Poems . 290 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. In this fight was Death the gainer,Spite of vassal and retainer,And the lands his sires had plundered,Written in the Doomsday Book. By his bed a monk was seated,Who in humble voice repeatedMany a prayer and pater-noster,From the missal on his knee ; And, amid the tempest pealing,Sounds of bells came faintly stealing,Bells, that, from the neighbouring cloister,Rang for the THE NORMAN BARON. 291 In the hall, the serf and vassal Held, that uight, their Christmas wassail; Many a carol, old and saintly, Sang the minstrels and the waits. And so loud these
Poems . 290 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. In this fight was Death the gainer,Spite of vassal and retainer,And the lands his sires had plundered,Written in the Doomsday Book. By his bed a monk was seated,Who in humble voice repeatedMany a prayer and pater-noster,From the missal on his knee ; And, amid the tempest pealing,Sounds of bells came faintly stealing,Bells, that, from the neighbouring cloister,Rang for the THE NORMAN BARON. 291 In the hall, the serf and vassal Held, that uight, their Christmas wassail; Many a carol, old and saintly, Sang the minstrels and the waits. And so loud these Saxon gleemenSang to slaves the songs of freemen,That the storm was heard but faintly,Knocking at the castle gates. Till at length the lays they chauntedReached the chamber terror-haunted,Where the monk, with accents holy,Whispered at the barons ear. Tears upon his eyelids glistened,As he paused awhile and listened,And the dying baron slowly Turned his weary head to hear. Wassail for the kingly strangerBorn and cradled in a manger !King, like David, priest, like Aaron,Christ is born to set us free! And the lightning showed the saintedFigures on the casement painted,And exclaimed the shuddering baron, Miserere, Domine! 292 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. In that hour of deep contrition,He beheld, with clearer vision,Through all outward show and fashion,Justice, the Avenger, rise. All the pomp of earth had vanished,Fals
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