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Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers

by William Edmondstoune Aytoun

27 of 28 · Contents · Download EPUB

Epitaph of Constantine Kanaris

From the German of Wilhelm Müller

I am Constantine Kanaris:
  I, who lie beneath this stone,
Twice into the air in thunder
  Have the Turkish galleys blown.

In my bed I died—a Christian,
  Hoping straight with Christ to be;
Yet one earthly wish is buried
  Deep within the grave with me—

That upon the open ocean
  When the third Armada came,
They and I had died together,
  Whirled aloft on wings of flame.

Yet ’tis something that they’ve laid me
  In a land without a stain:
Keep it thus, my God and Saviour,
  Till I rise from earth again!

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