II.

"Thou lord of guile and malice keen,
What boots this doleful work to thee!
Could Scotland such a pair have seen
As Mary Scott and Torwoodlee ?"

III.

Lord Pringle came,—no word he spake,
Nor own'd the pangs his bosom knew ;
But his full heart was like to break
In every throb his bosom drew.

IV.

66 Oh, I had ween'd with fondest heart—
Woe to the guileful friend who lied !—
This day should join us ne'er to part,
This day that I should win my bride!

V.

"But I will see that face so meek,
Cold, pale, and lifeless though it be;
And I will kiss that comely cheek,
Once sweeter than the rose to me."

VI.

Gently he raised the coffin lid,

Sweet was the perfume round that flew ;' For there were strew'd the roses red, And every flower the forest knew.

VII.

He drew the fair lawn from her face,

'Twas deck'd with many a costly wreath ;

And still it wore a soothing grace,

Even in the chill abodes of death.

VIII.

Why starts Lord Pringle to his knee?

Why bend his eyes with watchful strain? The maidens shriek his mien to see,

The startled priests inquire in vain !

IX.

Was that a sob, an earthly sigh,

That heaved the flowers so lightly shed? 'Twas but the wind that wander'd by, And kiss'd the bosom of the dead! .

X.

Are these the glowing tints of life

O'er Mary's cheek that come and fly? Ah, no! the red flowers round are rife, The rose-bud flings its soften'd dye.

XI.

Why grows the gazer's sight so dim?
Stay, dear illusion, still beguile !

Thou art worth crowns and worlds to him—
Last, dear illusion, last a while!

XII.

Short was thy sway, frenzied and short,
For ever fell the veil on thee;

Thy startling form, of fears the sport,
Vanish'd in sweet reality!

XIII.

Slowly she raised her form of grace,
Her eyes no ray deceptive flung;

And oh, her mild, her languid face

Was like a flower too early sprung!

XIV.

She look'd at pall, she look'd at bier,
At altar, shrine, and rosarie,

She saw her lady mother near,

And at her side brave Torwoodlee !

XV.

'Twas all a dream, nor boded good,
A phantom of the fever'd brain!
She laid her down in moaning mood,
To soothe her woes in sleep again.

XVI.

Needs not to paint that joyful hour,
The nuptial vow, the bridal glee,
How Mary Scott, the forest flower,
Was borne a bride to Torwoodlee.

XVII.

Diamond and ruby 'ray'd her waist,
And twinkled round her brow so fair;

She wore more gold upon her breast

Than would have bought the hills of Yair.

XVIII.

A foot so light, a form so meet,

Ne'er trode Saint Mary's lovely lea;

A bride so gay, a face so sweet,

The Yarrow braes shall never see.

XIX.

Old Tushilaw deign'd not to smile,

No grateful word his tongue could say, He kiss'd his daughter's cheek the while, Wiped his dark eye, and turn'd away.

JAMES HOGG.

BRIDAL-BALLAD.

THE ring is on my hand,

And the wreath is on my brow; Satins and jewels grand

Are all at my command,

And I am happy now.

And my lord he loves me well;

But, when first he breathed his vow,

I felt my bosom swell,

For the words rang as a knell,

And the voice seem'd his who fell

In the battle down the dell,
And who is happy now.

But he spoke to re-assure me,
And he kiss'd my pallid brow,
While a reverie came o'er me,
And to the churchyard bore me,
And I sigh'd to him before me,
Thinking him dead, D'Elormie,—
Oh, I am happy now!

And thus the words were spoken,
And thus the plighted vow,
And though my faith be broken,
And though my heart be broken,
Behold the golden token

That proves me happy now.

Would God I could awaken!

For I feel I know not how,

High resolve, with an expression of offended pride the parenthetical "Fair Imogene said," passed over lightly.

V.

First two lines, grave narrative-remaining three adversative, in a higher key-sprightly narrative.

VI.

Sprightly narrative.

VII.

Simple narrative-Imitative modulation on "tolled "pronounced emphatically in a deep and solemn tone.

VIII. AND IX.

one

Excited narrative-abrupt and broken-ascending in a climax to the last line, where it assumes the character of absolute terror.

X.

First two lines excited narrative-third line, simple narrative with parenthetical clause-last two lines, easy cheerfulness, with an involuntary expression of trembling and excitement.