 | A Song of Heroes |  |
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CANTO II. THE MIDDLE AGES
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COLUMBA.
I will sing a song of heroes,
When the ages rang the knell
Of the iron-hearted Rome,
That like a palsied Titan fell.
When the ages rang the knell
Of the iron-hearted Rome,
That like a palsied Titan fell.
Of that foul Ægean stable,
Where the rank corruption grew,
Paul's sure word made sweeping clearance;
Old things passed away, and new
Where the rank corruption grew,
Paul's sure word made sweeping clearance;
Old things passed away, and new
Shot into life. I sing Columba,
Born far West in sea-girt home,
In the clovered green Ierne
Named, not known, by mighty Rome.
Born far West in sea-girt home,
In the clovered green Ierne
Named, not known, by mighty Rome.
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God hath chosen the barbarian,
Things unvalued, worthless, weak,
To abase the lordly Roman,
To confound the subtle Greek.
Things unvalued, worthless, weak,
To abase the lordly Roman,
To confound the subtle Greek.
Vainly had imperial rancour
Like a sanguine deluge spread,
When the axe of Diocletian
Severed Alban's holy head.
Like a sanguine deluge spread,
When the axe of Diocletian
Severed Alban's holy head.
Vainly might the painted idols
Bar from light their dark dominion;
In the far Galwegian outland
Rose the pure white shrine of Ninian.
Bar from light their dark dominion;
In the far Galwegian outland
Rose the pure white shrine of Ninian.
Like the coming of the swallows,
When sweet showers uncoil the fern,
Came a host of God-sent teachers,
Serf, Palladius, Kentigern,
When sweet showers uncoil the fern,
Came a host of God-sent teachers,
Serf, Palladius, Kentigern,
To redeem from heathen darkness
All the roving Scots that be,
Where the huge-heaved Grampian bulwark
Slopeth eastward to the sea.
All the roving Scots that be,
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Slopeth eastward to the sea.
To the fierce hot-blooded Erin
Patrick brought the Gospel grace;
But brawls and battles, feuds and factions,
Swayed the old untempered race
Patrick brought the Gospel grace;
The Irish saint was a Scot, born at Kilpatrick in Dumbartonshire. See the article “Patricus” in Smith's ‘Dictionary of Christian Biography,’ by Dr Stokes of Dublin University; and Bishop Forbes's ‘Calendar of Scottish Saints,’ Edinburgh, 1872. Anyhow, he was a Celt, not a Saxon—as the body of the Scottish people, up to the time of Malcolm Canmore, specially in those western parts, was decidedly Celtic.
But brawls and battles, feuds and factions,
Swayed the old untempered race
Then, when Phelim's son far-venturing
From the wooded hill of Derry,
Through the foamy Loch Foyle waters
Northward sailed in wicker wherry.
From the wooded hill of Derry,
Through the foamy Loch Foyle waters
Northward sailed in wicker wherry.
For a ban was laid upon him,
For that once in plunge of passion
He had drawn the sword of vengeance,
In a hot unpriestly fashion,
For that once in plunge of passion
He had drawn the sword of vengeance,
In a hot unpriestly fashion,
At the battle of Culdreimhne,
When from all the brave O'Neills
Diarmid and the men of Connaught
Fled with terror at their heels.
In the barony of Carberry, between Drumcliff and Sligo, on the borders of Ulster and Connaught, a.d. 561. The whole details of the text are taken from Adamnan's life of the saint by Reeves, and from local study of the ground at Iona, where I resided ten days in a comfortable inn apart from the hasty sweep of steamboat tourists.
When from all the brave O'Neills
Diarmid and the men of Connaught
Fled with terror at their heels.
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Malise, priest of Innish Murry,
On Columba laid the ban,
Through Hebridean seas to voyage
And convert the Pictish clan.
On Columba laid the ban,
Through Hebridean seas to voyage
And convert the Pictish clan.
And with twelve high-souled companions
He cut through the briny spray,
Till he came where whistling west winds
Flout the front of Colonsay.
He cut through the briny spray,
Till he came where whistling west winds
Flout the front of Colonsay.
But not halted there; for clearly,
When the sun unveiled the morn,
Thence he saw the dear-loved Erin
Which his chaste vow had forsworn.
When the sun unveiled the morn,
Thence he saw the dear-loved Erin
Which his chaste vow had forsworn.
Northward, northward, ever northward,
Through the wild waves' tumbling roar,
Where through ragged drift of storm-cloud
Frowned the dark cone of Ben More.
Through the wild waves' tumbling roar,
Where through ragged drift of storm-cloud
Frowned the dark cone of Ben More.
On he steered through heaving waters,
Plash of waves, and windy roar,
Till he came to where Iona
Steeply piles her southmost shore.
Plash of waves, and windy roar,
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Steeply piles her southmost shore.
There no more might view of Erin
Tempt his chaste eye to look back,
Tempt his heart with homeward longings
To retrace the briny track.
Tempt his chaste eye to look back,
Tempt his heart with homeward longings
To retrace the briny track.
There he moored his boat, his currach,
In the lone rock-girdled bay,
Where with wondering eye the stranger
Notes it fossiled in the clay.
In the lone rock-girdled bay,
Where with wondering eye the stranger
Notes it fossiled in the clay.
Nor halted there, but for to breathe
The landward air a little space:
Eastward then with foot unwearied
He pursued the holy chase;
The landward air a little space:
Eastward then with foot unwearied
He pursued the holy chase;
For himself, and all that shared
His brave apostleship, he bound
Not to rest till they should greet
The Pictish king on Pictish ground.
His brave apostleship, he bound
Not to rest till they should greet
The Pictish king on Pictish ground.
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Brude his name, whose heathen stronghold
From a lofty seat looks forth,
Where the Ness his broad stream mingles
With the salt sea of the North.
From a lofty seat looks forth,
Where the Ness his broad stream mingles
With the salt sea of the North.
Northward now with foot unwearied
O'er the granite ridge he sped,
Where Ben Nevis, king of mountains,
Stoutly rears his massive head.
O'er the granite ridge he sped,
Where Ben Nevis, king of mountains,
Stoutly rears his massive head.
Up the steep cliffs, down the corrie,
O'er the broad moor's purple breast,
Where link on link of sistered waters
Join the North sea to the West.
O'er the broad moor's purple breast,
Where link on link of sistered waters
Join the North sea to the West.
Now he stands before Dun Phadraig,
Where King Brude in shaggy state
Cinctured sits with hoary Druids,
Brooding o'er the coming Fate.
Where King Brude in shaggy state
Cinctured sits with hoary Druids,
Brooding o'er the coming Fate.
Here he stands with saintly Congall
And with Kenneth of Achaboe
Three in body, one in power,
To lay a host of demons low.
And with Kenneth of Achaboe
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To lay a host of demons low.
For the Druids worshipped demons,
Gods of earth and air and sky,
Peopling land and peopling water
With the glamour of a lie.
Gods of earth and air and sky,
Peopling land and peopling water
With the glamour of a lie.
And with spells and incantations
They did bind the heart of Brude,
That he closed his gates against
The bearers of the holy rood.
They did bind the heart of Brude,
That he closed his gates against
The bearers of the holy rood.
Vainly; saintly Congall lifted
High the virtue of the rood,
And from it flashed a light that smote
With blindness all the sorcerer brood.
High the virtue of the rood,
And from it flashed a light that smote
With blindness all the sorcerer brood.
And Columba, with a potent
Voice like thunder rolling near,
Quelled the king's obdurate stoutness
With a thrill of holy fear.
Voice like thunder rolling near,
Quelled the king's obdurate stoutness
With a thrill of holy fear.
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For he sang a psalm that David
Wont to sing when he arose,
Girt with godlike strength, to prostrate
The dread muster of his foes.
Wont to sing when he arose,
Girt with godlike strength, to prostrate
The dread muster of his foes.
“We have heard it from our fathers,”—
Thus he sang—no idle tale,—
“How the true God o'er the false gods
Where He came did still prevail.
Thus he sang—no idle tale,—
“How the true God o'er the false gods
Where He came did still prevail.
“How Thou didst cast out the heathen,
And Thy people did prevail,
Not by sword and not by horses,
Not by panoply of mail;
And Thy people did prevail,
Not by sword and not by horses,
Not by panoply of mail;
“But by Thy right arm, Jehovah,
And by favour from above,
For that Thou didst hold Thy children
In the strong embrace of love.”
And by favour from above,
For that Thou didst hold Thy children
In the strong embrace of love.”
Thus he sang; and disenchanted
From the Druid's spell, the king
Open flung his oaken gates,
And like a bird with folded wing
From the Druid's spell, the king
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And like a bird with folded wing
Bent the knee before Columba,
Kissed the rood uncrowned and bare:
And with water from the fountain
Gladly they baptised him there.
Kissed the rood uncrowned and bare:
And with water from the fountain
Gladly they baptised him there.
And he rose with brave assurance,
And he told his people all
From the demons' thrall to loose them
At Columba's saintly call.
And he told his people all
From the demons' thrall to loose them
At Columba's saintly call.
And he gave the saint the island
Where he landed for his dower,
There to work in sacred college
God's soul-healing work with power.
Where he landed for his dower,
There to work in sacred college
God's soul-healing work with power.
In an age of rude-armed rapine,
Feuds and wars without release,
There the saintly son of Phelim
Taught the gentle arts of peace.
Feuds and wars without release,
There the saintly son of Phelim
Taught the gentle arts of peace.
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There he led the prattling mill-stream,
There he drained the miry bog,
There he wove the wattled cabin,
Hewed the tree and piled the log.
There he drained the miry bog,
There he wove the wattled cabin,
Hewed the tree and piled the log.
There with spade and hoe and mattock
He laid bare Earth's fruitful breast,
To the wooing of the breezes
Wafted from the genial West.
He laid bare Earth's fruitful breast,
To the wooing of the breezes
Wafted from the genial West.
Oats he reaped and healthful barley
Where the grass once sourly grew,
And where prickly furze was rampant
Apple-blossoms came to view.
Where the grass once sourly grew,
And where prickly furze was rampant
Apple-blossoms came to view.
Honey pilfered from the heather
Wisely in warm hives he stored;
Milk and eggs and fish supplied
Chaste feeding to his sober board.
Wisely in warm hives he stored;
Milk and eggs and fish supplied
Chaste feeding to his sober board.
But with spirit-nurture chiefly
There were fed the saintly men,
Chaunting psalms of holy David,
Writing with a faithful pen.
There were fed the saintly men,
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Writing with a faithful pen.
Evermore at nones and vespers,
Evermore at matin chime,
They made sweet their souls with music
From pure text and holy rhyme.
Evermore at matin chime,
They made sweet their souls with music
From pure text and holy rhyme.
And they did their tale of doing,
Each man to his function true,
With ungrudging sweet obedience
To high-saintly wisdom due;
Each man to his function true,
With ungrudging sweet obedience
To high-saintly wisdom due;
Where the strong man helped the weak man,
And the weak man loved the strong,
And brothered work with work was mingled
Like sweet notes in cunning song.
And the weak man loved the strong,
And brothered work with work was mingled
Like sweet notes in cunning song.
And the old men taught the young men,
Nicely reared in learnèd school,
To subdue the lawless-roving
Heathen to the Christian rule.
Nicely reared in learnèd school,
To subdue the lawless-roving
Heathen to the Christian rule.
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Thirty years and four he taught them,
Sent them missioned o'er the sea,
Sent them southward to Bernicia,
Sent them northward to Maree.
Sent them missioned o'er the sea,
Sent them southward to Bernicia,
Sent them northward to Maree.
Then as good men die he died,
Shedding smiles and blessings round,
At the solemn hour of midnight
Kneeling upon holy ground,
Shedding smiles and blessings round,
At the solemn hour of midnight
Kneeling upon holy ground,
With sweet text from well-conned psalter
In his memory wisely stored,
“No good thing shall e'er be wanting
To His saints that seek the Lord.”
In his memory wisely stored,
“No good thing shall e'er be wanting
To His saints that seek the Lord.”
There he knelt before the altar,
All alone with God in prayer;
And he raised his eyes to heaven,
And beheld in vision fair
All alone with God in prayer;
And he raised his eyes to heaven,
And beheld in vision fair
Angel-faces sweetly beckoning,
And he heard with raptured ear
David's song of liberation
Angel-voices hymning near.
And he heard with raptured ear
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Angel-voices hymning near.
And a glory from the altar
Shone; the church was filled with light,
And the white-smocked brethren saw it
Gleaming through the hazy night.
Shone; the church was filled with light,
And the white-smocked brethren saw it
Gleaming through the hazy night.
And they rushed into the holy
Presence of the prayerful man,
Where he lay with sideward-drooping
Head, and visage pale and wan.
Presence of the prayerful man,
Where he lay with sideward-drooping
Head, and visage pale and wan.
And with gentle hands they raised him,
And he mildly looked around,
And he raised his arm to bless them,
But it dropped upon the ground.
And he mildly looked around,
And he raised his arm to bless them,
But it dropped upon the ground.
And his breathless body rested
On the arms that held him dear,
And his dead face looked upon them
With a light serene and clear.
On the arms that held him dear,
And his dead face looked upon them
With a light serene and clear.
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And they said that holy angels
Surely hovered round his head,
For alive no loveliest ever
Looked so lovely as this dead.
Surely hovered round his head,
For alive no loveliest ever
Looked so lovely as this dead.
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ALFRED.
I will sing of Saxon Alfred,
Alfred, king, and clerk, and bard;
Triple name, and triple glory,
By no stain of baseness marred.
Alfred, king, and clerk, and bard;
Triple name, and triple glory,
By no stain of baseness marred.
Blood of Cerdic, blood of Ine,
Blood of Egbert in his veins;
Reaper of the past, and sower
Of the future, Alfred reigns.
Blood of Egbert in his veins;
Reaper of the past, and sower
Of the future, Alfred reigns.
Mighty England, queen of peoples,
Slept well-cradled in his breast,
Grew to world-wide reach of lordship
From the Saxon of the West.
Slept well-cradled in his breast,
Grew to world-wide reach of lordship
From the Saxon of the West.
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'Mid the leafy wealth of Berkshire
Oak and beech in breezy play,
'Mid green England's gardened beauty,
Up he shot into the day;
Oak and beech in breezy play,
'Mid green England's gardened beauty,
Up he shot into the day;
Shot and rose, and grew to youthhood,
'Neath a mother's gentle care,
Osburh, with a soul as kindly
As the balmy summer air.
'Neath a mother's gentle care,
Osburh, with a soul as kindly
As the balmy summer air.
And he sat and breathed her sweetness,
And he drank with greedy ear
Tales of old ancestral glory,
When no plundering Danes were near.
And he drank with greedy ear
Tales of old ancestral glory,
When no plundering Danes were near.
And his heart did beat accordant,
And his eye with joy did swell,
When with mother's love she mingled
Matin chant and vesper bell.
And his eye with joy did swell,
When with mother's love she mingled
Matin chant and vesper bell.
Keen to learn and quick was Alfred,
From a song or from a book;
Never slow to catch the meaning
Of a gesture or a look.
From a song or from a book;
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Of a gesture or a look.
Like wise bird that flits about,
Linnet, finch, or crow, or sparrow,
Pecking seed with lively beak,
From brown track of hoe or harrow;
Linnet, finch, or crow, or sparrow,
Pecking seed with lively beak,
From brown track of hoe or harrow;
Or like fruitful honey-bee
In bright glow of summer weather,
Wise the thorny spray to plunder,
Or the tufts of purple heather.
In bright glow of summer weather,
Wise the thorny spray to plunder,
Or the tufts of purple heather.
Mild was Alfred as a maiden;
But with soul untaught to fear,
He, in Hubert's craft the foremost,
Lanced the boar and chased the deer.
But with soul untaught to fear,
He, in Hubert's craft the foremost,
Lanced the boar and chased the deer.
Nor in breezy forest only
Grew, and kind embrace of home,
But with wondering eye young Alfred
Saw the pomp of mighty Rome.
Grew, and kind embrace of home,
But with wondering eye young Alfred
Saw the pomp of mighty Rome.
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And with wider view grew wider,
And more wise with vagrant ken,
What to shun and what to gather
From the works of diverse men.
And more wise with vagrant ken,
What to shun and what to gather
From the works of diverse men.
Thus the youth; but storms were brewing
From the rude sea-roving clan,
Storms to front with manly stoutness,
When the youth should be a man.
From the rude sea-roving clan,
Storms to front with manly stoutness,
When the youth should be a man.
Drifting as a grey blast drifteth
From the sharp and biting East,
Growing with the greed of plunder,
Ever as their spoil increased,
From the sharp and biting East,
Growing with the greed of plunder,
Ever as their spoil increased,
Came the Northmen. Where the waters
Of the Ouse, ship-bearing, sweep
Round the palace of the Cæsars;
Where on Durham's templed steep
Of the Ouse, ship-bearing, sweep
Round the palace of the Cæsars;
Where on Durham's templed steep
Learnèd Bede and saintly Cuthbert
Slept in keep of holy men;
Where the toilful monks of Croyland
Clave the clod and drained the fen,
Slept in keep of holy men;
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Clave the clod and drained the fen,
Honest work and sacred uses
Trampling under foot profane,
Revelling in blood and murder,
Lust and rapine, came the Dane.
Trampling under foot profane,
Revelling in blood and murder,
Lust and rapine, came the Dane.
On the sunny slope of Bury,
Where the fruitful fields are spread,
From its trunk the savage Ingvar
Severed Edmund's holy head.
Where the fruitful fields are spread,
From its trunk the savage Ingvar
Severed Edmund's holy head.
Westward then the sea-kings drifted;
Thames with gentle-flowing water
Shrank perturbed, and castled Reading
Wept o'er fields of crimson slaughter.
Thames with gentle-flowing water
Shrank perturbed, and castled Reading
Wept o'er fields of crimson slaughter.
Fear smote bravest hearts; but Alfred,
With the young man's pride of daring,
Scaled the bristling steep of Ashdown,
Fined them there with loss unsparing.
With the young man's pride of daring,
Scaled the bristling steep of Ashdown,
Fined them there with loss unsparing.
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Bravely he; but as in spring-time,
Big with ever new supplies,
Widely spread the snow-fed waters
O'er the green embankment rise,
Big with ever new supplies,
Widely spread the snow-fed waters
O'er the green embankment rise,
So the Vampires of the North Sea,
Self-recruited more and more,
Sweep with swelling devastation
All the vexed Devonian shore.
Self-recruited more and more,
Sweep with swelling devastation
All the vexed Devonian shore.
But the hunted beast finds shelter.
Alfred fled, but might not yield;
In a tangled maze of marshes,
Westmost Somerset did shield
Alfred fled, but might not yield;
In a tangled maze of marshes,
Westmost Somerset did shield
England's saviour. Lurking lowly
With the lowliest in the land,
There, a cowherd with the cowherds,
And a scanty faithful band,
With the lowliest in the land,
There, a cowherd with the cowherds,
And a scanty faithful band,
Feeding pigs with roots and acorns,
Wandering in poor harper's guise,
For God's hour of sure redemption
Alfred waits with faithful eyes.
Wandering in poor harper's guise,
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Alfred waits with faithful eyes.
With his mother's saintly lessons,
With King David's holy psalm,
'Mid the swell and roar of danger
He doth keep his spirit calm.
With King David's holy psalm,
'Mid the swell and roar of danger
He doth keep his spirit calm.
God-sent visions cheered his slumbers;
Holy Cuthbert, from the Tyne,
Came and filled with bread his basket,
Filled his scanted cup with wine.
Holy Cuthbert, from the Tyne,
Came and filled with bread his basket,
Filled his scanted cup with wine.
Fenced with bristling wood and marshes,
In the isle of Athelney,
Where the creeping stream disputes
Its doubtful border with the sea:
In the isle of Athelney,
Where the creeping stream disputes
Its doubtful border with the sea:
There he lurked; and there he waited
Till the favouring hour; and then,
At his call the golden dragon,
Over forest, moor, and fen,
Till the favouring hour; and then,
At his call the golden dragon,
Over forest, moor, and fen,
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To the reborn strength of Wessex
Spread its wing. With heavy loss,
At Ethandune, the savage Viking
Bit the ground, and kissed the cross.
Spread its wing. With heavy loss,
At Ethandune, the savage Viking
Bit the ground, and kissed the cross.
Alfred now is king indeed—
King as few great kings may be;
He hath gained his crown by labour,
He hath set his people free.
King as few great kings may be;
He hath gained his crown by labour,
He hath set his people free.
With a heart that never fainted,
With a faith that never failed,
With an eye that watched and waited,
With a strong arm that prevailed,
With a faith that never failed,
With an eye that watched and waited,
With a strong arm that prevailed,
He hath fought and conquered. Now,
What remains for him to do?
What the great man ever doeth,
From the old to shape the new:
What remains for him to do?
What the great man ever doeth,
From the old to shape the new:
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Not by forceful harsh uprooting,
But with gently guiding hand,
As a father guides his children,
Spreading union through the land.
But with gently guiding hand,
As a father guides his children,
Spreading union through the land.
Stern decree and kindly caring
Turned rude souls to loyal awe;
Christ and Moses, nicely blended,
Swayed his soul and shaped his law.
Turned rude souls to loyal awe;
Christ and Moses, nicely blended,
Swayed his soul and shaped his law.
If a poor man feared a rich man,
He might knock at Alfred's gate;
If a rich man wronged a poor man,
He must fear a felon's fate.
He might knock at Alfred's gate;
If a rich man wronged a poor man,
He must fear a felon's fate.
If you hung a golden bracelet
By the road in Alfred's time,
No rude hand might dare remove it,
Such sure vengeance followed crime.
By the road in Alfred's time,
No rude hand might dare remove it,
Such sure vengeance followed crime.
Nor alone with finely-feeling
Touch he swayed the pulse of home,
But leagued with kings beyond the Channel,
And the sacred state of Rome,
Touch he swayed the pulse of home,
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And the sacred state of Rome,
Eastward far to broad-streamed Indus
Saxon Alfred's greeting came,
And the remnant of St Thomas
Hailed the omen of his name.
Saxon Alfred's greeting came,
And the remnant of St Thomas
Hailed the omen of his name.
But not like the Macedonian,
Alfred triumphed with the sword;
O'er the scholar's book of learning
He with pious patience pored.
Alfred triumphed with the sword;
O'er the scholar's book of learning
He with pious patience pored.
Well he knew that of all noble
Doing Thought is rightful lord;
And the pen indites the wisdom
That gives honour to the sword.
Doing Thought is rightful lord;
And the pen indites the wisdom
That gives honour to the sword.
With a ring of learnèd clerics
He embraced his kingly throne,
And their wisdom, freely subject,
Paid rich tribute to his own.
He embraced his kingly throne,
And their wisdom, freely subject,
Paid rich tribute to his own.
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As a wise physician gathers
Healing herbs from field and shore,
So from Saxon books and Latin
Alfred swelled his thoughtful store.
Healing herbs from field and shore,
So from Saxon books and Latin
Alfred swelled his thoughtful store.
Seeking far and searching deeply,
Everywhere he culled the best;
Gospel grace and Stoic sentence
Warmed his heart and mailed his breast.
Everywhere he culled the best;
Gospel grace and Stoic sentence
Warmed his heart and mailed his breast.
From the Pope and from the Pagan,
Greekish school and monkish college,
Where the seed of truth was scattered,
Alfred reaped the crop of knowledge;
Greekish school and monkish college,
Where the seed of truth was scattered,
Alfred reaped the crop of knowledge;
Reaped the lore of all that hated
Darkness, all that loved the light,
All that called him England's darling,
Champion of the Saxon right.
Darkness, all that loved the light,
All that called him England's darling,
Champion of the Saxon right.
But the sky of kings is never
Long from troublous clouding clear;
Evermore some gathered thunder
Taints the summer joy with fear.
Long from troublous clouding clear;
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Taints the summer joy with fear.
Once again the sea-marauders
Dashed his cup of bliss with bale,
And the Viking oared his galleys
Up the tide of Kentish Swale.
Dashed his cup of bliss with bale,
And the Viking oared his galleys
Up the tide of Kentish Swale.
Westward by sun-fronting Devon,
Where the Land's End flouts the main,
Up fair Bristol's tideful channel,
Winged with ruin came the Dane.
Where the Land's End flouts the main,
Up fair Bristol's tideful channel,
Winged with ruin came the Dane.
Strong-walled Chester knew their terror,
High-ridged Cambria bowed her head,
Where in pride of devastation
Hasting came with iron tread.
High-ridged Cambria bowed her head,
Where in pride of devastation
Hasting came with iron tread.
But as some old oak-tree grandly
Stands amid the crashing wood,
Rooted in the strength of Alfred
Stout old Wessex bravely stood.
Stands amid the crashing wood,
Rooted in the strength of Alfred
Stout old Wessex bravely stood.
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He who wars with foxes, fox-like
Must devise the needful wile;
On the sea to meet the sea-king
Alfred knew by Vectis'isle.
Must devise the needful wile;
On the sea to meet the sea-king
Alfred knew by Vectis'isle.
Sixty-oared he made his galleys,
England's navy in the germ,
And the sea-king's wingèd pinnace
With unwonted swift alarm
England's navy in the germ,
And the sea-king's wingèd pinnace
With unwonted swift alarm
Fled from Vectis. England now
Breathed with full lungs free from fear;
Nor again in face of Alfred
Might the plundering Dane appear.
Breathed with full lungs free from fear;
Nor again in face of Alfred
Might the plundering Dane appear.
Eastward where old Thames majestic
Laves the fort of stout King Lud,
Westward where the bluff-faced granite
Mocks old Ocean's fretful flood,
Laves the fort of stout King Lud,
Westward where the bluff-faced granite
Mocks old Ocean's fretful flood,
Alfred looked: and all around him,
Once a field of wasteful strife,
Saw the land redeemed from wildness
By the labour of his life;
Once a field of wasteful strife,
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By the labour of his life;
Saw, and thanked his God; then laid him
Down to sleep, and down to die,
Finished with the earthly, ready
For new launch of life on high.
Down to sleep, and down to die,
Finished with the earthly, ready
For new launch of life on high.
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WALLACE AND BRUCE.
I will sing of Bruce and Wallace,
Sons of Jove to help our need,
Then when Norman Edward lusted
For wide sway benorth the Tweed.
Sons of Jove to help our need,
Then when Norman Edward lusted
For wide sway benorth the Tweed.
Doughty robbers were the Normans,
In rude rapine born and bred,
Bold as lion, fierce as tiger,
When they came with iron tread,
In rude rapine born and bred,
Bold as lion, fierce as tiger,
When they came with iron tread,
And with subtle fox-like wisdom,
Wise to weave a web of lies,
Where a lie might seem the shortest
Way to snatch a glittering prize.
Wise to weave a web of lies,
Where a lie might seem the shortest
Way to snatch a glittering prize.
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English Edward from the Norman
Drew his state, and drew his blood,
Drew the despot-lust to trample
All free manhood in the mud.
Drew his state, and drew his blood,
Drew the despot-lust to trample
All free manhood in the mud.
When he found a stout gainsayer,
He would hang him for a knave;
When he found a weakling, he
Would gild the chain that bound the slave.
He would hang him for a knave;
When he found a weakling, he
Would gild the chain that bound the slave.
And he grew up with keen hunger
Of more land to swell his state;
And he forged the name of Scotland
In proud England's book of Fate.
Of more land to swell his state;
And he forged the name of Scotland
In proud England's book of Fate.
'Tis the logic of all robbers,
Romans, Normans, to make better
What they steal, and let the weak man
Wisely wear the strong man's fetter.
Romans, Normans, to make better
What they steal, and let the weak man
Wisely wear the strong man's fetter.
When the good King Alexander,
Who made haughty Haco mourn,
Fell, to find a briny burial,
From the steep cliff of Kinghorn;
Who made haughty Haco mourn,
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From the steep cliff of Kinghorn;
When the Maiden-queen from Norway
Sailed and sickened on the sea,
And the crown without a wearer
Waited where the right might be,
Sailed and sickened on the sea,
And the crown without a wearer
Waited where the right might be,
Scotland lay defenceless, headless;
Then the robber knew his hour,
Like a hawk upon the pigeons
Down to swoop, and to devour.
Then the robber knew his hour,
Like a hawk upon the pigeons
Down to swoop, and to devour.
With a train of clerks and lawyers,
And a venal Romish scribe,
To the castled steep of Norham
Edward came, with craft to bribe
And a venal Romish scribe,
To the castled steep of Norham
Edward came, with craft to bribe
Any basest Scottish lordling,
Norman-bred, that would kneel down,
Swearing fealty to a swindler
For the bauble of a crown.
Norman-bred, that would kneel down,
Swearing fealty to a swindler
For the bauble of a crown.
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Baliol took the bribe, as Clio,
Just recorder, set it down,
Baliol reigns, the traitor-slave,
Who sold his people for a crown.
Just recorder, set it down,
Baliol reigns, the traitor-slave,
Who sold his people for a crown.
He shall lick the foot that kicked him,
And with service cringing low,
He shall swallow down the spittle
Of his high contemptuous foe.
And with service cringing low,
He shall swallow down the spittle
Of his high contemptuous foe.
At Strathcathro, at Strathcathro,
Whelmed with shame and swift disaster,
He shall kiss the clay oare-headed,
And from England's haughty master
Whelmed with shame and swift disaster,
He shall kiss the clay oare-headed,
And from England's haughty master
Beg his craven life. The crafty
Longshanks now had played his game,
And Cimbric Wales and Celtic Albyn
Bowed before the Norman name,
Longshanks now had played his game,
And Cimbric Wales and Celtic Albyn
Bowed before the Norman name,
To his deeming. But there wanted
Much to make his deeming true;
He had juggled, not the people,
But a vile and venal crew,
Much to make his deeming true;
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But a vile and venal crew,
Norman-bred, half-hearted lordlings,
Dangling round a stranger throne;
But the people prayed and waited
For a leader of their own;
Dangling round a stranger throne;
But the people prayed and waited
For a leader of their own;
And God sent him. William Wallace,
Starred with no heraldic pride,
But with proof of thews and sinews,
From the bosom of Strathclyde
Starred with no heraldic pride,
But with proof of thews and sinews,
From the bosom of Strathclyde
Rose, a Scot with blood untainted,
And with heart unbribed to stand
Stoutly 'gainst a thousand Edwards,
For the honour of the land.
And with heart unbribed to stand
Stoutly 'gainst a thousand Edwards,
For the honour of the land.
Sooth, he was a man to look to
In an hour of danger; tall,
Strong, broad-shouldered, well-compacted,
Grandly furnished forth with all
In an hour of danger; tall,
Strong, broad-shouldered, well-compacted,
Grandly furnished forth with all
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That makes a man a man; in action
Bold; in speech persuasive, mild,
Mingling firm stern-purposed manhood
With the sweetness of a child.
Bold; in speech persuasive, mild,
Mingling firm stern-purposed manhood
With the sweetness of a child.
And like Moses, quick to feel,
And nothing slow to strike was he,
When he laid the insolent Selby
Breathless in the fair Dundee.
And nothing slow to strike was he,
When he laid the insolent Selby
Breathless in the fair Dundee.
And the minions of the Percy,
When he fished in Irvine water,
Spoilers of his scaly booty,
He sent home to tell of slaughter.
When he fished in Irvine water,
Spoilers of his scaly booty,
He sent home to tell of slaughter.
In the castled strength of Lanark,
Where they killed his bonnie bride,
Many a haughty Norman hireling
With their heart's blood stained the Clyde.
Where they killed his bonnie bride,
Many a haughty Norman hireling
With their heart's blood stained the Clyde.
Tremble, Edward, for thy lordship;
When thy pride usurped a throne,
Wallace wight with Scotland's freemen
Drove thy titled slave from Scone.
When thy pride usurped a throne,
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Drove thy titled slave from Scone.
Aberdonia, granite-fronted,
Strong Dunottar by the sea,
Perth fair-meadowed, tall-towered Brechin,
Shook the fetters from the free.
Strong Dunottar by the sea,
Perth fair-meadowed, tall-towered Brechin,
Shook the fetters from the free.
In the pride of kingship, Edward
Sent the creatures of his will,
Belted priests and knights of prowess,
Trained in war and tactic skill,
Sent the creatures of his will,
Belted priests and knights of prowess,
Trained in war and tactic skill,
Sheer to death to hunt the Wallace;
But the Wallace from the Tay
Marched with thunder-pace, and smote
Their serried ranks with sore dismay,
But the Wallace from the Tay
Marched with thunder-pace, and smote
Their serried ranks with sore dismay,
'Neath the castled steep of Stirling,
Where the Forth with fruitful pride
Round the cloistered Cambuskenneth
Slowly rolls its mossy tide.
Where the Forth with fruitful pride
Round the cloistered Cambuskenneth
Slowly rolls its mossy tide.
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Like a troop of deer they hurried,
Spurred by fear, with rattling speed,
Till the near-seen England cheered them
From the forted banks of Tweed!
Spurred by fear, with rattling speed,
Till the near-seen England cheered them
From the forted banks of Tweed!
Scotland now might breathe; but only
For a space; her traitor lords,
Norman-bred and Norman-blooded,
Drooped their crests and sheathed their swords
For a space; her traitor lords,
Norman-bred and Norman-blooded,
Drooped their crests and sheathed their swords
To the proud usurper's summons,
Who, to tyrant wisdom true,
Marched with well-massed weight of numbers,
To down-tramp the patriot few.
Who, to tyrant wisdom true,
Marched with well-massed weight of numbers,
To down-tramp the patriot few.
On the far-viewed heights of Falkirk,
There his bristling lines he drew;
There with sweep of circling thousands
He outwinged the faithful few.
There his bristling lines he drew;
There with sweep of circling thousands
He outwinged the faithful few.
Victor he; but vanquished Wallace
Beaten stood, not broken; he
In the deep heart of the people
Reigned the free king of the free.
Beaten stood, not broken; he
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Reigned the free king of the free.
Wisely from the strife a season
He withdrew, and sought in France
And in Rome a strong assertor
Of his rightful-wielded lance.
He withdrew, and sought in France
And in Rome a strong assertor
Of his rightful-wielded lance.
But the strong-willed fierce invader,
Year by year his wasteful course
Followed, till high-forted Stirling
Fell before his battering force;
Year by year his wasteful course
Followed, till high-forted Stirling
Fell before his battering force;
Fell, and bowed the head to England.
Only one man's head stood high,
Wallace, for his truth to Scotland
Marked for death by Edward's eye;
Only one man's head stood high,
Wallace, for his truth to Scotland
Marked for death by Edward's eye;
Marked for death by traitor lordlings,
By the false Menteith, who sold
Scotland's grace and Scotland's honour
For a bag of English gold.
By the false Menteith, who sold
Scotland's grace and Scotland's honour
For a bag of English gold.
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To great London town they haled him,
Tried him there in mock of right,
Doomed him to the death of felons,
Gibbeted in public sight.
Tried him there in mock of right,
Doomed him to the death of felons,
Gibbeted in public sight.
And the haughty harsh usurper,
With a cold unfeeling eye,
Drawn and quartered, disembowelled,
Saw the noblest Scotsman die.
With a cold unfeeling eye,
Drawn and quartered, disembowelled,
Saw the noblest Scotsman die.
Edward now had dreamless slumber,
None might mock his purple state;
Like a dog with gilded collar,
Scotland watched at England's gate;
None might mock his purple state;
Like a dog with gilded collar,
Scotland watched at England's gate;
Or like a dog for hunting cherished,
Fed on bones from groaning board,
That his life may do good service,
Nosing game to feed his lord.
Fed on bones from groaning board,
That his life may do good service,
Nosing game to feed his lord.
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Might had triumphed for the moment,
But the Fates can bide their time;
Slow and sure the God-sent Fury
Follows on the track of crime.
But the Fates can bide their time;
Slow and sure the God-sent Fury
Follows on the track of crime.
'Mid the pomp of Edward's palace,
With the servile Norman crew,
Bruce had nursed in faithful memory
Scotland's crown to Scotland due.
With the servile Norman crew,
Bruce had nursed in faithful memory
Scotland's crown to Scotland due.
Not, like Wallace, pure; but tainted
With the breath of courts and kings,
To his country, late-repentant,
Loyal heart and sword he brings.
With the breath of courts and kings,
To his country, late-repentant,
Loyal heart and sword he brings.
On the bridge of busy London
He had seen a ghastly sight—
Norman foplings staring, jeering,
At the head of Wallace wight.
He had seen a ghastly sight—
Norman foplings staring, jeering,
At the head of Wallace wight.
And he felt as one that basely
Had forsworn his natal right,
And for gleam of courtly favour
Bowed his head to lawless might.
Had forsworn his natal right,
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Bowed his head to lawless might.
And as Paul, who erst had goaded
To the death the Christian clan,
Came new-fashioned to Damascus,
And to blessing changed his ban;
To the death the Christian clan,
Came new-fashioned to Damascus,
And to blessing changed his ban;
So from London to Lochmaben
Came the Bruce a reborn man,
For his crown and for his country
To fight nobly in the van;
Came the Bruce a reborn man,
For his crown and for his country
To fight nobly in the van;
To the seat of royal Kenneth,
Where the thanes, with glad acclaim,
Crowned him Robert King of Scotland,
Freed from England's yoke of shame.
Where the thanes, with glad acclaim,
Crowned him Robert King of Scotland,
Freed from England's yoke of shame.
Like a bolt from Jove on Edward
Flashed the fact—“King crowned at Scone!”
On the seat of the MacAlpine,
Whence he stole the fateful stone.
Flashed the fact—“King crowned at Scone!”
On the seat of the MacAlpine,
Whence he stole the fateful stone.
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Nevermore might Edward brook it;
He had boldly robbed and won,
Like a Roman, like a Norman;
Could such proud work be undone?
He had boldly robbed and won,
Like a Roman, like a Norman;
Could such proud work be undone?
Up he rose in wrath Titanic;
Like a white squall on the sea,
Like a vulture keen for carrion,
Down on Scottish land swooped he.
Like a white squall on the sea,
Like a vulture keen for carrion,
Down on Scottish land swooped he.
Methven knew his scathful scourging,
Almond water flowed with blood;
Rough Glendochart's rocky current,
Far Loch Awe's long-gleaming flood,
Almond water flowed with blood;
Rough Glendochart's rocky current,
Far Loch Awe's long-gleaming flood,
Saw the rightful monarch hounded
By the proud usurper's host;
Many bravest fell around him,
But he stood, and stoutly crossed
By the proud usurper's host;
Many bravest fell around him,
But he stood, and stoutly crossed
Swords with three, and lifeless laid them
'Twixt the Loch-side and the brae,
Where the false MacDougal
vainly
Strove to block his kingly way.
'Twixt the Loch-side and the brae,
116
The MacDougalls of Dunolly, Oban, the best of people now, were unfortunately on the wrong side in those days. As a memorial of their unhappy alliance with the English invader, the brooch torn from the plaid of Bruce in the encounter alluded to in the text, is still shown to the stranger. The best authority for all the facts mentioned in the text is unquestionably the ‘Scottish War of Independence,’ by W. Burns: Glasgow, Maclehose, 1874.
Strove to block his kingly way.
But his way might not be southward—
Pembroke now held all the plain;
He must watch and wait in hardship
Till the good hour come again.
Pembroke now held all the plain;
He must watch and wait in hardship
Till the good hour come again.
Fortune will be wooed with patience;
Never mortal man was great
In the evil hour who knew not
How to suffer and to wait.
Never mortal man was great
In the evil hour who knew not
How to suffer and to wait.
With the Douglas, with the Campbell,
By Loch Lomond, in Cantire,
In peaked Arran's rocky cincture,
Nursing Scotland's heart's-desire,
By Loch Lomond, in Cantire,
In peaked Arran's rocky cincture,
Nursing Scotland's heart's-desire,
For the ripening hour of judgment
Bruce did bravely wait and bear,
While the victor, tiger-hearted,
Valiant knights and ladies fair
Bruce did bravely wait and bear,
While the victor, tiger-hearted,
Valiant knights and ladies fair
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Chained and caged, and made the scaffold
Glib with blood of noble men.
In his native wilds of Carrick,
Like a beast from den to den
Glib with blood of noble men.
In his native wilds of Carrick,
Like a beast from den to den
Hunted, Bruce, with never-failing,
Stout, high-purposed faith, did stand
Dauntless, with a loyal-hearted
Few, for honour of the land.
Stout, high-purposed faith, did stand
Dauntless, with a loyal-hearted
Few, for honour of the land.
Once there came of grim Galwegians
Twice a hundred men to hound him;
All alone, beside a boggy,
Black, slow-winding stream they found him.
Twice a hundred men to hound him;
All alone, beside a boggy,
Black, slow-winding stream they found him.
But he stood as stands a lion
Strong before a barking dog;
And twice five and four he stretched them
Breathless on the crimsoned bog.
Strong before a barking dog;
And twice five and four he stretched them
Breathless on the crimsoned bog.
Then he marched against the Pembroke's
Host, well massed with ordered skill;
But their plunging steeds were shattered
On his spears at Loudon Hill.
Host, well massed with ordered skill;
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On his spears at Loudon Hill.
Woe to Edward! he had trampled
On the bleeding worm, the Scot;
But the worm, the hydra-headed,
Should have died, but die would not.
On the bleeding worm, the Scot;
But the worm, the hydra-headed,
Should have died, but die would not.
To Carlisle, all fretful fuming,
Down he shot, the Scots to hammer;
But o'er his eye with vengeance flashing
Fate had spread a deathful glamour.
Down he shot, the Scots to hammer;
But o'er his eye with vengeance flashing
Fate had spread a deathful glamour.
And he died on Solway, breathing
Curses on the Scottish clan;
But He did laugh who sits in heaven,
And into blessing changed the ban.
Curses on the Scottish clan;
But He did laugh who sits in heaven,
And into blessing changed the ban.
Edward died; but not with him
Died his fell and forceful doing;
With the heirship of his rancour,
Edward's Edward rushed to ruin.
Died his fell and forceful doing;
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Edward's Edward rushed to ruin.
Like a bird uncaged from durance,
Bruce now spread his ampler wing;
Inverness and granite-fronted
Aberdonia hailed him king.
Bruce now spread his ampler wing;
Inverness and granite-fronted
Aberdonia hailed him king.
Rose the cry from eastmost Buchan,
Here no Norman lord we know!
Swelled from central Perth the slogan,
Lay the proud usurper low!
Here no Norman lord we know!
Swelled from central Perth the slogan,
Lay the proud usurper low!
Through the breadth of Selkirk forest,
With red blood from English slaughter
Gallant Douglas stained the tide
Of Ettrick's mountain-girdled water.
With red blood from English slaughter
Gallant Douglas stained the tide
Of Ettrick's mountain-girdled water.
Scotland too could boast her Edward,
Brothered to King Robert; he
Loose as mist the vauntful St John
Drave from granite banks of Cree.
Brothered to King Robert; he
Loose as mist the vauntful St John
Drave from granite banks of Cree.
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At the base of tway-peaked Cruachan,
John of Lorn was clothed with shame;
And thy sea-fronting hold, Dunstaffnage,
Hailed the Bruce with loud acclaim.
John of Lorn was clothed with shame;
And thy sea-fronting hold, Dunstaffnage,
Hailed the Bruce with loud acclaim.
Nor the sword alone was loyal,
But on heights of fair Dundee
All the crosier-bearing people
Signed a bond to Scotland free.
But on heights of fair Dundee
All the crosier-bearing people
Signed a bond to Scotland free.
At Linlithgow, dear to story,
Eight men from a wain of hay
Leapt, and like a drift of pigeons
Drave the Normans in deray.
Eight men from a wain of hay
Leapt, and like a drift of pigeons
Drave the Normans in deray.
Not thy castled strength, Dunedin,
Fearless now might front the sky,
There where on thy steepest steepness
Randolph cast his daring eye.
Fearless now might front the sky,
There where on thy steepest steepness
Randolph cast his daring eye.
And he clomb with slippery venture,
As a sailor climbs a rope,
Leapt the wall, and drave the warders
Hurrying down the eastern slope.
As a sailor climbs a rope,
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Hurrying down the eastern slope.
Stroke on stroke, as near and nearer
Marched the God-predestined time,
When the son should answer prostrate
For the father's lofty crime.
Marched the God-predestined time,
When the son should answer prostrate
For the father's lofty crime.
Southward from high-forted Stirling
Flows a brook, slow-winding, through
Boggy meads and ragged fringes,
'Neath green slopes of ample view.
Flows a brook, slow-winding, through
Boggy meads and ragged fringes,
'Neath green slopes of ample view.
There the Bruce with wise disposal
Massed his men in order fair;
Gallant Randolph, Keith, and Douglas,
Sworn to death or victory there.
Massed his men in order fair;
Gallant Randolph, Keith, and Douglas,
Sworn to death or victory there.
Wisely too with cunning foresight,
Where the foeman's charge would be,
Pits he dug, and stakes he planted,
Roofed with grass that none might see.
Where the foeman's charge would be,
Pits he dug, and stakes he planted,
Roofed with grass that none might see.
122
'Twas a bright June day; and each man
On the fragrant grassy sod
Knelt at holy mass devoutly,
And confessed his sins to God.
On the fragrant grassy sod
Knelt at holy mass devoutly,
And confessed his sins to God.
Onward came the banded foemen,
Flashing, dashing, horse and man,
Norman, Gascon, Welsh, and Irish,
Brave De Bohun in the van.
Flashing, dashing, horse and man,
Norman, Gascon, Welsh, and Irish,
Brave De Bohun in the van.
Like an eagle proudly swooping
From Jove's chair on stormy wing,
On he rushed, with lance hot thirsting
For the blood of Scotland's king.
From Jove's chair on stormy wing,
On he rushed, with lance hot thirsting
For the blood of Scotland's king.
But the king, who wore the bonnet,
Rose, and with a mighty strain
Hove his battle-axe, and sheerly
Clave the knight through helm and brain.
Rose, and with a mighty strain
Hove his battle-axe, and sheerly
Clave the knight through helm and brain.
Well begun is half well-ended,
Nor the fight may linger long
Where the free man fights for freedom,
And the strong man leads the strong.
Nor the fight may linger long
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And the strong man leads the strong.
On the mailèd Norman riders
Charged, in clattering multitude;
But the Scots with steady frontage
Like a bristling forest stood.
Charged, in clattering multitude;
But the Scots with steady frontage
Like a bristling forest stood.
Valiant Keith, the doughty marshal,
With five hundred knights in mail,
Prostrate laid the English archers,
As corn falls before the hail.
With five hundred knights in mail,
Prostrate laid the English archers,
As corn falls before the hail.
Heavenward rose the Scottish slogan,
While the gillies on the hill,
Spreading show of sheets for banners,
Downward rushed with forward will;
While the gillies on the hill,
Spreading show of sheets for banners,
Downward rushed with forward will;
Which the fear-struck, far beholding,
Fled like children from a ghost;
And their king, with floating bridle,
Galloped from the dwindling host.
Fled like children from a ghost;
And their king, with floating bridle,
Galloped from the dwindling host.
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Forth and Bannock drank the red blood
Of ten times ten thousand slain;
Who escaped, like chaff were drifted
Where the west wind sweeps the plain.
Of ten times ten thousand slain;
Who escaped, like chaff were drifted
Where the west wind sweeps the plain.
Edward's Edward, shorn of kingship,
Fled the land and found the sea;
From Dunbar a light skiff brought him
Where his breathing might be free;
Fled the land and found the sea;
From Dunbar a light skiff brought him
Where his breathing might be free;
Even as Xerxes, cowed and crestless,
Backward ploughed fair Helle's tide,
Reaping, as the proud man reapeth,
Lowest fall from topmost pride.
Backward ploughed fair Helle's tide,
Reaping, as the proud man reapeth,
Lowest fall from topmost pride.
Fought and won is Freedom's battle;
Scotland's Muse no more shall mourn;
England no more toss her haughty
Crest o'er glorious Bannockburn.
Scotland's Muse no more shall mourn;
England no more toss her haughty
Crest o'er glorious Bannockburn.
| A Song of Heroes | |