The Poetical Works of Anne Radcliffe Author:Ann Ward Radcliffe Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CANTO VI. THE EVENING AFTER THE BATTLE. Scene—Within The Town And Abbey Of St. Alban's. i. Though now, within St. Alban's wall, Was hushed the tur... more »moil of the day, The crash of arms, the Chieftain's call, The onset shout, the clarion's bray, The stillness there was scarce less dread Of those, who, looking on the dead, In voice suppressed and trembling spake, As if they feared the very sound, Or, that it might disturb, or wake The victims stretched around. Yet, sometimes, 'mid this calm of fear, Rose sudden cries of woe most drear For friend or kinsman found. But, though the slain filled all the ground, No brother yet dared brother move, Or close his eyes with pious love ; And, though amid that ghastly band Lay chiefs and nobles of the land, Yet might no man his pity prove; Nor herald take his fearful course, To know and name the new-made corpse. Earl Warwick ruled that woeful hour. What were compassion 'gainst his power ? How many, fallen upon that heap, Warm and alive, but succourless, Had there unnoticed found the sleep His will might never more distress ! While he disputed, planned, arranged Ambition's little dream of fame, Or with his peers, or knights, exchanged Some narrow points of rival claim. And thus it went till even-tide ; And then the mitred fathers' cry, That those who had, on each side, died, Should rest with equal honours here, Was coldly granted; while a tear Of saddest pity filled his eye, Who pleaded for such ministry. The monks, too, asked an armed band Might round their Abbey portals stand, And yet another guard their way, When they their pious dues should pay, And step amid th' unhallowed troop, Who o'er the dead and dying stoop. in. Then went the heralds on their round, Proclaiming forth th...« less