# Love and grief or The death of the Sutherlands/Love and Grief, or The Death of the Sutherlands

LOVE AND GRIEF, OR THE DEATH OF THE SUTHERLANDS.
FROM Caledonia's diſtant bounds, beyond the Murray firth, Where Scottiſh men, with warlike ſounds joine dance, and ſong, and mirth.
There came the lord of Sutherland, a youth tall, fair, and free; His race was aye a gallant band, a gallant youth was he.
He lov'd his king, his country lov'd; a truſty blade he bore To ſmite their foes; by fear unmov'd; their foes him dreaded fore.
Yet gentle was he, too, and kind, as kindeſt friend might be; For ſtill in braveſt ſouls, we find, dwells ſweet humanity.
A youth ſo brave, a youth ſo mild, what lady would not love? Where'er he came, where'er he ſmil'd, in vain the fair ones ſtrove.
To quench the ſoft, but dangerous flame that in their boſoms glow'd; The kindling bluſh that went and came the ſecret flame ſtill ſhow'd.
​Amid the reſt, a lovely maid, Maria height was ſeen; Lovely her looks, her manners ftaid, but moſt her mind, I ween.
Did take who ſaw, meek was her mind as meekeſt infant's ſmiles; And wiſe as age, nor yet inclin'd to (illegible text)ming that beguiles.
Nor art nor cunning needed ſhe, her ſoul was fill'd with grace; Sincerely good, and nobly free, her ſoul beam'd in her face.
In deſtin'd hour young Sutherland beheld the beauteous maid; Her beauty could the youth withſtand, ſuch beauty ſo array'd.
Ah, no! her charms, by Virtue dreſt, did ſeize the hero's heart; He lov'd, he courted, he was bleſt— death could them only part:—
Nor that long time!—Lift to my tale, a tale of love and woe; If pity in your heart prevail lift, and a tear beſtow.
Midſt all that worth and wealth combin'd, which friends and fame confer, Of pleaſure on the feeling mind, did live this happy pair.
​Their happineſs to crown, kind heav'n two pretty babes did lend; Lent was the bleſſing, not ſo giv’n, but for it heaven might ſend.
And ſend Heaven did, ere long, for part, the eldeſt was recall'd; Both parents ſorely ru'd the ſmart, the ſmart them both appall'd
Now firſt appall'd, our warrior brave ſunk down in deep diſmay; And oft he view'd his darling's grave, his darling torn away.
Till heavey thoughts revolv'd too oft, oppreſs'd the ſprings of life; His ſtrength decay'd, his ſoul was ſoft, it bow'd beneath the ſtrife.
His friends to flee the ſcene of grief their prudent counſel gave; (From objects new we meet relief) all fought the youth to ſave.
Bath's balmy waters gently ſtream'd, their genial aid to give; Each joy-inſpiring Naiad ſeem'd to bid the warrior live.
Nathleſs the lurking ſickneſs gains faſt on his weakened frame; Till grown more bold, encreaſing pains reveal'd the fever's flame.
Full thirty days and thirty nights Maria tends his bed, ​Io her what are the world's delights, while there her lord is laid?
To lull his anguiſh, calm his mind, and hand the healing doſe, Was all her care: For this ſhe pin'd; for this the loſt repoſe.
At length her pious care prevail'd, to quell the fierce diſeaſe——— Might he but live, whate'er elſe fail'd, ſhe reck'd not; pain would pleaſe———
Ah me! what tidings do I hear? "ſhe ſickens, faints, and dies: "Outworn with watching, grief, and fear, "ſhe falls a ſacrifice."
Huſh! hide the woeful chance, look gay, and cloſeſt ſilience keep; Or ſmiling, ſpite of ſorrow, ſay, "the lady is aſleep."
Say ſo next day, try ev'ry art——— but ev'ry art is vain; Prolong'd ſuſpence, the wiſhing heart refuſeth to ſuſtain.
"Where is Maria dear," he cries, "my charmer, where is ſhe, "Whoſe looks were wont to cheer my eyes? ː "why doth ſhe fly from me?
"Go, bring her; ſay poor Sutherland, "bereav'd of her, muſt die: "Make haſte—why do ye ſpeechleſs ſtand; "what means that ſudden ſigh?
​"Alas! alas! Maria's gone; "I will not here abide; "We cannot part; we ſtill are one"——— he ſaid, then groan'd, and died.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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