County Guy
County Guy - context Summary
From Marmion
Placed within Scott's narrative collection Marmion, this short lyric sets an evening pastoral scene and centers on the absence of a named suitor, County Guy. Natural imagery—flowers, breeze, lark, and stars—establishes a romantic, expectant mood as a village maid listens for her high-born cavalier. The poem juxtaposes communal awareness of love's hour with the missing individual, highlighting longing and social rank in a compact, melodic stanza pair.
Read Complete AnalysesAh! County Guy, the hour is nigh, The sun has left the lea, The orange flower perfumes the bower, The breeze is on the sea. The lark his lay who thrill'd all day Sits hush'd his partner nigh: Breeze, bird, and flower confess the hour, But where is County Guy? The village maid steals through the shade, Her shepherd's suit to hear; To beauty shy, by lattice high, Sings high-born Cavalier. The star of Love, all stars above Now reigns o'er earth and sky; And high and low the influence know-- But where is County Guy?
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