present, nor indeed in Edinburgh at the time; but a gentleman who had the pleasure of hearing the ballad afterwards told him the story, and repeated the remarkable chorus “Tramp! tramp! across the land they speede, In attempting a translation then intended only to circulate among friends, the present Author did not hesitate to make use of this impressive stanza; for which freedom he has since obtained the forgiveness of the ingenious gentleman to whom it properly belongs. WILLIAM AND HELEN I. FROM heavy dreams fair Helen rose, II. With gallant Fred'rick's princely power But not a word from Judah's wars III. With Paynim and with Saracen IV. Our gallant host was homeward bound With many a song of joy: Green waved the laurel in each plume, The badge of victory. V. And old and young, and sire and son, To meet them crowd the way, With shouts, and mirth, and melody, The debt of love to pay. VI. Full many a maid her true-love met, VII. Nor joy nor smile for Helen sad; For none could tell her William's fate, VIII. The martial band is past and gone; And in distraction's bitter mood She weeps with wild despair. IX. "O rise, my child," her mother said, X. "O mother, what is gone, is gone, What's lost for ever lorn: Death, death alone can comfort me; O had I ne'er been born! XI. "O break, my heart, O break at once! Drink my life-blood, Despair! No joy remains on earth for me, For me in heaven no share.”. XII. “O enter not in judgment, Lord!” The pious mother prays; "Impute not guilt to thy frail child! She knows not what she says. XIII. "O say thy pater noster, child! His will, that turn'd thy bliss to bale, XIV. "O mother, mother, what is bliss? O mother, what is bale? My William's love was heaven on earth, Without it earth is hell. 66 XV. Why should I pray to ruthless Heaven, I only pray'd for William's sake, XVI. "O take the sacrament, my child, By resignation's humble prayer, XVII. "No sacrament can quench this fire, Or slake this scorching pain; No sacrament can bid the dead XVIII. "O break, my heart, O break at once! Heaven's heaviest blow has fallen on me, XIX. "O enter not in judgment, Lord, With thy frail child of clay! She knows not what her tongue has spoke; Impute it not, I pray! XX. "Forbear, my child, this desperate woe, XXI. "O mother, mother, what is bliss? O mother, what is bale? Without my William what were heaven, Or with him what were hell?" XXII. Wild she arraigns the eternal doom, Till, spent, she sought her silent room, XXIII. She beat her breast, she wrung her hands, Till sun and day were o'er, And through the glimmering lattice shone The twinkling of the star. |