(two of them are pretty entire.) of which no other account
can be given than that they were butts for large companies of
archers.
“The place is savagely wild, and admirably adapted to the
uses of a watch-tower.”
[
282 ‘ : WORDSWORTH’S POETICAL WORKS.
She turned to him, who with his eye
Was watching her while on the height
| She sate, or wandered restlessly, :
O’erburthened by her sorrow’s weight;
To him who this dire news had told,
And now beside the Mourner stood ;--
(That gray-haired Man of: gentle blood,
Who with her Father had grown old
In friendship, rival Hunters they,
| And fellow Warriors in their day)
To Rylstone he the tidings brought;
Then on this place the Maid had sought:
And told, as gently as could be,
The end of that sad Tragedy,
Which it had been: his lot to see.
To him the Lady: turned; “ You said
That Francis lives, he is not dead ?”’
“Your noble Brother hath been spared,
To take his life they have not dared; _
On him and on his high endeavour
The light of praise shall shine for ever!
Nor did he (such Heaven’s will) in vain
His solitary course maintain;
Not vainly struggled in the might
Of duty, seeing with clear sight;
He was their comfort to the last,
Their joy till every pang was past, _
“T witnessed when to York they came—
What, Lady, if their feet were tied ;
They might deserve a good Man’s blame;
But, marks of infamy and shame,
These were their triumph, these their pride,
Nor wanted ’mid the. pressing crowd
Deep feeling, that found utterance loud,
“Lo, Francis comes,’ there were who cried,
*A Prisoner once, but now set free!
’T is well, for he the worst defied
For sake of natural Piety ;.
He rose not in this quarrel, he
Ilis Father and his Brothers wooed,
Both for their own and Country’s good,
To rest in peace —he did divide
He parted from them; but at their side
Now walks in unanimity —
Then peace to cruelty ‘and: scorn,
While to the prison they are borne,
Peace, peace to all indignity!’
“And so in Prison were they laid —
Oh hear me, hear me, gentle Maid,
For I am come with power to bless,
By scattering gleams, through your distress, —
Of a redeeming happiness,
Me did a reverent pity move
And privilege ‘of ancient love;