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singular poem by Dunbar, seemingly addressed to James IV. on one of these occasions of monastic seclusion. It is a most daring and profane parody on the services of the church of Rome, entitled,

Dunbar's Dirge to the King,

Byding ower lang in Striviling.

We that are here, in heaven's glory,
To you that are in purgatory,
Commend us on our hearty wise;

I mean we folks in Paradise,

In Edinburgh, with all merriness,
To you in Stirling, with distress,
Where neither pleasure nor delight is,
For pity this epistle wrytis, etc.

See the whole in SIBBALD'S Collection, vol. I, p. 234.
Note 11. Stanza x.

Sir Hugh the Heron's wife held sway.

And

nobility, who did not sympathise in the king's respect for the fine arts, were extremely incensed at the honours conferred on those persons, particularly on Cochrane, a mason, who had been created Earl of Mar. seizing the opportunity, when, in 1482, the king had convoked the whole array of the country to march against the English, they held a midnight counsel in the church of Lauder, for the purpose of forcibly removing these minions from the king's person. When all had agreed on the propriety of the measure, Lord Gray told the assembly the apologue of the Mice, who had formed the resolution, that it would be highly advantageous to their community to tie a bell round the cat's neck, that they might hear her approach at a distance; but which public measure unfortunately miscarried, from no mouse being willing to undertake the task of fastening the bell. << I understand the It has been already noticed, that King James's ac-moral,» said Angus, « and, that what we propose may quaintance with Lady Heron of Ford did not commence not lack execution, I will bell the cat.» The rest of until he marched into England. Our historians impute the strange scene is thus told by Pitscottie:to the king's infatuated passion the delays which led to the fatal defeat of Flodden. The author of « The Genealogy of the Heron Family» endeavours, with laudable anxiety, to clear the Lady Ford from this scandal: that she came and went, however, between the armies of James and Surrey, is certain. See PINKERTON'S History, and the authorities he refers to, vol. II, p. 99. Heron of Ford had been, in 1511, in some sort accessary to the slaughter of Sir Robert Ker of Cessford, Warden of the Middle Marches. It was committed by his brother the bastard, Lilburn, and Starked, three Borderers. Lilburn, and Heron of Ford, were delivered up by Henry to James, and were imprisoned in the fortress of Fastcastle, where the former died. Part of the pretence of Lady Ford's negotiations with James was the liberty of her husband.

Note 12. Stanza x.

For the fair Queen of France
Sent him a Turquois ring, and glove,

And charged him, as her knight and love,
For her to break a lance..

<< Also the Queen of France wrote a love-letter to the King of Scotland, calling him her love, showing him that she had suffered much rebuke in France for the defending of his honour. She believed surely that he would recompense her again with some of his kingly support in her necessity: that is to say, that he would raise her an army, and come three foot of ground on English ground, for her sake. To that effect she sent him a ring off her finger, with fourteen thousand French crowns to pay his expenses.»> PITSCOTTIE, p. 110.-A Turquois ring;-probably this fatal gift is, with James's sword and dagger, preserved in the College of Heralds, London.

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By this was advised and spoken by thir lords aforesaid, Cochran, the Earl of Mar, came from the king to the council (which counsel was holden in the kirk of Lauder for the time), who was well accompanied with a band of men of war, to the number of three hundred light axes, all clad in white livery, and black bends thereon, that they might be known for Cochran Earl of Mar's men. Himself was clad in a riding-pie of black velvet, with a great chain of gold about his neck, to the value of five hundred crowns, and four blowing horns, with both the ends of gold and silk, set with a precious stone, called a berryl, hanging in the midst. This Cochran had his heumont born before him, overgilt with gold; and so were all the rest of his horns, and all his pallions were of fine canvas of silk, and the cords thereof fine twined silk, and the chains upon his pallions were double overgilt with gold.

This Cochran was so proud in his conceit, that he counted no lords to be marrows to him; therefore he rushed rudely at the kirk-door. The council enquired who it was that perturbed them at that time. Sir Robert Douglas, laird of Lochleven, was keeper of the kirk-door at that time, who enquired who that was that knocked so rudely? And Cochran answered, 'This is I, the Earl of Mar.' The which news pleased well the lords, because they were ready boun to cause take him, as is afore rehearsed. Then the Earl of Angus past hastily to the door, and with him Sir Robert Douglas of Lochleven, there to receive in the Earl of Mar, and SO many of his complices who were there, as they thought good. And the Earl of Angus met with the Earl of Mar, as he came in at the door, and pulled the golden chain from his craig, and said to him a tow1 would set him better. Sir Robert Douglas syne pulled the blowing horn from him in like manner, and said, 'He had been the hunter of mischief over long.' This Cochran asked, 'My lords, is it mows, or earnest ?'

They answered, and said, 'It is good earnest, and so
thou shalt find: for thou and thy complices have abused
our prince this long time; of whom thou shalt have
no more credence, but shall have thy reward according
by past; right so the rest of thy followers.'
to thy good service, as thou hast deserved in times

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poorly furnished, it was of such strength as might war-
rant him against the malice of his enemies, and that
he now thought himself out of danger.1

There is a military tradition, that the old Scottish
March was meant to express the words.
Ding down Tantallon,
Mak a brig to the Bass.

« Notwithstanding, the lords held them quiet till they failure of his negotiation, for matching the infant Mary caused certain armed men to pass into the king's pal-with Edward VI. He says, that though this place was lion, and two or three wise men to pass with them, and give the king fair pleasant words, till they laid hands on all the king's servants, and took them and hanged them before his eyes over the bridge of Lawder. Incontinent they brought forth Cochran, and his hands bound with a tow, who desired them to take one of his own pallion tows and bind his hands, for he thought shame to have his hands bound with such a tow of hemp, like a thief. The lords answered, he was a traitor, he deserved no better; and, for despight, they took a hair tether, and hanged him over the bridge of Lawder, above the rest of his complices.»-PITSCOT-century to President Dalrymple of North Berwick, by TIE, p. 78, folio edit. the then Marquis of Douglas.

Note 14. Stanza xiv.

Against the war had Angus stood,
And chafed his royal lord.

Angus was an old man when the war against England was resolved upon. He earnestly spoke against that measure from its commencement; and, on the eve of the battle of Flodden, remonstrated so freely on the impolicy of fighting, that the king said to him with scorn and indignation, «< if he was afraid, he might go home.» The earl burst into tears at this insupportable insult, and retired accordingly, leaving his sons, George, master of Angus, and Sir William of Glenbervie, to command his followers. They were both slain in the battle, with two hundred gentlemen of the name of Douglas. The aged earl, broken-hearted at the calamities of his house and country, retired into a religious house, where he died about a year after the field of Flodden.

Note 15. Stanza xv.

Then rest you in Tantallon Hold.

Tantallon was at length « dung down» and ruined by the Covenanters; its lord, the Marquis of Douglas, being a favourer of the royal cause. The castle and barony were sold in the beginning of the eighteenth

Note 16. Stanza xv. --their motto on his blade.

Α very ancient sword in possession of Lord Douglas bears, among a great deal of flourishing, two hands pointing to a heart which is placed betwixt them, and the date 1329, being the year in which Bruce charged the Good Lord Douglas to carry his heart to the Holy Land. The following lines (the first couplet of which is quoted by Godscroft as a popular saying in his time) are inscribed around the emblem:

So mony guid as of ye Douglas beinge,
Of ane surname was ne'er in Scotland seine.

I will ye charge, efter yat I depart,
To holy grawe, and there bury my hart;
Let it remaine ever BOTHE TIME AND HOWR
To ye last day I sie my Saviour.

I do protest in tyme of al my ringe,
Ye lyk subject had never ony keing.

This curious and valuable relique was nearly lost during
the civil war of 1745-6, being carried away from Dou-
glas Castle by some of those in arms for Prince Charles.
But great interest having been made by the Duke of
Douglas among the chief partisans of Stuart, it was at
length restored. It resembles a Highland claymore, of
the usual size, is of an excellent temper, and admirably
poized.

Note 17. Stanza xxi.
-Martin Swart.

The ruins of Tantallon Castle occupy a high rock projecting into the German ocean, about two miles east of North Berwick. The building is not seen till a close approach, as there is rising ground betwixt it and the land. The circuit is of large extent, fenced upon three sides by the precipice which overhangs the sea, and on the fourth by a double ditch and very strong outworks. Tantallon was a principal castle of the Douglas family, and when the Earl of Angus was banished, in 1527, it The name of this German general is preserved by that continued to hold out against James V. The king went in person against it, and, for its reduction, borrowed of the field of battle, which is called, after him, Swartfrom the castle of Dunbar, then belonging to the Duke moor.-There were songs about him long current in of Albany, two great cannons, whose names, as Pitscot-England.-See Dissertation prefixed to RITSON'S Ancient tie informs us with laudable minuteness, were << Thrawn- Songs, 1792, page lxi. mouth'd Mow and her Marrow ;» also, « two great botcards, and two moyan, two double falcons, and four quarter falcons ;» for the safe guiding and re-delivery of which, three lords were laid in pawn at Dunbar. Yet, notwithstanding all this apparatus, James was forced to raise the siege, and only afterwards obtained possession of Tantallon by treaty with the governor, Simeon Panango. When the Earl of Angus returned from banishment, upon the death of James, he again obtained possession of Tantallon, and it actually afforded refuge to an English ambassador, under circumstances similar to those described in the text. This was no other than the celebrated Sir Ralph Sadler, who resided there for some time under Angus's protection, after the

1 Halter.

Note 18. Stanza xxi.

Perchance some form was unobserved:
Perchance in prayer, or faith, he swerved.

It was early necessary for those who felt themselves obliged to believe in the divine judgment being enunciated in the trial by duel, to find salvos for the strange and obviously precarious chances of the combat. Various curious evasive shifts, used by those who took up an unrighteous quarrel, were supposed sufficient to convert it into a just one. Thus, in the romance of << Amys and Amelion,» the one brother-in-arms, fighting for the other, disguised in his armour, swears that he did not commit the crime of which the Steward, his antagonist,

The very curious State Papers of this able negotiator have been lately published by Mr Clifford, with some Notes by the author of Marmion.

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truly though maliciously, accused him whom he represented. Brantome tells a story of an Italian, who entered the lists upon an unjust quarrel, but, to make his cause good, fled from his enemy at the first onset. Turn, coward!» exclaimed his antagonist. «<Thou liest,» said the Italian, « coward am I none; and in this quarrel will fight to the death, but my first cause of combat was unjust, and I abandon it.» « Je vous laisse à penser,» adds Brantome, « s'il n'y a pas de l'abus la.» Elsewhere, he says, very sensibly, upon the confidence which those who had a righteous cause entertained of victory; « Un autre abus y avoit-il, que ceux qui avoient un juste subjet de querelle, et qu'on les faisoit jurer avant entrer au camp, pensoient estre aussitost vainqueurs, voire s'en assuroient-t-ils du tout, mesme que leurs confesseurs, parrains, et confidants leurs en respondoient tout-a-fait, comme si Dieu leur en eust donné une patente; et ne regardant point à d'autres fautes passées, et que Dieu en garde la punition à ce coup là pour plus grande, despiteuse, et exemplaire.» -Discours sur les Duels.

Note 19.

Stanza xxv.

Don-Edin's Cross.

and Plotcock, so far from implying any thing fabulous,
was a synonyme of the grand enemy of mankind.
<< Yet all their warnings, and uncouth tidings, nor no
good counsel, might stop the king, at this present, from
his vain purpose, and wicked enterprise, but hasted
him fast to Edinburgh, and there to make his provi-
sions and furnishing, in having forth of his army
against the day appointed, that they should meet in
the Burrow-muir of Edinburgh: that is to say, seven
cannons that he had forth of the castle of Edinburgh,
which were called the Seven Sisters, casten by Robert
Borthwick, the master-gunner, with other small artil-
lery, bullet, powder, and all manner of order, as the
master-gunner could devise.

me,

<< In this mean time, when they were taking forth their artillery, and the king being in the Abbey for the time, there was a cry heard at the Market-cross of Edinburgh, at the hour of midnight, proclaiming as it had been a summons, which was named and called by the proclaimer thereof, The Summons of Plotcock; which desired all men to compear, both Earl, and Lord, and Baron, and all honest gentlemen within the town (every man specified by his own name), to compear, The Cross of Edinburgh was an ancient and curious within the space of forty days, before his master, structure. The lower part was an octagonal tower, six- where it should happen him to appoint, and be for the teen feet in diameter, and about fifteen feet high. At time, under the pain of disobedience. But whether cach angle there was a pillar, and between them an this summons was proclaimed by vain persons, nightarch, of the Grecian shape. Above these was a pro-walkers, or drunken men, for their pastime, or if it jecting battlement, with a turret at each corner, and was a spirit, I cannot tell truly; but it was shown to medallions, of rude but curious workmanship, between that an indweller of the town, Mr Richard Lawthem. Above these rose the proper Cross, a column of son, being evil-disposed, ganging in his gallery-stair one stone, upwards of twenty feet high, surmounted foreanent the cross, hearing this voice proclaiming this with a unicorn. This pillar is preserved at the House summons, thought marvel what it should be, cried on of Drum, near Edinburgh. The magistrates of Edin-his servant to bring him his purse; and when he had burgh, in 1756, with consent of the Lords of Session, brought him it, he took out a crown, and cast over the (proh pudor!) destroyed this curious monument, under stair, saying, I appeal from that summons, judgment, a wanton pretext that it encumbered the street; while, and sentence thereof, and takes me all whole in the on the one hand, they left an ugly mass, called the mercy of God, in Christ Jesus his son. Verily the auLuckenbooths, and, on the other, an awkward, long, thor of this, that caused me write the manner of the and low guard-house, which were fifty times more ensummons, was a landed gentleman, who was at that cumbrance than the venerable and inoffensive Cross. time twenty years of age, and was in the town the time of the said summons; and thereafter, when the field was stricken, he swore to me, there was no man that escaped that was called in this summons, but that one man alone which made his protestation, and appealed from the said summons: but all the lave were perished in the field with the king.»

From the tower of the Cross, so long as it remained, the heralds published the acts of parliament; and its site, marked by radii, diverging from a stone centre, in the High Street, is still the place where proclamations are made.

Note 20. Stanza xxv.
This awful summons came.

Note 21. Stanza xxix.
Fitz-Eustace bade them pause a while
Before a venerable pile.

The convent alluded to is a foundation of Cistertian

This supernatural citation is mentioned by all our Scottish historians. It was probably, like the apparition at Linlithgow, an attempt, by those averse to the war, to impose upon the superstitious temper of James IV. The following account from Pitscottic is charac-nuns, near North Berwick, of which there are still teristically minute, and furnishes, besides, some curious some remains. It was founded by Duncan, Earl of particulars of the equipment of the army of James IV. I need only add to it, that Plotcock, or Plutock, is no other than Pluto. The christians of the middle ages by no means disbelieved in the existence of the heathen deities: they only considered them as devils; '

Fife, in 1216.

Note 22. Stanza xxxi.
That one of his own ancestry

Drove the monks forth of Coventry.

This relates to the catastrophe of a real Robert de See, on this curious subject, the Essay on Fairies, in the « Bor- Marmion, in the reign of King Stephen, whom William der Minstrelsy, vol. II, under the fourth bead; also Jackson on of Newbury describes with some attributes of my ficUnbelief, p. 175. Chaucer calls Pluto the King of Faerie; and Dunbar names him Pluto, that elrich incubus. If he was not titious hero: « Homo bellicosus, ferocia, et astutia, actually the devil, be must be considered as the prince of the fere nullo suo tempore impar.» This baron, having power of the air. The most remarkable instance of these sur-expelled the monks from the church of Coventry, was viving classical superstitions, is that of the Germans, concerning the Hill of Venus, into which she attempts to entice all gallant knights, and detains them in a sort of Fool's Paradise.

not long of experiencing the divine judgment, as the
same monks no doubt termed his disaster. Having

1

waged a feudal war with the Earl of Chester, Marmion's horse fell, as he charged in the van of his troop, against a body of the Earl's followers: the rider's thigh being broken by the fall, his head was cut off by a common foot-soldier, ere he could receive any succour. The whole story is told by William of Newbury.

CANTO VI.

Note 1. Introduction.

--the savage Dane

At Iol more deep the mead did drain.

The Iol of the heathen Danes (a word still applied to Christmas in Scotland) was solemnized with great festivity. The humour of the Danes at table displayed itself in pelting each other with bones; and Torfæus tells a long and curious story, in the history of Hrolfe Kraka, of one Hottus, an inmate of the court of Denmark, who was so generally assailed with these missiles, that he constructed, out of the bones with which he was over whelmed, a very respectable entrenchment, against those who continued the raillery. The dances of the northern warriors round the great fires of pine-trees are commemorated by Olaus Magnus, who says, they danced with such fury, holding each other by the hands, that, if the grasp of any failed, he was pitched into the fire with the velocity of a sling. The sufferer, on such occasions, was instantly plucked out, and obliged to quaff off a certain measure of ale, as a penalty for « spoiling the king's fire.»>

Note 2. Introduction.

On Christmas eve the mass was sung.

In Roman Catholic countries, mass is never said at night, excepting on Christmas eve. Each of the frolics, with which that holiday used to be celebrated, might admit of a long and curious note; but I shall content myself with the following description of Christmas, and his attributes, as personified in one of Ben Jonson's Masques for the Court.

« Enter CHRISTMAS, with two or three of the Guard. He is attired in round hose, long stockings, a close doublet, a high-crowned hat, with a broach, a long thin beard, a truncheon, little ruffs, white shoes, his scarfs and garters tied across, and his drum beaten before

him.

« The names of his children, with their attires. «Miss-Rule, in a velvet cap, with a sprig, a short cloak, great yellow ruff, like a reveller; his torch-bearer bearing a rope, a cheese, and a basket.

« Caroll, a long tawny coat, with a red cap, and a flute at his girdle; his torch-bearer carrying a song-book

open.

« Minced-pie, like a fine cook's wife, drest neat, her man carrying a pie, dish, and spoons.

« Gamboll, like a tumbler, with a hoop and bells; his torch-bearer armed with cole-staff, and blinding cloth.

« Post and Pair, with a pair-royal of aces in his hat, his garment all done over with pairs and purs; his squire carrying a box, cards, and counters.

New-year's-gift, in a blue coat, serving-man like, with an orange, and a sprig of rosemary gilt on his

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Note 3. Introduction.

Who lists may in their mumming see
Traces of ancient mystery.

It seems certain, that the Mummers of England, who (in Northumberland at least) used to go about in disguise to the neighbouring houses, bearing the then useless ploughshare; and the Guisards of Scotland, not yet in total disuse, present, in some indistinct degree, a shadow of the old mysteries, which were the origin of the English drama. In Scotland (me ipso teste), we were wont, during my boyhood, to take the characters of the apostles, at least of Peter, Paul, and Judas Iscariot; the first had the keys, the second carried a sword, and the last the bag, in which the dole of our neighbours' plum-cake was deposited. One played a Champion, and recited some traditional rhymes; another

was

Alexander, king of Macedon,

Who conquer'd all the world bat Scotland alone;
When he came to Scotland his courage grew cold,
To see a little nation so courageous and bold.

These, and many such verses, were repeated, but by
believe, a Saint George. In all, there was a confused
rote, and unconnectedly. There was also occasionally,
resemblance of the ancient mysteries, in which the
characters of Scripture, the Nine Worthies, and other
popular personages, were usually exhibited. It were
much to be wished, that the Chester Mysteries were pub-
lished from the MS. in the Museum, with the annota-
tions which a diligent investigator of popular antiqui-
ties might still supply. The late acute and valuable
antiquary, Mr Ritson, showed me several memoranda
towards such a task, which are probably now dispersed
or lost. See, however, his Remarks on Shakspeare,
1783, p. 38.-Since the quarto edition of MARMION ap-
the learned and extensive labours of Mr Douce.
peared, this subject has received much elucidation from

Note 4. Introduction.

Where my great grandsire came of old,
With amber beard, and flaxen hair.

Mr Scott of Harden, my kind and affectionate friend, and distant relation, has the original of a poetical invitation, addressed from his grandfather to my relative, from which a few lines in the text are imitated. They are dated, as the epistle in the text, from Mertoun-house, the seat of the Harden family.

With amber beard, and flaxen bair,
And reverend apostolic air,
Free of anxiety and care,

Come hither, Christmas-day, and dine;

We'll mix sobriety with wine,

And easy mirth with thoughts divine.
We Christians think it holiday,

On it no sin to feast or play;
Others, in spite, may fast and pray.
No superstition in the use

Our ancestors made of a goose;
Why may not we, as well as they,
Be innocently blithe that day,
On goose or pye, on wine or ale,

And scorn enthusiastic zeal?

Pray come, and welcome, or plague rott Your friend and landlord, William Scott. Mr Walter Scott, Lessudden.

The venerable old gentleman, to whom the lines are addressed, was the younger brother of William Scott of Raeburn. Being the cadet of a cadet of the Harden family, he had very little to lose; yet he contrived to lose the small property he had, by engaging in the civil wars and intrigues of the house of Stuart. His veneration for the exiled family was so great, that he swore he would not shave his beard till they were restored: a mark of attachment, which, I suppose, had been common during Cromwell's usurpation; for, in Cowley's « Cutter of Coleman Street,» one drunken cavalier upbraids another, that, when he was not able to afford to pay a barber, he affected to « wear a beard for the king. I sincerely hope this was not absolutely the original reason of my ancestor's beard; which, as appears from a portrait in the possession of Sir Henry Hay Macdougal, Bart., and another painted for the famous Dr Pitcairn, was a beard of a most dignified and venerable appearance.

Note 5. Introduction.

-the Spirit's Blasted Tree.

I am permitted to illustrate this passage, by inserting « Ceubren yr Ellyll, or the Spirit's Blasted Tree,» a legendary tale, by the Reverend George Warrington:

<< The event on which this tale is founded, is preserved by tradition in the family of the Vaughans of Henwyrt: nor is it entirely lost, even among the common people, who still point out this oak to the passenger. The enmity between the two Welch chieftains, Howel Sele, and Owen Glyndwr, was extreme, and marked by vile treachery in the one, and ferocious cruelty in the other. The story is somewhat changed and softened, as more favourable to the characters of the two chiefs, and as better answering the purpose of poetry, by admitting the passion of pity, and a greater degree of sentiment in the description. Some trace of Howel Sele's mansion was to be seen a few years ago, and may perhaps be still visible, in the park of Nannau, now belonging to Sir Robert Vaughan, Baronet, in the wild and romantic tracts of Merionethshire. The abbey mentioned passes under two names, Vener and CymThe former is retained, as more generally used.>>

mer.

THE SPIRIT'S BLASTED TREE. Ceubren yr Ellyll.

Through Nannau's Chase as Howel pass'd, A chief esteem'd both brave and kind, Far distant borne, the stag-hound's ery Came murmuring on the hollow wind.

The old gentleman was an intimate of this celebrated genius. By the favour of the late Earl of Kelly, descended on the maternal side from Dr Pitcairn, my father became possessed of the portrait in question.

2 The history of their feud may be found in Pennant's Tour in Wales.

Starting, he bent an eager ear,

How should the sounds return again? His hounds lay wearied from the chase, And all at home his hunter train.

Then sudden anger flash'd his eye,

And deep revenge he vow'd to take,
On that bold man who dared to force
His red deer from the forest brake.

Unhappy chief! would nought avail,
No signs impress thy heart with fear,
Thy lady's dark mysterious dream,

Thy warning from the hoary seer?

Three ravens gave the note of death,

As through mid air they wing'd their way; Then o'er his head, in rapid flight,

They croak,-they scent their destined prey. Ill-omen'd bird! as legends say,

Who hast the wond'rous power to know, While health fills high the throbbing veins, The fated hour when blood must flow.

Blinded by rage, alone he pass'd,

Nor sought his ready vassals' aid; But what his fate lay long unknown, For many an anxious year delay'd.

A peasant mark'd his angry eye,

He saw him reach the lake's dark bourne, He saw him near a blasted oak,

But never from that hour return.

Three days pass'd o'er, no tidings came ;-
Where should the chief his steps delay ?
With wild alarm the servants ran,

Yet knew not where to point their way.

His vassals ranged the mountain's height, The covert close, the wide-spread plain; But all in vain their eager search,

They ne'er must see their lord again.

Yet Fancy, in a thousand shapes,

Bore to his home the chief once more: Some saw him on high Moel's top,

Some saw him on the winding shore. With wonder fraught, the tale went round, Amazement chain'd the hearer's tongue; Each peasant felt his own sad loss,

Yet fondly o'er the story hung.

Oft by the moon's pale shadowy light,
His aged nurse, and steward gray,
Would lean to catch the storied sounds,
Or mark the flitting spirit stray.

Pale lights on Cader's rocks were seen,

And midnight voices heard to moan; 'T was even said the blasted oak, Convulsive, heaved a hollow groan : And, to this day, the peasant still,

With cautious fear avoids the ground; In each wild branch a spectre sees,

And trembles at each rising sound.

Ten annual suns had held their course,
In summer's smile, or winter's storm;
The lady shed the widow'd tear,

As oft she traced his manly form.
Yet still to hope her heart would cling,
As o'er the mind illusions play,-
Of travel fond, perhaps her lord

To distant lands had steer'd his way.

T was now November's cheerless hour,
Which drenching rains and clouds deface;
Dreary bleak Robell's tract appear'd,

And dull and dank each valley's space.
Loud o'er the wier the hoarse flood fell,
And dash'd the foamy spray on high;
The west wind bent the forest tops,
And angry frown'd the evening sky.

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