 | [Poems by Whittier in] A Study of Whittier's Apprenticeship as a Poet |  |
CHARLES EDWARD AFTER THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN
God save the young Chieftain! he wanders alone,
Forever cast out from his kingdom and throne;
Yet proud is the sorrow, and manly the tear
That falls for the hero—the young Chevalier.
Forever cast out from his kingdom and throne;
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That falls for the hero—the young Chevalier.
The march of his armies was gallant and proud,
As they covered the hills like a sun-gilded cloud;
The glance of the banner, the broadsword and spear,
Flashed light on the path of the young Chevalier.
As they covered the hills like a sun-gilded cloud;
The glance of the banner, the broadsword and spear,
Flashed light on the path of the young Chevalier.
The heart of his country beat high at his call,
And the chiefs and the clansmen came fast from the hall
The eye of the aged was bright with a tear
As he prayed for the arms of the young Chevalier.
And the chiefs and the clansmen came fast from the hall
The eye of the aged was bright with a tear
As he prayed for the arms of the young Chevalier.
For when their wild war cry arose on the air,
The voice and the fire of past ages were there;
And their souls were of flame as the moment came near
To bleed for the king—and the young Chevalier.
The voice and the fire of past ages were there;
And their souls were of flame as the moment came near
To bleed for the king—and the young Chevalier.
A dark change of spirit came over them soon!
It struck to their souls like a midnight at noon;
Away from the battle dispersed like the deer
They fled from their fame and the young Chevalier.
It struck to their souls like a midnight at noon;
Away from the battle dispersed like the deer
They fled from their fame and the young Chevalier.
He sighed for the shame of his friends who had fled;
He sighed for the living and envied the dead;
Who, fallen like the leaves on the grave of the year,
Had breathed their last sigh for the young Chevalier.
He sighed for the living and envied the dead;
Who, fallen like the leaves on the grave of the year,
Had breathed their last sigh for the young Chevalier.
God save the young Chieftain! while far and unknown
He flies from his country, his kingdom and throne;
The heart of the loyal is bleeding to hear
The fame and the fall of the young Chevalier.
He flies from his country, his kingdom and throne;
The heart of the loyal is bleeding to hear
The fame and the fall of the young Chevalier.
Boston Statesman, February 17, 1827
| [Poems by Whittier in] A Study of Whittier's Apprenticeship as a Poet | |