And now that all was still through the hall, And the boughs that beat on the pane. But the fire was bright in the ingle-nook, 440 And the bed was dight in a deep alcove; 445 And the song had brought the image back 450 'Last night at mid-watch, by Aberdour, 'And in full season, as erst I said, The doom had gained its growth; And the shroud had risen above thy neck 475 And covered thine eyes and mouth. 'And no moon woke, but the pale dawn broke, And still thy soul stood there; And I thought its silence cried to my soul As the first rays crowned its hair. 480 'Since then have I journeyed fast and fain In very despite of Fate, Lest Hope might still be found in God's will: But they drove me from thy gate. 'For every man on God's ground, O King, 485 That room was built far out from the house; And none but we in the room Might hear the voice that rose beneath, Nor the tread of the coming doom. For now there came a torchlight-glare, And a clang of arms there came; And not a soul in that space but thought Of the foe Sir Robert Græme. Yea, from the country of the Wild Scots, O'er mountain, valley, and glen, 490 495 He had brought with him in murderous league Three hundred armèd men. The King knew all in an instant's flash, And all we women flew to the door And thought to have made it fast; 500 505 Then loosed her, standing alone, and said, 'Our bliss was our farewell!' And 'twixt his lips he murmured a prayer, And proudly in royal hardihood Then on me leaped the Queen like a deer: 'Oh! even a king, for his people's sake, 515 520 Then he cried to the Queen, 'God's will be done!' For her hands were clasped in prayer. And down he sprang to the inner crypt; And straight we closed the plank he had ripped, And toiled to smooth it fair. (Alas! in that vault a gap once was 540 Wherethrough the King might have fled: But three days since close-walled had it been By his will; for the ball would roll therein When without at the palm he played.) 545 Then the Queen cried, 'Catherine, keep the door, And I to this will suffice!' At her word I rose all dazed to my feet, And louder ever the voices grew, Until to my brain it seemed to be 550 Then back I flew to the rest; and hard 555 We strove with sinews knit To force the table against the door But we might not compass it. Then my wild gaze sped far down the hall And now the rush was heard on the stair, Like iron felt my arm, as through The staple I made it pass: 565 Alack! it was flesh and bone no more! 570 'T was Catherine Douglas sprang to the door, But I fell back Kate Barlass. With that they all thronged into the hall, Half dim to my failing ken; And the space that was but a void before 575 Was a crowd of wrathful men. But then a great wind swept up the skies, 635 The shield and the crown were black, 640 And what I say next I partly saw And partly I heard in sooth, For now again came the armèd tread, 645 650 And flung him above the first. And he smote and trampled them under him; And a long month thence they bare All black their throats with the grip of his hands When the hangman's hand came there. 685 And sore he strove to have had their knives, But the sharp blades gashed his hands. Oh James! so armed, thou hadst battled there Till help had come of thy bands; And oh! once more thou hadst held our throne 690 And ruled thy Scotish lands! But while the King o'er his foes still raged With a heart that naught could tame, Another man sprang down to the crypt; And with his sword in his hand hardgripped, There stood Sir Robert Græme. 695 With that he smote his King through the breast; And all they three in the pen Fell on him and stabbed and stabbed him there Like merciless murderous men. Yet seemed it now that Sir Robert Græme, Ere the King's last breath was o'er, Turned sick at heart with the deadly sight And would have done no more. But a cry came from the troop above: The price of his life that thou dost spare O God! what more did I hear or see, 720 725 In his robes of state he lay asleep And, girls, 't was a sweet sad thing to see 760 How the curling golden hair, As in the day of the poet's youth, From the King's crown clustered there. And if all had come to pass in the brain And the Queen sat by him night and day, And I had got good help of my hurt: 770 730 And still as I told her day by day, And evermore as I brought her word, But when the name of Sir Robert Græme I ran to hold her up from the floor; 785 790 755 But her eyes were a soul on fire. 800 IV. LOVESIGHT WHEN do I see thee most, beloved one? Or when in the dusk hours (we two alone,) 5 10 HAVE you not noted, in some family And nursed on the forgotten breast and knee? How to their father's children they shall be 5 In act and thought of one goodwill; but each Shall for the other have, in silence speech, That among souls allied to mine was yet 10 O born with me somewhere that men forget, |