Page:The Family Legend.pdf/24

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And in a dungeon kept, where, two long years, Nor light of day, nor human voice e'er cheer'd My loneliness, when did I ever yield, To e'en the bravest of that hateful name, One step of ground upon the embattled field— One step of honour in the banner'd hall?

Indeed thou hast our noble champion been; Deserving well the trust our chief deceas'd, This chieftain's father, did to thee consign. But when thou wast a captive, none to head us, But he, our youthful lord, yet green in arms, We fought not like Macleans; or else our foe, By fiends assisted, fought with fiend-like power. Far—far beyond the Campbells' wonted pitch. E'en so it did befal:—we lost the day:— That fatal day!—Then came this shameful peace.

Ay, and this wedding; when, in form of honour Conferr'd upon us, Helen of Argyll Our sov'reign dame was made,—a bosom worm, Nursed in that viper's nest, to infuse its venom Through all our after race. This is my welcome! From dungeons freed, to find my once-loved home With such vile change disgraced; to me more hateful