2 'Twas 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, 3 A traitor sold him to his foes; I charge thee, boy, if e'er thou meet Be it upon the mountain's side, Stand he in martial gear alone, Or backed by arméd men Face him, as thou wouldst face the man Who wronged thy sire's renown ; Remember of what blood thou art, 4 They brought him to the Watergate, As though they held a lion there, They set him high upon a cart— They drew his hands behind his back, Then, as a hound is slipped from leash, 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 133 5 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 50 There sat their gaunt and withered dames, 55 And their daughters all a-row. And every open window Was full as full might be With black-robed Covenanting carles, That goodly sport to see! 6 But when he came, though pale and wan, So noble was his manly front, 60 The rabble rout forbore to shout, And each man held his breath, For well they knew the hero's soul And then a mournful shudder Through all the people crept, And some that came to scoff at him 65 70 75 Till it reached the house of doom. Then first a woman's voice was heard In jeer and laughter loud, And an angry cry and a hiss arose From the heart of the tossing crowd: 80 Then, as the Graeme looked upwards, He saw the ugly smile Of him who sold his king for gold— οα 8 The Marquis gazed a moment, But the cheek of Argyle grew ghastly pale, The painted harlot by his side, She shook through every limb, For a roar like thunder swept the street, And a Saxon soldier cried aloud Back, coward, from thy place! 85 90 For seven long years thou hast not dared 95 To look him in the face.' 9 Had I been there with sword in hand, And fifty Camerons by, That day through high Dunedin's streets Not all their troops of trampling horse, Not all the rebels in the south Had borne us backwards then! Once more his foot on Highland heath Had trod as free as air, Or I, and all who bore my name, 10 It might not be. They placed him next 100 105 110 Where once the Scottish kings were throned Amidst their nobles all. But there was dust of vulgar feet And perjured traitors filled the place With savage glee came Warristoun To read the murderous doom; And then uprose the great Montrose 115 120 11 Now, by my faith as belted knight, And by the bright Saint Andrew's cross And oh, that such should be !— A wreath of such renown, Nor dared I hope on my dying day 12 There is a chamber far away Where sleep the good and brave, 125 130 But a better place ye have named for me 135 Than by my father's grave. For truth and right, 'gainst treason's might, And ye raise it up for a witness still And God who made shall gather them : 13 The morning dawned full darkly, The rain came flashing down, And the jagged streak of the levin-bolt The thunder crashed across the heaven, The 'larum of the drum. 110 145 150 Yet ay broke in with muffled beat There was madness on the earth below, And anger in the sky, And young and old, and rich and poor, 155 14 Ah, God! that ghastly gibbet! The great tall spectral skeleton, The ladder, and the tree! Hark! hark! it is the clash of arms The bells begin to toll 'He is coming! he is coming! God's mercy on his soul! One last long peal of thunder— The clouds are cleared away, 160 165 And the glorious sun once more looks down Amidst the dazzling day. 15 'He is coming! he is coming!' Like a bridegroom from his room, Came the hero from his prison To the scaffold and the doom. There was glory on his forehead, There was lustre in his eye, And he never walked to battle More proudly than to die : There was colour in his visage, Though the cheeks of all were wan, And they marvelled as they saw him pass, 16 He mounted up the scaffold, And he turned him to the crowd; But they dared not trust the people, So he might not speak aloud. But he looked upon the heavens, And they were clear and blue, And in the liquid ether The eye of God shone through! Yet a black and murky battlement As though the thunder slept within— All else was calm and still. 170 175 180 185 190 |