A new
poem has just been published about Lady Colin Campbell by blogger JZ Knowles-Smith
(http://digbig.com/5bgjrt
). “Reflections on Lady Colin Campbell” expresses the thoughts of the poet on
viewing her portrait by Boldini. I thought it interesting to compare today’s “reflections”
with those of Lady Colin’s peers in two poems from the 1880’s. The first
reproduced below was published in 1883. It praises her beauty, the Irishwoman
amongst Scotswomen, and ironically her “cheeks and lips more sweet with hues of
health” at a time when she was still sick and bedridden after a serious bout of
illness, consequent to the venereal disease, she had contracted from Lord
Colin. (The author of this poem, C.C.B. is possibly Charles Dickens, Jr, born Charles
Culliford Boz Dickens.)
The
second poem reproduced below is more a favourite of mine. Written by Wilfrid
Meynell under the pen name of John Oldcastle in 1886, “On hearing her praised
for her repartee” does not only look at her physical beauty but also at her
wit.
LADY COLIN
CAMPBELL
By C.C.B.
Life, 26 April 1883
In the
gallery, long and splendid,
Of the
Campbells' ancient clan,
That with
history's march was blended
Ere more
mushroom growths began,
Thronged
are many chiefs and sages,
Hands to
strik and heads to think,
Names on
Time's recording pages
Writ in
blood or ink.
Turn we
from those warriors famous,
From those
seers, the council's pride -
Find a
livelier gandeamus
In the
ladies by their side!
Fairest
faces smile, resplendent
With all
charms that men adore,
Near each
haughty-browed descendant
Of Mac
Callum More.
Scottish
damsels, blithe and blooming,
Out from
ilka vale and glen
Brought
their name and fame illluming
Lineage a'
the world must ken.
Guest from
lowland home or highland
Ne'er did
Campbell lovlier hail,
Than this
stranger from the island
Of far
Innisfail.
Though the
Bruce and Stuart Mary
Each was
fairest of her line,
Ne'er
looked gates of Inverary
On
girl-eyes mre bright than shine,
Nor on
cheeks and lips more sweet with
Hues of
health and Heaven's own air,
Than it
now's their pride to meet with
In the
belle of Clare.
ON
HEARING HER PRAISED FOR HER REPARTEE
By John
Oldcastle
Merry England, March 1886
"When
thou the sun for the sun's spots dost praise;
Dost
deem that beauty lies in its defects;
Dost
love the Church as mother of the sects -
And
these spring breezes for the dust they raise"
"When
thou dost count the forest and the sea
Made
for mere sport and merchandise of men;
Dost
seek light for its shadow - not til then
Praise
thou Belinda for her repartee."
"She
is a Woman: that alone is awe.
Beauty
and youth are hers. And the dread law
Of
Womanhood she duteously obey."
"And
when I think what she is, and these are
Whose
laughter greets her sallies, - her tongue's care
I would
rein up, save when she sings and prays."
