To dance thir damsellis them dight, Their gloves were of the raffel right, Their shoon were of the Straits, They were so nice when men them nicht, Sa loud At Christ's Kirk of the Green that day. Of all thir maidens mild as mead, Was nane so jimp as Gillie, As ony rose her rood was red, Her lyre was like the lily. flaunted manners deerskin shoes, morocco nearéd goats sinart complexion bosom Fu' yellow, yellow was her head, But she of love was silly; Though all her kin had sworn her dead, Alane, At Christ's Kirk of the Green that day. Blind Harry. death About 1450. Or this Scottish minstrel poet little is known, but that he was blind from his earliest years, and that he gained his living by reciting and singing his compositions before company. "The Adventures of Sir William Wallace," written about 1450, is still a great favourite with the Scottish peasantry, who regard it as the trumpet-note of liberty, a modernised Scotch version having been made some time ago by Hamilton of Gilbertfield. It was the study of this work which had such an effect in kindling the genius of Burns. The poem is evidently founded on the traditions current at that time, a century and half after the times of Wallace. WALLACE FISHING IN IRVINE WATER. So on a time he desired to play In Aperil the three-and-twenty day, Till Irvine water fish to tak he went, Sic fantasy fell in his intent. To lead his net a child furth with him yede ; But he, or noon, was in a fellon dread. His swerd he left, so did he never again; It did him gude, suppose he suffered pain. went ere, fearful craft Happy he was, took fish abundantly. And said soon: 'Scot, Martin's fish we wald have!' 6 , could riding sport more go go It were reason, methink, ye should have part, Waith should be dealt, in all place, with free heart.' He bade his child, 'Give them of our waithing.' The Southron said; As now of thy dealing We will not tak; thou wald give us o'er small.' He lighted down and frae the child took all. Wallace said then: Gentlemen gif ye be, Leave us some part, we pray for charity. Ane aged knight serves our lady to-day : Gude friend, leave part, and tak not all away,' "Thou shall have leave to fish, and tak thee mae, All this forsooth shall in our flitting gae. We serve a lord; this fish shall till him gang.' Wallace answered, said: "Thou art in the wrang.' 'Wham thous thou, Scot? in faith thou 'serves a blaw.' blow Till him he ran, and out a swerd gan draw. William was wae he had nae wappins there But the poutstaff, the whilk in hand he bare. Wallace with it fast on the cheek him took, With sae gude will, while of his feet he shook. The swerd flew frae him a fur-breid on the land. Wallace was glad, and hint it soon in hand; And with the swerd awkward he him gave Under the hat, his craig in sunder drave. By that the lave lighted about Wallace, He had no help, only but God's grace. On either side full fast on him they dang, Great peril was gif they had lasted lang. Upon the head in great ire he strak ane; The shearand swerd glade to the collar bane. Ane other on the arm he hit so hardily, While hand and swerd baith in the field gan lie. The tother twa fled to their horse again; He stickit him was last upon the plain. sorry fishing-rod seized Three slew he there, twa fled with all their might Richard Sheale. fall! ere stop tarried asked gooda went About 1420 to 1460. THE author of this remarkable ballad is Richard Sheale, an Englishman, but the date is unknown. This modernised version was made about 1420 to 1460. CHEVY-CHASE. GOD prosper long our noble king, Our lives and safeties all; A woful hunting once there did In Chevy-Chase befall. The Cheviot Hills To drive the deer with hound and horn Earl Percy took his way; The child may rue that is unborn The hunting of that day. The stout Earl of Northumberland These tidings to Earl Douglas came, Who sent Earl Percy present word With fifteen hundred bowmen bold, Who knew full well in time of need And long before high noon they had The bowmen mustered on the hills, And all their rear, with special care, That day was guarded sure. The hounds ran swiftly through the woods, The nimble deer to take; That with their cries the hills and dales Lord Percy to the quarry went, To view the slaughtered deer; But if I thought he would not come, With that a brave young gentleman "Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come, All men of pleasant Teviotdale, Fast by the river Tweed:" "Then cease your sports," Earl Percy said, "And take your bows with speed: And now with me my countrymen, That ever did on horseback come, I durst encounter man for man, Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed, Rode foremost of his company, Whose armour shone like gold. "Show me," said he, "whose men you be, That hunt so boldly here, That, without my consent, do chase And kill my fallow-deer." The first man that did answer make, Who said, "We list not to declare, Yet will we spend our dearest blood, "Ere thus I will out-braved be, I know thee well, an earl thou art, But trust me, Percy, pity it were, Let you and me the battle try, Then stepped a gallant squire fortli, Who said, "I would not have it told To Henry, our king, for shame, B |