Rt. Rev. Arthur Cleveland Coxe, D.D. Chelsea, 1860. Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. 1917. The Book of New York Verse

Hamilton Fish Armstrong, ed. The Book of New York Verse. 1917.

Chelsea, 1860

By Rt. Rev. Arthur Cleveland Coxe, D.D.


WHEN old Canute the Dane
Was Merry England’s king;
A thousand years agone, and more,
As ancient rumours sing;
His boat was rowing down the Ouse,	5
At eve, one summer day,
Where Ely’s tall cathedral peered
Above the glassy way.

Anon, sweet music on his ear
Comes floating from the fane,	10
And listening, as with all his soul,
Sat old Canute the Dane;
And reverently did he doff his crown
To join the clerkly prayer,
While swelled old lauds and litanies	15
Upon the stilly air.

Now, who shall glide on Hudson’s breast
At eve of summer’s day,
And cometh where St. Peter’s tower
Peers o’er his coasting way;	20
A moment let him slack his oar
And speed more still along,
His ear shall catch those very notes
Of litany and song.

The Church that sang those anthem prayers	25
A thousand years ago,
Is singing yet by silver Cam,
And here by Hudson’s flow:
And glorias that thrilled the heart
Of old Canute the Dane	30
Are rising yet, at noon and eve,
From Chelsea’s student train.