this way, to impart a much greater dignity and more powerful interest to his production, than could ever be obtained by the unskilful and unsteady delineations of the old romancers. Nothing, we think, can afford a finer illustration of this remark, than the opening stanzas of the whole poem; they transport us at once into the days of knightly daring and feudal hostility, at the same time that they suggest, in a very interesting way, all those softer sentiments which arise out of some parts of the description."—JEFFREY. See Appendix, Note B. 2 See Appendix, Note C. 8 See Appendix, Note D, and compare these stanzas with the description of Jamie Telfer's appearance at BranksomeHall, (Border Minstrelsy, vol. ii. p. 5,) to claim the protection of "Auld Buccleuch"-and the ensuing scene, (page 9,)— VII. Such is the custom of Branksome-Hall.-4 Many a valiant knight is here; But he, the chieftain of them all, How Lord Walter fell!5 When startled burghers fled, afar, VIII. Can piety the discord heal, Or stanch the death-feud's enmity? In mutual pilgrimage, they drew; For chiefs, their own red falchions slew: While Cessford owns the rule of Carr, While Ettrick boasts the line of Scott, The slaughter'd chiefs, the mortal jar, The havoc of the feudal war, Shall never, never be forgot !8 IX. In sorrow o'er Lord Walter's bier Old Teviot's maids and matrons lent: Had lock'd the source of softer woe; And burning pride, and high disdain, Forbade the rising tear to flow; Until, amid his sorrowing clan, Her son lisp'd from the nurse's knee"And if I live to be a man, My father's death revenged shall be !” "The Scotts they rade, the Scotts they ran, Was-Rise for Branksome readilie," &c. Compare also the Ballad of Kinmont Willie, (vol. ii. p. 53.) "Now word is gane to the bauld keeper, In Branksome ha' where that he lay," &c.-ED. 4 There are not many passages in English poetry more im. pressive than some parts of Stanzas vii. viii. ix.-JEFFREY. See Appendix, Note E. 6 Edinburgh. 7 The war-cry, or gathering-word, of a Border clan. 8 See Appendix, Note F. 9 Orig. (1st Edition.) "The Ladye dropp'd nor sigh nor tear. Then fast the mother's tears did seek To dew the infant's kindling cheek. X. All loose her negligent attire, All loose her golden hair, Hung Margaret o'er her slaughter'd sire, Had filial grief supplied; For hopeless love, and anxious fear, XI. Of noble race the Ladye came, Of Bethune's line of Picardie :3 XII. And of his skill, as bards avow, That chafes against the scaur's red side? That moans old Branksome's turrets round? "Arthur's slow wain his course doth roll, 5 First Edition-" St. Kentigerne's hall."-St. Mungo, or Kentigerne, is the patron saint of Glasgow. 6 See Appendix, Note L. 7 See Appendix, Note M. 8 Scaur, a precipitous bank of earth. XVIII. The unearthly voices ceast, And the heavy sound was still; It died on the river's breast, It died on the side of the hill. But round Lord David's tower The sound still floated near; For ierung in the Ladye's bower, And it rung in the Ladye's ear. She raised her stately head, And her heart throbb'd high with pride:"Your mountains shall bend, And your streams ascend, Ere Margaret be our foeman's bride!" XIX. The Ladye sought the lofty hall, Where many a bold retainer lay, La mimic foray 2 rode. Even bearded knights, in arms grown old, Were stubborn as the steel they wore. For the grey warriors prophesied, How the brave boy, in future war, Should tame the Unicorn's pride,3 Exalt the Crescent and the Star.4 XX. The Ladye forgot her purpose high, XXI. A stark moss-trooping Scott was he, 1 See Appendix, Note N. 2 Foray, a predatory inroad. 8 This line, of which the metre appears defective, would have its full complement of feet according to the pronunciation of the poet himself as all who were familiar with his utterance of the letter r will bear testimony.-ED. 4 See Appendix, Note O. 5 Ibid. Note P. 6 Ibid. Note Q. 7 Hairibee, the place of executing the Border marauders at Carlisle. The neck-verse is the beginning of the 51st Psalm, Alike to him was tide or time, By England's King, and Scotland's Queen. XXII. "Sir William of Deloraine, good at need, Seek thou the Monk of St. Mary's aisle. Say that the fated hour is come, For this will be St. Michael's night, Will point to the grave of the mighty dead. XXIII. "What he gives thee, see thou keep; Stay not thou for food or sleep: Be it scroll, or be it book, Into it, Knight, thou must not look; If thou readest, thou art lorn! Better had'st thou ne'er been born." XXIV. "O swiftly can speed my dapple-grey steed, Which drinks of the Teviot clear; Ere break of day," the Warrior 'gan say, "Again will I be here: And safer by none may thy errand be done, Than, noble dame, by me; Letter nor line know I never a one, Wer't my neck-verse at Hairibee."7 XXV. Soon in his saddle sate he fast, And cross'd old Borthwick's roaring strand; Miserere mei, &c., anciently read by criminals claiming the benefit of clergy. ["In the rough but spirited sketch of the marauding Borderer, and in the naïveté of his last declaration, the reader will recognise some of the most striking features of the ancient ballad."-Critical Review.] 8 Barbican, the defence of the outer gate of a feudal castle. Peel, a Border tower. 10 See Appendix, Note R. |