Page:Murder of King Kenneth.pdf/7

 “ And there to the monarch she show’d a great tower. With curtains from roof to the floor, All finely embroider’d with costlier gems Than royalty had e’er seen before.

“ And there he beheld a Knight made of brass, Of form both handsome and bold; One band held a sword of the richest device— The other an apple of gold.

“ ‘ Where got you this figure, my Lady ? ' he said, ‘ For its beauty outvies all I’ve seen.’ ‘ 0 take thou the apple, my Sire,’ she replied, “ A present from me to thy queen ! ”

“ Suspecting no harm, the King seized the prize, Which he straight from the effigy bore ; But, alas ! ’twas ihe charm to some hidden spring, For the figure ope’d wide like a door; And from its false body wild poisoned darts flew, Which pierced the King to the core!

“So ’mongst those grand trophies he welter’d in blood,’ And powerless had felt the just sting, For Finella’s own son, and kinsmen were slain By order of this very king !

“ Such then was the wonderful way she reveng’d The wounds her proud heart had sustain’d ; And won for her friend, Constantinus the throne, Altho’ but a short time he reign’d.

“ But some say the King mix’d in a great hunt, That Finella had thrown in his way ; And two of these horsemen are tho’t to be those That murder’d the King on that day. While the one in the middle, as I have been told, Is the King in his princely array.

“ And that pointed weapon just over those spheres, Which are joined by a crown, some aver, Show the sceptre, the crown, and shields that were us’d In Scotland when Kenneth rul’d there,