RUDIGER. THE English authorship of this ballad constitutes it's only claim to insertion in a British collection. Southey composed it in 1796, whilst very young, and it was first published by M. G. Lewis in his "Tales of Wonder." The theme was probably borrowed from Thomas Heywood's notes to the "Hierarchies of the Blessed Angels," a poem printed by Adam Islip in 1635. I do but pay perforce the price Of former happiness. "And hush thee, too, my little babe! Thy cries so feeble cease; Lie still, lie still ;-a little while And thou shalt be at peace." So as he spake to land they drew, And swift he stept on shore, And him behind did Margaret Close follow evermore. It was a place all desolate, Nor house nor tree was there; And there a rocky mountain rose, Barren, and bleak, and bare. And at its base a cavern yawn'd, No eye its depth might view, For in the moonbeam shining round That darkness darker grew. When Rudiger approached the cave, And cried, "Lo, I am here!" A deep sepulchral sound the cave And Rudiger approach'd, and held Then Margaret shriek'd, and gather'd then And round the baby fast and close Her trembling arms she folds, And with a strong convulsive grasp The little infant holds. “Now help me, Jesus!" loud she cries, The little infant falls. And loud he shriek'd, for now his frame The huge black arms clasp'd round, Cold horror crept through Margaret's blood, And dragg'd the wretched Rudiger Her heart it paus'd with fear, Adown the dark profound. THE EVE OF ST. JOHN. SIR Walter Scott is the author of this ballad. It was originally published in the "Tales of Wonder" edited by M. G. Lewis. It appears that no actual incident or tradition gave rise to it, but that it was the offspring of Scott's imagination, and that the recollections of his childhood induced him to place the scene of the tragedy at Smaylhome Tower. Allusion is made to the same locality in the introduction to the Third Canto of Marmion-"Those crags, that mountain tower-Which charm. ed my fancy's waking hour." The battle of Ancram Moor, where the English were signally defeat. ed, and a fight ever famous in the annals of Border Warfare, took place in 1546. THE Baron of Smaylho'me rose with day, He lighted at the Chapellage, |
