LORD OF THE CASTLE OF BRISTOL IN DAYS OF YORE .

I.

O H thou, or what remains of thee,
Ã?lla, the darling of futurity,
Let this my song bold as thy courage be,
As everlasting to posterity.

II.

When Dacia's sons, whose hairs of blood-red hue,
Like kingcups bursting with the morning dew,
Arranged in drear array,
Upon the lethal day,
Spread far and wide on Watchet's shore;
Then didst thou furious stand,
And by thy valiant hand
Didst sprinkle all the meads with gore.

III.

Drawn by thy weapon fell,
Down to the depth of hell
Thousands of Dacians went;
Bristolians, men of might,
Then dared the bloody fight,
And acted deeds full quaint.

IV.

Oh thou, where'er (thy bones at rest)
Thy sprite to haunt delighteth best,
Whether upon the blood-embruèd plain,
Or where thou ken'st from far
The dismal cry of war,
Or seest some mountain made of corse of slain;

V.

Or seest the hatched steed
Y-prancing o'er the mead,
And neigh to be among the pointed spears;
Or, in black armour stalk'st around
Embattled Bristol, once thy ground,
And glowest, ardurous, on the Castle-steeres;

VI.

Or fiery round the minster glare,
Let Bristol still be made thy care;
Guard it from foemen and consuming fire.
Like Avon's stream, ensyrke it round,
Nor let a flame enharm the ground,
Till in one flame all the whole world expire.