And by the watch-fire's glimmering light, All dropping wet her robes of green. She wrung the moisture from her hair. "O gentle huntsman, hast thou seen, In deep Glenfinlas' moon-light glade, A lovely maid in vest of green : "With her a chief in Highland pride; His shoulders bear the hunter's bow, The mountain dirk adorns his side, Far on the wind his tartans flow?" "And who art thou? and who are they?" All ghastly gazing, Moy replied: "And why, beneath the moon's pale ray, Dare ye thus roam Glenfinlas' side?" "Where wild Loch-Katrine pours her tide, Blue, dark, and deep, round many an isle, Our father's towers o'erhang her side, The castle of the bold Glengyle. "To chase the dun Glenfinlas deer, Our woodland course this morn we bore, "O aid me, then, to seek the pair, Whom, loitering in the woods, I lost; Alone, I dare not venture there, Where walks, they say, the shrieking ghost." Yes, many a shrieking ghost walks there; Then first, my own sad vow to keep, Here will I pour my midnight prayer, Which still must rise when mortals sleep." "O first, for pity's gentle sake Guide a lone wanderer on her way! "First, three times tell each Ave bead, "Not so, by high Dunlathmon's fire, Thy heart was froze to love and joy, When gaily rung thy raptured lyre, To wanton Morna's melting eye." Thy sire, the Monarch of the Mine." His wildest witch-notes on the wind; Was waved by wind, or wet by dew. Wild mingling with the howling gale, Loud bursts of ghastly laughter rise; High o'er the minstrel's head they sail, And die amid the northern skies, The voice of thunder shook the wood, As ceased the more than mortal yell; Next, dropped from high a mangled arm; Woe to Moneira's sullen rills! Even the tired pilgrim's burning feet And we e-behind the chieftain's shield, O hone a rie'! O hone a rie'! The pride of Albin's line is o'er, THE EVE OF ST JOHN. SMAYLHO'ME, or Smallholm Tower, the scene of the following ballad, is situated on the northern boundary of Roxburghshire, among a cluster of wild rocks, called Sandiknow-Crags. The tower is a high square building, surrounded by an outer wall, now ruinous. The circuit of the outer court, being defended, on three sides, by a precipice and morass, is accessible only from the west, by a steep and rocky path. The apartments, as is usual in a Border keep, or fortress, are placed one above another, and communicate by a narrow stair; on the roof are two bartizans, or platforms, for defence or pleasure. The inner door of the tower is wood, the outer an iron gate; the distance between them being nine feet, the thickness, namely, of the wall. From the elevated situation of Smaylho'me Tower, it is seen many miles in every direction. Among the crags by which it is surrounded, one, more eminent, is called the Watchfold, and is said to have been the station of a beacon, in the times of war with England. Without the tower-court is a ruined chapel. Brotherstone is a heath, in the neighbourhood of Smaylho'me Tower. The This ballad was first printed in Mr Lewis's "Tales of Wonder." catastrophe of the tale is founded upon a well-known Irish tradition. This ancient fortress and its vicinity formed the scene of the Editor's infancy, and seemed to claim from him this attempt to celebrate them in a Border tale. THE Baron of Smaylho'me rose with day, Without stop or stay, down the rocky way He went not with the bold Buccleuch, His banner broad to rear ; He went not 'gainst the English yew To lift the Scottish spear. Yet his plate-jack was braced, and his helmet was laced, And his vaunt-brace of proof he wore ; At his saddle-girth was a good steel sperthe, Full ten pound weight and more. The Baron returned in three days' space, As he reached his rocky tower. He came not from where Ancram Moor Where the Douglas true, and the bold Buccleuch, 'Gainst keen Lord Evers stood. Yet was his helmet hacked and hewed, His acton pierced and tore; His axe and his dagger with blood imbrued,- He lighted at the Chapellage, And he whistled thrice for his little foot-page, "Come thou hither, my little foot-page; Come hither to my knee; Thou art young, and tender of age, I think thou art true to me. "Come, tell me all that thou hast seen, And look thou tell me true! Since I from Smaylho'me tower have been, "My lady, each night, sought the lonely light, For, from height to height, the beacons bright "The bittern clamoured from the moss, Yet the craggy pathway she did cross, "I watched her steps, and silent came No watchman stood by the dreary flame; "The second night I kept her in sight, Till to the fire she came, And, by Mary's might! an armèd Knight "And many a word that warlike lord But the rain fell fast, and loud blew the blast, "The third night there the sky was fair, And the mountain blast was still, As again I watched the secret pair, On the lonesome Beacon Hill. "And I heard her name the midnight hour, And say, 'Come this night to thy lady's bower; "He lifts his spear with the bold Buccleuch ; The door she'll undo to her knight so true, "I cannot come; I must not come; I dare not come to thee; On the eve of St John I must wander alone : "Now, out on thee, faint-hearted knight ! For the eve is sweet, and when lovers meet, Is worth the whole summer's day. "And I'll chain the blood-hound, and the warder shall not sound, And rushes shall be strewed on the stair; So, by the black rood-stone, and by holy St John, I conjure thee, my love, to be there!" "Though the blood-hound he mute, and the rush beneath my foot, And the warder his bugle should not blow, Yet there sleepeth a priest in the chamber to the east, “O fear not the priest, who sleepeth to the east! For to Dryburgh the way he has ta'en; And there to say mass, till three days do pass, For the soul of a knight that is slain. "He turned him around, and grimly he frowned; Then he laughed right scornfully— 'He who says the mass-rite for the soul of that knight. May as well say mass for me. "At the lone midnight hour, when bad spirits have power, In thy chamber will I be.' With that he was gone, and my lady left alone, And no more did I see.". Then changed, I trow, was that bold Baron's brow, "Now, tell me the mien of the knight thou hast seen, "His arms shone full bright, in the beacon's red light; On his shield was a hound, in a silver leash bound, |