"Now, lady, give attention due,
The story claims thy full belief;
Even in the worst events of life,
Suspense removed, is some relief.

"Though worn by care, see Madoc here, Great Glyndur's friend, thy kindred's foe; Ah! let his name no anger raise,

For now that mighty chief lies low.

"E'en from the day when chained by fate,
By wizard's dream, or potent spell,
Lingering from sad Salopia's field,
Reft of his aid, the Percy fell.

"E'en from that day misfortune still,
As if for violated faith,

Pursued him with unwearied step,
Vindictive still for Hotspur's death.

"Vanquished at length, the Glyndur fled Where winds the Wye her devious flood, To find a casual shelter there,

In some lone cot, or desart wood.

"Clothed in a shepherd's humble guise,
He gained by toil his scanty bread;
He who had Cambria's sceptre borne,
And her brave sons to glory led.

"To penury extreme, and grief,

The chieftain fell a lingering prey; I heard his last few faltering words, Such as with pain I now convey:

"To Sele's sad widow bear the tale, Nor let our horrid secret rest; Give but his corpse to sacred earth,

Then may my parting soul be blest.'"

"Dim waxed the eye that fiercely shone,

And faint the tongue that proudly spokeAnd weak that arm still raised to me,

Which oft had dealt the mortal stroke.

"How could I then his mandate bear,
Or how his last behest obey?
A rebel deemed with him I fled-
With him I shunned the light of day.
"Proscribed by Henry's hostile rage,
My country lost-despoiled my land,
Desperate I fled my native soil,

And fought on Syria's distant strand.

"O had thy long-lamented lord

The Holy Cross and banner viewed,—
Died in the sacred cause,-who fell
Sad victim of a private feud!

"Led by the ardour of the chase

Far distant from his own domain From where Garthmaelan spreads her shade, The Glyndur sought the opening plain.

"With head aloft, and antlers wide,

A red-buck roused then crossed in view; Stung with the sight, and wild with rage,

Swift from the wood fierce Howel flew.

"With bitter taunt, and keen reproach, He, all impetuous, poured his rage, Reviled the chief as weak in arms,

And bade him loud the battle wage.

"Glyndur for once restrained his sword,
And, still averse, the fight delays;
But softened words, like oil to fire,
Made anger more intensely blaze.

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They fought, and doubtful long the fray;
The Glyndur gave the fatal wound!
Still mournful must my tale proceed,
And its last act all dreadful sound.

"How could we hope for wish'd retreat,
His eager vassals ranging wide?
His bloodhounds' keen sagacious scent
O'er many a trackless mountain tried?

"I marked a broad and blasted oak,

Scorched by the lightning's livid glare; Hollow its stem, from branch to root,

And all its shrivelled arms were bare.

“Be this, (I cried) his proper grave!
(The thought in me was deadly sin);
Aloft we raised the hapless chief,

And dropped his bleeding corpse within."

A shriek from all the damsels burst,
That pierced the vaulted roofs below;
While horror struck, the lady stood,
A living form of sculptured woe !

With stupid stare, and vacant gaze,

Full on his face her eyes were cast;
Absorbed! she lost her present grief,
And faintly thought of things long past.

Like wildfire o'er a mossy heath,

The rumour through the hamlet ran; The peasants crowd at morning dawn, To hear the tale, -behold the man.

He led them near the Blasted Oak,

Then, conscious, from the scene withdrew; The peasants work with trembling haste, And lay the whitened bones to view.

Back they recoiled! the right-hand still
Contracted, grasped a rusty sword,
Which erst in many a battle gleamed,

And proudly decked their slaughtered lord.

They bore the corse to Vener's * shrine,
With holy rites, and prayers addressed;
Nine white-robed monks the last dirge sang,
And gave the angry spirit rest.

LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER.

BY THOMAS CAMPBELL.

A CHIEFTAIN, to the Highlands bound,
Cries, "Boatman, do not tarry!

And I'll give thee a silver pound

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To row us o'er the ferry."

Now, who be ye would cross Lochgyle,

This dark and stormy water?"

"O, I'm the chief of Ulva's Isle,

And this Lord Ullin's daughter.

*The ruins of Kemmer Abbey are about a mile distant from Nannau

House, the church of which is probably the one here meant.

"And fast before her father's men,

Three days we've fled together;
For should he find us in the glen,
My blood would stain the heather.

"His horsemen hard behind us ride;
Should they our steps discover,
Then who will cheer my bonny bride,
When they have slain her lover?"

Out-spoke the hardy Highland wight,

"I'll go, my chief — I'm ready : It is not for your silver bright, But for your winsome lady.

:

"And, by my word! the bonny bird In danger shall not tarry;

So, though the waves are raging white, I'll row you o'er the ferry."

By this the storm grew loud apace,

The water-wraith was shrieking; And in the scowl of heaven each face Grew dark as they were speaking.

But still as wilder blew the wind,
And as the night grew drearer,
Adown the glen rode armed men ;
Their trampling sounded nearer.

"O, haste thee, haste! (the lady cries),

Though tempests round us gather;

I'll meet the raging of the skies,

But not an angry father."

* Spirit.