Bards long shall tell How Lord Walter fell! E When startled burghers fled, afar, 8 Can piety the discord heal, Or staunch the death-feud's enmity? In mutual pilgrimage they drew ; F For chiefs, their own red falchions slew! While Cessford owns the rule of Car, G While Ettrick boasts the line of Scott, The slaughtered chiefs, the mortal jar, The havoc of the feudal war, Shall never, never be forgot! 9 In sorrow, o'er Lord Walter's bier The war-cry, or gathering word, of a Border clan. Until, amid his sorrowing clan, Her son lisped from the nurse's knee'And if I live to be a man, My father's death revenged shall be !' 10 All loose her negligent attire, Hung Margaret o'er her slaughtered sire, But not alone the bitter tear Her lover, 'gainst her father's clan, And well she knew her mother dread, 11 Of noble race the Ladye came; Her father was a clerk of fame, H Of Bethune's line of Picardie : I In Padua, far beyond the sea. K Men said, he changed his mortal frame By feat of magic mystery; For when, in studious mood, he paced St Andrew's cloistered hall, His form no darkening shadow traced 12 And of his skill, as bards avow, That moans the mossy turrets round. That chafes against the scaur's1 red side? Is it the wind, that swings the oaks? What may it be, the heavy sound, That moans old Branksome's turrets round? 13 At the sullen, moaning sound, The ban-dogs bay and howl; 14 From the sound of Teviot's tide, From the voice of the coming storm, The Ladye knew it well! It was the Spirit of the Flood that spoke, River Spirit. 15 'Sleep'st thou, brother?' On Mountain Spirit. " Brother, nay my hills the moon-beams play. From Craik-cross to Skelfhill-pen, By every rill, in every glen, Merry elves their morrice pacing, To aërial minstrelsy, Emerald rings on brown heath tracing, Trip it deft and merrily. Up, and mark their nimble feet! Up, and list their music sweet!' River Spirit. 16Tears of an imprisoned maiden Mountain Spirit. 17 Arthur's slow wain his course doth roll The Northern Bear lowers black and grim; Twinkling faint, and distant far, Shimmers through mist each planet star; 18 The unearthly voices ceased, And the heavy sound was still; It died on the side of the hill. And her heart throbbed high with pride: 'Your mountains shall bend, And your streams ascend, Ere Margaret be our foeman's bride!' 19 The Ladye sought the lofty hall, N Even bearded knights, in arms grown old, Share in his frolic gambols bore, Albeit their hearts, of rugged mould, Were stubborn as the steel they wore. |