Heirs from ages without record Had the House of Lucie born, Who of right had claim'd the Lordship Each at the appointed hour Tried the Horn,-it own'd his power; He was acknowledged: and the blast, 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 utter'd from my heart, "s 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 answer'd Hubert; "What thou askest, noble Brother, Side by side they fought (the Lucies And where'er their strokes alighted There the Saracens were tam'd. way. 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, "Deep he lies in Jordan flood."— Stricken by this ill assurance, Months pass'd on, and no Sir Eustace! Wherefore, bold as day, the Murderer 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, And, while thus in open day Once he sate, as old books say, A blast was utter'd from the Horn, Where by the Castle-gate it hung forlorn. 'Tis the breath of good Sir Eustace! Ancient Castle, Woods, and Mountains He is helpless and alone : Thou hast a dungeon, speak the word! And there he may be lodg'd, and thou be Lord. Speak! astounded Hubert cannot; And if power to speak he had, All are daunted, all the household Smitten to the heart, and sad. 'Tis Sir Eustace; if it be Living Man, it must be he! Thus Hubert thought in his dismay, And by a Postern-gate he slunk away. Long, and long was he unheard of: To his Brother then he came, Made confession, ask'd forgiveness, Ask'd it by a Brother's name, And by all the saints in heaven; And of Eustace was forgiv'n : Then in a Convent went to hide His melancholy head, and there he died. |