Classic Poem

I.

There was freedom in the forest;
There was plenty on the plain;
Lusty peasants, noble heroes,
In the time of Charlemagne:
Right was right, and wrong was evil;
Truth was never then too plain;
All the heart came forth in music,
In the time of Charlemagne.

II.

Every man was free to follow
Bird, or wild beast to its den;
Every man maintained his quarrel
With the sword and not the pen:
Manly thoughts and simple habits
Brought us health, and banished pain:
We have changed, — (for worse or better?)
Since the time of Charlemagne.

III.

Beauty won her bloom from Nature;
Wives were constant, maidens true;
Men were bold, strong, clear, unbending,
As the brave bright steel they drew.
None did rise but by his merit;
None did sell his soul for gain;
Words did never hide man's meaning,
In the time of Charlemagne.

IV.

What a king! He fought, and vanguished
Lombard, Saracen, Saxon, still
Ruling every race he conquered
With a deep consummate skill.
Once, alone, false Fortune checked him, —
Once, on Roncesvalles' plain:
Save that day, all else was cloudless
Through the time of Charlemagne.

V.

But — he died! and he was buried
In his tomb of sculptured stone;
And they robed and placed his body
Upright on his golden throne:
With his sword, and with the Bible
Which through life he did maintain,
All strewn o'er with gems and spices,
Sate the dead king Charlemagne!

VI.

Since his time, the world is altered:
Yet, — let's hope to see, again,
All the sword's old valour, mingled
With the wisdom of the pen:
Till those days shall come, dear Poets,
Let us not perplex our brain;
But, content, love truth and valour
Though in time of Charlemagne.