"Say we have fought and won the fray,

Have lowered our haughty foeman's pride;

And we have driven the richest prey

That ever lowed by Ettrick side."

To hear a tale of vanquished foes
His lady came right cheerfully;
And Mary Scott, like morning rose,
Stood blushing at her father's knee.

Fast flowed the warrior's ruthless tale,
And aye the red cup passed between ;
But Mary Scott grew lily pale,

And trembled like the aspin green.

"Now, lady, give me welcome cheer, Queen of the border thou shalt be; For I have brought thee gold and gear,

And humbled haughty Torwoodlee.

"I beat his yeomen in the glen,

I loosed his horses from the stall,

I slew the blood-hound in his den,

And sought the chief through tower and hall.

""Tis said in hamlet mean and dark

Nightly he lies with leman dear;

O, I would give ten thousand mark,
To see his head upon my spear!

“Go, maidens, every mat be spread On heather, haum, or roegrass heap,

And make for me the scarlet bed,

For I have need of rest and sleep."

"Nay, my good lord, make other choice,
In that you cannot rest to-day;
For there in peaceful slumber lies

A holy abbot, old and gray.”

The chieftain's cheek to crimson grew,

Dropt from his hand the rosy wine"An abbot! curse the canting crew! An abbot sleep in couch of mine!

"Now, lady, as my soul shall thrive, I'd rather trust my child and thee

With my two greatest foes alive,

The king of Scots and Torwoodlee.

"The lazy hoard of Melrose vale

Has brought my life, my all to stake:

O, lady! I have heard a tale,

The thought o't makes my heart to ache!

"Go, warriors, hale the villain forth,

Bring not his loathful form to me;

The gate stands open to the north,

The rope hangs o'er the gallows tree.

"There shall the burning breeze of noon

Rock the old sensual sluggard blind;

There let him swing, till sun and moon Have three times left the world behind."

O abbot, abbot, say thy prayers,

With orisons load every breath;
The forest trooper's on the stairs,
To drag thee to a shameful death.

O abbot, abbot, quit thy bed,

Ill armed art thou to meet the strife; Haste, don thy beard, and quoif thy head, And guard the door for death or life.

Thy arm is firm, thy heart is stout,

Yet thou canst neither fight nor flee ; But beauty stands thy guard without, Yes, beauty weeps and pleads for thee.

Proud, ruthless man, by vengeance driven, Regardless hears a brother plead; Regardless sees the brand of Heaven

Red quivering o'er his guilty head:

But once let woman's soothing tongue
Implore his help or clemency,
Around him let her arms be flung,

Or at his feet her bended knee;

The world's a shadow! vengeance sleeps! The child of reason stands revealedWhen beauty pleads, when woman weeps, He is not man who scorns to yield.

Stern Tushilaw is gone to sleep,

Laughing at woman's dread of sin;

But first he bade his warriors keep

All robbers out, and abbots in.