For chiefs intent on bloody deed, And Vengeance shouting o'er the slain, Lo! high-born Beauty rules the steed, Or graceful guides the silken rein. And long may Peace and Pleasure own The maids who list the minstrel's tale; Nor e'er a ruder guest be known On the fair banks of Evandale! THE REIVER'S WEDDING A FRAGMENT 1802 O, WILL ye hear a mirthful bourd? 'Ca' out the kye,' quo' the village herd, As he stood on the knowe, 'Ca' this ane's nine and that ane's ten, And bauld Lord William's cow.' 'Ah! by my sooth,' quoth William then, When knave and churl have nine and ten, 'I swear by the light of the Michaelmas moon, And the might of Mary high, And by the edge of my braidsword brown, He took a bugle frae his side, With names carved o'er and o'er Full many a chief of meikle pride He blew a note baith sharp and hie Till rock and water ran around Threescore of moss-troopers and three Have mounted at that bugle sound. The Michaelmas moon had entered then, Ye might see by her light in Harden glen And loud and loud in Harden tower The quaigh gaed round wi' meikle glee; For the English beef was brought in bower And the English ale flowed merrilie. And mony a guest from Teviotside Was never a lord in Scotland wide They ate, they laughed, they sang and quaffed, Till naught on board was seen, When knight and squire were boune to dine, But a spur of silver sheen. Lord William has ta'en his berry-brown steed A sore shent man was he; 'Wait ye, my guests, a little speed Weel feasted ye shall be.' He rode him down by Falsehope burn, His cousin dear to see, With him to take a riding turn Wat-draw-the-Sword was he. And when he came to Falsehope glen, On the smooth green was carved plain, 'O, if they be gane to dark Lochwood Betwixt our names, I ween, there's feud; 'For little reck I for Johnstone's feud, The Warden though he be.' So Lord William is away to dark Lochwood With riders barely three. The Warden's daughters in Lochwood sate, 1 See Note 30. -- All save the Lady Margaret, And she was wan and wae. The sister Jean had a full fair skin, Her father's pranked her sisters twa With meikle joy and pride; But Margaret maun seek Dundrennan's wa' She ne'er can be a bride. On spear and casque by gallants gent Her sisters rode to Thirlstane bower, To wander round the gloomy tower, 'Of all the knights, the knight most fair Soft sighed the maid, 'is Harden's heir, |