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XI.

A SLUMBER did my spirit seal;

I had no human fears:

She seemed a thing that could not feel The touch of earthly years.

No motion has she now, no force;

She neither hears nor sees,

Rolled round in earth's diurnal course

With rocks and stones and trees!

XII.

THE HORN OF EGREMONT CASTLE

WHEN the Brothers reached the gateway,

Eustace pointed with his lance

To the Horn which there was hanging;

Horn of the inheritance.

Horn it was which none could sound,

No one upon living ground,

Save He who came as rightful Heir

To Egremont's Domains and Castle fair.

Heirs from ages without record

Had the House of Lucie born,

Who of right had claim'd the Lordship

By the proof upon the Horn:

Each at the appointed hour

Tried the Horn, — it owned his

power;

He was acknowledged: and the blast,

Which good Sir Eustace sounded, was the last.

With his lance Sir Eustace pointed,

And to Hubert thus said he,

"What I speak this Horn shall witness

For thy better memory.

Hear, then, and neglect me not!

At this time, and on this spot,

The words are uttered from my heart,

As my last earnest prayer ere we depart.

On good service we are going

Life to risk by sea and land;

In which course if Christ our Saviour

Do

my sinful soul demand,

Hither come thou back straightway,

Hubert, if alive that day;

Return, and sound the Horn, that we

May have a living House still left in thee !"

"Fear not," quickly answered Hubert;

"As I am thy Father's son,

What thou askest, noble Brother,
With God's favour shall be done."
So were both right well content :
From the Castle forth they went.

And at the head of their Array

To Palestine the Brothers took their way.

Side by side they fought (the Lucies
Were a line for valour famed)

And where'er their strokes alighted

There the Saracens were tamed.

Whence, then, could it come the thought,

By what evil spirit brought?

Oh! can a brave Man wish to take

His Brother's life, for Land's and Castle's sake?

"Sir!" the Ruffians said to Hubert,

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Deep he lies in Jordan flood,"

Stricken by this ill assurance,

Pale and trembling Hubert stood.
"Take your earnings."-Oh! that I
Could have seen my Brother die!
It was a pang that vexed him then;
And oft returned, again, and yet again.

Months passed on, and no Sir Eustace!
Nor of him were tidings heard.
Wherefore, bold as day, the Murderer
Back again to England steered.

To his Castle Hubert sped;

He has nothing now to dread.

But silent and by stealth he came,

And at an hour which nobody could name.

None could tell if it were night-time,

Night or day, at even or morn;

For the sound was heard by no one
Of the proclamation-horn.

But bold Hubert lives in glee:
Months and years went smilingly;

With plenty was his table spread;

And bright the Lady is who shares his bed.

Likewise he had Sons and Daughters;

And, as good men do, he sate

At his board by these surrounded,
Flourishing in fair estate.

And, while thus in open day

Once he sate, as old books say,

A blast was uttered from the Horn,

Where by the Castle-gate it hung forlorn.

'Tis the breath of good Sir Eustace!

He is come to claim his right:

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