From many Knights and many Squires
The Bruce had been selected ;
And Gordon, fairest of them all,
By Ellen was rejected.
Sad tidings to that noble Youth!
For it may be proclaimed with truth,
If Bruce bath loved sincerely,
The Gordon loves as dearly.
But what is Gordon's beauteous face?
And what are Gordon's crosses
To them who sit by Kirtle's Braes
Upon the verdant mosses ?
Alas that ever he was born!
The Gordon, couched behind a thorn,
Sees them and their caressing,
Beholds them blest and blessing.
Proud Gordon cannot bear the thoughts
That through his brain are travelling,
And, starting up, to Bruce's heart
He lanched a deadly javelin !
Fair Ellen saw it wben it came,
And, stepping forth to meet the same,
Did with her body cover
The Youth her chosen lover,
And, falling into Bruce's arms,
Thus died the beauteous Ellen,
Thus from the heart of her true-love
The mortal spear repelling.
And Bruce, as soon as he had slain
The Gordon, sailed away to Spain;
And fought with rage incessant
Against the Moorish Crescent.
But many days, and many months, And many years ensuing, This wretched Knight did vainly seek The death that he was wooing : And coming back across the wave, Without a groan on Ellen's grave His body he extended, And there his sorrow ended.
Now ye, who willingly have heard The tale I have been telling, May in Kirkonnel church-yard view The grave of lovely Ellen : By Ellen's side the Bruce is laid; And, for the stone upon his head, May no rude hand deface it, And its forlorn HIC JACET!
Strange fits of passion I have known:
And I will dare to tell,
But in the Lover's ear alone,
What once to me befel.
When she I loved, was strong and gay
And like a rose in June,
I to her cottage bent my way,
Beneath the evening Moon.
Upon the Moon I fixed my eye,
All over the wide lea :
My Horse trudged on and we drew nigb
Those paths so dear to me.
And now we reached the orchard plot;
And, as we climbed the hill,
Towards the roof of Lucy's cot
The Moon descended still.
In one of those sweet dreams I slept,
Kind Nature's gentlest boon!
And, all the while, my eyes I kept
On the descending Moon.
My Horse moved on; hoof after hobi
He raised, and never stopped :
When down behind the cottage roof
At once the Planet dropped.
What fond and wayward thoughts will slide Into a Lover's head“O mercy!” to myself I cried, “ If Lucy should be dead!".
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