AFTER a youth by woes o'ercast, After a thousand sorrows past, The lovely Mary once again Set foot upon her native plain; Knelt on the pier with modest grace, And turn'd to heaven her beauteous face. 'T was then the caps in air were blended, A thousand thousand shouts ascended, Shiver'd the breeze around the throng, Gray barrier cliffs the peals prolong; And every tongue gave thanks to heaven, That Mary to their hopes was given. Her comely form and graceful mien Bespoke the lady and the queen; The woes of one so fair and young Moved every heart and every tongue. Driven from her home, a helpless child, To brave the winds and billows wild; An exile bred in realms afar, Amid commotions, broils, and war. In one short year, her hopes all cross'd -- A parent, husband, kingdom, lost! And all ere eighteen years had shed Their honours o'er her royal head. For such a queen, the Stuarts' heir -- A queen so courteous, young, and fair -- Who would not every foe defy? Who would not stand -- who would not die? Light on her airy steed she sprung, Around with golden tassels hung; No chieftain there rode half so free, Or half so light and gracefully. How sweet to see her ringlets pale Wide waving in the southland gale, Which through the broom-wood blossoms flew, To fan her cheeks of rosy hue! Whene'er it heaved her bosom's screen, What beauties in her form were seen! And when her courser's mane it swung, A thousand silver bells were rung. A sight so fair, on Scottish plain, A Scot shall never see again! When Mary turn'd her wond'ring eyes On rocks that seem'd to prop the skies; On palace, park, and battled pile; On lake, on river, sea, and isle; O'er woods and meadows bathed in dew, To distant mountains wild and blue; She thought the isle that gave her birth, The sweetest, wildest land on earth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE LONG WHITE SEAM by JEAN INGELOW SONNET: 20 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE BALLAD OF THE WOMEN OF PARIS by FRANCOIS VILLON TIPPERARY: 5. BY OUR OWN EUGENE FIELD by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS FIRST CYCLE OF LOVE POEMS: 1 by GEORGE BARKER AVE MARIA IN ROME by MATHILDE BLIND |