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Some bank or quick-set finds : to which his haunch opposed,
He turns upon his foes that soon have him inclosed;
The churlish-throated hounds then holding him at bay.
And, as their cruel fangs on his harsh skin they lay,
With his sharp-pointed head he dealeth deadly wounds:
The hunter, coming in to help his wearied hounds,
He desperately assails; until, opprest by force,
He, who the mourner is to his own dying corse,
Upon the ruthless earth his precious1 tears lets fall.
Song XIII.

THE THAMES AND LONDON IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

But now this mighty flood, upon his voyage pressed,—
That found how with his strength his beauty still increased,
From where brave Windsor stood on tiptoe to behold
The fair and goodly Thames, so far as e'er he could,
With kingly houses crowned, of more than earthly pride,
Upon his either banks as he along doth glide,—
With wonderful delight doth his long course pursue
Where Oatlands, Hampton Court, and Richmond he doth
view.

Then Westminster, the next, great Thames doth entertain,
That vaunts her palace large3 and her most sumptuous fane ;*
The land's tribunal seat, that challengeth for hers
The crowning of our kings, their famous sepulchres.
Then goes he on along by that more beauteous Strand,
Expressing both the wealth and bravery of the land.
So many sumptuous bowers within so little space
The all-beholding Sun scarce sees in all his race :
And on by London leads, which like a crescent lies
Whose windows seem to mock the star-befreckèd skies;
Besides her rising spires so thick themselves that show
As do the bristling reeds within his banks that grow:
There sees his crowded wharves and people-pestered shores,
His bosom overspread with shoals of labouring oars ;

1The hart weeps at his dying; and his tears were held to be precious in 2 The river Thames.

medicine.

3 Westminster Palace was the principal seat of the English sovereigns from Edward the Confessor to Queen Elizabeth. It was partly destroyed by fire in 1512; and Henry VIII., after Wolsey's disgrace, removed his palace to Whitehall. When Drayton wrote, there were still standing, and in use, the Star Chamber, St. Stephen's Chapel, and other parts of the old palace. The only portions now extant are Westminster Hall and St. Stephen's Crypt; but the name survives in Palace Yard. 4 The Abbey. 5 See note 1, p. 102.

The Strand, originally a mere roadway between the two cities of London and Westminster, was first paved in the reign of Henry VIII., and became the favourite quarter of the bishops and nobility. Sir Walter Raleigh, Lord Burleigh, the Somersets, and other great families, had their town houses there.

With that most costly Bridge1 that doth him most renown, By which he clearly puts all other rivers down.

Song XVII.

FROM THE SONNETS TO "IDEA."

A PARTING.

Since there's no help, come let us kiss and part:
Nay, I have done, you get no more of me;
And I am glad, yea, glad with all my heart,
That thus so clearly I myself can free.
Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows,
And, when we meet at any time again,

Be it not seen in either of our brows

That we one jot of former love retain.
Now, at the last gasp of Love's latest breath,

When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies, When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death,

And Innocence is closing up his eyes;

Now, if thou wouldst, when all have given him over,
From death to life thou mightst him yet recover.

THE CRIER.

Good folk, for gold or hire,

But help me to a crier ;

For my poor heart is run astray
After two eyes that passed this way.

O yes, O yes, O yes,

If there be any man
In town or country can
Bring me my heart again,
I'll please him for his pain.
And by these marks I will you show
That only I this heart do owe.2
It is a wounded heart,

Wherein yet sticks the dart;

1 Old London Bridge spanned the Thames from London to Southwark. It succeeded a still older one of wood lower down the river, and was built between the years 1176 and 1209. It was built upon piles; had nineteen arches, the widest 36 feet, a drawbridge for large vessels, a gate-house at each end on which were exhibited the heads of traitors, and a chapel and crypt in the centre. There were two rows of houses upon it, like a street, in one of which it is said the artist Holbein lived. It was the only bridge over the Thames at London until 1738. 2 Own.

Every piece sore hurt throughout it; Faith and troth writ round about it.

It was a tame heart, and a dear,
And never used to roam;
But, having got this haunt, I fear
'Twill hardly stay at home.
For God's sake, walking by the way,
If you my heart do see,

Either impound it for a stray,
Or send it back to me.

THE BALLAD OF AGINCOURT.

Fair stood the wind for France,
When we our sails advance,
Nor now to prove our chance
Longer will tarry;

But, putting to the main,
At Kaux, the mouth of Seine,
With all his martial train,
Landed King Harry;

And, taking many a fort
Furnished in warlike sort,
Marched towards Agincourt
In happy hour,
Skirmishing day by day

With those that stopped his way,
Where the French General lay
With all his power.

Which, in his height of pride

King Henry to deride,

His ransom to provide

To the King sending ;

Which he neglects the while

As from a nation vile,

Yet, with an angry smile,
Their fall portending.

And, turning to his men,
Quoth our brave Henry then,
Though they to one be ten,
Be not amazèd;

Yet have we well begun ;
Battles so bravely won
Have ever to the sun

By fame been raised.

"And for myself," quoth he, "This my full rest shall be; England ne'er mourn for me Nor more esteem me :

Victor I will remain,

Or on this earth lie slain;
Never shall she sustain
Loss, to redeem me.

"Poitiers and Cressy tell,
When most their pride did swell,
Under our swords they fell:
No less our skill is

Than when our Grandsire great,1
Claiming the regal seat,

By many a warlike feat

Lopped the French lilies."

The Duke of York, so dread,
The eager van-ward led ;
With the main Henry sped
Amongst his henchmen;

Excester had the rear,
A braver man not there;

O Lord, how hot they were
On the false Frenchmen!

They now to fight are gone :
Armour on armour shone;
Drum now to drum did groan;
To hear was wonder;
That with the cries they make
The very earth did shake;
Trumpet to trumpet spake,
Thunder to thunder.

Well it thine age became,
O noble Erpingham!
Which did the signal aim
To our hid forces;

1 Edward II1.

When, from a meadow by,
Like a storm, suddenly,
The English archery

Struck the French horses

With spanish yew1 so strong,
Arrows a cloth-yard long,
That like to serpents stung,
Piercing the weather:
None from his fellow starts,
But, playing manly parts,
And like to English hearts,
Stuck close together.

When down their bows they threw,
And forth their bilboes drew,
And on the French they flew,
Not one was tardy :

Arms were from shoulders sent,
Scalps to the teeth were rent,
Down the French peasants went :
Our men were hardy.

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