And mercy gild the ray : SONG to ELLE, LORD of the CASTELL of BRYSTOWE, in Daies of YORE. About the Year 920, Elle was Governor of the Castle of Bristol, and gained many fignal Victories over the Danes, particularly at Watchet. The following Song was made to the Memory of this Chief by Thomas Rowlle, a Carmelite-Friar, and Father Confeffor to William Cannynge, Founder of St. Mary Redcliffe Church. It was written in the Year 1468, and the Original is now in the Hands of Mr. Barret, Surgeon in Bristol. THOU (or whate remaynes of thee) Elle, the darlynge of futuritye! Lette thys mie fonge bolde as thie courage bee, As everlaftynge to pofteritye! Whanne Dacyas' fonnes, with hair of blood-red hue, Upon the lethale daye, Spredde, farre and wyde, on Watchet's shore; And, with thie burlye honde, Down to the depthes of hell. O thou! where'ere (thie bones att reft) The blatant cryes of warre, Or feest some mountayne made of hepes of flayne; Y prauncynge o'er the mede And neigh to be amongeft the poyntedde fperes; And glow'ft ardorous onne the caftle steers; Or fierie rounde the mynfterne glare; Let Bristowe ftille bee made thie care: Tyll ynne one flame all the whole worlde expyre. INSCRIPTION WH in a TOWER at W. in the County of HEN HENRY* ftemm'd IERNE's ftormy flood; O! might our age in happy concert join AMUSEMENT in Modern HIGH LIFE. T HE Bucks had din'd, and deep in council fat,. Up ftarts his Lordship, to the window flies, And lo, "A race, a race!" in rapture cries. "Where?" quoth Sir John-" Why, fee two drops of rain "A thousand pounds, which drop with nimbleft force * Henry II. † Richard I. The The betts were fix'd, in dire fufpenfe they wait Th' approaching drops into one bubble draws; X. S. G. The FATAL SISTERS: An ODE, from the Norfe Tongue *; By the late Mr. GRAY. From Mr. MASON's Edition of Mr. GRAY'S Works. To be found in the Orcades of Thormodus Torfaus; Hafnia, 1697, folio; and alfo in Bartholinus. Vitt er orpit fyrir valfalli, &c. For the better understanding of this piece, the reader is to be informed that in the eleventh century Sigurd, Earl of the Orkney-illands, went with a fleet of fhips and a confiderable body of troops into Ireland, to the affiftance of Sictryg with the filken beard, who was then making war on his father-in-law Brian, King of Dublin: the Earl and all his forces were cut to pieces, and Sitryg was in danger of a total defeat; but the enemy had a greater iofs by the death of Brian, their king, who fell in the action. On Christmas-day, (the day of the battle) a native of Caithness in Scotland faw at a distance a number of perfons on horfeback riding full speed towards a hill, and feeming to enter into it. Curiofity led him to follow them, till looking through an opening in the rocks, he faw twelve gigantic figures refembling women; they were all employed about a loom; and as they wove, they fung the following dreadful fong; which, when they had finished, they tore the web into twelve pieces, and (each taking her portion) galloped fix to the north, and as many to the fouth. These were the Valkyriur, female divinities, fervants of Odin (or Woden) in the Gothic mythology. Their name fignifies Chufers of the flain. They were mounted on iwift horfes, with drawn words in their hands; and in the throng of battle felected fuch as were deftined to flaughter, and conducted them to Valkalla, the Hall of Odin, or Paradife of the Brave; where they attended the banquet, and ferved the departed herces with horns of mead and ale. Ere the ruddy fun be fet, (Weave the crimson web of war) Where our Friends the conflict share, As the paths of fate we tread We the reins to flaughter give, They, whom once the defert beach Low the dauntless Earl is laid, Long his lofs fhall Eirin weep, D Τὸν φρονεῖν βροτὰς ὁδώ Ζήνα σαντα, τῶ κάθει μαθὰν ESCHYLUS, in Agamemnone. AUGHTER of Jove, relentless power, Whofe iron fcourge and tort'ring hour, With pangs unfelt before, unpitied and alone. When first thy fire to fend on earth 0 4 What |