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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； Sir Guest？〃 said the host； 〃why； then；
have at you with a downright consequence
'The horse to the rack；
And to fire with the sack。'〃
〃Amen！ with all my heart； my good host；〃 said the stranger； 〃let
it be a quart of your best Canaries； and give me your good help
to drink it。〃
〃Nay； you are but in your accidence yet； Sir Traveller； if you
call on your host for help for such a sipping matter as a quart
of sack； Were it a gallon； you might lack some neighbouring aid
at my hand； and yet call yourself a toper。〃
〃Fear me not。〃 said the guest； 〃I will do my devoir as becomes a
man who finds himself within five miles of Oxford； for I am not
come from the field of Mars to discredit myself amongst the
followers of Minerva。〃
As he spoke thus； the landlord； with much semblance of hearty
welcome； ushered his guest into a large； low chamber； where
several persons were seated together in different partiessome
drinking； some playing at cards； some conversing； and some； whose
business called them to be early risers on the morrow； concluding
their evening meal； and conferring with the chamberlain about
their night's quarters。
The entrance of a stranger procured him that general and careless
sort of attention which is usually paid on such occasions； from
which the following results were deduced：The guest was one of
those who； with a well…made person； and features not in
themselves unpleasing； are nevertheless so far from handsome
that； whether from the expression of their features； or the tone
of their voice； or from their gait and manner； there arises； on
the whole； a disinclination to their society。 The stranger's
address was bold； without being frank； and seemed eagerly and
hastily to claim for him a degree of attention and deference
which he feared would be refused； if not instantly vindicated as
his right。 His attire was a riding…cloak； which； when open；
displayed a handsome jerkin overlaid with lace； and belted with a
buff girdle； which sustained a broadsword and a pair of pistols。
〃You ride well provided； sir；〃 said the host； looking at the
weapons as he placed on the table the mulled sack which the
traveller had ordered。
〃Yes； mine host； I have found the use on't in dangerous times；
and I do not； like your modern grandees； turn off my followers
the instant they are useless。〃
〃Ay； sir？〃 said Giles Gosling； 〃then you are from the Low
Countries； the land of pike and caliver？〃
〃I have been high and low； my friend； broad and wide； far and
near。 But here is to thee in a cup of thy sack； fill thyself
another to pledge me； and； if it is less than superlative； e'en
drink as you have brewed。〃
〃Less than superlative？〃 said Giles Gosling； drinking off the
cup； and smacking his lips with an air of ineffable relish；〃I
know nothing of superlative； nor is there such a wine at the
Three Cranes； in the Vintry； to my knowledge； but if you find
better sack than that in the Sheres； or in the Canaries either； I
would I may never touch either pot or penny more。 Wh