Beacon for barks that navigate the stream
Of Ore or Ald, or breast the ocean spray:
Landmark for inland travellers far away
O'er heath and sheep-walk — as the morning beam
Or the declining sunset's mellower gleam
Lights up thy weather-beaten turrets grey;
Still dost thou bear thee bravely in decay
As if thy by-gone glory were no dream!
Yea, now with lingering grandeur thou look'st down
From thy once fortified, embattled hill,
As if thine ancient office to fulfil;
And though thy keep be but the ruin'd crown
Of Orford's desolate and dwindled town,
Seem'st to assert thy sovereign honour still.