And traitors to her councils came, and rebels to the field; The Stuart sceptre well she swayed, but the sword she could not wield. She thought of all her blighted hopes-the dreams of youth's brief day, And summoned Rizzio with his lute, and bade the minstrel play The songs she loved in early years-the songs of gay Navarre, The songs perchance that erst were sung by gallant Chatelar; They half beguiled her of her cares, they soothed her into smiles, They won her thoughts from bigot zeal, and fierce domestic broils: But hark! the tramp of armèd men! the Douglas' battle-cry! They come-they come !-and lo! the scowl of Ruthven's hollow eye; And swords are drawn, and daggers gleam, and tears and words are vain The ruffian steel is in his heart-the faithful Rizzio 's slain ! Then Mary Stuart dashed aside the tears that trickling fell: "Now for my father's arm!" she said; "my woman's heart, farewell!" The scene was changed. It was a lake, with one small lonely isle, And there, within the prison-walls of its baronial pile, Stern men stood menacing their queen, till she should stoop to sign The traitorous scroll that snatched the crown from her ancestral line : "My lords, my lords!" the captive said, "were I but once more free, With ten good knights on yonder shore, to aid my cause and me, That parchment would I scatter wide to every breeze that blows, And once more reign a Stuart-queen o'er my remorseless foes!" A red spot burned upon her cheek-streamed her rich tresses down, She wrote the words-she stood erect-a queen, without a crown! The scene was changed. A royal host a royal banner bore, And the faithful of the land stood round their smiling queen once more ; She stayed her steed upon a hill-she saw them marching by She heard their shouts-she read success in every flashing eye. The tumult of the strife begins-it roars, it dies away; And Mary's troops and banners now, and courtiers-where are they? Scattered and strewn, and flying far, defenceless and undone, Alas! to think what she has lost, and all that guilt has won! -Away! away! thy gallant steed must act no laggard's part; Yet vain his speed-for thou dost bear the arrow in thy heart! The scene was changed. headsman stood, Beside the block a sullen And gleamed the broad axe in his hand, that soon must drip with blood. With slow and steady step there came a lady through the hall, T And breathless silence chained the lips, and touched the hearts of all. I knew that queenly form again, though blighted was its bloom, I saw that grief had decked it out—an offering for the tomb! I knew the eye, though faint its light, that once so brightly shone; I knew the voice, though feeble now, that thrilled with every tone; I knew the ringlets, almost grey, once threads of living gold; I knew that bounding grace of step-that symmetry of mould! Even now I see her far away, in that calm convent aisle, The little dog that licks her hand-the last of all the crowd Who sunned themselves beneath her glance, and round her footsteps bowed! -Her neck is bared-the blow is struck-the soul is passed away! The bright-the beautiful-is now a bleeding piece of clay, The dog is moaning piteously; and, as it gurgles o'er, Laps the warm blood that trickling runs unheeded to the floor! The blood of beauty, wealth, and power-the heart-blood of a queen, The noblest of the Stuart race-the fairest earth has seen,Lapped by a dog! Go, think of it, in silence and alone; Then weigh, against a grain of sand, the glories of a throne! DEFEAT OF THE INVINCIBLE ARMADA. A.D. 1588. ATTEND, all ye who list to hear our noble England's praise: I sing of the thrice famous deeds she wrought in ancient days, When that great fleet invincible, against her bore in vain, The richest spoils of Mexico, the stoutest hearts in Spain. It was about the lovely close of a warm summer's day, There came a gallant merchant ship, full sail to Plymouth bay; The crew had seen Castile's black fleet, beyond Aurigny's isle, At earliest twilight, on the waves, lie heaving many a mile. At sunrise she escaped their van, by God's especial grace; And the tall Pinta, till the noon, had held her close in chase. Forthwith a guard at every gun was placed along the wall; The beacon blazed upon the roof of Edgecombe's lofty hall; Many a light fishing-bark put out to pry along the coast; And with loose rein, and bloody spur, rode inland many a post. With his white hair, unbonnetted, the stout old sheriff comes; Behind him march the halberdiers, before him sound the drums. The yeomen, round the market cross, make clear an ample space, For there behoves him to set up the standard of her grace : And haughtily the trumpets peal, and gaily dance the bells, As slow, upon the labouring wind, the royal blazon swells. Look how the lion of the sea lifts up his ancient crown, And underneath his deadly paw treads the gay lilies down! So stalked he when he turned to flight, on that famed Pica.d field, Bohemia's plume, and Genoa's bow, and Cæsar's eagle shield: So glared he when, at Agincourt, in wrath he turned to bay, And crushed and torn, beneath his claws, the princely hunters lay. Ho! strike the flagstaff deep, sir knight! Ho! scatter flowers, fair maids! Ho, gunners! fire a loud salute! ho, gallants! draw your blades! Thou sun, shine on her joyously! ye breezes, waft her wide! Our glorious semper eadem! the banner of our pride! The fresh'ning breeze of eve unfurled that banner's massy fold The parting gleam of sunshine kissed that haughty scroll of gold. Night sunk upon the dusky beach, and on the purple sea; Such night in England ne'er had been, nor e'er again shall be. From Eddystone to Berwick bounds, from Lynn to Milford Bay, That time of slumber was as bright, as busy as the day; For swift to east, and swift to west, the warning radiance spread High on St Michael's Mount it shone-it shone on Beachy Head. Far o'er the deep, the Spaniard saw, along each southern shire, Cape beyond cape, in endless range, those twinkling points of fire; |