BONNY DUNDEE SIR WALTER SCOTT [John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, supported James II of England when the Scotch Parliament had taken the part of William of Orange. In 1689 he defied the Parliament, marched out of Edinburgh with his followers, and began the long "Jacobite" rebellion.] To the Lords of Convention 'twas Claver'se who spoke, "Ere the King's crown shall fall there are crowns to be broke; So let each Cavalier who loves honour and me, Come follow the bonnet of Bonny Dundee. Come fill up my cup, come fill up my Still when the storm of Bottreau's waves (1831) THE LADY OF SHALOTT ALFRED TENNYSON [This poem is a kind of symbolic version of the story of Lancelot and Elaine (see page 160). In both versions Sir Lancelot is represented as unconsciously awakening the maiden out of the dream-life of her younger days, her love for him proving a curse because unrequited. With reference to the closing lines of Part II, Tennyson said: "The new-born love for something, for someone in the wide world from which she has been so long secluded, takes her out of the region of shadows into that of realities."] To look down to Camelot. She knows not what the curse may be, And so she weaveth steadily, And little other care hath she, The Lady of Shalott. And moving thro' a mirror clear Winding down to Camelot; 50 Sometimes a troop of damsels glad, But in her web she still delights 70 The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves, A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd The gemmy bridle glitter'd free, As he rode down to Camelot; And from his blazon'd baldric2 slung All in the blue unclouded weather 80 90 99 bearded. Having a tail or trail. (1832) 170 |