The Litchfield County post., 1828-11-27
From the "Romaace of History
WULSTAN OF WORCESTER.

From the !" Rom ance of History"
WULSTAN OF WORCESTER.
The Bisl,o, he co,sid Ifs his hand So. 81 H.
TO bless the kaee!ing crowd;
The Bis,c;,, he cnuid grasp a brand,
And chase the Barohs proud.
OLD BALLAD. g
SIT is IN vaill-it is in vain, my children
This unhappy kingdom is now experience
ing the tender mercies of the Conqueror
our liberties are trampled under foot, our
religion trampled under foot and despised,
and our reverend prelates selected one by
enc as lambs for slaughter. The noble
primate Stigand is deposed aud imprisoned
the bishops of Selesey and Elmham
have shared his fate, and my lord of Dar-
ham has fed he kingdom. l, doubtless,
am marked out as HE next victim To
have had the ,ni.fe placed on my brows by
holy king Edward, is IA crime which, by
this migrate Norman, will neve: DC forgiv-
en-
The speaker was a man of stately figure
and herculean proportions. The thin white
locks upon his head, and the deep burrows
on his cheek proclaimed bis advanced age;
bnt Indicated neither mental decay nor boz
Oily nfrmity. His large bright blue eye
cleaned with all the fire and vivacity Of
youth and his step,as he paced the apart
ment was firm and bold, although hurried
and irregular. His features were agitated
with an expression of mingled scorn and
sorrow, and his hand, which bore silver
staff crooked at the upper end, seemed as
well fitted TO grasp the sword as the eros
Ter.
NAY, my good lord = said a young man,
to whom clnng terrified maiden, g. both
of whom seemed deeply interested in the
old mans emotions, 'do not believe that the
Conqueror, haughty and tyrannical as he is
will venture 80 far to outrage the feelings
and opinions of his subjects as to strip your
1ordship of those dignities which you have
worn SO honorably. My father too stands
nigh in the favour of his sovereign, land will
not fail to exert his influence in behalf of
our friend FRIEND he added, looking
with a smile toward the maiden, who deeply
blusl,ed, 80 whom we shall shortly be unit
ed by ties of tenderer and yet stronger na-
turc.'
walter Fitzwalter,' said the prelate, |
doubt not your fathers homer or his friend
ship; but know the blind feudal obedience
WHICH your ylNOTiutH laws CArlCt bOu Il SuU-
iect towards his sovereign. know thar
friendship aud duty. and ilial, and parent
al and conjugal love, have often been Sac
r'.;ced by the vassal, at the command of
his lcige lord. Thou, Walter, neverthe-
less hast Saxon blood in thy veins e. IA Sax
on heart in thy bosom and the sun Which
will most gladden. these old eyes, will be
that which brightens the morning of thy
nuptials will, my child
The maiden blusI,ed again, and the
youth pressed her more closely to his bo-
som. She appeared to be two or three
years younger than her suitor, that is to
say, she had seen perhaps some eighteen
or nineteen summers. Her form was tall
and stately like her father's and although
youth aud bIoom were up u her cheek land
her long auburn tresses fell IN rich ringleis
down her meek, while his locks were
blaHcI,ed with age, and his broad expans-
i've brow was turrowed with deep wrinkles
still their features bore striking resemb-
lance. She was wonderfully fair; perhaps
at the period to which this narrative refers
she might be called p le; for sorrow and
suffering had :ntruded even into the high
places of England, and left its traces upon
her once joynu c untenance. Other kim
dred, some had fallen in the field, some on
the scaffold, and some were cxiles in TO-
reign land while her father, who had
borne the Episcopal staff for some years
with honor 10 himself aud benefit TO his
spiritual flock, was now waiting in expect
alton Of the command Of the Conquerour
10 resign it to some minion Of his own
Her eyes were Of a deep blue, and spark
led brightly even beneath the tears which
streamed from them.
Dearest Father + she exclaimed. sdoub,
not that we shall yet be happy. King
William, although a Norman, knows how
10 respect your virtues and your years
you swore allegiance to him,as soon as you
perceived that resistance to his authority
would only prolong the civil discussions Of
the kingdom without ben, 6 ting the Saxon
cause, and have ever since maintained per-
feet tranquility and obedience in Your do
cess
And did NOT Stigand, and Algeric, and
Agelmare, the same answered the Bish-
OPP; Sand what is their reward And ]
L.. A 4