all his family； throws his wife downstairs； with this allusion to
the supposed murder of Leicester's lady；
〃The only way to charm a woman's tongue
Is； break her necka politician did it。〃
The reader will find I have borrowed several incidents as well as
names from Ashmole； and the more early authorities； but my first
acquaintance with the history was through the more pleasing
medium of verse。 There is a period in youth when the mere power
of numbers has a more strong effect on ear and imagination than
in more advanced life。 At this season of immature taste； the
author was greatly delighted with the poems of Mickle and
Langhorne； poets who； though by no means deficient in the higher
branches of their art； were eminent for their powers of verbal
melody above most who have practised this department of poetry。
One of those pieces of Mickle； which the author was particularly
pleased with； is a ballad； or rather a species of elegy； on the
subject of Cumnor Hall； which； with others by the same author；
was to be found in Evans's Ancient Ballads （vol。 iv。； page 130）；
to which work Mickle made liberal contributions。 The first
stanza especially had a peculiar species of enchantment for the
youthful ear of the author； the force of which is not even now
entirely spent； some others are sufficiently prosaic。
CUMNOR HALL。
The dews of summer night did fall；
The moon； sweet regent of the sky；
Silver'd the walls of Cumnor Hall；
And many an oak that grew thereby；
Now nought was heard beneath the skies；
The sounds of busy life were still；
Save an unhappy lady's sighs；
That issued from that lonely pile。
〃Leicester；〃 she cried； 〃is this thy love
That thou so oft hast sworn to me；
To leave me in this lonely grove；
Immured in shameful privity？
〃No more thou com'st with lover's speed；
Thy once beloved bride to see；
But be she alive； or be she dead；
I fear； stern Earl； 's the same to thee。
〃Not so the usage I received
When happy in my father's hall；
No faithless husband then me grieved；
No chilling fears did me appal。
〃I rose up with the cheerful morn；
No lark more blithe； no flower more gay；
And like the bird that haunts the thorn；
So merrily sung the livelong day。
〃If that my beauty is but small；
Among court ladies all despised；
Why didst thou rend it from that hall；
Where； scornful Earl； it well was prized？
〃And when you first to me made suit；
How fair I was you oft would say！
And proud of conquest； pluck'd the fruit；
Then left the blossom to decay。
〃Yes！ now neglected and despised；
The rose is pale； the lily's dead；
But he that once their charms so prized；
Is sure the cause those charms are fled。
〃For know； when sick'ning grief doth prey；
And tender love's repaid with scorn；
The sweetest beauty will decay；
What floweret can endure the storm？
〃At court； I'm told； is beauty's throne；
Where every lady's passing rare；
That Eastern flowers； that shame the sun；
Are not so glowing； not so fair。
〃Then； Earl； why didst thou leave the beds
Where roses and where lilies vie；
To seek a primrose； whose pale shades
Must sicken when those gauds are by？
〃'Mong rural beauties I was one；
Among the fields wild flowers are fair；
Some country swain might me have won；
And thought my beauty passing rare。
〃But； Leicester （or I much am wrong）；
Or 'tis not beauty lures thy vows；
Rather ambition's gilded crown
Makes thee forget thy humble spouse。
〃Then； Leicester； why； again I plead
（The injured surely may repine）
Why didst thou wed a country maid；
When some fair princess might be thine？
〃Why didst thou praise my hum'ble charms；
And； oh！ then leave them to decay？
Why didst thou win me to thy arms；
Then leave to mourn the livelong day？
〃The village maidens of the plain
Salute me lowly as they go；
Envious they mark my silken train；
Nor think a Countess can have woe。
〃The simple nymphs！ they little know
How far more happy's their estate；
To smile for joy； than sigh for woe
To be content； than to be great。
〃How far less blest am I than them？
Daily to pine and waste with care！
Like the poor plant that； from its stem
Divided； feels the chilling air。
〃Nor； cruel Earl！ can I enjoy
The humble charms of solitude；
Your minions proud my peace destroy；
By sullen frowns or pratings rude。
〃Last night； as sad I chanced to stray；
The village death…bell smote my ear；
They wink'd aside； and seemed to say；
'Countess； prepare； thy end is near！'
〃And now； while happy peasants sleep；
Here I sit lonely and forlorn；
No one to soothe me as I weep；
Save Philomel on yonder thorn。
〃My spirits flagmy hopes decay
Still that dread death…bell smites my ear；
And many a boding seems to say；
'Countess； prepare； thy end is near！'〃
Thus sore and sad that lady grieved；
In Cumnor Hall； so lone and drear；
And many a heartfelt sigh she heaved；
And let fall many a bitter tear。
And ere the dawn of day appear'd；
In Cumnor Hall； so lone and drear；
Full many a piercing scream was heard；
And many a cry of mortal fear。
The death…bell thrice was heard to ring；
An aerial voice was heard to call；
And thrice the raven flapp'd its wing
Around the towers of Cumnor Hall。
The mastiff howl'd at village door；
The oaks were shatter'd on the green；
Woe was the hourfor never more
That hapless Countess e'er was seen！
And in that Manor now no more
Is cheerful feast and sprightly ball；
For ever since that dreary hour
Have spirits haunted Cumnor Hall。
The village maids； with fearful glance；
Avoid the ancient moss…grown wall；
Nor ever lead the merry dance；
Among the groves of Cumnor Hall。
Full many a traveller oft hath sigh'd；
And pensive wept the Countess' fall；
As wand'ring onward they've espied
The haunted towers of Cumnor Hall。
ARBOTSFORD；
1st March 1831。
*
KENILWORTH
CHAPTER I。
I am an innkeeper； and know my grounds；
And study them； Brain o' man； I study them。
I must have jovial guests to drive my ploughs；
And whistling boys to bring my harvests home；
Or I shall hear no flails thwack。 THE NEW INN。
It is the privilege of tale…tellers to open their story in an
inn； the free rendezvous of all travellers； and where the humour
of each displays itself without ceremony or restraint。 This is
specially suitable when the scene is laid during the old days of
merry England； when the guests were in some sort not merely the
inmates； but the messmates and temporary companions of mine Host；
who was usually a personage of privileged freedom； comely
presence； and good…humour。 Patronized by him the characters of
the company were placed in ready contrast； and they seldom
failed； during the emptying of a six…hooped pot； to throw off
reserve； and present themselves to each other； and to their
landlord； with the freedom of old acquaintance。
The village of Cumnor； within three or four miles of Oxford；
boasted； during the eighteenth of Queen Elizabeth； an excellent
inn of the old stamp； conducted； or rather ruled； by Giles
Gosling； a man of a goodly person； and of somewhat round belly；
fifty years of age and upwards； moderate in his reckonings；
prompt in his payments； having a cellar of sound liquor； a ready
wit； and a pretty daughter。 Since the days of old Harry Baillie
of the Tabard in Southwark； no one had excelled Giles Gosling in
the power of pleasing his guests of every description； and so
great was his fame； that to have been in Cumnor without wetting a
cup at the bonny Black Bear； would have been to avouch one's…self
utterly indifferent to reputation as a traveller。 A country
fellow might as well return from London without looking in the
face of majesty。 The men of Cumnor were proud of their Host； and
their Host was proud of his house； his liquor； his daughter； and
himself。
It was in the courtyard of the inn which called this honest
fellow landlord； that a traveller alighted in the close of the
evening； gave his horse； which seemed to have made a long
journey； to the hostler； and made some inquiry； which produced
the following dialogue betwixt the myrmidons of the bonny Black
Bear。
〃What； ho！ John Tapster。〃
〃At hand； Will Hostler；〃 replied the man of the spigot； showing
himself in his costume of loose jacket； linen breeches； and green
apron； half within and half without a door； which appeared to
descend to an outer cellar。
〃Here is a gentleman asks if you draw good ale；〃 continued the
hostler。
〃Beshrew my heart else；〃 answered the tapster； 〃since there are
but four miles betwixt us and Oxford。 Marry； if my ale did not
convince the heads of the scholars； they would soon convince my
pate with the pewter flagon。〃
〃Call you that Oxford logic？〃 said the stranger； who had now
quitted the rein of his horse； and was advancing towards the inn…
door； when he was encountered by the goodly form of Giles Gosling
himself。
〃Is it logic you talk of