Ill may I read their high decree : But no kind influence deign they shower On Teviot's tide, and Branksome's tower, Till pride be quelled, and love be free."

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,
Her son pursued his infant play.
A fancied moss-trooper, the boy,

The truncheon of a spear bestrode,
And round the hall, right merrily,

In mimic foray rode.

Even bearded knights, in arms grown old, Share in his frolic gambols bore,

Albeit their hearts, of rugged mould, Were stubborn as the steel they wore.

For the gray warriors prophesied

How the brave boy, in future war,

Should tame the Unicorn's pride,

Exalt the Crescents and the Star.

XX.

The Ladye forgot her purpose high,

One moment, and no more;

Ill may

I read their high decree : But no kind influence deign they shower On Teviot's tide, and Branksome's tower, Till pride be quelled, and love be free."

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,
Her son pursued his infant play.
A fancied moss-trooper, the boy,

The truncheon of a spear bestrode,
And round the hall, right merrily,

In mimic foray rode.

Even bearded knights, in arms grown old, Share in his frolic gambols bore,

Albeit their hearts, of rugged mould, Were stubborn as the steel they wore.

For the gray warriors prophesied

How the brave boy, in future war,

Should tame the Unicorn's pride,

Exalt the Crescents and the Star.

XX.

The Ladye forgot her purpose high,

One moment, and no more;

One moment gazed with a mother's eye,

As she paused at the arched door : Then, from amid the armed train,

She called to her William of Deloraine.

XXI.

A stark moss-trooping Scott was he,

As e'er couched border lance by knee :

Through Solway sands, through Tarras moss,
Blindfold, he knew the paths to cross;

By wily turns, by desperate bounds,
Had baffled Percy's best blood-hounds;
In Eske, or Liddel, fords were none,
But he would ride them, one by one;

Alike to him was time or tide,
December's snow, or July's pride;
Alike to him was tide or time,

Moonless midnight, or matin prime :
Steady of heart, and stout of hand,
As ever drove prey from Cumberland;

Five times outlawed had he been,

By England's king, and Scotland's queen.