A POEM.
73
When some dark traitor, mid an armed throng,
His bier the fable fledge, is dragged along.
Not prouder looked the Thunderer when he bore
The fair Europa from the Tyrian shore:
The beauteous females that his nod obey, 860
Match the famed heifers of the god of day.
Where Bothwell's bridge connects the margins steep,
And Clyde below runs silent, strong, and deep;
The hardy peasant, by oppression driven
To battle, deemed his cause the cause of Heaven:
Unskilled in arms, with useless courage stood,
While gentle Monmouth grieved to shed his blood.
But fierce Dundee, inflamed with deadly hate,
In vengeance for the great Montrose's fate,
Let loose the sword, and to the hero's shade, 870
A barbarous hecatomb of victims paid.
Clyde's shining silver with their blood was stained;
His paradise with corpses red profaned;
Which, when from Bothwell's lofty banks we view,
Shines with the leaves of spring, and blossoms new.
On every side, along the winding stream,
The eye meets one continued roseate gleam,
From orchards flaming with a lovely glow;
Scarce Eden could present a fairer show.
His bier the fable fledge, is dragged along.
Not prouder looked the Thunderer when he bore
The fair Europa from the Tyrian shore:
The beauteous females that his nod obey, 860
Match the famed heifers of the god of day.
Where Bothwell's bridge connects the margins steep,
And Clyde below runs silent, strong, and deep;
The hardy peasant, by oppression driven
To battle, deemed his cause the cause of Heaven:
Unskilled in arms, with useless courage stood,
While gentle Monmouth grieved to shed his blood.
But fierce Dundee, inflamed with deadly hate,
In vengeance for the great Montrose's fate,
Let loose the sword, and to the hero's shade, 870
A barbarous hecatomb of victims paid.
Clyde's shining silver with their blood was stained;
His paradise with corpses red profaned;
Which, when from Bothwell's lofty banks we view,
Shines with the leaves of spring, and blossoms new.
On every side, along the winding stream,
The eye meets one continued roseate gleam,
From orchards flaming with a lovely glow;
Scarce Eden could present a fairer show.
