Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ballad.
Ballad .
THE SUBMERGED CITY . ( l- 'OUNDED ' ON AN OLD HUTCH LEGEND ) . BY F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., Author of "The Noble Sou / , " " Toujnnrs Pcrdrix " God s Flowers , '' £ "V .
Within her stately palace hall , Richberta feasts with bounteous hand Merchants , responsive to her call , And high-born nobles of the land . Endowed beyond her guests with wealth . Richer than burgomaster there . The beauteous maiden , blessed with health , Seemed free from every earthly care .
" Pour forth the wine in lavish flow , Spare not the viands spread to-day , Let all Stavoren ' s merchants know Richberta holds high holiday . " " Hark ! 'tis a knocking at the gate , See who admittance here would ask , None come too early , none too late , To grant each boon an easy task . "
A stranger , clad in Eastern dress , Slowly advanced , and rev'rence made , His hands extended forth to bless , His weary toil sweet rest repaid . Warm was the welcome he received , With luxury the board was spread , Untastedall , the old man grieved—No offering of the Salt and Bread .
Silence awhile—then converse grave—The stranger spoke to list ' ning ears , In measured tones , he slowly gave His chequered life of hopes and fears . Meanwhile , Richberta drawing near , Her vanity at once displays , Her wealth extolled , she longs to hear The willing tribute of his praise .
But all in vain , the maiden ' s smile No sign of wonder can evoke , The melting look , soft Beauty ' s wile , No praise will of her wealth provoke . Sadly the old man bowed his head , Gazed at Richberta ' s flashing eyes , " One thing is wanting , still , " he said , " Of all Earth ' s gifts , the richest prize . "
" Its nature tell , its name unfold , Be it in home or foreign land , It shall be bought by countless gold , Freely bestowed with liberal hand . " Again , and yet again , she sought To bend the old man to her will , Her promises , her bribes were nought , Evasive answers proved his skill .
Untold the secret—' twas in vain The haughty maiden urged her prayer , Absent awhile , she came again—She looked—behold!—a vacant chair . Strict search at once , was her command , ( Success she hoped , but yet she feared , ) Useless—in home or foreign land , The stranger never more appeared .
Richberta , restless , ill at ease , Absorbed in her o ' erweening pride , Where all around combined to please , Felt there was one wish yet denied . Advice from learned men she sought . Divines she questioned , could they tell One thing more precious , was there aught She could not buy , nor others sell .
They answer gave , " they could not name A treasure she did not possess , Wealth , such as hers , was known to fame , Her affluence was limitless ! "
On one fixed purpose , now intent , Her merchant ships sailed on the main ; O ' er land and sea her servants went , Hoping the precious prize to gain . Bound for the east , and distant west . For several years the vessels stored , Her seamen eager , without rest , The marts in foreign climes explored .
The fleet ' s commander then set out His purposed mission to fulfil , With crew experienced , hardy , stout , Fit to encounter every ill .
Ballad.
Fair was the morning when they sailed , Stately the ships which convoy form , Though sultry weather which prevailed , Gave presage of a fearful storm . In heavy masses rolled the clouds , Sudden the tempest's fury came , The lightning flashed amid the shrouds , The darkness lit with sheeted flame .
Onward the mour . tain billows rolled , ,. Wave after wave the deck o ' erflowed , •Stove in the hatches , filled the hold Where ample store of food was stowed . " Lighten the ship , in peril great , Heave the provisions o'er the side ! " Relieved , but in a shattered state , Now , can the ship in safety ride .
The storm abates , in piteous plight , With toil exhausted , weary , worn , Sleepless , they passed the dreadful night . In wistful longings for the morn .
Slowly the dawn illumes the skies , The mocking sun in splendour came , Fierce pangs of hunger , now , arise , Food must support each sinking frame . Alas , but little was there left Of food committed to the main . Of their abundance , now , bereft , Scarce aught remained lifj to sustain .
But e ' en the remnant of their store Was worthless , damaged by the wave ; Far distant from the friendly shore , What leit them , but an ocean grave . From lack of food , amid the crew , The scourge of scurvy now arose , Its ravages more fearful grew , Medicine but little aid bestows .
Now , through the brave commander ' s mind Recurred the old man ' s mystic speech , Its hidden meaning he can find—Affliction will its lesson teach . Not gems , nor gold , at Fortune's call , Not orient pearl from ocean ' s bed—In every clime , esteemed by all , Nature ' s most precious gift is Bread .
At once convinced , his duty plain , Forthwith to northern port he steers , With cargo , then , of golden grain , Soon , at Stavoren he appears . Now to Richberta ' s palace gate , Without delay , his course he bends ; The haughty maiden sat in state , Surrounded by obsequious friends .
" Returned , so soon , from leaving home , Have you my wish fulfilled ' : " she cried ; " If so , right welcome have you come , If not , my favour is denied ' . " " Lady ' , my speedy presence here . Shows I have acted as you willed ; The riddle solved , I now appear—Your anxious wish I have fulfilled . "
"The sufferings of my gallant crew After the storm , " the captain said , " Proved , without doubt , as hunger grew , God's choicest gift to man is Bread . "
Ballad.
" For want of Earth's most simple food , Your banquet raised the old man ' s scorn ; From Baltic port , all sound and good , My vessel brings its freight ot corn . "
" How came the corn ? " —the captain turned At once —• " On the right side , " cried he ; Then she , as her fierce anger burned , " Cast it from left side to the sea . " " Lady , recall your harsh command , In mercy hear the people ' s cry ; Fierce hunger stalks throughout the land ; Oh ! let them not unpitied die . "
" The precious food you would destroy , Will many fainting lives prolong ; If evil deeds your thoughts employ , God will avenge the cruel wrong . " With broken words , and anxious fears , In thronging crowds the people came , Alas I in vain their prajers and tears No pity moved the ruthless dame .
Before their eyes , the store of corn Forthwith , into the sea was cast , In hungry misery , forlorn , The people cursed her as they passed . Seeds of perdilion proved the grain , For , as it lay' in ocean bed , Quickly it giew above the main , But each stalk bore a barren head .
Quicksands sverc tj-. ns held fast and bound , The sprouting ccm . so thick ard rank , With spreading roots , in sandy ground , Before Stavoren forrred a bank . Richberta ' s ships are evil sped , No more in harbour safely ride ; Her barques are wrecked , her riches fled , Want comes apace with giant stride .
For Nemesis , with frowning face , Follows on crime with stealthy tread - In abject poverty ' s disgrace , Richberta begged her daily bread . The mighty ocean , driven back , Pent up , restrained from former shore , Renewed w ' nh fury its attack , Onward its surging billows bore .
At last , one night , a dreadful storm Burst through the barriers of sand . The waves of awful power and form , Resistless , overflowed the land .
Vain are all efforts , unrepressed , Its streets the furious waters lave —• AM is submerged , the people rest For ever , in a watery grave . The Zuider-Zee , in ample flood , Rolls o'er the city known to fame , Where , once , Stavoren proudly stood , Nought is now left , but empty name I
62 , Lancaster Road , Notting Hill , W .
Ad04403
F^Bl\/ACT ___M^mVII^^I mJSPII\JKJ1 »P^lTypewriter Trade Mark ( Itegd . ) ^J^~ HASNORIBBON. WRITES THREE TIMES AS FAST AS THE PEN . MAKES SEVERAL COPIES AT ONE OPERATION . THE No . 4 IS THE LATEST AND BEST MACHINEAWARDEDTENGOLDMEDALS. THEMl'TYPEWRITERCo,Ltd.,50,HolbornViaduct,London,E.C. PARIS , 30 , Boulevard des Italieni . MANCHESTER , 3 , DeanspUe . BIRMINGHAM , 73 , Temple Row . gt LIVERPOOL 22 a , North John St . LEEDS , 2 ! , New Station St . GLASGOW , 112 , Saint Vincent St . BELFAST , 0 , R ° xeJ »» »
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ballad.
Ballad .
THE SUBMERGED CITY . ( l- 'OUNDED ' ON AN OLD HUTCH LEGEND ) . BY F . W . DRIVER , M . A ., Author of "The Noble Sou / , " " Toujnnrs Pcrdrix " God s Flowers , '' £ "V .
Within her stately palace hall , Richberta feasts with bounteous hand Merchants , responsive to her call , And high-born nobles of the land . Endowed beyond her guests with wealth . Richer than burgomaster there . The beauteous maiden , blessed with health , Seemed free from every earthly care .
" Pour forth the wine in lavish flow , Spare not the viands spread to-day , Let all Stavoren ' s merchants know Richberta holds high holiday . " " Hark ! 'tis a knocking at the gate , See who admittance here would ask , None come too early , none too late , To grant each boon an easy task . "
A stranger , clad in Eastern dress , Slowly advanced , and rev'rence made , His hands extended forth to bless , His weary toil sweet rest repaid . Warm was the welcome he received , With luxury the board was spread , Untastedall , the old man grieved—No offering of the Salt and Bread .
Silence awhile—then converse grave—The stranger spoke to list ' ning ears , In measured tones , he slowly gave His chequered life of hopes and fears . Meanwhile , Richberta drawing near , Her vanity at once displays , Her wealth extolled , she longs to hear The willing tribute of his praise .
But all in vain , the maiden ' s smile No sign of wonder can evoke , The melting look , soft Beauty ' s wile , No praise will of her wealth provoke . Sadly the old man bowed his head , Gazed at Richberta ' s flashing eyes , " One thing is wanting , still , " he said , " Of all Earth ' s gifts , the richest prize . "
" Its nature tell , its name unfold , Be it in home or foreign land , It shall be bought by countless gold , Freely bestowed with liberal hand . " Again , and yet again , she sought To bend the old man to her will , Her promises , her bribes were nought , Evasive answers proved his skill .
Untold the secret—' twas in vain The haughty maiden urged her prayer , Absent awhile , she came again—She looked—behold!—a vacant chair . Strict search at once , was her command , ( Success she hoped , but yet she feared , ) Useless—in home or foreign land , The stranger never more appeared .
Richberta , restless , ill at ease , Absorbed in her o ' erweening pride , Where all around combined to please , Felt there was one wish yet denied . Advice from learned men she sought . Divines she questioned , could they tell One thing more precious , was there aught She could not buy , nor others sell .
They answer gave , " they could not name A treasure she did not possess , Wealth , such as hers , was known to fame , Her affluence was limitless ! "
On one fixed purpose , now intent , Her merchant ships sailed on the main ; O ' er land and sea her servants went , Hoping the precious prize to gain . Bound for the east , and distant west . For several years the vessels stored , Her seamen eager , without rest , The marts in foreign climes explored .
The fleet ' s commander then set out His purposed mission to fulfil , With crew experienced , hardy , stout , Fit to encounter every ill .
Ballad.
Fair was the morning when they sailed , Stately the ships which convoy form , Though sultry weather which prevailed , Gave presage of a fearful storm . In heavy masses rolled the clouds , Sudden the tempest's fury came , The lightning flashed amid the shrouds , The darkness lit with sheeted flame .
Onward the mour . tain billows rolled , ,. Wave after wave the deck o ' erflowed , •Stove in the hatches , filled the hold Where ample store of food was stowed . " Lighten the ship , in peril great , Heave the provisions o'er the side ! " Relieved , but in a shattered state , Now , can the ship in safety ride .
The storm abates , in piteous plight , With toil exhausted , weary , worn , Sleepless , they passed the dreadful night . In wistful longings for the morn .
Slowly the dawn illumes the skies , The mocking sun in splendour came , Fierce pangs of hunger , now , arise , Food must support each sinking frame . Alas , but little was there left Of food committed to the main . Of their abundance , now , bereft , Scarce aught remained lifj to sustain .
But e ' en the remnant of their store Was worthless , damaged by the wave ; Far distant from the friendly shore , What leit them , but an ocean grave . From lack of food , amid the crew , The scourge of scurvy now arose , Its ravages more fearful grew , Medicine but little aid bestows .
Now , through the brave commander ' s mind Recurred the old man ' s mystic speech , Its hidden meaning he can find—Affliction will its lesson teach . Not gems , nor gold , at Fortune's call , Not orient pearl from ocean ' s bed—In every clime , esteemed by all , Nature ' s most precious gift is Bread .
At once convinced , his duty plain , Forthwith to northern port he steers , With cargo , then , of golden grain , Soon , at Stavoren he appears . Now to Richberta ' s palace gate , Without delay , his course he bends ; The haughty maiden sat in state , Surrounded by obsequious friends .
" Returned , so soon , from leaving home , Have you my wish fulfilled ' : " she cried ; " If so , right welcome have you come , If not , my favour is denied ' . " " Lady ' , my speedy presence here . Shows I have acted as you willed ; The riddle solved , I now appear—Your anxious wish I have fulfilled . "
"The sufferings of my gallant crew After the storm , " the captain said , " Proved , without doubt , as hunger grew , God's choicest gift to man is Bread . "
Ballad.
" For want of Earth's most simple food , Your banquet raised the old man ' s scorn ; From Baltic port , all sound and good , My vessel brings its freight ot corn . "
" How came the corn ? " —the captain turned At once —• " On the right side , " cried he ; Then she , as her fierce anger burned , " Cast it from left side to the sea . " " Lady , recall your harsh command , In mercy hear the people ' s cry ; Fierce hunger stalks throughout the land ; Oh ! let them not unpitied die . "
" The precious food you would destroy , Will many fainting lives prolong ; If evil deeds your thoughts employ , God will avenge the cruel wrong . " With broken words , and anxious fears , In thronging crowds the people came , Alas I in vain their prajers and tears No pity moved the ruthless dame .
Before their eyes , the store of corn Forthwith , into the sea was cast , In hungry misery , forlorn , The people cursed her as they passed . Seeds of perdilion proved the grain , For , as it lay' in ocean bed , Quickly it giew above the main , But each stalk bore a barren head .
Quicksands sverc tj-. ns held fast and bound , The sprouting ccm . so thick ard rank , With spreading roots , in sandy ground , Before Stavoren forrred a bank . Richberta ' s ships are evil sped , No more in harbour safely ride ; Her barques are wrecked , her riches fled , Want comes apace with giant stride .
For Nemesis , with frowning face , Follows on crime with stealthy tread - In abject poverty ' s disgrace , Richberta begged her daily bread . The mighty ocean , driven back , Pent up , restrained from former shore , Renewed w ' nh fury its attack , Onward its surging billows bore .
At last , one night , a dreadful storm Burst through the barriers of sand . The waves of awful power and form , Resistless , overflowed the land .
Vain are all efforts , unrepressed , Its streets the furious waters lave —• AM is submerged , the people rest For ever , in a watery grave . The Zuider-Zee , in ample flood , Rolls o'er the city known to fame , Where , once , Stavoren proudly stood , Nought is now left , but empty name I
62 , Lancaster Road , Notting Hill , W .
Ad04403
F^Bl\/ACT ___M^mVII^^I mJSPII\JKJ1 »P^lTypewriter Trade Mark ( Itegd . ) ^J^~ HASNORIBBON. WRITES THREE TIMES AS FAST AS THE PEN . MAKES SEVERAL COPIES AT ONE OPERATION . THE No . 4 IS THE LATEST AND BEST MACHINEAWARDEDTENGOLDMEDALS. THEMl'TYPEWRITERCo,Ltd.,50,HolbornViaduct,London,E.C. PARIS , 30 , Boulevard des Italieni . MANCHESTER , 3 , DeanspUe . BIRMINGHAM , 73 , Temple Row . gt LIVERPOOL 22 a , North John St . LEEDS , 2 ! , New Station St . GLASGOW , 112 , Saint Vincent St . BELFAST , 0 , R ° xeJ »» »