When, shrivelling like a parched scroll, The flaming heavens together roll; O! on that day, that wrathful day, HUSHED is the harp-the Minstrel gone. And did he wander forth alone? Alone, in indigence and age, To linger out his pilgrimage? No:-close beneath proud Newark's tower, A simple hut; but there was seen There sheltered wanderers, by the blaze, Oft heard the tale of other days; For much he loved to ope his door, And give the aid he begged before. So passed the winter's day; but still, When summer smiled on sweet Bowhill, And July's eve, with balmy breath, Waved the blue-bells on Newark heath; When throstles sung in Hare-head shaw, And corn was green on Carterhaugh, And flourished, broad, Blackandro's oak, The aged Harper's soul awoke! Then would he sing achievements high, And circumstance of chivalry, Till the rapt traveller would stay, Forgetful of the closing day; And noble youths, the strain to hear, And Yarrow, as he rolled along, Bore burden to the Minstrel's song. NOTES ON CANTO I. * The feast was over in Branksome tower.—St. I. p. 17. In the reign of James I. Sir William Scott, of Buccleuch, chief of the clan bearing that name, exchanged, with Sir Thomas Inglis of Manor, the estate of Murdiestone, in Lanarkshire, for one half of the barony of Branksome, or Branxholm, lying upon the Teviot, about three miles above Hawick. He was probably induced to this transaction from the vicinity of Branksome to the extensive domain which he possessed in Ettricke forest and in Teviotdale. In the former district he held by occupancy the estate of Buccleuch, † and much of the forest land on the river Ettricke. In Teviotdale, he enjoyed the barony of Eckford, by a grant from Robert II. * Branxholm is the proper name of the barony; but Branksome has been adopted, as suitable to the pronunciation, and more proper for poetry. + There are no vestiges of any building at Buccleuch, except |