In the twelfth century William Fitz-Duncan laid waste the vallies of Craven with fire and sword; and was afterwards established there by his uncle, David King of Scotland. He was the last of the race; his son, commonly called the Boy of Egremond, dying before him in the manner here related; when a Priory was removed from Embsay to Bolton, that it might be as near as possible to the place where the accident happened. That place is still known by the name of the Strid; and the mother's answer, as given in the first stanza, is to this day often repeated in Wharfe-dale. See WHITAKER'S Hist. of Craven. THE BOY OF EGREMOND. "SAY what remains when Hope is fled.” She answered, "Endless weeping'" For in the herds-man's eye she read Who in his shroud lay sleeping. At EMBSAY rung the matin-bell, The stag was roused on Barden-fell; The mingled sounds were swelling, dying, And down the Wharfe a hern was flying; When near the cabin in the wood, In tartan clad and forest-green, With hound in leash and hawk in hood, The Boy of Egremond was seen. Blithe was his song, a song of yore, But where the rock is rent in two, And the river rushes through, His voice was heard no more! 'Twas but a step! the gulph he passed. But that step-it was his last! As through the mist he winged his way, A cloud that hovers night and day, The hound hung back, and back he drew The Master and his merlin too. |