Lest Scroop, or Howard, or Percy's powers, Threaten Branksome's † lordly towers, From Warkworth, or Naworth, or merry Carlisle. VII. UCH is the custom of Branksome Many a valiant knight is here; Bards long shall tell, How Lord Walter fell!+ When startled burghers fled, afar, The furies of the Border war ; When the streets of high Dun-edin VIII. AN piety the discord heal, Or stanch the death-feud's enmity? Can Christian lore, can patriot zeal, In mutual pilgrimage, they drew ;† For chiefs, their own red falchions slew ; While Cessford owns the rule of Carr,† While Ettrick boasts the line of Scott, The slaughter'd chiefs, the mortal jar, The havoc of the feudal war, Shall never, never be forgot! IX. N sorrow o'er Lord Walter's bier The warlike foresters had bent; And many a flower, and many a tear, Had lock'd the source of softer woe; Her son lisp'd from the nurse's knee"And if I live to be a man, My father's death revenged shall be !"— Then fast the mother's tears did seek To dew the infant's kindling cheek. X. LL loose her negligent attire, Hung Margaret o'er her slaughter'd sire, And wept in wild despair. But not alone the bitter tear Had filial grief supplied; For hopeless love, and anxious fear, Nor in her mother's alter'd eye And well she knew, her mother dread, XI. F noble race the Ladye came, Her father was a clerk of fame, He learn'd the art that none may name, For when, in studious mood he paced His form no darkening shadow traced XII. ND of his skill, as bards avow, And now she sits in secret bower, That moans the mossy turrets round. That chafes against the scaur'st red side? Is it the wind, that swings the oaks? Is it the echo from the rocks What may it be, the heavy sound, That moans old Branksome's turrets round? XIII. T the sullen, moaning sound, The ban-dogs bay and howl; And, from the turrets round, And looked forth to view the night; XIV. ROM the sound of Teviot's tide, Chafing with the mountain's side, The Ladye knew it well! Is was the Spirit of the Flood that spoke, And he call'd on the Spirit of the Fell. |