The Poetry Corner

Sonnet. - Lord F. Douglas Killed On The Matterhorn, Switzerland, 1865

By John Campbell

Not home to land and kindred wast thou brought, Nor laid 'mid trampled dead of battle won,-- Nor after long life filled with duty done Was thine such death as thou thyself had'st sought! No, sadder far, with horror overwrought That end that gave to thee thy cruel grave Deep in blue chasms of some glacier cave, When Cervins perils thou, the first, had'st fought And conquered, Douglas! for in thee uprose In boyhood e'en a nature noble, free,-- So gently brave with courtesy, that those Old Douglas knights, the "flowers of Chivalry," Had joyed to see that in our times again A link of gold had graced their ancient chain!