The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd Centenary Edition. With a Memoir of the Author, by the Rev. Thomas Thomson ... Poems and Life. With Many Illustrative Engravings [by James Hogg] |
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The Spirit of the Glen.
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 | The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd |  |
The Spirit of the Glen.
“O dearest Marjory, stay at home,
For dark's the gate you have to go;
And there's a maike adown the glen,
Hath frighten'd me an' many moe.
For dark's the gate you have to go;
And there's a maike adown the glen,
Hath frighten'd me an' many moe.
“His legs are like to pillars tall,
And still and stalwart is his stride;
His face is rounder nor the moon,
And och, his mouth is awesome wide!
And still and stalwart is his stride;
His face is rounder nor the moon,
And och, his mouth is awesome wide!
“I saw him stand the other night,
Yclothed in his grizly shroud;
With one foot on a shadow placed,
The other on a misty cloud.
Yclothed in his grizly shroud;
With one foot on a shadow placed,
The other on a misty cloud.
“As far asunder were his limbs,
On the first storey of the air,
A ship could have sail'd through between,
With all her colours flying fair.
On the first storey of the air,
A ship could have sail'd through between,
With all her colours flying fair.
“He nodded his head against the heaven,
As if in reverend mockerye;
Then fauldit his arms upon his breast,
And aye he shook his beard at me.
As if in reverend mockerye;
Then fauldit his arms upon his breast,
And aye he shook his beard at me.
“And he pointed to my Marjory's cot,
And by his motions seem'd to say,
‘In yon sweet home go seek thy lot,
For there thine earthly lot I lay.’
And by his motions seem'd to say,
‘In yon sweet home go seek thy lot,
For there thine earthly lot I lay.’
“My very heart it quaked for dread,
And turn'd as cold as beryl stone;
And the moudies cheipit below the swaird,
For fear their little souls were gone.
And turn'd as cold as beryl stone;
And the moudies cheipit below the swaird,
For fear their little souls were gone.
“The cushat and the corbie craw
Fled to the highest mountain height;
And the little birdies tried the same,
But fell down on the earth with fright.
Fled to the highest mountain height;
And the little birdies tried the same,
But fell down on the earth with fright.
“But there was ane shameful heronshew
Was sitting by the plashy shore,
With meagre eyne watching powheads,
And other fishes, less or more;
Was sitting by the plashy shore,
With meagre eyne watching powheads,
And other fishes, less or more;
“But when she saw that grizly sight
Stand on the billow of the wind;
Grace!—as she flapper'd and she flew,
And left a streamoury track behind!
Stand on the billow of the wind;
Grace!—as she flapper'd and she flew,
And left a streamoury track behind!
“And aye she rair'd as she were wud,
For utter terror and dismay;
And left a skelloch on the clud—
I took it for the milky way.
For utter terror and dismay;
And left a skelloch on the clud—
I took it for the milky way.
“Had I not seen that hideous sight,
What I had done I could not say;
But at that heron's horrid fright,
I'll laugh until my dying day.
What I had done I could not say;
But at that heron's horrid fright,
I'll laugh until my dying day.
“Then, dearest Marjory, stay at home,
And rather court a blink with me;
For gin you see that awesome sight,
Yourself again you will never be.”
And rather court a blink with me;
For gin you see that awesome sight,
Yourself again you will never be.”
“But I have made a tryst this night,
I may not break, if take my life;
So I will run my risk and go;
With maiden, spirits have no strife.
I may not break, if take my life;
So I will run my risk and go;
With maiden, spirits have no strife.
“Have you not heard, Sir Dominie,
That face of virgin bears a charm,
And neither ghaist, nor man, nor beast,
Have any power to do her harm?”
That face of virgin bears a charm,
And neither ghaist, nor man, nor beast,
Have any power to do her harm?”
“Yes, there is One, sweet Marjorye,
Will stand thy friend in darksome even;
For virgin beauty is on earth
The brightest type we have of heaven.
Will stand thy friend in darksome even;
For virgin beauty is on earth
The brightest type we have of heaven.
“The collie cowers upon the swaird,
To kiss her foot with kindly eye;
The maskis will not move his tongue,
But wag his tail, if she pass by;
To kiss her foot with kindly eye;
The maskis will not move his tongue,
But wag his tail, if she pass by;
330
“The adder hath not power to stang;
The slow-worm's harmless as an eel;
The burly toad, the ask, and snake,
Cannot so much as wound her heel.
The slow-worm's harmless as an eel;
The burly toad, the ask, and snake,
Cannot so much as wound her heel.
“The angels love to see her good,
And watch her ways in bower and hall;
The devils pay her some respect,
And God loves her—that's best of all.”
And watch her ways in bower and hall;
The devils pay her some respect,
And God loves her—that's best of all.”
“Then, sooth, I'll take my chance, and wend
To keep my tryst, whate'er may be;
Why should a virtuous maiden dread,
The tale of a crazy dominie?”
To keep my tryst, whate'er may be;
Why should a virtuous maiden dread,
The tale of a crazy dominie?”
“Ochon, ochon, dear Marjorye,
But of your virtue you are vain!
Yet you are in a wondrous haste,
In running into toil and pain.
But of your virtue you are vain!
Yet you are in a wondrous haste,
In running into toil and pain.
“For maiden's virtue, at the best,
(May He that made her kind forgive her!)
Is like the blue-bell of the waste,
Sweet, sweet a while, and gone for ever!—
(May He that made her kind forgive her!)
Is like the blue-bell of the waste,
Sweet, sweet a while, and gone for ever!—
“It is like what maiden much admires—
A bruckle set of china store;
But one false stumble, start, or step,
And down it falls for evermore!
A bruckle set of china store;
But one false stumble, start, or step,
And down it falls for evermore!
“It is like the florid Eden rose,
That perisheth without recalling;
And aye the lovelier that it grows,
It wears the nearer to the falling.
That perisheth without recalling;
And aye the lovelier that it grows,
It wears the nearer to the falling.
“It is like the flaunting morning sky,
That spreads its blushes far before;
But plash, there comes a storm of rain,
And all its glory then is o'er.
That spreads its blushes far before;
But plash, there comes a storm of rain,
And all its glory then is o'er.
“Then be not proud, sweet Marjorye,
Of that which hath no sure abode;
Man little knows what lurks within;
The heart is only known to God.”
Of that which hath no sure abode;
Man little knows what lurks within;
The heart is only known to God.”
But Marjory smiled a willsome smile,
And drew her frock up to her knee;
And lightly down the glen she flew,
Though the tear stood in the dominie's e'e.
And drew her frock up to her knee;
And lightly down the glen she flew,
Though the tear stood in the dominie's e'e.
She had not gone a mile but ane,
Quhill up there starts a droichel man,
And he lookit ruefully in her face,
And says, “Fair maid, where be you gaun?”
Quhill up there starts a droichel man,
And he lookit ruefully in her face,
And says, “Fair maid, where be you gaun?”
“I am gaun to meet mine own true love,
So, Maister Brownie, say your rede;
I know you have not power to hurt
One single hair of virgin's head.”
So, Maister Brownie, say your rede;
I know you have not power to hurt
One single hair of virgin's head.”
The brownie gave a gousty laugh,
And said, “What wisdom you do lack!
For, if you reach your own true love,
I may have power when you come back!”
And said, “What wisdom you do lack!
For, if you reach your own true love,
I may have power when you come back!”
Then next she met an eldrin dame,
A weirdly witch I wot was she;
For though she wore a human face,
It was a gruesome sight to see.
A weirdly witch I wot was she;
For though she wore a human face,
It was a gruesome sight to see.
“Stay, pretty maid, what is your haste?
Come, speak with me before you go,
For I have news to tell to you
Will make your very heart to glow:
Come, speak with me before you go,
For I have news to tell to you
Will make your very heart to glow:
“You claim that virgins have a charm,
That holds the universe at bay;
Alas! poor fool, to snare and harm
There is none so liable as they.
That holds the universe at bay;
Alas! poor fool, to snare and harm
There is none so liable as they.
“It is love that lifts up woman's soul,
And gives her eyes a heavenly sway;
Then, would you be a blessed thing,
Indulge in love without delay.
And gives her eyes a heavenly sway;
Then, would you be a blessed thing,
Indulge in love without delay.
“You go to meet your own true love,
I know it well as well can be;
But or you pass a bowshot on,
You will meet ane thrice as good as he.
I know it well as well can be;
But or you pass a bowshot on,
You will meet ane thrice as good as he.
“And he will press your lily hand,
And he will kiss your cheek and chin,
And you must go to bower with him,
For he is the youth your love must win.
And he will kiss your cheek and chin,
And you must go to bower with him,
For he is the youth your love must win.
“And you must do what he desires,
And great good fortune you shall find;
But when you reach your own true love,
Keep close your secret in your mind.”
And great good fortune you shall find;
But when you reach your own true love,
Keep close your secret in your mind.”
Away went Marjory, and away
With lighter step and blither smile;
That night to meet her own true love,
She would have gane a thousand mile.
With lighter step and blither smile;
That night to meet her own true love,
She would have gane a thousand mile.
She had not pass'd a bowshot on,
Until a youth, in manly trim,
Came up, and press'd the comely May
To turn into a bower with him.
Until a youth, in manly trim,
Came up, and press'd the comely May
To turn into a bower with him.
He promised her a gown of silk,
A mantle of the cramosye,
And chain of gold about her neck,
For one hour of her companye.
A mantle of the cramosye,
And chain of gold about her neck,
For one hour of her companye.
He took her lily hand in his,
And kiss'd it with such fervencye,
That the poor May began to blush,
And durst not lift her modest e'e.
And kiss'd it with such fervencye,
That the poor May began to blush,
And durst not lift her modest e'e.
Her little heart began to beat,
And flutter most disquietlye;
She lookit east, she lookit west,
And all to see what she could see.
And flutter most disquietlye;
She lookit east, she lookit west,
And all to see what she could see.
She lookit up to heaven aboon,
Though scarcely knowing how or why;
She heaved a sigh—the day was won,
And bright resolve beam'd in her eye.
Though scarcely knowing how or why;
She heaved a sigh—the day was won,
And bright resolve beam'd in her eye.
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The first stern that she look'd upon,
A tear stood on its brow for shame;
It drappit on the floor of heaven,
And aye its blushes went and came.
A tear stood on its brow for shame;
It drappit on the floor of heaven,
And aye its blushes went and came.
Then Marjory in a moment thought,
That blessed angels might her see;
And often said within her heart,
“Do God's own planets blush for me?
That blessed angels might her see;
And often said within her heart,
“Do God's own planets blush for me?
“That they shall never do again—
Leal virtue still shall be my guide:—
Thou stranger youth, pass on thy way,
With thee I will not turn aside.
Leal virtue still shall be my guide:—
Thou stranger youth, pass on thy way,
With thee I will not turn aside.
“The angel of the glen is wroth,
And where shall maiden find remede?
See what a hideous canopy
He is spreading high above our head!”
And where shall maiden find remede?
See what a hideous canopy
He is spreading high above our head!”
“Take thou no dread, sweet Marjorye;
It is love's own curtain spread on high;
A timeous veil for maiden's blush,
Yon little crumb-cloth of the sky.
It is love's own curtain spread on high;
A timeous veil for maiden's blush,
Yon little crumb-cloth of the sky.
“All the good angels take delight
Sweet woman's happiness to see;
And where could thine be so complete
As in the bower this night with me?”
Sweet woman's happiness to see;
And where could thine be so complete
As in the bower this night with me?”
Poor Marjory durst no answer make,
But stood as meek as captive dove;
Her trust fix'd on her Maker kind—
Her eyes upon the heaven above.
But stood as meek as captive dove;
Her trust fix'd on her Maker kind—
Her eyes upon the heaven above.
That wicked wight (for sure no youth,
But demon of the glen was he)
Had no more power, but sped away,
And left the maiden on her knee.
But demon of the glen was he)
Had no more power, but sped away,
And left the maiden on her knee.
Then all you virgins sweet and young,
When the first whisperings of sin
Begin to hanker on your minds,
Or steal into the soul within,
When the first whisperings of sin
Begin to hanker on your minds,
Or steal into the soul within,
Keep aye the eyes on heaven aboon,
Both of your body and your mind;
For in the strength of God alone,
A woman's weakness strength shall find.
Both of your body and your mind;
For in the strength of God alone,
A woman's weakness strength shall find.
And when you go to bower or dell,
And know no human eye can see,
Think of an eye that never sleeps,
And angels weeping over thee.
And know no human eye can see,
Think of an eye that never sleeps,
And angels weeping over thee.
For man is but a selfish maike,
And little recks of maiden's woe,
And all his pride is to advise
The gate she's far ower apt to go.
And little recks of maiden's woe,
And all his pride is to advise
The gate she's far ower apt to go.
Away went bonnie Marjorye,
With all her blossoms in the blight;
She had not gone a bowshot on,
Before she saw an awesome sight:
With all her blossoms in the blight;
She had not gone a bowshot on,
Before she saw an awesome sight:
It was ane maike of monstrous might,
The terror of the sons of men;
That by Sir Dominie was hight,
The Giant Spirit of the Glen.
The terror of the sons of men;
That by Sir Dominie was hight,
The Giant Spirit of the Glen.
His make was like a moonshine cloud
That filled the glen with human form:
With his gray locks he brush'd the heaven,
And shook them far aboon the storm;
That filled the glen with human form:
With his gray locks he brush'd the heaven,
And shook them far aboon the storm;
And gurly, gurly was his look,
From eyne that seem'd two borels blue;
And shaggy was his silver beard
That down the air in streamers flew.
From eyne that seem'd two borels blue;
And shaggy was his silver beard
That down the air in streamers flew.
Oh, but that maid was hard bested,
And mazed and modderit in dismay!
For both the guests of heaven and hell
Seem'd her fond passage to belay.
And mazed and modderit in dismay!
For both the guests of heaven and hell
Seem'd her fond passage to belay.
When the great spirit saw her dread,
And that she wist not what to say,
His face assumed a milder shade,
Like midnight melting into day.
And that she wist not what to say,
His face assumed a milder shade,
Like midnight melting into day.
“Poor wayward, artless, aimless thing,
Where art thou going, canst thou tell?”
The spirit said—“Is it thy will
To run with open eyne to hell?
Where art thou going, canst thou tell?”
The spirit said—“Is it thy will
To run with open eyne to hell?
“I am the guardian of this glen,
And 'tis my sovereign joy to see
The wicked man run on in sin,
Rank, ruthless, gaunt, and greedilye;
And 'tis my sovereign joy to see
The wicked man run on in sin,
Rank, ruthless, gaunt, and greedilye;
“But still to guard the virtuous heart
From paths of danger and of woe,
Shall be my earnest, dearest part:
Then tell me, dame, where dost thou go?
From paths of danger and of woe,
Shall be my earnest, dearest part:
Then tell me, dame, where dost thou go?
“I go to meet mine ain dear love,
True happiness with him to seek—
The comeliest and kindest youth
That ever kiss'd a maiden's cheek.”
True happiness with him to seek—
The comeliest and kindest youth
That ever kiss'd a maiden's cheek.”
The spirit shook his silver hair,
That stream'd like sunbeam through the rain;
But there was pity in his eyne,
Though mingled with a mild disdain.
That stream'd like sunbeam through the rain;
But there was pity in his eyne,
Though mingled with a mild disdain.
He whipp'd the maid up in his arms
As I would lift a trivial toy:
Quod he, “The upshot thou shalt see
Of this most pure and virtuous joy!”
As I would lift a trivial toy:
Quod he, “The upshot thou shalt see
Of this most pure and virtuous joy!”
He took two strides, he took but two,
Although ane mile it seem'd to be,
And show'd the maid her own true love,
With maiden weeping at his knee;
Although ane mile it seem'd to be,
And show'd the maid her own true love,
With maiden weeping at his knee;
And oh! that maiden's heart was sore,
For still with tears she wet his feet;
But then he mock'd and jeer'd the more,
With threats, and language most unmeet.
For still with tears she wet his feet;
But then he mock'd and jeer'd the more,
With threats, and language most unmeet.
332
She cried, “Oh, dear and cruel youth,
Think of the love you vow'd to me,
And all the joys that we have proved,
Beneath the bield of birken tree!
Think of the love you vow'd to me,
And all the joys that we have proved,
Beneath the bield of birken tree!
“Since never maid hath loved like me,
Leave me not to the world's sharp scorn;
By your dear hand I'll rather die,
Than live forsaken and forlorn!”
Leave me not to the world's sharp scorn;
By your dear hand I'll rather die,
Than live forsaken and forlorn!”
“As thou hast said so shalt thou dree,”
Said this most cursed and cruel hind;
“For I must meet ane May this night,
Whom I love best of womankind;
Said this most cursed and cruel hind;
“For I must meet ane May this night,
Whom I love best of womankind;
“So I'll let forth thy wicked blood,
And neither daunt nor rue the deed,
For thou art lost to grace and good,
And ruin'd beyond all remede.”
And neither daunt nor rue the deed,
For thou art lost to grace and good,
And ruin'd beyond all remede.”
She opened up her snowy breast,
And aye the tear blinded her e'e;
Now take, now take mine harmless life,
All guiltless but for loving thee!”
And aye the tear blinded her e'e;
Now take, now take mine harmless life,
All guiltless but for loving thee!”
Then he took out a deadly blade,
And drew it from its bloody sheath,
Then laid his hand upon her eyne,
To blind them from the stroke of death.
And drew it from its bloody sheath,
Then laid his hand upon her eyne,
To blind them from the stroke of death.
Then, straight to pierce her broken heart,
He raised his ruthless hand on high;
But Marjory utter'd shriek so loud,
It made the monster start and fly.
He raised his ruthless hand on high;
But Marjory utter'd shriek so loud,
It made the monster start and fly.
“Now, maiden,” said the mighty shade,
“Thou see'st what dangers waited thee;
Thou see'st what snares for thee were laid,
All underneath the greenwood tree.
“Thou see'st what dangers waited thee;
Thou see'st what snares for thee were laid,
All underneath the greenwood tree.
“Yet straight on ruin wouldst thou run!
What think'st thou of thy lover meek—
The comeliest and the kindest youth
That ever kiss'd a maiden's cheek?”
What think'st thou of thy lover meek—
The comeliest and the kindest youth
That ever kiss'd a maiden's cheek?”
Then sore, sore did poor Marjory weep,
And cried, “This world's a world of woe,
A place of sin, of snare, and gin;
Alas! what shall poor woman do?”
And cried, “This world's a world of woe,
A place of sin, of snare, and gin;
Alas! what shall poor woman do?”
“Let woman trust in heaven high,
And be all ventures rash abjured;
And never trust herself with man,
Till of his virtue well assured.”
And be all ventures rash abjured;
And never trust herself with man,
Till of his virtue well assured.”
The spirit turned him round about,
And up the glen he strode amain,
Quhill his white hair along the heaven
Stream'd like the comet's fiery train.
And up the glen he strode amain,
Quhill his white hair along the heaven
Stream'd like the comet's fiery train.
High as the eagle's morning flight,
And swift as is his cloudy way,
He bore that maiden through the night,
Enswathed in wonder and dismay;
And swift as is his cloudy way,
He bore that maiden through the night,
Enswathed in wonder and dismay;
And he flang her in the dominie's bed—
Ane good soft bed as bed could be;
And when the dominie he came home,
Ane richt astounded man was he!
Ane good soft bed as bed could be;
And when the dominie he came home,
Ane richt astounded man was he!
Quod he, “My dear sweet Marjorye,
My best beloved and dawted dame,
You are welcome to my bed and board,
And this brave house to be thine hame;
My best beloved and dawted dame,
You are welcome to my bed and board,
And this brave house to be thine hame;
“But not till we in holy church
Be bound, never to loose again;
And then I will love you as my life,
And long as life and breath remain.”
Be bound, never to loose again;
And then I will love you as my life,
And long as life and breath remain.”
Then the dominie took her to holy church,
And wed her with a gowden ring;
And he was that day a joyful man,
And happier nor a crowned king.
And wed her with a gowden ring;
And he was that day a joyful man,
And happier nor a crowned king.
And more unsmirchit happiness
Ne'er to an earthly pair was given;
And all the days they spent on earth,
They spent in thankfulness to Heaven.
Ne'er to an earthly pair was given;
And all the days they spent on earth,
They spent in thankfulness to Heaven.
Now, maidens dear, in greenwood shaw,
Ere you make trystes with flattering men,
Think of the sights poor Marjory saw,
And the Great Spirit of the Glen.
Ere you make trystes with flattering men,
Think of the sights poor Marjory saw,
And the Great Spirit of the Glen.
| The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd | |