Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/277
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THE CAGED LADY OF BUCHAN.
259
O deed of rare renown!—
With mail's resolve, but woman's grace,
Thou daredst on regal brow to place
Old Scotia's sacred crown.
With mail's resolve, but woman's grace,
Thou daredst on regal brow to place
Old Scotia's sacred crown.
"Thy recreant brother, Fife's proud heir,
Had he possessed thy soul to dare
Not England's king to fear,
How great had he been in the deed
Which gave the Bruce his rightful meed!
Then—hadst thou not been here!
Had he possessed thy soul to dare
Not England's king to fear,
How great had he been in the deed
Which gave the Bruce his rightful meed!
Then—hadst thou not been here!
"Not kindred—no, nor wedded love—
Could thy high soul to treason move:
Husband and brother he
Who most could feel his country's woes,
And best give back the foemen's blows,
And set old Scotia free."
Could thy high soul to treason move:
Husband and brother he
Who most could feel his country's woes,
And best give back the foemen's blows,
And set old Scotia free."
"Stranger! I would these bars might rot,
And Buchan's countess be forgot,
Might this remembered be!
That in the princely halls of Scone,
The Bruce, in mounting Scotland's throne,
Proclaimed his country free!
And Buchan's countess be forgot,
Might this remembered be!
That in the princely halls of Scone,
The Bruce, in mounting Scotland's throne,
Proclaimed his country free!
"Whilst thus redressed my country's wrongs,
Shall I forget proud Edward's pangs
In weeping o'er mine own?
For well I wot this deed of shame
Shall married be to Edward's name,
Where'er that name is known.
Shall I forget proud Edward's pangs
In weeping o'er mine own?
For well I wot this deed of shame
Shall married be to Edward's name,
Where'er that name is known.
"For me, then, weep not; weep for those
Who, leagued with Scotland's ancient foes
Dishonoured traitors prove,
And leave it to a woman's hand
To fill the story of their land
With deeds of faith and love.
Who, leagued with Scotland's ancient foes
Dishonoured traitors prove,
And leave it to a woman's hand
To fill the story of their land
With deeds of faith and love.
"Then hie thee, stranger! tell my foes
That Isabel, 'mid all her throes,
Is high of heart, and leal;
Mothers henceforth shall proudly tell
How caged and prisoned Isabel
Did serve her country's weal!"
That Isabel, 'mid all her throes,
Is high of heart, and leal;
Mothers henceforth shall proudly tell
How caged and prisoned Isabel
Did serve her country's weal!"
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