Whose ponderous grate and massy bar Against the desolate and poor. The Duchess* marked his weary pace, When kindness had his wants supplied, And the old man was gratified, Began to rise his minstrel pride: * Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch and Monmouth, representative of the ancient lords of Buccleuch, and widow of the unfortunate James, Duke of Monmouth, who was beheaded in 1685. And he began to talk anon, Of good Earl Francis,* dead and gone, And how full many a tale he knew, And, would the noble Duchess deign Though stiff his hand, his voice though weak, He could make music to her ear. The humble boon was soon obtained; * Francis Scott, Earl of Buccleuch, father to the Duchess. + Walter, Earl of Buccleuch, grandfather to the Duchess, and a celebrated warrior. Perchance he wished his boon denied: The pitying Duchess praised its chime, And gave him heart, and gave him time, Till every string's according glee Was blended into harmony. And then, he said, he would full fain He could recall an ancient strain, He never thought to sing again. It was not framed for village churls, But for high dames and mighty earls; He had played it to King Charles the Good, When he kept court in Holyrood; And much he wished, yet feared, to try The long-forgotten melody. Amid the strings his fingers strayed, And an uncertain warbling made, And oft he shook his hoary head. But when he caught the measure wild, And lightened up his faded eye, In varying cadence, soft or strong, His toils, his wants, were all forgot : THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL. CANTO FIRST. I. THE feast was over in Branksome tower, And the Ladye had gone to her secret bower; Jesu Maria, shield us well! No living wight, save the Ladye alone, Had dared to cross the threshold stone. |