MISERERE. Seeking some respite from her keen despair, 217 Stung by the rumour of her mournful fate, And oft that face shall haunt his future days, Ah! "miserere!" who may cast the stone? Her guilt was great-her struggles who can tell? Judge her not yet-have ye temptation known? Have ye ne'er faltered 'neath the tempter's spell? Leave her until they both once more may weep— Destroyer and destroyed-before the Judgment seat. Maria Chambers. Ay, 'tis a comely sight to behold, Of that Cathedral old!— Singers behind 'em and singers before 'em, An unwonted light (I forgot to premise this was all done at night). A LEGEND OF BLOIS. 219 With their mailed hose, And their dogs at their toes, And little boys kneeling beneath them in rows, Their hands joined in prayer, all in very long clothes, With inscriptions in brass, begging each who survives, As they some of them seem to have led so-so lives, To Praie for the Sowles of themselves and their wives. The effect of the music too really was fine When they let the good prelate down into his shrine, And by old and young The " Requiem" was sung: Not vernacular French, but a classical tongue, That is Latin-I don't think they meddled with Greek In short, the whole thing produced-so to speakWhat in Blois they would call a Coup d'œil magnifique ! Yet surely when the level ray Of some mild eve's descending sun In years ere ours had well begun— 220 A LEGEND OF BLOIS. As there in simplest vestment clad, Of what Man is-what Man shall be ! And clustering round the grave, half hid The dust they loved a last adieu— -That ray, methinks, that rests so sheen Thomas Ingoldsby. London: SWIFT & Co., King Street, Regent Street. |