11. The stubborn spearmen still made good Each stepping where his comrade stood, No thought was there of dastard flight; Till utter darkness closed her wing Then did their loss his foemen know; They melted from the field as snow, When streams are swoln, and south winds blow, 13. Tweed's echoes heard the ceaseless plash, While many a broken band, Disorder'd, through her curients dash, To town and tower, to down and dale, Of Flodden's fatal field, Where shivered was fair Scotland's spear, SCOTT 89. EDINBURGH AFTER FLODDEN. [Mr. AYTOUN is not inferior to Scott in his description of the heart-breaking sorrow with which the news of this battle was received in Edin`urgh.] EWS of battle !-news of battle! NEWS Hark! 'tis ringing down the street; Greetings from our gallant king? 2. All last night we watched the beacons Each one bearing, as it kindled, All night long the northern streamers 8. News of battle!-who hath brought it? And a cry of fear and wonder, 4. For they see in battered harness Spearless hangs a bloody banner In his weak and drooping handGod! can that be Randolph Murray, Captain of the city band? 5. Round him crush the people, crying, 6. Like a corpse the grisly warrior Looks from out his helm of steel ; 7. "By the God that made thee, Randolph! Tell us what mischance hath come." Then he lifts his riven banner, And the asker's voice is dumb. The elders of the city Have met within their hall The men whom good King James had charged 8. Then in came Randolph Murray,His step was slow and weak, And as he doffed his dinted helm, The tears ran down his cheek: They fell upon his corselet, As he gazed around him wistfully, 9. And none who then beheld him But straight were smote with fear; 10. Never yet was royal banner Steeped in such a costly dye; Where no other shroud shall lie. Was the life-blood of your king! 11. Woe, woe, and lamentation ! What a piteous cry was there! Jesu Christ! Our king has fallen; 12. Holy Mother Mary, shield us! Thou, who erst didst lose thy Son! Oh our king-the good, the noble, 13. Woe to us, and woe to Scotland, Till the oak that fell last winter WILLIAM EDMONDSTOUNE AYTOUN. 40. THE LIGHT BRIGADE. [This spirited poem describes a gallant and desperate charge made at the battle of Balaklava, during the war in the Crimea in 1854. It is supposed that the order to charge was given under a mistake; but of this nothing definite is known, as Captain Nolan, who gave the order, was the first man who fell. Six hundred and thirty rushed to the charge, and only one hundred and fifty ever returned.] |