Each bard attuned the loyal lay, And for Dunedin hied away; Each harp was strung in woodland bower, In praise of beauty's bonniest flower. The chiefs forsook their ladies fair; The priest his beads and books of prayer ; The farmer left his harvest day, The shepherd all his flocks to stray; The forester forsook the wood, And hasted on to Holyrood. After a youth, by woes o'ercast, After a thousand sorrows past, Set foot upon her native plain; And every tongue gave thanks to Heaven, That Mary to their hopes was given. Her comely form and graceful mien, An exile bred in realms afar, Amid commotion, broil, and war. In one short year her hopes all crossed,- 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. When Mary turned her wondering eyes 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. Slowly she ambled on her way Amid her lords and ladies gay. Priest, abbot, layman, all were there, There rode the lords of France and Spain, Of England, Flanders, and Lorraine, While serried thousands round them stood, From shore of Leith to Holyrood. Though Mary's heart was light as air To find a home so wild and fair; To see a gathered nation by, And rays of joy from every eye; Though frequent shouts the welkin broke, Was it the thought, that all alone She must support a rocking throne? That Caledonia's rugged land Might scorn a Lady's weak command, And the Red Lion's haughty eye No; 'twas the notes of Scottish song, On forest flower or woodland rose. Compared with that which floated by,- As she drew nigh the Abbey stile, She halted, reined, and bent the while: |