1892] IN MEMOEIAM. 235 



Like summer evening swallows skim and soar, 

 And now blue distance veils them, and the thrill 

 That strikes one chill. 



Ah ! who is this lies prone uj)on the grass, 

 The yellow grass that pillows his cold face ? 

 And is this sunny spot Death's resting place ? 



Truly the graveyard field* is here, alas ! 



Oh, sweetly sleep ! may thy brave spirit pass 



To breezy realms afar, where never will 

 Come ought of ill. 



Shine on bright sun, thou wilt shine softly, too ; 

 And silencef reign thou here, for we can bear 

 No sound, save Nature's voice, and this we hear : 



Hark ! an angelic voice, in yonder blue 

 The lark's pure trill. 



Perchance he hears it, for he hears no more 



Of earthly music, e'en the echoing horn 



Can never wake him now at early morn. 

 To join the chase ; but the red streams of gore 

 Wliich dyed that field on that fierce Edge Hill day. 

 Flowed from no stouter heart than thine, brave "Bay," 

 And mid the Cavaliers no gallant laiight, 

 In armour bright. 



Charged down the vale for God and for the King, 

 Upon the foe with such glad confidence 

 As his, who led us oft o'er field and fence 

 In the wild race ; so let his memory ring 

 In each true sportsman's heart, to let him fear 

 Naught but defeat and shame, and year by year 

 To mind us, as by Battle Holt we ride, 

 'Twas here he died ! 



Reg. Wyverne. 



Captain Middleton was buried at Hazelbeach in full 

 hunting costume. There was a large attendance at the 

 funeral, including Lord Spencer, Lord Willoughby de 

 Broke, and many others. The first four verses of the 



* The field where Captain Middleton fell is called the " Graveyard Field." A tree 

 in the corner of it marks the place where it is said many of those who fell in the Edge 

 Hill fight are buried. (See also footnote to poem, " Shuckburgh Hill.") 



t When the news that he was really dead spread amongst the crowd assembled at 

 the races, they seemed to melt away in a mystic and reverent silence. 



