The Horn Of Egremont Castle

Composed 1806.--Published 1807

[A Tradition transferred from the ancient mansion of Hutton John, the seat of the Huddlestones, to Egremont Castle.--I. F.]

In 1815 this poem was placed among those "of the Imagination"; in 1845 it was transferred to the class of "Miscellaneous Poems."--ED.

Ere the Brothers through the gateway Issued forth with old and young, To the Horn Sir Eustace pointed Which for ages there had hung. Horn it was which none could sound, No one upon living ground, Save He who came as rightful Heir To Egremont's Domains and Castle fair.

Heirs from times of earliest record Had the House of Lucie born, Who of right had held the Lordship Claimed by proof upon the Horn: Each at the appointed hour Tried the Horn,--it owned his power; He was acknowledged: and the blast, Which good Sir Eustace sounded, was the last.

With his lance Sir Eustace pointed, And to Hubert thus said he, "What I speak this Horn shall witness For thy better memory. Hear, then, and neglect me not! At this time, and on this spot, The words are uttered from my heart, As my last earnest prayer ere we depart.

"On good service we are going Life to risk by sea and land, In which course if Christ our Saviour Do my sinful soul demand, Hither come thou back straightway, Hubert, if alive that day; Return, and sound the Horn, that we May have a living House still left in thee!"

"Fear not," quickly answered Hubert; "As I am thy Father's son, What thou askest, noble Brother, With God's favour shall be done." So were both right well content: Forth they from the Castle went, And at the head of their Array To Palestine the Brothers took their way.

Side by side they fought (the Lucies Were a line for valour famed) And where'er their strokes alighted, There the Saracens were tamed. Whence, then, could it come--the thought-- By what evil spirit brought? Oh! can a brave Man wish to take His Brother's life, for Lands' and Castle's sake?

"Sir!" the Ruffians said to Hubert, "Deep he lies in Jordan flood." Stricken by this ill assurance, Pale and trembling Hubert stood. "Take your earnings."--Oh! that I Could have seen my Brother die! It was a pang that vexed him then; And oft returned, again, and yet again.

Months passed on, and no Sir Eustace! Nor of him were tidings heard. Wherefore, bold as day, the Murderer Back again to England steered. To his Castle Hubert sped; Nothing has he now to dread. But silent and by stealth he came, And at an hour which nobody could name.

None could tell if it were night-time, Night or day, at even or morn; No one's eye had seen him enter, No one's ear had heard the Horn. But bold Hubert lives in glee: Months and years went smilingly; With plenty was his table spread; And bright the Lady is who shares his bed.

Likewise he had sons and daughters; And, as good men do, he sate At his board by these surrounded, Flourishing in fair estate. And while thus in open day Once he sate, as old books say, A blast was uttered from the Horn, Where by the Castle-gate it hung forlorn.

'Tis the breath of good Sir Eustace! He is come to claim his right: Ancient castle, woods, and mountains Hear the challenge with delight. Hubert! though the blast be blown He is helpless and alone: Thou hast a dungeon, speak the word! And there he may be lodged, and thou be Lord.

Speak!--astounded Hubert cannot; And, if power to speak he had, All are daunted, all the household Smitten to the heart, and sad. 'Tis Sir Eustace; if it be Living man, it must be he! Thus Hubert thought in his dismay, And by a postern-gate he slunk away.

Long, and long was he unheard of: To his Brother then he came, Made confession, asked forgiveness, Asked it by a brother's name, And by all the saints in heaven; And of Eustace was forgiven: Then in a convent went to hide His melancholy head, and there he died.

But Sir Eustace, whom good angels Had preserved from murderers' hands, And from Pagan chains had rescued, Lived with honour on his lands. Sons he had, saw sons of theirs: And through ages, heirs of heirs, A long posterity renowned, Sounded the Horn which they alone could sound.

The following note is appended to this poem in the edition of 1807, and in those of 1836 to 1850:--

"This Story is a Cumberland tradition; I have heard it also related of the Hall of Hutton John, an antient residence of the Huddlestones, in a sequestered Valley upon the River Dacor."

Egremont Castle, to which this Cumberland tradition was transferred, is close to the town of Egremont, an ancient borough on the river Ehen, not far from St. Bees. The castle was founded about the beginning of the twelfth century, by William, brother of Ranulph de Meschines, who bestowed on William the whole of the extensive barony of Copeland. The gateway of the castle is vaulted with semi-circular arches, and defended by a strong tower. Westward from the castle area is an ascent to three narrow gates, standing in a line, and close together. These communicated with the outworks, each being defended by a portcullis. Beyond the gates is an artificial mound, seventy-eight feet above the moat; and on this stood an ancient circular tower. (See a description of the castle in Britton and Brayley's Cumberland.) The river Dacor, or Dacre, referred to in Wordsworth's note, joins the Emont a short way below Ullswater; and the hall of Hutton John, which in the reign of Edward III. belonged to the barony of Graystock, passed in the time of Elizabeth to the Huddlestones. The famous Catholic father, John Huddlestone, chaplain to Charles II. and James II., was of this family.

In the edition of 1815, there is the following footnote to the title of the poem:--"This Poem and the Ballad which follows it" (it was that of Goody Blake and Harry Gill), "as they rather refer to the imagination than are produced by it, would not have been placed here" (i.e. among the "Poems of the Imagination"), "but to avoid a needless multiplication of the Classes."

The text of 1807 underwent no change until 1845. But--as is shown by the notes in the late Lord Coleridge's copy of the edition of 1836--the alterations subsequently adopted in 1845 were made in the interval between these years.--ED.

VARIANTS:

C. and 1845.

When the Brothers reach'd the gateway, Eustace pointed with his lance To the Horn which there was hanging; Horn of the inheritance. 1807.

When the Brothers reached the gateway, With their followers old and young, To the Horn Sir Eustace pointed That for ages there had hung. C.

C. and 1845.

Heirs from ages without record 1807.

C. and 1845.

Who of right had claim'd the Lordship By the proof upon the Horn: 1807.

... held ... Claimed by proof ... C.

C. and 1845.

From the Castle forth they went. 1807.

Italics were first used in 1815.

1845.

He has nothing ... 1807.

C. and 1845.

For the sound was heard by no one Of the proclamation-horn. 1807.

1807.

... slipped away. MS.