ADIEUX À MARIE STUART (A FRAGMENT)

ADIEUX ? MARIE STUART

(A FRAGMENT)

Queen, for whose house my fathers fought,

      With hopes that rose and fell,

Red star of boyhood’s fiery thought,

      Farewell.

They gave their lives, and I, my queen,

      Have given you of my life,

Seeing your brave star burn high between

      Men’s strife.

The strife that lightened round their spears

      Long since fell still; so long

Hardly may hope to last in years

      My song.

But still through strife of time and thought

      Your light on me too fell:

Queen, in whose name we sang or fought,

      Farewell.