26 23rat>gat* palace. 



Tradition points through the dim vista of long ages 

 to a broken tower, as the one where Lady Jane resided, 

 and which bears her name. Beside it is a chapel, 

 wherein are effigies of Lord Grey of Groby, and the 

 Lady Grey, his wife. The chapel is carefully preserved, 

 but all else are in ruins : the tower, the great hall, the 

 state apartment, the refectory, the tennis-court, nothing 

 remains of them but lichen-tinted walls, or ruins black 

 with smoke. Here then, amid lone ruins and green 

 trees, beside the streamlet's rush and the old grove of 

 chesnuts, where the lavrock and the titlark, the gold- 

 finch and the thrush are singing, with no companions 

 but rejoicing birds and flowers, let me recall the mourn- 

 ful realities of bygone days. 



" Here, in departed days, the gentle maid, 



The lovely and the good, with infant glee, 

 Along the margin of the streamlet play'd, 



Or gathered wild flowers 'neath each mossy tree ; 

 And little recked what cares were her's to be, 



While listening to the skylark's soaring lay, 

 Or merry grasshopper that carolled free, 



In verdant haunts, throughout the livelong day, 



That beauteous child, as blithe, as sorrowless as they. 



" And here, where sighs the summer breeze among 



These echoing halls, deserted now and bare, 

 Oft o'er some tome of ancient lore she hung, 



No student ever since so wondrous fair ! 

 Or lifted up her soul to God in prayer, 



And pondered on his verse, of price untold, 

 Radiant with wisdom's gems beyond compare, 



Richer than richest mines of purest gold, 



The star that guides our steps safe to the Saviour's fold. 



