XXIII. "What he gives thee, see thou keep ; Into it, knight thou must not look; XXIV. "O swiftly can speed my dapplegray steed, Which drinks of the Teviot clear ; Ere break of day," the warrior 'gan say,' And safer by none may thy errand be done, Letter nor line know I never a one, Soon in his saddle sate he fast, And soon the steep descent he passed; *Hairibee, the place of executing the border marauders at Carlisle. The neckverse is the beginning of the fifty first psalm, Miserere mei, &c. anciently read by criminals, claiming the benefit of clergy. † Barbacan, the defence of the outer gate of a feudal castle. Eastward the wooded path he rode; And crossed old Borthwick's roaring strand; XXVI. The clattering hoofs the watchmen mark ; He turned him now from Teviot side, And gained the moor at Horseliehill; Broad on the left before him lay, *Peel, a Border tower. † An ancient Roman road, crossing through part of Roxburghshire. XXVII. A moment now he slacked his speed, Ambition is no cure for love. grove, XXVIII. Unchallenged, thence past Deloraine In vain! no torrent, deep or broad, XXIX. At the first plunge the horse sunk low, Scarce half the charger's neck was seen; Stemmed a midnight torrent's force. Was daggled by the dashing spray ;' Yet, through good heart, and our ladye's grace, XXX. Now Bowden Moor the marchman won, And sternly shook his plumed head, As glanced his eye o'er Halidon ;† For on his soul the slaughter red Of that unhallowed morn arose, When first the Scott and Car were foes; Barded, or barbed, applied to a horse accoutred with defensive armour. Halidonhill, on which the battle of Melrose was fought When royal James beheld the fray, When Home and Douglass, in the van, XXXI. In bitter mood he spurred fast, Old Melrose rose, and fair Tweed ran; In solemn wise, did rise and fail, Like that wild harp, whose magic tone Is wakened by the winds alone. But when Melrose he reached, 'twas silence all; He meetly stabled his steed in stall, And sought the convent's lonely wall. * Lauds, the midnight service of the Catholic church; |