THE OLD BROWN FOREST 



IX 



Thou Palatine prophet ! whose fame I revere' 

 (Woe be to that bard who speaks ill of a seer), 

 Forewarn'd of thy fate, as our legends report. 

 Thou wert born in a forest and " clemm'd " in a 

 court. 



X 



Now goading thine oxen, now urging amain 

 Fierce monarchs to battle on Bosworth's red plain ; 

 "A foot with two heels, and a hand with three 



thumbs ! " ' 

 Good luck to the land when this prodigy comes ! 



XI 



" Steeds shall by hundreds seek masters in vain. 

 Till under their bellies the girths rot in twain ; " 

 'Twill need little skill to interpret this dream. 

 When o'er the brown forest we travel by steam ! 



XII 



Here hunted the Scot whom, too wise to show fight,^ 

 No war, save the war of the woods, could excite ; 

 His learning, they say, did his valour surpass. 

 Though a hero when arm'd with a couteau de chasse. 



XIII 



Ah ! then came the days when to England's disgrace, 

 A King was her quarry, and warfare her chase ; 

 Old Noll for their huntsman ! a puritan pack ! 

 With psalms on their tongues — but with blood in 

 their track. 

 ' Note 24. ^ Note 25. ^ Note 26. 



19 



