Lesson 8 The Brave Old Oak

Henry Fothergill Chorley, 1808-1872. He is known chiefly as a musical critic and author; for thirty-eight years he was connected with the "London Athenaeum." His books are mostly novels.

A song to the oak, the brave old oak,

Who hath ruled in the greenwood long;

Here's health and renown to his broad green crown,

And his fifty arms so strong.

There's fear in his frown, when the sun goes down,

And the fire in the west fades out;

And he showeth his might on a wild midnight,

When the storms through his branches shout.

In the days of old, when the spring with cold

Had brightened his branches gray,

Through the grass at his feet, crept maidens sweet,

To gather the dews of May.

And on that day, to the rebec gay

They frolicked with lovesome swains;

They are gone, they are dead, in the churchyard laid,

But the tree—it still remains.

He saw rare times when the Christmas chimes

Were a merry sound to hear,

When the Squire's wide hall and the cottage small

Were filled with good English cheer.

Now gold hath the sway we all obey,

And a ruthless king is he;

But he never shall send our ancient friend

To be tossed on the stormy sea.

Then here's to the oak, the brave old oak,

Who stands in his pride alone;

And still flourish he, a hale green tree,

When a hundred years are gone.