Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume III. Sorrow and Consolation. 1904. | | | | II. Parting and Absence | | Song of the Young Highlander | | Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832) |
| | Summoned from His Bride by the “Fiery Cross of Roderick Dhu”
From “The Lady of the Lake” |
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THE HEATH this night must be my bed, | |
| The bracken curtain for my head, | |
| My lullaby the warder’s tread, | |
| Far, far from love and thee, Mary; | |
| To-morrow eve, more stilly laid | 5 |
| My couch may be my bloody plaid, | |
| My vesper song, thy wail, sweet maid! | |
| It will not waken me, Mary! | |
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| I may not, dare not, fancy now | |
| The grief that clouds thy lovely brow, | 10 |
| I dare not think upon thy vow, | |
| And all it promised me, Mary. | |
| No fond regret must Norman know; | |
| When bursts Clan-Alpine on the foe, | |
| His heart must be like bended bow, | 15 |
| His foot like arrow free, Mary! | |
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| A time will come with feeling fraught! | |
| For, if I fall in battle fought, | |
| Thy hapless lover’s dying thought | |
| Shall be a thought on thee, Mary. | 20 |
| And if returned from conquered foes, | |
| How blithely will the evening close, | |
| How sweet the linnet sing repose, | |
| To my young bride and me, Mary! | | | |
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