Classic and Contemporary Poetry
QUEEN MARY'S RETURN TO SCOTLAND, by JAMES HOGG Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: After a youth by woes o'ercast Last Line: The sweetest, wildest land on earth. Alternate Author Name(s): The Ettrick Shepherd; The Bard Of Ettrick Subject(s): Mary, Queen Of Scots (1542-1587); Scotland; Mary Stuart | ||||||||
AFTER a youth by woes o'ercast, After a thousand sorrows past, The lovely Mary once again Set foot upon her native plain; Knelt on the pier with modest grace, And turn'd to heaven her beauteous face. 'T was then the caps in air were blended, A thousand thousand shouts ascended, Shiver'd the breeze around the throng, Gray barrier cliffs the peals prolong; And every tongue gave thanks to heaven, That Mary to their hopes was given. Her comely form and graceful mien Bespoke the lady and the queen; The woes of one so fair and young Moved every heart and every tongue. Driven from her home, a helpless child, To brave the winds and billows wild; An exile bred in realms afar, Amid commotions, broils, and war. In one short year, her hopes all cross'd -- A parent, husband, kingdom, lost! And all ere eighteen years had shed Their honours o'er her royal head. For such a queen, the Stuarts' heir -- A queen so courteous, young, and fair -- Who would not every foe defy? Who would not stand -- who would not die? Light on her airy steed she sprung, Around with golden tassels hung; No chieftain there rode half so free, Or half so light and gracefully. How sweet to see her ringlets pale Wide waving in the southland gale, Which through the broom-wood blossoms flew, To fan her cheeks of rosy hue! Whene'er it heaved her bosom's screen, What beauties in her form were seen! And when her courser's mane it swung, A thousand silver bells were rung. A sight so fair, on Scottish plain, A Scot shall never see again! When Mary turn'd her wond'ring eyes On rocks that seem'd to prop the skies; On palace, park, and battled pile; On lake, on river, sea, and isle; O'er woods and meadows bathed in dew, To distant mountains wild and blue; She thought the isle that gave her birth, The sweetest, wildest land on earth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ALAS! POOR QUEEN by MARION ANGUS MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS by HENRY GLASSFORD BELL THE DAUGHTER OF DEBATE by ELIZABETH I THE TRAGIC MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS: 1 by KATHERINE HARRIS BRADLEY LAMENT OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, ON THE APPROACH OF SPRING by ROBERT BURNS QUEEN MARY AT FOTHERINGAY by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR ON LOCH LEVEN by CHRISTIAN CARSTAIRS ON THE EXECUTION OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS by LUCRETIA MARIA DAVIDSON |
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