Ι. NIGHT and morning were at meeting Cocks had sung their earliest greeting; For no paly beam yet shone Where the soldier lay, Chill and stiff, and drench'd with rain, Though death should come with day. II. "Tis at such a tide and hour, Wizard, witch, and fiend have power, And then the affrighted prophet's ear Among the sons of men;- Where, through battle's rout and reel, 4 Originally published in 1815, in the Edinburgh Annus. Register, vol. v. MS.-" Dawn and darkness."' Storm of shot and hedge of steel, Led the grandson of Lochiel, Valiant Fassiefern. Through steel and shot he leads no more, Brave Cameron heard the wild hurra III. 'Lone on the outskirts of the host, And heard, through darkness far aloof, Where held the cloak'd patrol their course, And spurr'd 'gainst storm the swerving horse; But there are sounds in Allan's ear, Patrol nor sentinel may hear, And sights before his eye aghast When down the destined plain, "Twixt Britain and the bands of France, Such forms were seen, such sounds were heard, When Scotland's James his march prepared, Such, when he drew his ruthless sword, The yet unchristen'd Dane. An indistinct and phantom band, They wheel'd their ring-dance hand in hand, With gestures wild and dread; The Seer, who watch'd them ride the storm, And of the destined dead. IV. Song. "Wheel the wild dance While lightnings glance, And thunders rattle loud, And call the brave To sleep without a shroud. 1 See note, ante, p. 509. 2 MS." Oft came the clang," &c. Our airy feet, So light and fleet, They do not bend the rye That sinks its head when whirlwinds rave, And swells again in eddying wave, As each wild gust blows by; But still the corn, At dawn of morn, Our fatal steps that bore, At eve lies waste, A trampled paste Of blackening mud and gore. V. "Wheel the wild dance While lightnings glance, And thunders rattle loud, And call the brave To bloody grave, To sleep without a shroud. Wheel the wild dance! Brave sons of France, For you our ring makes room; Make space full wide For martial pride, For banner, spear, and plume. Approach, draw near, Proud cuirassier! Room for the men of steel! Through crest and plate The broadsword's weight Both head and heart shall feel. VI. "Wheel the wild dance While lightnings glance, And thunders rattle loud, And call the brave To bloody grave, To sleep without a shroud. Sons of the spear! In many a ghastly dream; With fancy's eye Our forms you spy, And hear our fatal scream. With clearer sight Ere falls the night, Just when to weal or woe Your disembodied souls take flight See ante, Marmion, canto v. stanzas 24, 25, 26, and Appendix, Note 4 A, p. 173. "My arm it is my country's right, Even when the battle-roar was deep, My heart is in my lady's bower; For love to die, for fame to fight, Becomes the valiant Troubadour." Alas! upon the bloody field He fell beneath the foeman's glaive, But still reclining on his shield, Expiring sung the exulting stave:"My life it is my country's right, My heart is in my lady's bower; For love and fame to fall in fight Becomes the valiant Troubadour." From the French.' 1815. Ir chanced that Cupid on a season, And Folly for his hours of gayety. Though thus he dealt in petty treason, He loved them both in equal measure; Fidelity was born of Reason, And Folly brought to bed of Pleasure. Song, ON THE LIFTING OF THE BANNER OF THE HOUSE OF BUCCLEUCH, AT A GREAT FOOT-BALL MATCH ON CARTERHAUGH.2 1815. FROM the brown crest of Newark its summons extending, Our signal is waving in smoke and in flame; 1 This trifle also is from the French Collection, found at Waterloo.-See Paul's Letters. 2 This song appears with Music in Mr. G. Thomson's Collection-1826. The foot-ball match on which it was written |