And you may guess the noble Dame Durst not the secret prescience own, Sprung from the art she might not name, By which the coming help was known. Closed was the compact, and agreed, That lists should be inclosed with speed, Beneath the castle, on a lawn: They fixed the morrow for the strife, Should for himself and chieftain stand, XXXIV. I know right well, that, in their lay, Full many minstrels sing and say, Such combat should be made on horse, On foaming steed, in full career, With brand to aid, when as the spear Should shiver in the course : But he, the jovial Harper, taught Me, yet a youth, how it was fought, He knew each ordinance and clause Of black Lord Archibald's battle laws, In the old Douglas' day. He brooked not, he, that scoffing tongue Or call his song untrue: For this, when they the goblet plied, And such rude taunt had chafed his pride, The bard of Reull he slew. On Teviot's side, in fight they stood, And tuneful hands were stained with blood; Where still the thorn's white branches wave, Memorial o'er his rival's grave. XXXV. Why should I tell the rigid doom, That dragged my master to his tomb; How Ousenam's maidens tore their hair, Wept till their eyes were dead and dim, And wrung their hands for love of him, Who died at Jedwood Air? He died!—his scholars, one by one, To the cold silent grave are gone; And I, alas! survive alone, To muse o'er rivalries of yore, And grieve that I shall hear no more The strains, with envy heard before; He paused: the listening dames again With many a word of kindly cheer,— In pity half, and half sincere,— Marvelled the Duchess how so well His legendary song could tell Of ancient deeds, so long forgot; Of feuds, whose memory was not; Of forests, now laid waste and bare; Of chiefs, who under their gray stone So long had slept, that fickle Fame Had blotted from her rolls their name, And twined round some new minion's head The Harper smiled, well-pleased; for neʼer Was flattery lost on poet's ear: A simple race! they waste their toil For the vain tribute of a smile; 12 |