And many a deep wound lent, Gloucester, that duke so good, Scarce such another. Warwick in blood did wade, And cruel slaughter made, Still as they ran up; Suffolk his axe did ply, Upon Saint Crispin's day Or England breed again 1 sprinkled. KING HENRY V. AND THE HERMIT OF DREUX ROBERT SOUTHEY By the Treaty of Troyes (1420), Henry V. was recognized as heir to the throne of France and regent of the realm during the life of the mad king. He obtained the hand of the French princess Katherine in marriage, and nothing seemed lacking to complete his victory. But the French people, hating a foreign rule, rose in revolt, and the French towns had to be recaptured one by one. The resources of England were heavily taxed to support the war, and the king himself sickened and died (1422). The French chronicler relates how, while Henry V. was besieging Dreux, on the river Blaise, an ancient hermit came to his hut and, denouncing his ruthless ambition, warned him that God would punish his cruel deeds. He pass'd unquestion'd through the camp, Their heads the soldiers bent In silent reverence, or begg'd A blessing as he went; And so the Hermit pass'd along And reached the royal tent. King Henry sate in his tent alone, Fresh conquests he was planning there To grace the future day. King Henry lifted up his eyes The intruder to behold; With reverence he the Hermit saw, For the holy man was old, His look was gentle as a Saint's, And yet his eye was bold. "Repent thee, Henry, of the wrongs "I have pass'd forty years of peace But what a weight of woe hast thou "I used to see along the stream 66 Henry! I never now behold The white sail gliding down; Famine, Disease, and Death, and Thou Destroy that wretched town. "I used to hear the traveller's voice As here he passed along, Or maiden as she loiter'd home Singing her even-song. "No traveller's voice may now be heard, In fear he hastens by; But I have heard the village maid In vain for succour cry. "I used to see the youths row down And watch the dripping oar, As pleasantly their viol's tones Came soften'd to the shore. "King Henry, many a blacken'd corpse I now see floating down! Thou man of blood! repent in time, "I shall go on," King Henry cried, The Hermit heard King Henry speak, "What if no miracle from Heaven The murderer's arm control, Think you for that the weight of blood Lies lighter on his soul? "Thou conqueror King, repent in time Or dread the coming woe! For, Henry, thou hast heard the threat, And soon shalt feel the blow!" King Henry forced a careless smile, THE KING'S TRAGEDY DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI IF England could boast in Henry V. a martial hero for king, Scotland could lay claim to a royal poet. James I., the ablest of Scotch rulers, spent his boyhood in captivity in England. He was carefully educated and gathered wisdom from his observation of English laws and customs. He was with Henry V. in France during part of the second campaign. Early in the reign of Henry VI. (1424), James was allowed, in his thirtieth year, to return to his kingdom, carrying with him an English bride. The jealous Scots dubbed him the Saxon king. James I. had high ideals for Scotland, and did all that one man might to reform the abuses which had crept into the government. A curb was placed on the power of the great nobles, and the poor were defended against oppression. But the king's stern enforcement of justice made him bitter enemies among the fierce Scotch lords. They plotted against his life and finally murdered him before his purposes for Scotland were accomplished. Through all the days of his gallant youth The princely James was pent, By his friends at first and then by his foes, For the elder Prince, the kingdom's heir, Was slain; and the father quaked for the child I' the Bass Rock fort, by his father's care, And Henry the subtle Bolingbroke, Proud England's King, 'neath the southron yoke His youth for long years immured. |