The hour was late; the fire burned low,
The Landlord's eyes were closed in sleep,
And near the story's end a deep,
Sonorous sound at times was heard,
As when the distant bagpipes blow.
At this all laughed; the Landlord stirred,
As one awaking from a swound,
And, gazing anxiously around,
Protested that he had not slept,
But only shut his eyes, and kept
His ears attentive to each word.
Then all arose, and said "Good Night."
Alone remained the drowsy Squire
To rake the embers of the fire,
And quench the waning parlor light;
While from the windows, here and there,
The scattered lamps a moment gleamed,
And the illumined hostel seemed
The constellation of the Bear,
Downward, athwart the misty air,
Sinking and setting toward the sun.
Far off the village clock struck one.
Tales of a Wayside Inn 1863
- Prelude; The Wayside Inn
- The Landlord's Tale; Paul Revere's Ride
- Interlude
- The Student's Tale; The Falcon of Ser Federigo
- Interlude
- The Spanish Jew's Tale; The Legend of Rabbi Ben Levi
- Interlude
- The Sicilian's Tale; King Robert of Sicily
- Interlude
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - I. The Challenge of Thor
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - II. King Olaf's Return
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - III. Thora of Rimol
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - IV. Queen Sigrid the Haughty
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - V. The Skerry of Shrieks
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - VI. The Wraith of Odin
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - VII. Iron-Beard
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - VIII. Gudrun
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - IX. Thangbrand the Priest
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - X. Raud the Strong
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XI. Bishop Sigurd at Salten Fiord
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XII. King Olaf's Christmas
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XIII. The Building of the Long Serpent
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XIV. The Crew of the Long Serpent
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XV. A Little Bird in the Air
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XVI. Queen Thyri and the Angelica Stalks
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XVII. King Svend of the Forked Beard
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XVIII. King Olaf and Earl Sigvald
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XIX. King Olaf's War-Horns
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XX. Einar Tamberskelver
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XXI. King Olaf's Death-Drink
- The Musician's Tale; The Saga of King Olaf - XXII. The Nun of Nidaros
- Interlude
- The Theologian's Tale; Torquemada
- Interlude
- The Poet's Tale; The Birds of Killingworth
- Finale
- Prelude
- The Sicilian's Tale; The Bell of Atri
- Interlude
- The Spanish Jew's Tale; Kambalu
- Interlude
- The Student's Tale; The Cobbler of Hagenau
- Interlude
- The Musician's Tale; The Ballad of Carmilhan - I.
- The Musician's Tale; The Ballad of Carmilhan - II.
- The Musician's Tale; The Ballad of Carmilhan - III.
- The Musician's Tale; The Ballad of Carmilhan - IV.
- Interlude
- The Poet's Tale; Lady Wentworth
- Interlude
- The Theologian's Tale; The Legend Beautiful
- Interlude
- The Student's Second Tale; The Baron of St. Castine
- Finale
- Prelude
- The Spanish Jew's Tale; Azrael
- Interlude
- The Poet's Tale; Charlemagne
- Interlude
- The Student's Tale; Emma and Eginhard
- Interlude
- The Theologian's Tale; Elizabeth
- Interlude
- The Sicilian's Tale; The Monk of Casal-Maggiore
- Interlude
- The Spanish Jew's Second Tale; Scanderbeg
- Interlude
- The Musician's Tale; The Mother's Ghost
- Interlude
- The Landlord's Tale; The Rhyme of Sir Christopher
- Finale