Lays and Ballads from Ancient History etc. By S. M. [i.e. M. B. Smedley] |
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The Lay of King James I. in his Captivity.
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Lays and Ballads from Ancient History | ||
The Lay of King James I. in his Captivity.
[James the First was the second son of King Robert III., and became heir to the throne of Scotland at the age of eleven years by the death of his elder brother, the unfortunate Earl of Rothsay, who was barbarously starved to death in prison by his own uncle, the wicked Duke of Albany. James fell into the hands of the English, and was detained by them in captivity during eighteen years. He was imprisoned in Windsor castle; and from the window of his tower he was wont to see the Lady Joanna, the fair daughter of the Earl of Somerset, walking among her flowers in the garden. He fell in love with her; and when he was at length ransomed by his people, he conducted her to Scotland as his queen. He was a man of high and energetic intellect, indomitable resolution, and intense devotion to his country, which he earnestly longed to rescue from the misery and misrule by which it was distracted, while given up to the government of his unprincipled uncle and yet more worthless cousins.]
Listless heart and eyes unsleeping—
Want, or woe, or pain, or scorn,
O'er this lifeless desert sweeping,
Welcome were, as pangs, for me
Breaking death's dread lethargy.
To and fro, for years alone,
Left at length an awful trace
Printed on the unyielding stone,
Time's slow footsteps, day by day,
Wear my very soul away.
Stretching o'er these walls of gloom,
Even the air is like a weight,
Even the sky is like a tomb;
Nature's noble things and free
Put on dreariness for me.
Empire o'er a world within;
Lo, my kingly wand I wave,
Lo, the shadowy scenes begin!
Veilèd shapes of hours unknown
Stand before my spirit's throne.
Well I know what thou shalt be;
Shining bliss and stormy strife,
Labour, hope, and victory!
Ceaseless efforts upward tending,
And at last in triumph ending!
Give the last—mine aim is won!
Only this my spirit asks,
Strength and space to labour on;
Lo, mine eyes exulting see
Scotland blest, and blest through me!
Vex'd by pity, stung by scorn,
Like a noble stag brought low,
Striving, sinking, bleeding, torn;
All thine ancient honour dies,
In the dust thy glory lies!
Mine to raise that shadowed face,
Mine to chain those ruthless hounds,
Baying on their bloody chase;
Mine to wreath thy brows once more
With the bays which once they wore.
By thy woods, and steeps, and seas,
Every hearth shall be a home,
Every heart shall be at peace;
In thy huts no slaves shall be,
In thy halls no tyranny!
I a wakeful warder stand,
Swift to spare, yet prompt to strike,
Calm of heart and strong of hand;
Lone were such a lot, and hard,
Were itself its sole reward.
Not unshared my toils shall be—
Shining as a star may shine
O'er the stern and troubled sea,
Hope, and guide, and goal thou art
In the brightness of thy heart!
Seen but through a dungeon-grate,
Still thine eye hath been my star,—
Still thy smile shall be my fate,
Throned upon that brow serene,
Strength, hope, purity, are seen.
Half ashamed, beneath my gazing?
Wherefore sink thine eyes of light
Scarce their ivory veil upraising?
'Tis the future stirs within thee,
Thou shalt love, and I shall win thee!
On thy home, thy heart, and thee!
Still thou leav'st my spirit blest,
Blest in hope and memory;
Past and Future round me seem,
While the Present is a dream.
Are ye past away from me?
Ay, for outward bonds are vain
While the kingly heart is free!
Father, to my spirit's night
Thou hast spoken—there is light!
Lays and Ballads from Ancient History | ||