Narrative Poems, part 3, Barclay of Ury etc

Project Gutenberg EBook, Barclay of Ury, and Others, by Whittier
From Volume I., The Works of Whittier: Narrative and Legendary
Poems #7 in our series by John Greenleaf Whittier
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Title: Narrative and Legendary Poems: Barclay of Ury, and Others
From Volume I., The Works of Whittier
Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
Release Date: Dec, 2005 [EBook #9562]
[Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule]
[This file was first posted on October 2,
2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII
0. START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, BARCLAY
OF URI, ETC. ***
This eBook was produced by David Widger [[email protected]
]
NARRATIVE AND LEGENDARY
POEMS
B Y
JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER
CONTENTS:
BARCLAY OF URY
THE ANGELS OF BUENA VISTA
THE
LEGEND OF ST MARK
KATHLEEN
THE WELL OF LOCH
MAREE
THE CHAPEL OF THE HERMITS
TAULER
THE
HERMIT OF THE THEBAID
THE GARRISON OF CAPE
ANN
THE GIFT OF TRITEMIUS
SKIPPER IRESON'S RIDE

THE SYCAMORES
THE PIPES AT LUCKNOW
TELLING
THE BEES
THE SWAN SONG OF PARSON AVERY
THE
DOUBLE-HEADED SNAKE OF NEWBURY
BARCLAY OF URY.
Among the earliest converts to the doctrines of Friends in Scotland was
Barclay of Ury, an old and distinguished soldier, who had fought under
Gustavus Adolphus, in Germany. As a Quaker, he became the object of
persecution and abuse at the hands of the magistrates and the populace.
None bore the indignities of the mob with greater patience and
nobleness of soul than this once proud gentleman and soldier. One of
his friends, on an occasion of uncommon rudeness, lamented that he
should be treated so harshly in his old age who had been so honored
before. "I find more satisfaction," said Barclay, "as well as honor, in
being thus insulted for my religious principles, than when, a few years
ago, it was usual for the magistrates, as I passed the city of Aberdeen,
to meet me on the road and conduct me to public entertainment in their

hall, and then escort me out again, to gain my favor."
Up the streets of Aberdeen,
By the kirk and college green,
Rode the
Laird of Ury;
Close behind him, close beside,
Foul of mouth and
evil-eyed,
Pressed the mob in fury.
Flouted him the drunken churl,
Jeered at him the serving-girl,

Prompt to please her master;
And the begging carlin, late
Fed and
clothed at Ury's gate,
Cursed him as he passed her.
Yet, with calm and stately mien,
Up the streets of Aberdeen
Came
he slowly riding;
And, to all he saw and heard,
Answering not with
bitter word,
Turning not for chiding.
Came a troop with broadswords swinging,
Bits and bridles sharply
ringing,
Loose and free and froward;
Quoth the foremost, "Ride
him down!
Push him! prick him! through the town
Drive the
Quaker coward!"
But from out the thickening crowd
Cried a sudden voice and loud

"Barclay! Ho! a Barclay!"
And the old man at his side
Saw a
comrade, battle tried,
Scarred and sunburned darkly;
Who with ready weapon bare,
Fronting to the troopers there,
Cried
aloud: "God save us,
Call ye coward him who stood
Ankle deep in
Lutzen's blood,
With the brave Gustavus?"
"Nay, I do not need thy sword,
Comrade mine," said Ury's lord;

"Put it up, I pray thee
Passive to His holy will,
Trust I in my Master
still,
Even though He slay me.
"Pledges of thy love and faith,
Proved on many a field of death,
Not
by me are needed."
Marvelled much that henchman bold,
That his
laird, so stout of old,

Now so meekly pleaded.

"Woe's the day!" he sadly said,
With a slowly shaking head,
And a
look of pity;
"Ury's honest lord reviled,
Mock of knave and sport of
child,
In his own good city.
"Speak the word, and, master mine,
As we charged on Tilly's[8] line,

And his Walloon lancers,
Smiting through their midst we'll teach

Civil look and decent speech
To these boyish prancers!"
"Marvel not, mine ancient friend,
Like beginning, like the