Chapter XLV: Part III

Fair Emmeline scant had ridden a mile,
A mile forth of the town,
When she was aware of her father’s men
Come galloping over the down.

And foremost came the carlish Knight,
Sir John of the North Countraye,
“Now stop! now stop! thou false traitor,
Nor carry that Lady away!

“For she is come of high lineage,
And was of a Lady born,
And ill it beseems thee, a false churl’s son,
To carry her hence to scorn!”

“Now loud thou liest, Sir John the Knight,
Now thou dost lie of me,
My father’s a Knight, a Lady me bore,
So never did none by thee!

“But light now down, my Lady fair,
Light down, and hold my steed;
While I and this discourteous Knight
Do try this arduous deed.

“But light now down, my dear Lady,
Light down, and hold my horse;
While I and this discourteous Knight
Do try our valour’s force.”

Fair Emmeline sighed, Fair Emmeline wept,
And aye her heart was woe,
While twixt her love and the carlish Knight
Passed many a baleful blow.

The Child of Elle, he fought so well,
As his weapon he waved amain,
That soon he had slain the carlish Knight,
And laid him upon the plain.

And now the Baron and all his men
Full fast approached nigh:
Ah! what may Lady Emmeline do?
’Twere now no boot to fly!

Her lover, he put his horn to his mouth,
And blew both loud and shrill,
And soon he saw his own merry men
Come riding over the hill.

“Now hold thy hand, thou bold Baron,
I pray thee, hold thy hand,
Nor ruthless rend two gentle hearts
Fast knit in true love’s band.

“Thy daughter I have dearly loved,
Full long and many a day;
But with such love as holy Kirk
Hath freely said we may.

“Oh! give consent she may be mine,
And bless a faithful pair;
My lands and livings are not small,
My house and lineage fair.

“My mother she was an Earl’s daughter,
And a noble Knight my sire--”
The Baron he frowned, and turned away
With mickle dole and ire.

Fair Emmeline sighed, Fair Emmeline wept,
And did all trembling stand;
At length she sprang upon her knee,
And held his lifted hand.

“Pardon, my Lord and Father dear,
This fair young Knight and me!
Trust me, but for the carlish Knight,
I never had fled from thee.

“Oft have you called your Emmeline,
Your darling and your joy;
Oh! let not then your harsh resolves
Your Emmeline destroy.”

The Baron he stroked his dark-brown cheek,
And turned his head aside
To wipe away the starting tear,
He proudly strave to hide.

In deep revolving thought he stood,
And mused a little space:
Then raised Fair Emmeline from the ground,
With many a fond embrace.

“Here, take her, Child of Elle,” he said
And gave her lily hand:
“Here, take my dear and only child,
And with her half my land.

“Thy father once mine honour wronged
In days of youthful pride;
Do thou the injury repair
In fondness for thy bride.

“And as thou love her, and hold her dear,
Heaven prosper thee and thine;
And now my blessing wend wi’ thee,
My lovely Emmeline.”

_Attributed in part to Bishop Percy_
(_In modern spelling_)

FOR HALLOWEEN AND MIDSUMMER EVE

THE SPELL

_At eve last Midsummer, no sleep I sought,
But to the field a bag of Hempseed brought;
I scattered round the seed on every side,
And three times in a trembling accent cried:
“This Hempseed with my virgin hand I sow,
Who shall my True-love be, the crop shall mow!”
I straight looked back, and if my eyes speak truth,
With his keen scythe behind me came the youth!
With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground,
And turn me thrice, around, around, around!_

_Last May-day Fair, I searched to find a Snail,
That might my secret Lover’s name reveal.
Two Hazel-nuts I threw into the flame,
And to each nut I gave a sweetheart’s name.
This with the loudest bounce me sore amazed,
That in a flame of brightest colour blazed.
With my sharp heel, I three times mark the ground,
And turn me thrice, around, around, around!_

_This mellow Pippin which I pare around,
My Shepherd’s name shall flourish on the ground.
I fling the unbroken paring o’er my head,
Upon the grass a perfect L is read.
Yet on my heart a fairer L is seen
Than what the paring marks upon the green.
With my sharp heel, I three times mark the ground,
And turn me thrice, around, around, around!_

_John Gay. (Condensed)_

THE YOUNG TAMLANE