Читать книгу History of Madeley including Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale, and Coalport онлайн

14 страница из 44

Near one of the fields adjoining the Court House, called the “Slang,” a man, while clearing a piece of rough ground, which appeared not previously to have been cultivated, a few years ago, came upon a large number of gold coins, chiefly of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and of the modern value altogether of between three and four hundred pounds.

Looking at what the place now is, and calling to mind what it must have been when the spacious rooms rang with the joyous laugh, and echoed the minstrel songs of bygone days, one is reminded of Southey’s Eclogues, in one of which he seeks to connect the past and present by an old man’s memory, only that in this case more than one generation has gone to rest since the old Court House was complete with park, and moat, and fish-ponds. The old stonebreaker bemoans the change in some old mansion-house thus—

“If my old lady could rise up—

God rest her soul!—’twould grieve her to behold

What wicked work is here.

* * * *

Aye, master, fine old trees.

Lord bless us! I have heard my father say