In longitude tho' sorely scanty, It was her best, and she was vauntie.78 But here my Muse her wing maun cower,81 Even Satan glowr'd 8 and fidg'd fu' fain,85 Tam tint 88 his reason a' thegither, And roars out, "Weel done, Cutty-sark!" And scarcely had he Maggie rallied, As bees bizz out wi' angry fyke,89 When, pop! she starts before their nose; When "Catch the thief!" resounds aloud; So Maggie runs, the witches follow, Wi' mony an eldritch 92 skreich and hollow. 78. Vauntie. Proud; overjoyed. 79. Coft. Bought. 85. Fain. Glad. Ah, Tam! ah, Tam! thou'll thy fairin! 93 Now, wha this tale o' truth shall read, 93. Fairin. Reward. 94. Fient. Devil. 95. Ettle. Effort. 96. Carlin. Witch. 1. 32 JOCK OF HAZELDEAN SIR WALTER SCOTT "Why weep ye by the tide, ladie? And ye sall be his bride, ladie, But aye she loot the tears down fa' "Now let this wilfu' grief be done, His step is first in peaceful ha',1 "A chain of gold ye sall not lack, Nor mettled hound, nor managed 2 hawk, And you, the foremost of them a', But aye she loot the tears down fa' Ha'. Manor-house. 2. Managed. Trained. The kirk was deck'd at morning-tide, The priest and bridegroom wait the bride, They sought her baith by bower and ha'; The ladie was not seen! She's o'er the border and awa' Wi' Jock of Hazeldean. 33 THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS 1 LEIGH HUNT 3 King Francis 2 was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport, And one day as his lions fought, sat looking on the court; The nobles filled the benches, with the ladies by their side, And 'mongst them sat the Count de Lorge, with one for whom he sighed. And truly 't was a gallant thing to see that crowning show, Valor and love; and a king above; and the royal beasts below. Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws; They bit, they glared, gave blows like bears, a wind went with their paws; With wallowing might and stifled roar they rolled on one another, Till all the pit with sand and mane, was in a thunderous smother; 3. Bower and ha'. Inner or private room and large room; that is, they sought everywhere. 1. It will be noted that this poem and the following are based upon the same incident. The German poet Schiller also wrote a poem upon this subject. It will be interesting to compare methods of handling in the two poems given. 2. King Francis. Francis I of France, 1494-1547. The bloody foam above the bars came whizzing through the air, Said Francis then, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there." De Lorge's love o'erheard the King, a beauteous lively dame, With smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which always seemed the same; She thought, the Count, my lover is brave as brave can be; He surely would do wondrous things to show his love of me; "King, ladies, lovers, all look on; the occasion is divine; I'll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine." She dropped her glove, to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled; He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild: The leap was quick, return was quick, he has regained his place, Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady's face. "By heaven!" said Francis, "rightly done!" and he rose from where he sat: "No love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that." |