Felicia Hemans in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine Volume 26 1829/The Heart of Bruce, in Melrose Abbey
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 26, Page 610
THE HEART OF BRUCE, IN MELROSE ABBEY.
BY MRS HEMANS.
"Now pass thou onward, as thou wast wont, and Douglas will follow thee, or die."*[1]
Heart! that didst press forward still,
Where the trumpet’s note rang shrill,
Where the knightly swords were crossing,
And the plumes like sea-foam tossing,
First where'er the brave were met,
Last against each dark tide set;
Leader of the charging spear!
Fiery heart! And liest thou here?
May this narrow spot inurn
Aught that so could beat and burn?
Heart that lov'dst the clarion's blast,
Silent is thy place at last:
Silent—save when breeze's moan
Comes through weed or fretted stone;
Silent—save when early bird
Sings where once the Mass was heard;
And the wild-rose waves around thee,
And the long dark grass hath bound thee:
Sleep'st thou as the swain might sleep,
In his nameless valley deep?
No! brave Heart! Though cold and lone,
Kingly power is yet thine own.
Feel I not thy spirit brood
O'er the whispering solitude?
Lo! at one high thought of thee,
Fast they rise, the Bold, the Free,
Sweeping past thy lowly bed
With a mute, yet stately tread;
Shedding their pale armour's light
Forth upon the breathless night;
Bending every warlike plume
In the prayer o'er saintly tomb.
Is the noble Douglas nigh,
Arm'd to follow thee, or die?
Now, true Heart! as thou wast wont,
Pass thou to the peril's front!
Where the banner-spear is gleaming,
And the battle's red wine streaming,
Till the Paynim quail before thee,
Till the Cross wave proudly o'er thee!
—Dreams! the falling of a leaf
Wins me from their splendours brief,
Dreams, yet bright ones!—Scorn them not,
Thou, that seek'st the holy spot;
Nor, amidst its lone domain,
Call the faith in relics vain!
- ↑
* The cry of Douglas, on throwing from him the casket, which contained the heart of Bruce, into the midst of a battle between the Moors and Spaniards. After the death of Douglas, who fell in this combat, the heart was brought back to Scotland, and buried at Melrose.