Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VII. Descriptive: Narrative. 1904. | | | | Descriptive Poems: III. Places | | “O, the pleasant days of old!” | | Frances Browne (1816–1879) |
| | | O, THE PLEASANT days of old, which so often people praise! | |
| True, they wanted all the luxuries that grace our modern days: | |
| Bare floors were strewed with rushes, the walls let in the cold; | |
| O, how they must have shivered in those pleasant days of old! | |
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| O, those ancient lords of old, how magnificent they were! | 5 |
| They threw down and imprisoned kings,—to thwart them who might dare? | |
| They ruled their serfs right sternly; they took from Jews their gold,— | |
| Above both law and equity were those great lords of old! | |
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| O, the gallant knights of old, for their valor so renowned! | |
| With sword and lance and armor strong they scoured the country round; | 10 |
| And whenever aught to tempt them they met by wood or wold, | |
| By right of sword they seized the prize,—those gallant knights of old! | |
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| O, the gentle dames of old! who, quite free from fear or pain, | |
| Could gaze on joust and tournament, and see their champion slain; | |
| They lived on good beefsteaks and ale, which made them strong and bold,— | 15 |
| O, more like men than women were those gentle dames of old! | |
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| O, those mighty towers of old! with their turrets, moat, and keep, | |
| Their battlements and bastions, their dungeons dark and deep. | |
| Full many a baron held his court within the castle hold; | |
| And many a captive languished there, in those strong towers of old. | 20 |
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| O, the troubadours of old! with the gentle minstrelsie | |
| Of hope and joy, or deep despair, whiche’er their lot might be; | |
| For years they served their ladye-loves ere they their passions told,— | |
| O, wondrous patience must have had those troubadours of old! | |
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| O, those blessèd times of old, with their chivalry and state! | 25 |
| I love to read their chronicles, which such brave deeds relate; | |
| I love to sing their ancient rhymes, to hear their legends told,— | |
| But, Heaven be thanked! I lived not in those blessèd times of old! | | | | |
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