On foaming steed, in full career, With brand to aid, when as the spear Should shiver in the course: But he, the jovial Harper, taught Me, yet a youth, how it was fought, He knew each ordinance and clause Of black Lord Archibald's battle laws, In the old Douglas' day. He brooked not, he, that scoffing tongue Or call his song untrue : For this, when they the goblet plied, And such rude taunt had chafed his pride, The bard of Reull he slew. in Teviot's side, in fight they stood, And tuneful hands were stained with blood; Where still the thorn's white branches wave, Memorial o'er his rival's grave. XXXV. Why should I tell the rigid doom, That dragged my master to his tomb; How Ousenam's maidens tore their hair, Wept till their eyes were dead and dim, And wrung their hands for love of him, Who died at Jedwood Air? He died!-his scholars, one by one, To the cold silent grave are gone;. To muse o'er rivalries of yore, And grieve that I shall hear no more He paused: the listening dames again With many a word of kindly cheer, In pity half, and half sincere,— Marvelled the Duchess how so well Of ancient deeds, so long forgot; Of feuds, whose memory was not; Of forests, now laid waste and bare; Of manners, long since changed and gone; Of chiefs, who under their gray stone Had blotted from her rolls their name, And twined round some new minion's head In sooth, 'twas strange, this old man's verse The Harper smiled, well-pleased; for ne'er Was flattery lost on poet's ear: A simple race! they waste their toil For the vain tribute of a smile; |