Twinkling faint, and distant far, Shimmers through mist each planet star; But no kind influence deign they shower XVIII. The unearthly voices ceast, And the heavy sound was still; It died on the river's breast, It died on the side of the hill.But round Lord David's tower The sound still floated near ; For it rung in the Ladye's bower And it rung in the Ladye's ear. She raised her stately head, And her heart throbbed high with pride: "Your mountains shall bend, And your streams ascend, Ere Margaret be our foeman's bride!" XIX. The Ladye sought the lofty hall, Where many a bold retainer lay, And, with jocund din, among them all, The truncheon of a spear bestrode, In mimic foray* rode. Even bearded knights, in arms grown old, Albeit their hearts, of rugged mould, For the gray warriors prophesied, Should tame the Unicorn's pride, Exult the Crescent and the Star.t Foray, a predatory inroad. Alluding to the armorial bearings of the Scots and Cars XX. The Ladye forget her purpose high, One moment-and no more; One moment gazed with a mother's eye, She called to her William of Deloraine. XXI. A stark moss-trooping Scot was he, As e'er couched Border lance by knee: Through Solway sands, through Tarras moss, Alike to him was time or tide, Alike to him was tide or time, Moonless midnight, or matin prime: Steady of heart and stout of hand, By England's king and Scotland's queen. XXII. "Sir William of Deloraine, good at need Mount thee on the wightest steed; Spare not to spur, nor stint to ride, Until thou come to fair Tweedside; And in Melrose's holy pile Seek thou the Monk of St Mary's aisle. Say, that the fated hour is come, And to-night he shall watch with thee, To win the treasure of the tomb: For this will be St Michael's night, And, though stars be dim, the moon is bright; And the Cross, of bloody red, Will point to the grave of the Mighty Dead. XXIII. "What he gives thee, see thou keep; Stay not thou for food or sleep: Be it scroll, or be it book, Into it, knight, thou must not look; If thou readest thou art lorn! Better thou hadst near been born." XXIV. "O swiftly can speed my dapple-gray steed, Which drinks of the Teviot clear ! Ere break of day," the Warrior 'gan say, And safer by none may thy errand be done, Than, noble dame, by me; Letter nor line know I never a one, Wer't my neck-verse at Hairibee."* * Hairibee, the place of executing the border marauders, at Carlisle. The neck-verse is the beginning of the 51st psalm, Miserere mei, &c. anciently read by criminals claiming the benefit of clergy. |