ON A ROMAN HELMET

(300)

These verses were occasioned by the discovery of a Roman helmet and other remains on the site of the Roman camp near Melrose.

A HELMET of the legion, this,

That long and deep hath lain,
Come back to taste the living kiss

Of sun and wind again.
Ah! touch it with a reverent hand,

For in its burnished dome
Lies here within this distant land

The glory that was Rome!

5

IO

The tides of sixteen hundred years

Have flowed, and ebbed, and flowed,
And yet, I see the tossing spears

Come up the Roman Road;
While, high above the trumpets pealed,

The eagles lift and fall,
And, all unseen, the War God's shield

Floats, guardian, over all!

15

20

Who marched beneath this gilded helm?

Who wore this casque a-shine?
A leader mighty in the realm ?

A soldier of the line ?
The proud patrician takes his rest

The spearman's bones beside,
And earth who knows their secret best
Gives this of all their pride!

25

With sunlight on this golden crest

Maybe some Roman guard,
Set free from duty, wandered west

Through Memory's gates unbarred;
Or climbing Eildon cleft in three,

Grown sick at heart for home,
Looked eastward to the grey North Sea

That paved the road to Rome.

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35

Or by the queen of Border streams

That flowed his camp beneath
Long dallied with the dearer dreams

Of love as old as death,
And doffed this helm to dry lips' need,

And dipped it in the tide,
And pledged in brimming wine of Tweed

Some maid on Tiber-side.

40

Years pass; and Time keeps tally,

And pride takes earth for tomb,
And down the Melrose valley

Corn grows and roses bloom;
The red suns set, the red suns rise,

The ploughs lift through the loam,
And in one earth-worn helmet lies

The majesty of Rome.

45

W. H. OGILVIE.

29. Eildon.

The Eildon Hills are three conical-shaped hills south of Melrose. On one of the three there are traces of a Roman camp.

33. queen of Border streams. The Tweed.

PAULINUS AND EDWIN

(627)

When Ethelburga, daughter of the King of Kent, was married to Edwin of Northumbria, Paulinus, one of Augustine's monks, was sent to attend on her. He converted Edwin, and Christianity was recognized in the North. There are still evidences of Paulinus' work in many parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, as e. g. the Cross at Whalley Church near Blackburn. He is said to have travelled all over Northumbria in six years, preaching and baptizing. [See Bede's Ecclesiastical History.]

The black-hair'd gaunt Paulinus

By ruddy Edwin stood :-
Bow down, O King of Deira,

'Before the holy Rood!
• Cast forth thy demon idols,

And worship Christ our Lord!'
·
But Edwin look'd and ponder'd,
And answer'd not a word.

5

IO

Again the gaunt Paulinus

To ruddy Edwin spake: • God offers life immortal

• For his dear Son's own sake!
· Wilt thou not hear his message

Who bears the Keys and Sword?'
-But Edwin look'd and ponder'd,

15

Rose then a sage old warrior;

Was five-score winters old; Whose beard from chin to girdle

Like one long snow-wreath roll'd: 20 • At Yule-time in our chamber

•We sit in warmth and light, • While cavern-black around us

*Lies the grim mouth of Night.

25

• Athwart the room a sparrow

• Darts from the open door : Within the happy hearth-light

One red flash, -and no more! We see it born from darkness,

· And into darkness go :"So is our life, King Edwin!

“Ah, that it should be so!

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35

But if this pale Paulinus

· Have somewhat more to tell ; *Some news of whence and whither,

• And where the Soul may dwell :If on that outer darkness

•The sun of Hope may shine;*He makes life worth the living!

I take his God for mine!'

40

So spake the wise old warrior;

And all about him cried, • Paulinus' God hath conquer'd!

· And he shall be our guide :*For he makes life worth living,

Who brings this message plain,"When our brief days are over,

• That we shall live again.'

45

F. T. PALGRAVE,

3. Deira. Northern England.

19

B 2

THE SPOTLESS KING

(901)

It has been said that there have been greater warriors, greater statesmen, and greater scholars than Alfred the Great, but that no man ever combined in one person so much excellence in war, legislation, and scholarship (Gardiner). The

poem that follows was written for the Millenary Celebration at Winchester in 1901.

SOME lights there be within the Heavenly Spheres

Yet unrevealed, the interspace so vast:
So through the distance of a thousand years

Alfred's full radiance shines on us at last.

5

Star of the spotless fame, from far-off skies

Teaching this truth, too long not understood, That only they are worthy who are wise,

And none are truly great that are not good.

Of valour, virtue, letters, learning, law,

Pattern and prince, His name will now abide, 10 Long as of conscience Rulers live in awe,

And love of country is their only pride.

But with His name four other names attune,

Which from oblivion guardian Song may save; Lone Athelney, victorious Ethandune,

15 Wantage his cradle, Winchester his grave.

A. AUSTIN

15. Athelney. An island amid the marshes of Mid-Somerset, where Alfred took refuge in 878 from Guthrum, King of the Danes. Ethandune. In Wiltshire, where Alfred, after leaving Athelney, defeated Guthrum.