Plaudits were mixed with meaning jeers,

For all had hopes, and all had fears.

A herald rose the court among,

And named each bard and named his song; Rizzio was named from royal chair"Rizzio!" re-echoed many a fair.

Each song had some that song approved,

And voices gave for bard beloved..

The first division called and done,
Gardyn stood highest just by one.
No merits can the courtier sway,
'Twas then, it seems, as at this day.

Queen Mary reddened, wroth was she
Her favourite thus outdone to see,
Reproved her squire in high disdain,
And caused him call the votes again.

Strange though it seem, the truth I
Feature of that unyielding day,

say

Her favourite's voters counted o'er,

Were found much fewer than before.

Glistened her eyes

with pungent dew:

She found with whom she had to do.

Again the royal gallery rung

With names of those who second sung, When, spite of haughty Highland blood, The Bard of Ettrick upmost stood.

The rest were named who sung so late,

And after long and keen debate,

The specious nobles of the south

Carried the nameless stranger youth;

Though Highland wrath was at the full, Contending for the Bard of Mull,

Then did the worst dispute begin, Which of the three the prize should win. 'Twas party all-not minstrel worth,

But honour of the south and north;

And nought was heard throughout the court,

But taunt, and sneer, and keen retort.

High run the words, and fierce the fume,

And from beneath each nodding plume

Red look was cast that vengeance said, And palm on broad-sword's hilt was laid, While Lowland jeer, and Highland mood, Threatened to end the Wake in blood.

Rose from his seat the Lord of Mar,

Serene in counsel as in war.

"For shame," said he, "contendants all!

This outrage done in royal hall,

Is to our country foul disgrace.

What! mock our Sovereign to her face!

Whose generous heart and taste refined,

Alike to bard and courtier kind,

This high repast for all designed.

For shame! your party strife suspend,

And list the counsel of a friend.

To lessen one of all the three,

Each excellent in his degree;

But taste, as sapient sages tell,

Varies with climes in which we dwell.

"Fair emblem of the Border dale,

Is cadence soft and simple tale;
While stern romantic Highland clime,

Still nourishes the rude sublime.

"If Border ear may taste the worth

Of the wild pathos of the north,

Or that sublimed by Ossian's lay,
By forest dark and mountain gray,
By clouds which frowning cliffs deform,
By roaring flood and raving storm,
Enjoy the smooth, the fairy tale,
Or evening song of Teviotdale;

Then trow you may the tides adjourn,

And nature from her path-way turn;

325

The wild-duck drive to mountain tree,

The capperkayle to swim the sea,
The heath-cock to the shelvy shore,

The partridge to the mountain hoar,
And bring the red-eyed ptarmigan

To dwell by the abodes of man.

"To end this strife, unruled and vain,

Let all the three be called again;

Their skill alternately be tried,

And let the Queen alone decide.

Then hushed be jeer and answer proud,”

He said, and all, consenting, bowed.

When word was brought to bard's retreat,

The

group were all in dire debate;

The Border youth (that stranger wight)
Had quarrelled with the clans outright;
Had placed their merits out of ken,
Deriding both the songs and men.