The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson ... for the first time fully collected and compared with the original and early editions ... edited ... by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart ... with portrait, illustrations, &c |
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| THE RIVALS. |
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 | The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson |  |
THE RIVALS.
Lone, on the side of a high towering hill,
From whose mist-shrouded top pours many a rill;
Near where fierce Calder, down the craggy steep,
Brawls to the Loch, with wild impetuous sweep;
There, safely sheltered from the howling storm,
Stood a neat cottage of inviting form;
Where lived a soldier, home from war's alarms,
With his fair daughter, rich in beauty's charms.
From whose mist-shrouded top pours many a rill;
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Brawls to the Loch, with wild impetuous sweep;
There, safely sheltered from the howling storm,
Stood a neat cottage of inviting form;
Where lived a soldier, home from war's alarms,
With his fair daughter, rich in beauty's charms.
Round her fair form her golden ringlets strayed,
And every grace adorned this charming maid;
But, oh! sad grief her matchless beauty bred,
And streams of blood in deadly strife was shed!
For though she lived retired, her only care
To please her father, and his love to share.
Yet many a fierce encounter oft was fought
By fiery rivals, who her hand had sought.
And every grace adorned this charming maid;
But, oh! sad grief her matchless beauty bred,
And streams of blood in deadly strife was shed!
For though she lived retired, her only care
To please her father, and his love to share.
Yet many a fierce encounter oft was fought
By fiery rivals, who her hand had sought.
The Lord of Semple loved this blooming flower,
And oft had wished he had her in his power
Safe in the Peel, his stronghold on the lake,
Where he would her his wife by force soon make,—
Although he knew, she'd said she'd share the board
Of Fulton, Authenbathie's noble lord;
Who oft in secret wooed the mountain maid,
And of his hand, an offer oft had made.
And oft had wished he had her in his power
Safe in the Peel, his stronghold on the lake,
Where he would her his wife by force soon make,—
Although he knew, she'd said she'd share the board
Of Fulton, Authenbathie's noble lord;
Who oft in secret wooed the mountain maid,
And of his hand, an offer oft had made.
One night, when the moon shone o'er hill and glade,
The Lord of Semple, in full pomp arrayed,
Passed quickly round yon distant murmuring flood,
Intent to burn the cottage in the wood.
And when he orders gave his men to burn
The cot, he swiftly o'er the plain did spurn
With the two bravest of his valiant men,
And onwards hurriéd by Calder glen;
The Lord of Semple, in full pomp arrayed,
Passed quickly round yon distant murmuring flood,
Intent to burn the cottage in the wood.
And when he orders gave his men to burn
The cot, he swiftly o'er the plain did spurn
With the two bravest of his valiant men,
And onwards hurriéd by Calder glen;
To where the maid her lover ofttimes met
When the bright sun far in the west had set;
And there alone, retiréd in the shade,
He found her waiting, and thus to her said—
“Oft have I stooped to woo thee for my bride,
Yet thou my love and passion didst deride;
But, now, I come to woo and win by force!”
So saying, he bound her fast upon a horse:
When the bright sun far in the west had set;
And there alone, retiréd in the shade,
He found her waiting, and thus to her said—
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Yet thou my love and passion didst deride;
But, now, I come to woo and win by force!”
So saying, he bound her fast upon a horse:
And said—“My gallant men, the path is wide;
Be quick, and gain the river's western side!”
Quick flew the horses o'er the distant plain,
Then crossed the bridge, and the loch side they gain.
There, from the beach a fisher's boat they take.
And speedily crossed the calm and placid lake;
And in the Peel secure the maiden bound,
Where nought but water did the place surround.
Be quick, and gain the river's western side!”
Quick flew the horses o'er the distant plain,
Then crossed the bridge, and the loch side they gain.
There, from the beach a fisher's boat they take.
And speedily crossed the calm and placid lake;
And in the Peel secure the maiden bound,
Where nought but water did the place surround.
When Fulton came and found the cottage burned,
He swiftly o'er the plain his charger spurned;
And, madly dashing past yon glittering rill,
Quickly attained the summit of the hill:
When, looking to the Peel, there met his view
His bride, and off in swift pursuit he flew,—
And quickly found a boat, and crossed the lake,
To conquer or to die for his love's sake.
He swiftly o'er the plain his charger spurned;
And, madly dashing past yon glittering rill,
Quickly attained the summit of the hill:
When, looking to the Peel, there met his view
His bride, and off in swift pursuit he flew,—
And quickly found a boat, and crossed the lake,
To conquer or to die for his love's sake.
Young Fulton's boat had scarcely crossed the flood
When Castle Semple's lord before him stood,
And drawing near him, in derision said—
“Come ye, young man, to claim yon beauteous maid?”
Then forth he drew his sword, a glittering sight,
And in a posture stood, prepared for fight;
Then rose young Fulton's wrath; a fiery glow
O'er-spread his face, and crimson dyed his brow.
When from the Peel, a wild and dismal cry
When Castle Semple's lord before him stood,
And drawing near him, in derision said—
“Come ye, young man, to claim yon beauteous maid?”
Then forth he drew his sword, a glittering sight,
And in a posture stood, prepared for fight;
Then rose young Fulton's wrath; a fiery glow
O'er-spread his face, and crimson dyed his brow.
Shot on their ears, and rung along the sky;
Then swift as lightning, Fulton drew his blade,
And cried, “I come! I come unto thy aid!”
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Each in his turn aimed at his rival's life;
Till both their footing missed, and, with a shock,
Plunged headlong o'er the black and rugged rock
Into the dark, deep, wide encircling flood,
Dying the lake's clear surface with their blood;
The maid this seeing from the tower on high,
Threw herself down as quick as arrows fly;
For in dire madness, she had ta'en a leap
O'er the blood-stained rock, and rugged steep,
Into the blood-dyed water of the lake:
And thus she perished for her lover's sake.
To cheer us up, after this tale o' wae,
Master Sprat cam' an' gied us “Hogmenae,”—
A funny sang made on some cheery blades,
Wha for ae nicht had left their noisy trades
To hae a spree, an' drink the auld year out;
An' faith they had richt sport, ye needna doubt:
For ane ca'd Brodie, cryin' out “Nae clash,”
Fell aff his seat wi' a most awfu' crash;
An' ane ca'd Andrew sang wi' a' his micht
“Hummle dum tweedle,” an' “Blythe was the nicht,”—
Till ilka ane, wi' drink an' fun grown weary,
Gaed stauchrin' hame, richt blithe an' unco cheery.
Master Sprat cam' an' gied us “Hogmenae,”—
A funny sang made on some cheery blades,
Wha for ae nicht had left their noisy trades
To hae a spree, an' drink the auld year out;
An' faith they had richt sport, ye needna doubt:
For ane ca'd Brodie, cryin' out “Nae clash,”
Fell aff his seat wi' a most awfu' crash;
An' ane ca'd Andrew sang wi' a' his micht
“Hummle dum tweedle,” an' “Blythe was the nicht,”—
Till ilka ane, wi' drink an' fun grown weary,
Gaed stauchrin' hame, richt blithe an' unco cheery.
“Encore! encore!” then roun' the auld barn rang
As soon as Master Sprat got owre his sang;
An' some began to cry for Mr. Main,
While ithers roared “Come, gie's that sang again!”
Till, forced wi' cheers an' ruffin' to come back,
He rattled owre this new sang in a crack:—
As soon as Master Sprat got owre his sang;
An' some began to cry for Mr. Main,
While ithers roared “Come, gie's that sang again!”
Till, forced wi' cheers an' ruffin' to come back,
He rattled owre this new sang in a crack:—
| The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson | |