Page 34 - YB1896

Now there was a fable afloat at that time Of a castle so ancient and old That even its name had been forgot, And for ages had never been told. This castle, 'twas said, had contained rare ge111s, Collected from land, And further, 'twas said that this castle had stood J n the land of perpetual sun, And flourished and grew in that mythical time When all peoples spoke but one tongue. A nd then came the flood, which destroyed the world, As a curse from the Almighty's hand; And 'twas thought that the castle was lost in the "{r-ay," Being buried down deep in the sand. Old Noah had handed the fable dOWIl To his children, and they to their own, And thus from mouth to ear it had come: The ,story as now it was known Our heroes descended and marched inland, But had not gone far on their way, VVIlC'1l there 100;l1ed 11p before them, in ruins grand, The walls of a castle grey. Qnick as flash through each of their minds this passed: "'Tis the fabled castle's walls 1" And with one accord Iell in line And entered the halls, There close by the cloor lay the bones of the guard, Who was laithlnl till death at last Had taken his soul to a better wor-ld, And released hin~ from his task.