New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-18
Prom The Atlantic Cor JAY.
THE ALARM-BELL or AIhI'
RY HENRY W. LoNGFELJOw.

BY HENRY W. LONGFELLow.
AtAtri In AhruzzO, a small town
Ofaucicnt Roman date, hut scant renown,
one Of those little places that have run
Half IN the hill. beneath blazing sun,
And then sat down 20 rest, as n 10 say,
e climb no further upward come what may
The Re Giovanni, now unknown 10 fame,
So many mouarchs since have borne The name
Had great bell hung IN the markctplace
Beneath a roof, projecting some small space
By wav Of shelter from the sun and rain.
Then rode hc through the streets with all his train
And. with the blast Of trumpets loud ana long,
Made proclamation. that whenever wrong
Was done 90 any man, lac should but ring
Tic great bell ina the square, and he, the KING
Would cause TIE syndic 90 decide thereon
Such was the proclamation " King John
How happIy tine days in AtTi sped,
What vroucs were rightcd, need not mere Ne sdiu'
suf,i,e Il that as all things must decay
The hempcn rope at length was worn away.
Unravclied al the end and strand 10y strand
Ioo,sncd and wasted iu the ringers hand,
Pill one, who noted this in passing by,
uend.d the rope with braids 81 briony,
e. That the leaves and teudrils of the vine
Hung ..he a yotive garland at "a shrine.
By chance il happened that in Atri dwclt
A knight. with spur on heel and sword in belt
Who loved 70 hunt the wild-hoar in the woods
Who loved his falcons with their crimson hoods,
Who loved his hounds and horses, and all sports
And II. die.lities of camps and courts;
Loved. or had loved them; for az last, grown OIu'
He only passion was the love Of gold.
He sold ms horses. sold his hawks and hounds,
Rented ms vineyards and ms garden-TonndS'
Kent but one steed, his fdNorlte steed OF al,
To starye and shiver in naked staH'
And. day by day, sat broodinZ IN his CHAR
Deyisiuc plans how lest TO hoard ana pare
Atl,uath be said: "what is the use OF need
To keep at my own cost this lazy stecd,
Eating hi- head on in my stables here,
When rents are low aud provendcr IL deari
let him 90 feed upon the public ways;
want HIM only Tor the hohdays.'
So the OH stced was turned into the heat
Otthc long. lonely. silent, shadowiess street.
And wandered in suburban lanes forlorn,
Barked at boy dogs, and torn by bEier and thorn.
one afternoon as in that sultry cline
II is the custom in the Summertime,
with b0.tcd doors, and windOw-shutters closed,
The inhabitants OF Atm slept or dozed;
when suddenly upon their senses fell
The loud alarum Of the accusing bell!
The syudic started from his sweet repose,
Turned on li, couch and listened, and then rose
And dorred his robes. and with reluctant pace,
Went painting forth into the Inarketpace,
Where the great bell upon it, cross-bealn swung,
Reiteratnc with persistent tongue,
In half-articulate jargOn, the old song:
u Some one hath done a wrong, hath done wrong"
But ere he reached the belfry's light arcade.
He saw, or thought ne saw, beneath its shade,
No shape of human form, of woman born,
But poor steed detected and forlorn,
Who with uplfted head and eager eye
Was Juggling at the vines Of briony.
" Domeneddio!" cried the syndic straight
This Is the Knight Of Aui's steed OF state:
He calls for Justice, being sore distressed,
And pleads his cause a. loudly a. the best"
Meanwhile from street and lane a noisy crowd
Had rolled together, like a summer cloud,
And told the story Of the wrctched beast
In five-and twenty different ways at least,
With much gesticulatiOn and appeal
To heatlen gods, IN their excessive zeal
The knight was called and questioned: in reply
Did not confess the fact, did not deny;
Treated the matter as pleasant jest,
And set AZ naught the syudc and the rest,
Maintaining in an angry underone,
That he should do what pleased him with his own.
And thercupon the syndic gravely read
The proclamation Of the King; then said;
" Pride pocfh forth on horseback grand and gay,
But cometh back ON foot, and begs its way;
Fame is the perfume Of heroic deeds,
or flowers Of chvalry and not Of weeds!
These are familiar proverbs; hut fear
They never yet have reached your klightly ear.
What fair rcuowu, what honor, what repute
Can come 10 YOU from starving this poor butei
He who serves well aud speaks not merits more
Than they who camor loudest at the door.
Therefore the law DEGREES. that as this stecd
Served you in youth. hcncetorth you shall take heed
To comfort his old age, and to provide
Shelter In stall, and food and field beside"
The Knight withdrew abashcd The people all
Led home the stced in triumph TO his stan.
The King heard and approved. and laughed in gee,
And cried aloud: Right wei it pleaseth me!
Church-hclls at best hut ring MS TO the door;
But 40 not in To mass; my bell doth more:
It comcth into court and pleads tie cause
or creature, dumb and unknown to the laws;
And th- shall make in every Christian CLINE,
The lei Of Atri famous for all time"