Nay, never ask this week, fair lord,
Where they are gone, nor yet this year,
Except with this for an overword—
But where are the snows of yesteryear?
SONG OF THE WESTERN MEN.
BY ROBERT STEPHEN HAWKER.
Mr. Hawker was a clergyman, born at Plymouth, England, in 1804, and died there in 1875. He was educated at Oxford and became a noted figure in the church. He was a stalwart and heroic character. In 1834 he became vicar of a lonely parish on the Cornwall coast. His “Echoes From Old Cornwall” appeared in 1845; “Cornish Ballads” in 1869. Shortly before his death he joined the Roman Catholic Church.
A good sword and a trusty hand!
And merry heart and true!
King James’ men shall understand
What Cornish lads can do.
And have they fixed the where and when?
And shall Trelawney die?
Here’s twenty thousand Cornish men
Will know the reason why!
Out spake their Captain brave and bold,
A merry wight was he;
“If London Tower were Michael’s hold,
We’ll set Trelawney free!
“We’ll cross the Tamar, land to land,
The Severn is no stay;
With ‘one and all’ and hand in hand,
And who shall bid us nay?
“And when we come to London Wall,
A pleasant sight to view,
Come forth! Come forth, ye cowards all,
Here’s men as good as you!
“Trelawney he’s in keep and hold,
Trelawney he may die;
But here’s twenty thousand Cornish bold,
Will know the reason why!”