 | The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere |  |
THE BALLAD OF QUEEN MARGARET'S FEASTING.
A.D. 1451.
[_]
The Irish chronicler thus concludes: ‘God's blessing, the blessing of all the Saints, and of every one, blessing from Jerusalem to Inis Glaaire, be on her going to heaven; and blessed be he who will reade and heare this for blessing her Soul; and cursed be that sore in her breast that killed Margaret.’
I
Fair she stood—God's queenly creature!Wondrous joy was in her face;
Of her ladies none in stature
Like to her, and none in grace.
On the church-roof stood they round her,
Cloth of gold was her attire;
They in jewell'd circle wound her;—
Beside her Ely's King, her sire.
II
Far and near the green fields glitter'dLike to flowery meads in Spring,
36
Ranged each in seemly ring
Under banners red or yellow:
There all day the feast they kept
From chill dawn and noontide mellow
Till the hill-shades eastward crept.
III
On a white steed at the gatewayMargaret's husband, Calwagh, sate:
Guest on guest, approaching, straightway
Welcomed he with love and state.
Each pass'd on with largess laden:
Chosen gifts of thought and work,
Now the red cloak of the maiden,
Now the minstrel's golden torque.
IV
On the wind the tapestries shifted;From the blue hills rang the horn;
Slowly toward the sunset drifted
Choral song and shout breeze-borne.
Like a sea the crowds unresting
Murmur'd round the grey church-tower;
Many a prayer amid the feasting,
For Margaret's mother rose that hour!
V
On the church-roof kerne and nobleAt her bright face look'd, half-dazed;
Nought was hers of shame or trouble;
On the crowds far off she gazed:
Once, on heaven her dark eyes bending,
Her hands in prayer she flung apart:
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She bless'd her People in her heart.
VI
Thus a Gaelic queen and nationAt Imayn till set of sun
Kept with feast the Annunciation,
Fourteen hundred fifty-one.
Time it was of solace tender;—
'Twas a brave time, strong yet fair!
Blessing, O ye Angels, send her
From Salem's towers and Inisglaaire!
| The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere | |