Classic and Contemporary Poetry
BRUCE: JAMES OF DOUGLAS, by JOHN BARBOUR Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Thus douglas to saint andrews came Last Line: Much love and honour to him brought. Subject(s): Douglas, Sir James De Douglas, Lord Of; Douglas The Good; Black Douglas, The | ||||||||
THUS Douglas to Saint Andrews came, The Bishop, courteous, at that same Received him, gave unto his care His knives, to carve before him there. He clad him well, in raiment fit, And gave him lodging fair to wit. There many days did Douglas dwell; Men for his bounty loved him well For he was in his ways most fair, Courteous and wise and debonaire, True and large-hearted aye was he, And o'er all things loved loyalty. 'T is well if men their love thus give, By loyalty men righteous live; A man, if he but loyal be Of virtue hath sufficiency, Without it, none his worth shall prize, Altho' he valiant be and wise, For nothing else where that doth fail May be of value, nor avail To make a man so good that he Shall for "a good man" holden be. But Douglas was in all things leal, At all times he disdained to deal In treachery, or falsehood's part, But on high honour set his heart, And bare him in such wise that dear Was he to all who came him near. Yet was he not so fair to see That he for beauty praised might be, In visage was he somewhat gray, And had black hair, as I heard say; But in his limbs well-shapen all, Large-boned, broad-shouldered, he, withal: Lean was his body, shapen well As those who saw him love to tell; When he was blithe, then gracious he, Gentle and meek in companie, On battlefield, his folk declare Another countenance he ware! And in his speech he lisped somewhat, But that became him well, I wot, With Hector good, of Troy, might he In many things well likened be; For Hector's hair was black, I trow, Strong-limbed was he, well made enow, And Hector lisped, e'en as did he, And was fulfilled of loyaltie, And was a wise and courteous knight Of manhood true, and mickle might. Yet none who lived on earth I dare With Hector, truly, to compare For in his days the deeds he wrought Much love and honour to him brought. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HEART OF THE BRUCE by LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY DOUGLAS OF THE BLEEDING HEART by MORITZ GRAF VON STRACHWITZ NORTHUMBERLAND BETRAYED BY DOUGLAS by ANONYMOUS BRUCE CONSULTS HIS MEN by JOHN BARBOUR BRUCE: HOW AYMER DE VALENCE, AND JOHN OF LORN CHASED THE BRUCE ... by JOHN BARBOUR BRUCE: HOW KING ROBERT WAS HUNTED BY THE SLEUTH-HOUND by JOHN BARBOUR BRUCE: HOW THE BRUCE CROSSED LOCH LOMOND by JOHN BARBOUR BRUCE: IN PRAISE OF FREEDOM by JOHN BARBOUR BRUCE: INTRODUCTION by JOHN BARBOUR THE EVE OF BANNOCKBURN by JOHN BARBOUR |
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