The following poem was published in the SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER in Richmond, Virginia, in December 1854. (Volume XX, No.12). It was published monthly at three dollars per annum. It refers to Burgham's Wood. What was Burgham's Wood? Where was it? Can you solve the mystery?
A Ballard; by E. L. Hines
It was the eve of a summer's day,
When the Lady Clara stood
Beside the cross of granite gray,
In Burgham's ancient wood.
Her merry laugh rang through the grove,
And jestingly she spoke;
For knights were there who told of love
Beneath the trysting oak:
"Faith, gentlemen, 'tis scarcely fair
A maiden thus to press;
There'll yet be time by many a year,
Ere love my thoughts possess.
"Good lack, my lords, how should I choose
Such chevaliers between-
Either to take, and one refuse,
Were pitiable, I ween."
"Now by our Lady," quoth De Vere,
His hand upon his sword-
"'Twere a good thing to end it here,
Nor waste one farther word."
"Aye! so it were," bold Lacy cried:
"De Vere you speak in sooth:
Our swords ere this in jset were tried-
This time we fight in truth!"
Then at the cross in prayer they knelt,
And the maiden laughing stood;
Beauty's young power her bosom felt,
And she spoke in merry mood:
"I'm heoress of a baron bold,
Who never turned in fight-
I've heard of war by minstrels told-
I long to know by sight.
"I'm but a maiden; yet my race
Shall keep its knightly name:
The bravest wins a lady's grace,
And both, undying fame."
And there by Burgham's holy cross,
In Burgham's wood so old,
Lord Lacy his young life has lost-
Lord Lacy's heart is cold.
Beside Lord Lacey's bleeding corpse,
De Vere in anguish kneels,
Rememb'ring how on far-off shore,
Upon the Paynim fields,
Together they had charged in fight
Upon the Moslem band;
Together won the spurs of knight
And girded knightly brand.
"Oh, God! 'twas fearful to behold,
The warrior stern and strong
Weeping, and as he wept grow old
In consciousness of wrong.
