"She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur! 4 They'll have fleet steeds that follow!" quoth young Lochin var. There was mounting 'mong Græmes of the Netherby clan; Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran; There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee; But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see. 12 LADY CLARE ALFRED TENNYSON It was the time when lilies blow I trow they did not part in scorn; "He does not love me for my birth, 4. Scaur. A steep cliff or a rocky place on the side of a hill or mountain. In there came old Alice the nurse, Said, "Who was this that went from thee?" "O, God be thank'd!" said Alice the nurse, "That all comes round so just and fair; Lord Ronald is heir of all your lands, And you are not the Lady Clare." "Are ye out of your mind, my nurse, my nurse?" Said Lady Clare, "that ye speak so wild?" "As God's above," said Alice the nurse, "I speak the truth; you are my child. "The old Earl's daughter died at my breact; "Falsely, falsely have ye done, O mother," she said, "if this be true, "Nay now, my child," said Alice the nurse, "But keep the secret for your life, And all you have will be Lord Ronald's, "If I'm a beggar born," she said, "Nay now, my child," said Alice the nurse, "But keep the secret all ye can." She said, "Not so; but I will know If there be any faith in man." "Nay now, what faith?" said Alice the nurse, "The man will cleave unto his right." "Yet give one kiss to your mother dear! "Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear, She clad herself in a russet gown,1 She was no longer Lady Clare; She went by dale,2 and she went by down,3 With a single rose in her hair. The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought Leapt up from where she lay, Dropt her head in the maiden's hand, Down stept Lord Ronald from his tower: 1. Russet gown. Russet, to denote low social position. Dale. A valley. 2. 3. Down. A hill. "If I come drest like a village maid, I am but as my fortunes are; I am a beggar born," she said, "And not the Lady Clare." "Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, O and proudly stood she up! He laugh'd a laugh of merry scorn; He turn'd, and kiss'd her where she stood: "If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the next in blood "If you are not the heiress born 13 LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER THOMAS CAMPBELL A chieftain, to the Highlands bound, "Now who be ye, would cross Lochgyle, This dark and stormy water?" "Oh, I'm the chief of Ulva's isle, And this Lord Ullin's daughter.— "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; Out spoke the hardy Highland wight,1 "I'll go, my chief--I'm ready : It is not for your silver bright, "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." 1. Wight. A man. |