Yet I will stay at Otterbourne, And, if you come not at three dayis end, 'Thither will I come,' proud Percy said, ་ 50 There will I bide thee,' said the Douglas, 55 'My trowth I plight to thee.' They lighted high on Otterbourne, And he that had a bonnie boy, Sent out his horse to grass; And he that had not a bonnie boy, His ain servant he was. But up then spake a little page, Before the peep of dawn 'O waken ye, waken ye, my good lord, For Percy's hard at hand.' 65 'Ye lie, ye lie, ye liar loud! Sae loud I hear ye lie: For Percy had not men yestreen, To dight my men and me. 'But I hae dream'd a dreary dream, Beyond the Isle of Skye; I saw a dead man win a fight, He belted on his good braid sword, But he forgot the helmet good, 58. bent] field. 60. pallions] tents. 72. dight] doom. 70 75 80 When Percy wi' the Douglas met, I wat he was fu' fain! They swakked their swords, till sair they swat, And the blood ran down like rain. But Percy with his good braid sword, Then he call'd on his little foot-page, 'My nephew good,' the Douglas said, 'My wound is deep; I fain would sleep; 'O bury me by the braken bush, 85 90 95 100 That ere a kindly Scot lies here.' He lifted up that noble lord, 105 He hid him in the braken bush, Wi' the saut tear in his e'e; That his merrie men might not see. The moon was clear, the day drew near, But many a gallant Englishman Ere day the Scotsmen slew. 83. swakked swords] exchanged blows. ΓΙΟ The Gordons good in English blood The Percy and Montgomery met, 'Yield thee, O yield thee, Percy!' he said, 'Whom to shall I yield,' said Earl Percy, Now that I see it must be so?' ་ 'Thou shall not yield to lord nor loun, 'I will not yield to a braken bush, 115 I 20 125 130 Or Sir Hugh the Montgomery, if he were here.' As soon as he knew it was Montgomery, And the Montgomery was a courteous knight, 135 This deed was done at Otterbourne, Earl Douglas was buried at the braken bush, 140 ANONYMOUS (from Scott's Minstrelsy of the Border). 125. loun. A man of humble rank. 119. swapped swords] exchanged blows. PANEGYRIC ON ENGLAND (1399) Shakespeare makes John of Gaunt the mouthpiece of the discontent and unrest in England during the last years of the reign of Richard II. Gaunt. Methinks I am a prophet new inspir'd, And thus expiring do foretell of him: His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last, For violent fires soon burn out themselves; Small showers last long, but sudden storms are short; He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes; With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder: Light vanity, insatiate cormorant, 6. 15 Consuming means, soon preys upon itself. Of the world's ransom, blessed Mary's Son: 21 25 30 Like to a tenement, or pelting farm: W. SHAKESPEARE (from Richard II). 29. leas'd out. A reference to Richard II's alliance with France, over whom in Gaunt's youth England had won such brilliant victories. The noble, always contemptuous of the lawyer, uses legal terms to express his disgust at the agreement between the two countries. 34. inky blots. Richard compelled men to seal bonds by which they promised to pay any amount he might choose to ask for. DEPOSITION OF RICHARD II (1399) The chief cause which led to the deposition of Richard II was his unpopularity with the nobility on account of his desire to rule absolutely. The war party keenly resented the peace with France; and Bolingbroke, coming back ostensibly to claim his father's estate, found a strong party ready to force Richard to resign and put him on the throne. Scene. Westminster Hall. The Lords Spiritual on the right side of the throne: the Lords Temporal on the left: the Commons below. Enter Richard, and officers bearing the crown, &c. King Richard. Alack! why am I sent for to a king Before I have shook off the regal thoughts Wherewith I reign'd? I hardly yet have learn'd To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs: 30. pelting] paltry. |