CONTRIBUTIONS ΤΟ BORDER MINSTRELSY. GLENFINLAS; OR, LORD RONALD'S CORONACH. THE simple tradition, upon which the following stanzas are founded runs thus: While two Highland hunters were passing the night in a solitary bothy (a hut built for the purpose of hunting), and making merry over their venison and whisky, one of them expressed a wish, that they had pretty lasses to complete their party. The words were scarcely uttered, when two beautiful young women, habited in green, entered the hut, dancing and singing. One of the hunters was seduced, by the syren who attached herself particularly to him, to leave the hut; the other remained, and, suspicious of the fair seducers, continued to play upon a trump, or Jew's harp, some strain consecrated to the Virgin Mary. Day at length came, and the temptress vanished. Searching in the forest, he found the bones of his unfortunate friend, who had been torn to pieces and devoured by the flend into whose toils he had fallen. The place wus from thence called, The Glen of the Green Women. "O HONE a rie'! O hone a rie'!" And fallen Glenartney's stateliest tree; O, sprung from great Macgillianore, Well can the Saxon widows tell, How, on the Teith's resounding shore, But o'er the hills, on festal day, How blazed Lord Ronald's Beltane tree, Cheered by the strength of Ronald's shell, From distant isles a Chieftain came, 'Twas Moy; whom in Columba's isle Full many a spell to him was known, Was never meant for mortal ear. For there, 'tis said, in mystic mood, High converse with the dead they hold, And oft espy the fated shroud, That shall the future corpse infold. O so it fell, that on a day, To rouse the red deer from their den, The chiefs have ta'en their distant way, And scoured the deep Glenfinlas glen. No vassals wait their sports to aid, To watch their safety, deck their board; Their simple dress, the Highland plaid, Their trusty guard, the Highland sword. Three summer days, through brake and dell, Their whistling shafts successful flew; And still, when dewy evening fell, The quarry to their hut they drew. In grey Glenfinlas' deepest nook Fast by Moneira's sullen brook, Which murmurs through that lonely wood. Soft fell the night, the sky was calm, And summer mist in dewy balm Steeped heathy bank and mossy stone. The moon, half hid in silvery flakes, Now in their hut, in social guise, "What lack we here to crown our bliss, To chase the deer of yonder shades, Long have I sought sweet Mary's heart, Beneath a sister's watchful eye. But thou mayst teach that guardian fair, Of other hearts to cease her care, And find it hard to guard her own. Touch but thy harp, thou soon shalt see Hang on thy notes, 'twixt tear and smile. Or, if she choose a melting tale, All underneath the greenwood bough, Will good St. Oran's rule prevail, Stern huntsman of the rigid brow?" "Since Enrick's fight, since Morna's death, No more on me shall rapture rise, Responsive to the panting breath, Or yielding kiss, or melting eyes. E'en then, when o'er the heath of woe, The last dread curse of angry Heaven, The bark thou saw'st, yon summer morn, My eye beheld her dashed and torn, Thy Fergus too-thy sister's son, Thou saw'st, with pride the gallant's power, Thou only saw'st their tartans wave, I heard the groans, I marked the tears, He poured his clan's resistless roar. And thou, who bidd'st me think of bliss, I see the death-damps chill thy brow; The corpse lights dance-they're gone, and now... "Alone enjoy thy dreary dreams, Say, should we scorn joy's transient beams, Or false, or sooth, thy words of woe, E'en now, to meet me in yon dell, My Mary's buskins brush the dew;"He spoke, nor bade the chief farewell, But called his dogs, and gay withdrew. Within an hour returned each hound; In rushed the rousers of the deer; No Ronald yet; though midnight came, He fed the watch-fire's quivering gleams. Sudden the hounds erect their ears, |