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POEMS OF SUSSEX PLACES. |
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Now many a person had been fairly puzzled, By such assailants and completely muzzled ; Baker, however, was not dashed with ease— But proved he acted after their own system, And with small ceremony soon dismissed 'em, Putting these words into their ears like fleas : " If I do have a blow, well, where's the oddity ? I merely do as other tradesmen do, You sir—and you—and you ! I'm only puffing off my own commodity."
Lord Thurlow's sonnet, though entitled " Hastings," seems to be more appropriately placed with the verses relating to Battle.
O moon, that shinest on this heathy wild, And light'st the hill of Hastings with thy ray, How am I with thy sad delight beguiled, How hold with fond imagination play !
By thy broad taper I call up the time When Harold on the bleeding verdure lay, Though great in glory, over stained with crime, And fallen by his fate from kingly sway !
On bleeding knights, and on war-broken arms, Torn banners, and the dying steed you shone, When this fair England and her peerless charms, And all but honor, to the foe were gone !
Here died the king, whom his brave subjects choose, But dying, lay amid his Norman foes.
Beachy Head. Charlotte Smith has described this bold headland where the South Downs end in the sea. |
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