Classic Poem

They light the beacon fires the hills around.
All eyes are eager bent
Across the sea,
To cheer the night, a hundred voices blent
To chase the gloomy hours with mirthful glee;
Till shouts of "ship ahoy!" made every heart rebound.

* * * * * *

And now for many days round Ragnor's Towers,
Life flowed in mirth away.
"Let feast and song,"
Sir Harold said, "have free unbounded sway;
For grief and gloom have lorded here too long.
Let joy now rule the day and strew her path with flowers!"

And yet a year, the joy-bells ring again;
For sons are born to sires
Of knightly fame.
Once more the swains, light up the beacon fires;
Old Hastyngs flashed to Normanhurst the flame;
For Harold had to Eric given Ruth's hand and Ralph's domain.