Scene depicting the ruins of Dunnottar Castle, Scotland, as seen from a stone ledge.
The castle stands atop a rocky headland
with steep vertical cliffs. It is surrounded by the North Sea. A flock of birds flies
next to the cliffs. 1/2-page illustration
partially contained within a dark, thick border. The stone ledge, which provides a
vantage point for the illustrated scene, extends
beyond the border along the bottom edge.
Dunnottar.
(In Dunnottar Churchyard are the graves of the Covenanters who
perished in Dunnottar Castle in 1685.)
perished in Dunnottar Castle in 1685.)
In the dim churchyard, cold and grey,1
Where nobler feet than mine have trod,2
I mused alone at fall of day,3
And wondered at the ways of God—4
The shift and stir of things most still,5
The changes that are sure to come :6
Be moved, thou everlasting hill !7
Thou clarion voice of Truth, be dumb !8
The voice is hushed, and silently9
The mountain falls into the sea.10
And here, in common slumbers bound,11
They sleep, the pride of bygone days,12
Nameless beneath their burial mound,13
Or marked by word of wonted praise.14
How close they gather to their rest :15
Grim earls who fought for king and crown,16
And knaves who deemed confusion best,17
And traders tired of shop and town,18
And fisher-folks, whose dream must be19
Of brown snails bending o’er the sea.20
And last, but surely first in love,21
We place the names of those who fell22
Their faith in direst strait to prove :23
God gave them peace who fought so well ;24
The hallowed peace they prayed to win,25
And welcomed with their parting breath ;26
The peace that purged a nation’s sin,27
And brought to each a martyr’s death :28
Their blood a witness sure should be,29
And lasting as the eternal sea.30
Ah, well, ’tis much that they have been,31
Though we are milder, wiser grown,32
And skilled, perchance, to read between33
The broken lines on yonder stone.34
We judge by what we are and feel,35
Who move beyond the strain and stir36
That roused of old the fiery zeal37
Of Prelate and of Presbyter.38
Now here, from unblest hatreds free,39
They sleep together by the sea.40
But when the sands of time are run,41
And all our little changes sped,42
And standing ’neath the broad white sun43
Christ bids the grave give up its dead ;44
Though kings may rise and pass unknown,45
Too mean to walk at God’s right hand,46
Methinks beside the Father’s Throne47
Himself will place that faithful band,48
And say, Behold, they died for Me49
In yon old dungeon by the sea.50
Scene depicting a view of Whigs’ Vault, in the cellar of Dunnottar Castle, Scotland.
The vault features a rounded stone
ceiling. There are indistinct items clustered around the door at the end of the vault.
1/3-page vignette.