Rossetti Archive Textual Transcription
Document Title: Once a Week, Volume 2
Author: Bradbury and Evans (publisher)
Date of publication: 1859 Dec - 1860 June
Publisher: Bradbury & Evans
Printer: Bradley and Evans
Volume: 2 (first series)
The
full Rossetti Archive record for this transcribed document is available.
Transcription Gap: pages 1-44 (not by DGR)
Transcription Gap: pages 45-65 (not by DGR)
page: 66
Transcription Gap: prose passage at top of page (not by DGR)
Note: In the column to the left of the poem, there is an etching by H.K.
Browne, depicting lancers on horseback, riding and herding cattle
towards a hill-top city.
- To horse! For who would idly bide,
- With a moon so round and clear?
- 'Twill merrier be to-night to ride
- Than hungry-eyed sit here.
- “The board is bare,” my lady pleads,
- And shall we fast perforce?
- Never, while herd in England feeds,
- And Harden owns a horse.
- What though in our last border fray
-
10We lost a cousin brave?
- As sound a sleep is his, I say,
- As comes to churchyard grave.
- Rather than toss on couch of pain,
- Sinking by slow degree,
- Who would not fall on starlit plain,
- Or 'neath the greenwood tree?
- The thrall of peace is all I fear;
- No battle doom I dread;
- There hath not died this many a year
-
20A chief of Scott in bed.
- To horse! and use to-night, my friends,
- The moonlight as you may,
- Till English valleys make amends
- For our poor cheer to-day.
D. G. R.
Transcription Gap: remainder of page (not by DGR)
Transcription Gap: pages 67-622 (not by DGR)
Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Copyright: Digital images courtesy of University of Virginia Special
Collections