And how a day of fight was ta'en
Twixt Musgrave and stout Deloraine,
And how the Ladye pray'd them
dear,

That all would stay the fight to see,
And deign, in love and courtesy,

To taste of Branksome cheer.
Nor, while they bade to feast each Scot,
Were England's noble Lords forgot.
Himself, the hoary Seneschal
Rode forth, in seemly terms to call
Those gallant foes to Branksome Hall.
Accepted Howard, than whom knight
Was never dubb'd more bold in fight;
Nor, when from war and armour free,
More famed for stately courtesy:
But angry Dacre rather chose
In his pavilion to repose.

VI.

Now, noble Dame, perchance you ask, How these two hostile armies met ? Deeming it were no easy task

To keep the truce which here was set; Where martial spirits, all on fire, Breathed only blood and mortal ire.— By mutual inroads, mutual blows, By habit, and by nation, foes,

They met on Teviot's strand; They met and sate them mingled down, Without a threat, without a frown,

As brothers meet in foreign land: The hands, the spear that lately grasp'd, Still in the mailed gauntlet clasp'd,

Were interchanged in greeting dear; Visors were raised, and faces shown, And many a friend, to friend made known,

Partook of social cheer.
Some drove the jolly bowl about;
With dice and draughts some chased
the day,

And some, with many a merry shout,
In riot, revelry, and rout,

Pursued the foot-ball play.

VII.

Yet, be it known, had bugles blown,
Or sign of war been seen,
Those bands, so fair together ranged,
Those hands, so frankly interchanged,
Had dyed with gore the green:
The merry shout by Teviot-side

For many a noble warrior strove
To win the Flower of Teviot's love,
And many a bold ally.-
With throbbing head and anxious heart,
All in her lonely bower apart,

In broken sleep she lay:

By times, from silken couch she rose;
While yet the banner'd hosts repose,,
She view'd the dawning day:
Of all the hundreds sunk to rest,
First woke the loveliest and the best.

XI.

She gazed upon the inner court,

Which in the tower's tall shadow lay; Where coursers' clang, and stamp, and snort,

Had rung the livelong yesterday; Now, still as death; till stalking slow,The jingling spurs announced his tread,

A stately warrior pass'd below;

But when he raised his plumed headBlessed Mary! can it be?Secure, as if in Ousenam bowers, He walks through Branksome's hostile towers,

With fearless step and free. She dared not sign, she dared not speakOh! if one page's slumbers break,

His blood the price must pay! Not all the pearls Queen Mary wears, Not Margaret's yet more precious tears, Shall buy his life a day.

XII.

Yet was his hazard small; for well
You may bethink you of the spell

Of that sly urchin page;
This to his lord he did impart,
And made him seem, by glamour art,
A knight from Hermitage.
Unchallenged thus, the warder's post,
The court, unchallenged, thus he cross'd,
For all the vassalage :

But O! what magic's quaint disguise
Could blind fair Margaret's azure eyes!
She started from her seat;
While with surprise and fear she strove,
And both could scarcely master love—
Lord Henry's at her feet.

XIII.

Oft have I mused, what purpose bad
That foul malicious urchin had

To bring this meeting round;
For happy love's a heavenly sight,
And by a vile malignant sprite
In such no joy is found;
And oft I've deem'd, perchance he
thought

Their erring passion might have wrought
Sorrow, and sin, and shame;
And death to Cranstoun's gallant
Knight,

And to the gentle ladye bright,
Disgrace, and loss of fame.

But earthly spirit could not tell

The heart of them that loved so well.
True love's the gift which God has given
To man alone beneath the heaven:
It is not fantasy's hot fire,

Whose wishes, soon as granted, fly; It liveth not in fierce desire,

With dead desire it doth not die; It is the secret sympathy, The silver link, the silken tie, Which heart to heart, and mind to mind, In body and in soul can bind.— Now leave we Margaret and her Knight, To tell you of the approaching fight.

XIV.

Their warning blasts the bugles blew, The pipe's shrill port* aroused each clan;

In haste, the deadly strife to view,

The trooping warriors eager ran: Thick round the lists their lances stood, Like blasted pines in Ettrick Wood; To Branksome many a look they threw, The combatants' approach to view, And bandied many a word of boast, About the knight each favour'd most.

XV.

Meantime full anxious was the Dame;
For now arose disputed claim,
Of who should fight for Deloraine,
'Twixt Harden and twixt Thirlestaine:

They 'gan to reckon kin and rent, And frowning brow on brow was bent;

A martial piece of music, adapted to the bagpipes.

But yet not long the strife-for, lo! Himself, the knight of Deloraine, Strong, as it seem'd and free from pain, In armour sheath'd from top to toe, Appear'd, and craved the combat due. The Dame her charm successful knew, And the fierce chiefs their claims withdrew.

XVI.

When for the lists they sought the plain, The stately Ladye's silken rein

Did noble Howard hold; Unarmed by her side he walk'd,

And much, in courteous phrase, they talk'd

Of feats of arms of old.
Costly his garb-his Flemish ruff
Fell o'er his doublet, shaped of buff,
With satin slash'd and lined;
Tawny his boot, and gold his spur,
His cloak was all of Poland fur,

His hose with silver twined;
His Bilboa blade, by Marchmen felt,
Hung in a broad and studded belt;
Hence, in rude phrase, the Borderers
still

Call'd noble Howard,' Belted Will.

XVII.

Behind Lord Howard and the Dame, Fair Margaret, on her palfrey came, Whose foot-cloth swept the ground: White was her wimple, and her veil, And her loose locks a chaplet pale

Of whitest roses bound; The lordly Angus, by her side, In courtesy to cheer her tried; Without his aid, her hand in vain Had strove to guide her broider'd rein. He deem'd, she shudder'd at the sight Of warriors met for mortal fight; But cause of terror, all unguess'd, Was fluttering in her gentle breast, When, in their chairs of crimson placed, The Dame and she the barriers graced.

XVIII.

Prize of the field, the young Buccleuch, An English knight led forth to view; Scarce rued the boy his present plight, So much he long'd to see the fight.

Within the lists, in knightly pride,
High Home and haughty Dacre ride;
Their leading staffs of steel they wield,
As marshals of the mortal field;
While to each knight their care assign'd
Like vantage of the sun and wind.
Then heralds hoarse did loud proclaim,
In King and Queen, and Warden's

name,

That none, while lasts the strife, Should dare, by look, or sign, or word, Aid to a champion to afford,

On peril of his life;

And not a breath the silence broke,
Till thus the alternate Herald spoke :-

XIX.

ENGLISH HERALD.

"Here standeth Richard of Musgrave, Good knight and true, and freely born,

Amends from Deloraine to crave,

For foul despiteous scathe and scorn. He sayeth, that William of Deloraine Is traitor false by Border laws; This with his sword he will maintain, So help him God, and his good cause!"

XX.

SCOTTISH HERALD.

"Here standeth William of Deloraine, Good knight and true, of noble strain, Who sayeth, that foul treason's stain, Since he bore arms, ne'er soil'd his

coat:

And that, so help him God above! He will on Musgrave's body prove, He lies most foully in his throat."

LORD DACRE.

"Forward, brave champions, to the fight! Sound trumpets!"

LORD HOME.

-"God defend the right !"Then Teviot! how thine echoes rang, When bugle-sound and trumpet-clang Let loose the martial foes, And in mid list, with shield poised high, And measured step and wary eye, The combatants did close.

XXI.

I would it suit your gentle ear,
Ye lovely listeners, to hear

How to the axe the helms did sound,
And blood pour'd down from many a

wound;

For desperate was the strife, and long,
And either warrior fierce and strong.
But, were each dame a listening knight,
I well could tell how warriors fight!
For I have seen war's lightning flashing,
Seen the claymore with bayonet clashing,
Seen through red blood the war-horse
dashing,

And scorn'd, amid the reeling strife,
To yield a step for death or life.-

XXII.

'Tis done, 'tis done! that fatal blow
Has stretch'd him on the bloody plain;
He strives to rise-Brave Musgrave, no!
Thence never shalt thou rise again!
He chokes in blood-some friendly hand
Undo the visor's barred band,
Unfix the gorget's iron clasp.
And give him room for life to gasp!
O, bootless aid!-haste, holy Friar,
Haste, ere the sinner shall expire!
Of all his guilt let him be shriven,
And smooth his path from earth to
heaven!

XXIII.

In haste the holy Friar sped :---
His naked foot was dyed with red,
As through the lists he ran :
Unmindful of the shouts on high,
That hail'd the conqueror's victory,
He raised the dying man;

Loose waved his silver beard and hair,
As o'er him he kneel'd down in prayer;
And still the crucifix on high
He holds before his darkening eye;
And still he bends an anxious ear,
His faltering penitence to hear;

Still props him from the bloody sod, Still, even when soul and body part, Pours ghostly comfort on his heart,

And bids him trust in God! Unheard he prays;-the death-pang's o'er !

Richard of Musgrave breathes no more.

XXIV.

As if exhausted in the fight,

Or musing o'er the piteous sight,
The silent victor stands ;
His beaver did he not unclasp,
Mark'd not the shouts, felt not the grasp
Of gratulating hands.

When lo! strange cries of wild surprise,
Mingled with seeming terror, rise

Among the Scottish bands; And all, amid the throng'd array, In panic haste gave open way To a half-naked ghastly man, Who downward from the castle ran : He cross'd the barriers at a bound, And wild and haggard look'd around, As dizzy, and in pain ; And all, upon the armed ground,

Knew William of Deloraine! Each ladye sprung from seat with speed: Vaulted each marshal from his steed;

"And who art thou," they cried, "Who hast this battle fought and won?" His plumed helm was soon undone— Cranstoun of Teviot-side!

For this fair prize I've fought and won,"

And to the Ladye led her son.

XXV.

Full oft the rescued boy she kiss'd,
And often press'd him to her breast;
For, under all her dauntless show,
Her heart had throbb'd at every blow;
Yet not Lord Cranstoun deign'd she
greet,

Though low he kneeled at her feet.
Me lists not tell what words were made,
What Douglas, Home, and Howard
said

-For Howard was a generous foeAnd how the clan united pray'd

The Ladye would the feud forego, And deign to bless the nuptial hour Of Cranstoun's Lord and Teviot's Flower.

XXVI.

She look'd to river, look'd to hill,
Thought on the Spirit's prophecy,
Then broke her silence stern and still,-
"Not you, but Fate, has vanquish'd

me;

Their influence kindly stars may shower On Teviot's tide and Branksome's tower, For pride is quell'd, and love is free."She took fair Margaret by the hand, Who, breathless, trembling, scarce might stand;

That hand to Cranstoun's lord gave she:

"As I am true to thee and thine, Do thou be true to me and mine!

This clasp of love our bond shall be; For this is your betrothing day, And all these noble lords shall stay, To grace it with their company.'

XXVII.

All as they left the listed plain,
Much of the story she did gain;
How Cranstoun fought with Deloraine,
And of his page, and of the Book
Which from the wounded knight he
took ;

And how he sought her castle high,
That morn, by help of gramarye;
How, in Sir William's armour dight,
Stolen by his page, while slept the knight,
He took on him the single fight.
But half his tale he left unsaid,
And linger'd till he join'd the maid.—
Cared not the Ladye to betray
Her mystic arts in view of day;
Bat well she thought, ere midnight came,
Of that strange page the pride to tame,
From his foul hands the Book to save,
And send it back to Michael's grave.-
Needs not to tell each tender word
Twixt Margaret and 'twixt Cranstoun's
lord;

Nor how she told the former woes,
And how her bosom fell and rose,
While he and Musgrave bandied blows.-
Needs not these lovers' joys to tell :
One day, fair maids, you'll know them
well.

XXVIII.

William of Deloraine, some chance
Had waken'd from his deathlike trance;
And taught that, in the listed plain,
Another, in his arms and shield,
Against fierce Musgrave axe did wield,
Under the name of Deloraine.

Hence, to the field, unarm'd, he ran,
And hence his presence scared the clan,
Who held him for some fleeting wraith,*
And not a man of blood and breath.

Not much this new ally he loved,
Yet, when he saw what hap had
proved,

He greeted him right heartilie:
He would not waken old debate,
For he was void of rancorous hate,

Though rude, and scant of courtesy ; In raids he spilt but seldom blood, Unless when men-at arms withstood, Or, as was meet, for deadly feud. He ne'er bore grudge for stalwart blow, Ta'en in fair fight from gallant foe: And so 'twas seen of him, e'en now, When on dead Musgrave he look'd down;

Grief darkened on his rugged brow,

Though half disguised with a frown; And thus, while sorrow bent his head, His foeman's epitaph he made :

XXIX.

"Now, Richard Musgrave, liest thou here!

I ween, my deadly enemy; For, if I slew thy brother dear,

Thou slew'st a sister's son to me; And when I lay in dungeon dark,

Of Naworth Castle, long months three, Till ransom'd for a thousand mark,

Dark Musgrave, it was long of thee. And, Musgrave, could our fight be tried, And thou wert now alive, as I, No mortal man should us divide,

Till one, or both of us, did die :
Yet rest thee God! for well I know
I ne'er shall find a nobler foe.
In all the northern counties here,
Whose word is Snaffle, spur, and spear,
Thou wert the best to follow gear!
'Twas pleasure, as we look'd behind,
To see how thou the chase could'st wind,
Cheer the dark blood-hound on his
way,

And with the bugle rouse the fray!
I'd give the lands of Deloraine,
Dark Musgrave were alive again."-
* The spectral apparition of a living person.