“Falsely, falsely have ye done, O mother," she said, "if this be true; 66 Nay, now, my child," said Alice the nurse, And all you have will be Lord Ronald's, "If I'm a beggar born," she said, "Nay, now, my child," said Alice the nurse, "Nay, now, what faith?" said Alice the nurse; "Yet give one kiss to your mother dear! Alas, my child, I sinn'd for thee.' 66 "O mother, mother, mother," she said, "So strange it seems to me. Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear, And lay your hand upon my head, She clad herself in a russet gown, She went by dale, and she went by down, The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought Dropt her head in the maiden's hand, Down stept Lord Ronald from his tower: "O Lady Clare, you shame your worth! Why come you drest like a village maid, That are the flower of the Earth?" "If I come drest like a village maid, 66 “And not the Lady Clare." Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, "For I am yours in word and in deed; Play me no tricks,' " said Lord Ronald, "Your riddle is hard to read." O, and proudly stood she up! Her heart within her did not fail : She look'd into Lord Ronald's eyes, And told him all her nurse's tale. He laugh'd a laugh of merry scorn; He turn'd and kiss'd her where she stood: “If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, “the next in blood, If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the lawful heir, We two will wed to-morrow morn, And you shall still be Lady Clare." MACLAINE'S CHILD. CHARLES MACKAY. “MACLAINE! you've scourged me like a hound : You should have crush'd me unto death: On him, And, starting like a hunted stag, And, leaning o'er its topmost ledge, With flashing eye and burning brow But midway up the rugged steep "O, spare my child, my joy, my pride! O, give me back my child!" she cried: "My child! my child!" with sobs and tears She shriek'd upon his callous ears. "Come, Evan," said the trembling chief, His bosom wrung with pride and grief, — "Restore the boy, give back my son, And I'll forgive the wrong you've done." "I scorn forgiveness, haughty man! And, as he spoke, he raised the child "Fair lady, if your lord will strip, The lady's cheek grew pale with ire, then dropp'd it, sore distress'd. "I might have slain my babe instead. "Wrong unavenged I've never borne," The lady stood in mute despair, With freezing blood and stiffening hair; She moved no limb, she spoke no word; She could but look upon her lord. He saw the quivering of her eye, A storm of passions shook his mind, He bared his shoulders to the blow. 66 "I smite you," said the clansman true : But Evan's face beam'd hate and joy; Ere hand could stir, with sudden shock They found their bodies in the tide; Was that sad mother known to smile, - They dragg'd false Evan from the sea, |