Lays and Leaves of the Forest: a collection of poems, and historical, genealogical and biographical essays and sketches, relating chiefly to men and things connected with the Royal Forest of Knaresborough

Front matter

FEW8T0JP CHUIICH. LAYS AND LEAVES OF THE FOEEST: A Collection of Poems, and Historical, Genealogical, & Biographical Essays and Sketches, RELATING CHIEFLY TO MEN AND THINGS CONNECTED WITH THE ROYAL FOREST OF KNARESBOROUGH, BY THOMAS PARKINSON, F.R.HiST.S. (A. FORBSTBE). "iN ÆSTU TEMPERiEs" A.D. 1882. LONDON: KENT &■ CO., PATEENOSTEE EOW. HAEEOGATE: E. ACKEILL. eb icu t i o n . r£0 Thee ; around whom all affections entwine, Whose grace, form, and truth in our spring days of old, First taught me the love that never grows cold, And, since thou allowed me to claim thee as mine, Hast gladden'd the heart which from youth had been thine ; Whose devotion and care, which that day will unfold. Have shed peace on my path more precious than gold, And ever thy love my breast shall enshrine ; Though cares have oppress'd thee, and suff 'ring distress'd ; Thy children arise, — each calleth thee bless'd ; While twenty-five years of our summer have run, To me thou hast been " Paradisus-in-sun ;"* These Leaves of the Forest, and Lays of our life, I dedicate to thee, — TO THEE, MY DEAR WIPE.

January 2nd, 1882 A.D. (Our silver wedding day.) * An old and fanciful play upon the surname: "Paradisus-in-sole," i. e. Park -in-sun. " In labore requies " Thou in labour our repose In æstu teruperies Cooling shade when noontide glows, In fletu solatium." Solace sweet in all our woes." Missale ad Usum insignis Ecclesiæ Eboracensis (Sabbatio post Penticostem — Sequentia .) " Man loves the forest. To the general flame My breast is not a stranger. I could rove At morn, at noon, at eve, by lunar ray, In each returning season, through your shades, Ye revered woods ! Could visit every dell, Each hill, each breezy lawn, each wandering brook, And bid the world admire ; and when at last The song was closed, each magic spot again Could seek, and tell again of all its charms." — Gisbome's Walks in a Forest.