The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction | Page 9

hollow, churchyard wail!--a wild weird-sister's cry!-- Ah! "Annie Winnie," thou too here?--and "Alice?"--vanish--fly! "Not so," they shrieked, "we'll see the corse--the bonny corse; 'twas meet-- And pity 'twas we were not there to bind his winding sheet."
Old "Owen" passed with tottering step, and lost and wandering looks; "He's balanced his account," he cried, "and closed his earthly books;" Bold "Loxley," with his bow unbent--unhelm'd "Le Belafré," Together pass'd--the archer wiped one silent tear away.
Stern "Bridgenorth," with his daughter's arm hung on his own, stalk'd by; The blushing "Alice" veils her face from "Julian Peveril's" eye: "Alack-a-day," 'Daft Davie' cries--"come, follow, follow me, We'll strew his grave with cowslip buds and blooming rosemary."
In distance from the mournful throng, like stars of other spheres, The lovely "Mary Stuart" pays the homage of her tears, With "Cath'rine Seymore" at the shrine of Scotia's dearest name, And with her bends the "Douglas'" knees, with bold young "Roland Graeme."
But hark! what fairy melody comes wafted on the gale-- Oh! 'tis "Fenella's" sighing lute, in notes of woe and wail: "Claud Halero" catches at the strain, and mourns the minstrel gone, "His spirit rest in peace where sleeps the shade of glorious John!"
With spattered cloak, the ladies' knight, the gallant "Rawleigh" see, "Sir Creveceux's" plume waves by his side, and "Durward's" fleur-de-lis; There "Janet" leans on "Foster's" arm--e'en "Varney's" treacherous eye Is moistened with a tear that speaks remorse's agony.
Next, muffled in his sable cloak, "Tressilian" wends his way, His slouching hat denies his brow the cheering light of day; See how he dogs the proud earl's steps, as "Leicester" bears along The lovely "Amy" on his arm through that sad mournful throng.
There "Lillias" pass'd with fairy step, in hood and mantle green, Her sire, "Redgauntlet's" eagle eye is fixed on her, I ween; And "Wandering Willie" doffs his cap, to raise his sightless eye To Heaven, and cried, "God rest his soul in yonder sunny sky!"
Here "Donald Lean," with fillibeg and tartan-skirted knee; There pale was "Cleveland," as he slept by Stromness' howling sea; With faltering step crept "Trapbois" by, with drooping palsied head, More like a charnel truant stray'd from regions of the dead.
And thus they pass, a mournful train, the "squire," the "belted knight," The "hood and cowl," the ladies' page, and woman's image bright; In distance now the solemn notes their requiem's chant prolong, And now 'tis hush'd--to other ears they bear their funeral song.
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"Two beauteous sisters, side by side, their wonted station kept; The dark-eyed 'Minna' look'd to Heaven, the gentle 'Brenda' wept; Wild 'Norna,' in her mantle wrapp'd, with noiseless step mov'd on, 'Claud Halcro' in his grief awhile forgot e'en glorious 'John.'
The princely 'Saladin' appear'd, aside his splendour laid, And only by his graceful mien and piercing glance betray'd; The lofty 'Edith,' followed by the silent 'Nubian slave,' Dropp'd lightly, as she pass'd, a wreath upon the poet's grave."
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THE TOPOGRAPHER.
[Illustration: LESTINGHAM CHURCH.]
LESTINGHAM CHURCH.
(_From a Correspondent._)
Lestingham, which is supposed to signify _lasting-home_, is a village near Kirkby Moorside, Yorkshire, the scene of Buckingham's death, so caricatured by Pope in his Dunciad. It is remarkable on account of its church, which is a most interesting edifice to the antiquary, exhibiting a true specimen of Saxon architecture. The east end terminates in a semicircular recess for the altar, resembling the tribune of the Roman basilica. It was here that Cedd, bishop of the East Saxons, or London, founded a monastery for Benedictines, about the year 648, or, some say, 655. The church of Lestingham was the first which was built in this district, or the first of which we have any account. It was originally constructed of wood, and it was not till many years after that a stone one was erected.
Cedd was a Saxon missionary, educated at the monastery of Lindisfarne, now Holy Island, not far from Bamburgh, the capital of Bernicia. Ethelwald, king of Deira, knowing Cedd to be a man of real piety, desired him to accept some land for the building of a monastery, at which the king might attend to pray. Cedd availed himself of the proposal, and chose Lestingham. Having fixed on the spot for the site of the sanctuary, he resolved to consecrate it by fasting and prayer all the Lent; eating nothing except on the Lord's day, until evening; and then only a little bread, an egg, and a small quantity of milk diluted with water; he then began the building. He established in it the same discipline observed at Lindisfarne. Cedd governed his diocese many years; and died of a plague, when on a visit to his favourite monastery at Lindisfarne, where he had been ordained bishop by Finan; he was interred here, 664, but his remains were taken up, and re-interred in the present