"And, next, they'll shape me in your arms, But had me fast, nor let me gang, "They'll shape me in your arms, Janet, A dove, but and a swan; And, last, they'll shape me in your arms, Cast your green mantle over me— Gloomy, gloomy, was the night, As fair Janet, in her green mantle, The heavens were black, the night was dark, And dreary was the place; But Janet stood, with eager wish, Her lover to embrace. Betwixt the hours of twelve and one, A north wind tore the bent; And straight she heard strange elritch2 sounds Upon that wind which went. About the dead hour o' the night, She heard the bridles ring; And Janet was as glad o' that, Their oaten pipes blew wondrous shrill, 1 Producing superstitious dread. 2 Wild. They sing, inspired with love and joy, Of solid sense, or thought that's grave, Fair Janet stood with mind unmoved, And louder, louder wax'd the sound, Will o' the Wisp before them went, And first gaed by the black black steed, And then gaed by the brown; But fast she gript the milk-white steed, And pu'd the rider down. She pu'd him frae the milk-white steed, They shaped him in fair Janet's arms, She held him fast in every shape- They shaped him in her arms at last, She wrapt him in her green mantle, Up then spake the Queen o' Fairies, "She that has borrowed young Tamlane, Has gotten a stately groom.' 1 Gained. Up then spake the Queen o' Fairies "She's ta'en awa the bonniest knight "But had I kenn'd, Tamlane," she says, I wad ta'en out thy twa gray een, "Had I but kenn'd, Tamlane," she says, "Had I but had the wit yestreen, I'd paid my kane 2 seven times to hell, THE LAIRD OF LAIRISTAN; OR, THE THREE CHAMPIONS OF LIDDISDALE. BY JAMES HOGG. "THE Scene of this ballad is laid in the upper parts of Liddisdale, in which district the several residences of the three champions are situated, as is also the old castle of Hermitage, with the farmhouses of Saughentree and Roughley. As to the authenticity of the story, all that I can say of it is, that I used to hear it told, when I was a boy, by William Scott, a joiner of that country, and was much taken with some of the circumstances. Were I to relate it verbatim, it would only be anticipating a great share of the poem."-Author. "O DICKIE, 'tis light, and the moon shines bright, 1. Bought. 2 Rent paid in kind. 3 Gained. The moon had turn'd the roof of heaven; The deer was skight,1 and the snaw was light, "Right owre the knowe where Liddel lies— 66 Say, what is yon, my brother John? The Lord preserve baith you and me! But our hearts are the same, and sure our aim, And he that comes near these bullets shall prie." 2 "Oh haud your tongue, my brother dear, Let us survey 't wi' steady e'e; 'Tis a dead man they are carrying here, And 'tis fit that the family warn'd should be.” They ran to the ha', and they waken'd them a', But none were at home but maidens three; Then close in the shade of the wall they stay'd, To watch what the issue of this would be. And there they saw a dismal sight, A sight had nearly freezed their blood; One lost her sight in the fair moonlight, And one of them fainted where they stood. Four stalwart men, on arms so bright, 1 Timid. 8 Feel or taste. They heard one to another say A place to leave him will not be found; Then into the byre the corpse they bore, And into the byre no ane durst gang, Next morning all the dalesmen ran, For soon the word was far and wide; And there lay the Laird of Lairistan, The bravest knight on the Border side! He was wounded behind, and wounded before, And cloven through the left cheek-bone; And clad in the habit he daily wore ; But his sword, and his belt, and his bonnet were gone. Then east and west the word has gane, Buccleuch has mounted his milk-white steed, And soon they came, a numerous host, But Jocky o' Millburn he was lost, And could not be found in the hale countrye. 1 Cow-house. |