There, like a cedar in his pride struck down, a warrior lay; And here extended at his side a chieftain’s proud array. They scann’d his features o’er and o’er, but ’wildered was their view, Until the secret mark appeared, which Edith only knew-- And then a shrill and piercing shriek the fearful truth confess’d, The hue of death was on her cheek--she sunk upon his breast! But Harold’s lip and Harold’s eye, in cold forgetfulness For ever sealed, made no reply to Edith’s frantic kiss. Oh, must I see thee thus, and live? Yet Heaven be witness here, How gladly would thy Edith give her bosom for thy bier!’” * * * * * * * * * * [Illustration] <g>ROCHESTER CASTLE.</g>--Anno dominicæ incarnationis DCCCI. nativitatis autem Ælfredi regis xxxiv. exercitus in duas turmas divisit. Una etenim turma in orientalem Franciam perrexit; et altera ad Britanniam veniens, Cantium adiit; civitatemq’, quæ Hrofceastre Saxonicè dicitur, in orientali ripa fluminis Medwæg sitam obsedit. Ante hujus portam pagani Castellum ibimet firmum subitò fabricauerunt. Nec tamen illam civitatem expugnare potuerunt; quia cives illi se viriliter defenderunt, quousque Ælfred rex cū magno exercitu adiutorium illis conferens superuenit. Et tunc pagani relicta arce sua et omnibus equis, quos de Francia secum adduxerant derelictis; maxima parte nec non captiuorum suorum in arce dimissa adueniente subitò rege, ad naues suas confestim confugiunt. Et Saxones statim derelictos à paganis captiuos et equos diripiunt.--Asser. de Ælfred. Reb. Gest. fol. 11.