Ballad I.
On Mark Wilson, slain in Irongray.
1.
I wandered forth when all men lay sleeping,1
And I heard a sweet voice wailing and weeping,2
The voice of a babe, and the wail of women,3
And ever there came a faint low screaming ;4
And after the screaming, a low, low moaning,5
All adown by the burn-bank, in the green loaning,6
I went, and by the moonlight, I found7
A beauteous dame weeping low on the ground.8
2.
The beauteous dame was sobbing and weeping,9
And at her breast lay a sweet babe sleeping,10
And by her side was a fair-haired child,11
With dark eyes flushed with weeping, and wild12
And troubled he held by his mother, and spake,13
“ Oh mither, when will my father awake ;”14
And there lay a man smitten low to the ground,15
The blood gushing forth from a bosom wound.16
3.
And by his side lay a broken sword,17
And by his side lay the open’d ‘ Word ;’18
His palms were spread, and his head was bare,19
His knees were bent—he had knelt in prayer
;20
But brief was his prayer, for the flowers where he knelt21
Had risen all wet, with his life’s blood spilt ;—22
And the smoke of powder smelled fresh around :23
And a steed’s hoof prints were in the ground.24
4.
She saw me, but she heeded me not ;25
As a flower she sat that had grown on the spot ;26
But ever she knelt o’er the murdered man,27
And sobbed afresh, and the loosed tears ran—28
Even low as she knelt, there came a rush29
Like a fiery wind, over river and bush,30
And amid the wind and in lightning speed,31
A bright Rider came, on a brighter steed—32
5.
“ Woe ! woe ! woe !” he called, and there came33
To his hand, as he spake, a sword of flame ;—34
He smote the air, and he smote the ground,35
Warm blood, as a rivulet, leapt up from the wound,36
Shriek followed on shriek, loud, fearful, and fast,37
And filled all the track where this dread one passed ;38
And tumult and terrible outcry there came,39
As a sacked city yields when it stoops to the flame ;40
And a shrill low voice came running abroad,41
“ Come, mortal man, come, and be judged by God.” 42
And the dead man turned unto heaven his face, 43
Stretched his hands, and smiled in the light of grace.44