And ere yon bells beganne to play, With that he cried and beat his breast; And uppe the Lindis raging sped. And rearing Lindis, backward pressed,' Flung uppe her weltering walls again. t 98 105 Then bankes came downe with ruin and rout, - So farre, so fast, the eygre drave, Upon the roofe we sate that night; 112 119 I marked the lofty beacon light Stream from the church-tower, red and high,A lurid mark, and dread to see; And awsome bells they were to mee, They rang the sailor lads to guide, From roofe to roofe who fearless rowed; And I, my sonne was at my side, And yet the ruddy beacon glowed; And yet he moaned beneath his breath, "O come in life, or come in death! O lost! my love, Elizabeth!" And didst thou visit him no more? Thou didst, thou didst, my daughter deare; The waters laid thee at his doore, Ere the early dawn was clear. That flow strewed wrecks about the grass, A fatal ebbe and flow, alas! To manye more than myne and mee; But each will mourne his own (she saith) And sweeter woman ne'er drew breath Than my sonne's wife, Elizabeth. I shall never hear her more 126 135 140 147 'Cusha! Cusha! Cusha!" calling, Ere the early dews be falling; I shall never hear her song, "Cusha! Cusha!" all along, Where the sunny Lindis floweth, Goeth, floweth, From the meads where melick groweth, Where the water, winding down, I shall never see her more, Where the reeds and rushes quiver, Stand beside the sobbing river, 158 Quit your cowslips, cowslips yellow! Come uppe, Lightfoot! rise and foliow; Lightfoot! White foot!! From your clovers lift the head; 1863. 176 THE EXECUTION OF MONTROSE COME hither, Evan Cameron! There's shouting on the mountain-side, Old faces look upon me, Old forms go trooping past:" I hear the pibroch wailing Amidst the din of fight, And my dim spirit wakes again Upon the verge of night. T 'T was I that led the Highland host What time the plaided clans came down I've told thee how the Southrons fell Beneath the broad claymore, And how we smote the Campbell clan I've told thee how we swept Dundee, And tamed the Lindsays' pride; But never have I told thee yet 12 24 A traitor sold him to his foes; O deed of deathless shame! I charge thee, boy, if e'er thou meet Stand he in martial gear alone, Or backed by armèd men Face him, as thou wouldst face the man They brought him to the Watergate, They set him high upon a cart - They drew his hands behind his back, Then, as a hound is slipped from leash, It would have made a brave man's heart. To watch the keen malignant eyes Bent down on that array. There stood the Whig west-country lords, 36 48 |