My lady, each night, sought the lonely light, That burns on the wild Watchfold; For, from height to height, the beacons bright Of the English foemen told. 66 The bittern clamour'd from the moss, "I watch'd her steps, and silent came "The second night I kept her in sight, Till to the fire she came, And, by Mary's might! an Armed Knight Stood by the lonely flame. "And many a word that warlike lord Did speak to my lady there; But the rain fell fast, and loud blew the blast, And I heard not what they were. "The third night there the sky was fair, "And I heard her name the midnight hour, And name this holy eve; And say, 'Come this night to thy lady's bower; Ask no bold Baron's leave. "He lifts his spear with the bold Buccleuch; His lady is all alone; The door she'll undo, to her knight so true, "I cannot come; I must not come; I dare not come to thee; On the eve of St. John I must wander alone: In thy bower I may not be.' "Now, out on thee, fainthearted knight! Thou shouldst not say me nay; For the eve is sweet, and when lovers meet, Is worth the whole summer's day. "And I'll chain the blood-hound, and the warder shall not sound, And rushes shall be strew'd on the stair; 1 The black-rood of Melrose was a crucifix of black marble, and of superior sanctity. 2 Dryburgh Abbey is beautifully situated on the banks of the Tweed. After its dissolution, it became the property of the Halliburtons of Newmains, and is now the seat of the Kight Honourable the Earl of Buchan. It belonged to the order of Premonstratenses -[The ancient Barons of New So, by the black rood-stone,' and by holy St. John, I conjure thee, my love, to be there!'— mains were ultimately represented by Sir Walter Scott, whose remains now repose in the cemetery at Dryburgh.-ED.] Eildon is a high hill, terminating in three conical summits, immediately above the town of Melrose, where are the admired ruins of a magnificent monastery. Eildon-tree is said to be the spot where Thomas the Rhymer uttered his prophecies. See ante, p. 573 |