Worldwide liberty's lifelong lover, Lover no less of the strength of song, Sea-king, swordsman, hater of wrong, Over thy dust that the dust shall cover Comes my song as a bird to hover, Borne of its will as of wings along. Cherished of thee were this brief song's brothers Now that follows them, cherishing thee. Over the tides and the tideless sea Soft as a smile of the earth our mother's Flies it faster than all those others, First of the troop at thy tomb to be. Memories of Greece and the mountain's hollow Guarded alone of thy loyal sword Hold thy name for our hearts in ward: Yet more fain are our hearts to follow One way now with the southward swallow Back to the grave of the man their lord. Heart of hearts, art thou moved not, hearing Surely, if hearts of the dead may hear, Whose true heart it is now draws near? Surely the sense of it thrills thee, cheering Darkness and death with the news now nearing-- Shelley, Trelawny rejoins thee here. ADIEUX A MARIE STUART I 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. II There beats no heart on either border Wherethrough the north blasts blow But keeps your memory as a warder His beacon-fire aglow. Long since it fired with love and wonder Mine, for whose April age Blithe midsummer made banquet under The shade of Hermitage. Soft sang the burn's blithe notes, that gather Strength to ring true: And air and trees and sun and heather Remembered you. Old border ghosts of fight or fairy Or love or teen, These they forgot, remembering Mary The Queen. III Queen once of Scots and ever of ours Whose sires brought forth for you Their lives to strew your way like flowers. Adieu. Dead is full many a dead man's name Who died for you this long Time past: shall this too fare the same, My song? But surely, though it die or live, Your face was worth All that a man may think to give On earth. No darkness cast of years between Can darken you: Man's love will never bid my queen Adieu. IV