Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895.
S. Frances HarrisonChateau Papineau
I
T
Perched on the cliff above our bark,
Burn in the western evening glow.
Consumes them still with its fever spark,
The red tiled towers of the old Château!
And how the mullioned windows—mark!
Burn in the western evening glow!
They flame from out the distant park,
The red tiled towers of the old Château.
Far off they saw the patriot’s ark
Burn in the western evening glow.
As, blazing against the pine trees dark,
The red tiled towers of the old Château
Burn in the western evening glow!
II
Within this charméd cool retreat
Where bounty dwelt and beauty waits,
The Old World and the New World meet.
Enter,—passing the great gray gates,
Within this charméd cool retreat.
Where vulgar noise ne’er penetrates,
The Old World and the New World meet.
Tell us that France predominates
Within this charméd cool retreat,
Of summer pulse that enervates:
The Old World and the New World meet
Enter! And note, how clear all states
That, in this charméd cool retreat,
The Old World and the New World meet.
Encircling us with leafy tide,
Close clustering in green branch and bough.
Was never seen, so fresh, so wide.
The garden’s past, ’t is forest now,
Should feudal leaven lurk and hide
Close clustering in green branch and bough?
Of yonder open glade is spied;
The garden’s past, ’t is forest now,
The green with glamor undenied,
Close clustering in green branch and bough.
We pause and ponder; turn aside;
The garden’s past, ’t is forest now,
Close clustering in green branch and bough.
“Monseigneur” up in his tarnished frame,
A long low terrace, half sun, half shade;
Fauteuil and sofa, a flickering flame,
A glint of steel, a gleam of brocade;
Later—some years—as a portly dame,
The long low terrace, half sun, half shade,
And play at ombre, their favorite game!
The glint of steel, the gleam of brocade,
Paceth a spectral peacock tame
The long low terrace, half sun, half shade.
Where daylight now we see proclaim
The glint of steel, the gleam of brocade,
The long low terrace, half sun, half shade!
The lichened vault, the massive keep,
The shaded walks, the shadowy hall,
The senses bathed in beauty sleep,—
The spell of age is over all!
Be sometimes heard to trail and sweep
The shaded walks, the shadowy hall.
Adown the stair be heard to creep,—
The spell of age is over all.
Doth often tread this terrace steep,
Those shaded walks, this shadowy hall
Musing, the wall we lightly leap.
The spell of Age is over all!
The shaded walks—the shadowy hall.