The White Horse of the White Horse Vale
Was cut out of the grass"
Posted on 11/20/2009 7:00:06 AM PST by bboop
I was so moved reading this last night. Ballad of the White Horse is Chesterton's poem about the English King Alfred, who fought the Danes in 878. "But it is also the story of Christianity battling against the destructive forces of nihilism and heathenism" (Alquist comments).
The Blessed Virgin has appeared to King Alfred right before the battle; he queries her as to the outcome of the battle. "If he fail or if he win/ To no good man is told," she tells him. And continues:
The men of the East may spell the stars, And times and triumphs mark, But the men signed of the cross of Christ Go gaily in the dark.
The men of the East may search the scrolls For sure fates and fame, But the men that drink the blood of God Go singing to their shame...
Night shall be thrice night over you, And heaven an iron cope. Do you have joy without a cause, Yea, faith without a hope?
(Excerpt) Read more at self.com ...
Hmmm, well, it LOOKED like a poem when I put it in ...
My first thought was that “that’s not something I’d expect to see from ‘Self.com.’”
“But by God’s death the stars shall stand
And the small apples grow”
“I was so moved reading this last night.”
Well this wouldn’t be a book I would read, but it sure would beat a sleeping pill. (:-)
That is so cool! You posted a pix of the White Horse. Thank you thank you. Sorry for the botched format/ I am a musician. I find these things fairly elusive.
I’ve visited the White Horse many a time.
It’s beautiful around there, where the chalk Downs come down like a steep, green standing wave into the Vale below.
Before the gods that made the gods
Had seen their sunrise pass,
The White Horse of the White Horse Vale
Was cut out of the grass.
Before the gods that made the gods
Had drunk at dawn their fill,
The White Horse of the White Horse Vale
Was hoary on the hill.
Age beyond age on British land,
Aeons on aeons gone,
Was peace and war in western hills,
And the White Horse looked on.
For the White Horse knew England
When there was none to know;
He saw the first oar break or bend,
He saw heaven fall and the world end,
O God, how long ago.
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