HISTORICAL BALLADS. No. I. 



[BY THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD.] 



THE QUEEN OF FRANCE AND JAMES IV. 



I. 



" FATHER, why do those warriors troop 



With helmet, lance, and burnished brand ; 

 And why the cheering battle- whoop 



Through all the links of fair Scotland ?" 

 " Fair lady, it is mine to know 



Things yet concealed from human view 

 A lovely queen has stooped to do 



A deed which Scotland long may rue. 



II. 



" Warriors may fume, and statesmen rave, 



And kings may council and decree ; 

 Their fleets may split the thundering wave, 



Their armies leagure on the lea : 

 But when the tongue of beauty pleads, 



And tears the liquid eyes bedew, 

 The warriors check their battle steeds, 



Unbrace the helm, unbend the yew. 



III. 



" The sailor turns the helm a-lee, 



And growling slacks the jocund sail ; 

 For beauty rules the earth and sea, 



And might of man may not avail : 

 Though messengers of heaven descend, 



And angels speak in human tongue, 

 Man's haughty mind will scorn to bend, 



Save to the lovely and the young. 



IV. 



"But the best blood in all the land 



Shall stream for lady's selfish wile, 

 And Scotia's yet unconquered brand 



Sink down before the Southron guile ; 

 The shafts shall cloud the Border sky, 



The dead be piled along the lea, 

 The grave shall gape the raven cry 



And a stone stand where a king should be !' 



[The Musical Copyright of this Song is the property of Mr. SAMUEL CHAPPELL, 



Bond Street] 



M.M. No. 97. G 



