Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, CHATEAU PAPINEAU, by SUSAN FRANCES HARRISON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

CHATEAU PAPINEAU, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The red-tiled towers of the old chateau
Last Line: The shaded walks -- the shadowy hall.
Alternate Author Name(s): Seranus; Frances, Susan
Subject(s): Houses; Middle Ages; Medieval History; Medieval Civilization; Medieval Literature


(AFLOAT.)
I.
THE red-tiled towers of the old Chateau,
Perched on the cliff above our bark,
Burn in the western evening glow.
The fiery spirit of Papineau
Consumes them still with its fever spark,
The red-tiled towers of the old Chateau!
Drift by and mark how bright they show,
And how the mullioned windows -- mark!
Burn in the western evening glow!
Drift down, or up, where'er you go,
They flame from out the distant park,
The red-tiled towers of the old Chateau.
So was it once with friend, with foe;
Far off they saw the patriot's ark
Burn in the western evening glow.
Think of him now! One thought bestow,
As, blazing against the pine trees dark,
The red-tiled towers of the old Chateau
Burn in the western evening glow!
(ASHORE.)
II.
Within this charmed cool retreat
Where bounty dwelt and beauty waits,
The Old World and the New World meet.
Quitting the straggling village street,
Enter, -- passing the great gray gates,
Within this charmed cool retreat.
Where thrives a garden, ancient, neat,
Where vulgar noise ne'er penetrates,
The Old World and the New World meet.
For mouldering vault and carven seat
Tell us that France predominates
Within this charmed cool retreat,
Though Canada be felt in beat
Of summer pulse that enervates:
The Old World and the New World meet
In dial, arbor, tropic heat.
Enter! And note, how clear all states
That, in this charmed cool retreat,
The Old World and the New World meet.
III.
The garden's past. 'T is forest now
Encircling us with leafy tide,
Close clustering in green branch and bough.
So beautiful a wood, we vow,
Was never seen, so fresh, so wide.
The garden's past, 't is forest now,
'T is more, 't is Canada, and how
Should feudal leaven lurk and hide
Close clustering in green branch and bough?
Quaintly the dial on the brow
Of yonder open glade is spied;
The garden's past, 't is forest now,
Yet doth the dial straight endow
The green with glamour undenied,
Close clustering in green branch and bough.
Such relics who would disallow?
We pause and ponder; turn aside;
The garden's past, 't is forest now,
Close clustering in green branch and bough.
IV.
The glint of steel, the gleam of brocade,
"Monseigneur" up in his tarnished frame,
A long low terrace, half sun, half shade;
Tapestry, dusty, dim, and frayed,
Fauteuil and sofa, a flickering flame,
A glint of steel, a gleam of brocade;
"Mdme." on the wall as a roguish maid,
Later - -some years -- as a portly dame,
The long low terrace, half sun, half shade,
Where " Mdme.'s "ghost and "Monsieur's" parade
And play at ombre, their favorite game!
The glint of steel, the gleam of brocade,
Hang over hall and balustrade.
Paceth a spectral peacock tame
The long low terrace, half sun, half shade.
Waketh a nightly serenade
Where daylight now we see proclaim
The glint of steel, the gleam of brocade,
The long low terrace, half sun, half shade!
V.
The spell of Age is over all,
The lichened vault, the massive keep,
The shaded walks, the shadowy hall,
And mediaeval mists enthrall
The senses bathed in beauty sleep, --
The spell of age is over all!
No marvel if a silken shawl
Be sometimes heard to trail and sweep
The shaded walks, the shadowy hall.
No marvel if a light footfall
Adown the stair be heard to creep, --
The spell of age is over all.
A foot - -we muse -- both arched and small,
Doth often tread this terrace steep,
Those shaded walks, this shadowy hall --
A foot as white as trilliums tall --
Musing, the wall we lightly leap.
The spell of Age is over all!
The shaded walks -- the shadowy hall.




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