THE HERMIT's TALE

'Young lord, thy grand-sire had a friend, 'In days of youthful fame; 'Yon distant hills were his domains: 'Sir Bertram was his name.

'Where'er the noble Percy fought, 'His friend was at his side; 'And many a skirmish with the Scotts 'Their early valour try'd.

'Young Bertram lov'd a beauteous maid, 'As fair as fair might be; 'The dew-drop on the lily's cheek 'Was not so fair as she;

'Fair Widdrington the maiden's name, 'Yon towers her dwelling-place; 'Her sire an old Northumbrian chief 'Devoted to thy race.

'Many a lord, and many a knight, 'To this fair damsel came: 'But Bertram was her only choice; 'For him she felt a flame.

'Lord Percy pleaded for his friend: 'Her father soon consents: 'None but the beauteous maid herself 'His wishes now prevents.

'But she with studied, fond delays 'Defers the blissful hour; 'And loves to try his constancy, 'And prove her maiden power.

'That heart, she said, is lightly priz'd, 'Which is too lightly won; 'And long shall rue that easy maid, 'Who yields her love too soon.

'Lord Percy made a solemn feast 'In Alnwick's princely hall; 'And there came lords, and there came knights, 'His chiefs and barons all.

'With wassel, mirth, and revelry, 'The castle rung around: 'Lord Percy call'd for song and harp, 'And pipes of martial sound.

'The minstrels of thy noble house, 'All clad in robes of blue, 'With silver crescents on their arms, 'Attend in order due.

'The great achievements of thy race 'They sung: their high command: 'How valiant Manfred o'er the seas 'First led his Northern band.

'Brave Galfred next to Normandy 'With venturous Rollo came; 'And from his Norman castles won 'Assumed the Percy name.

'They sung, how in the conqueror's fleet, 'Lord William shipp'd his powers, 'And gain'd a fair young Saxon bride 'With all her lands and towers.

'Then journeying to the Holy Land, 'There bravely fought and di'd; 'But first the silver crescent won, 'Some Paynim Soldan's pride.

'They sung how Agnes, beauteous heir, 'The queen's own brother wed, 'Lord Josceline, sprung from Charlemagne, 'In princely Brabant bred.

'How he the Percy name reviv'd, 'And how his noble line 'Still foremost in their country's cause 'With godlike ardour shine.

'With loud acclaims the list'ning croud 'Applaud the master's song; 'And deeds of arms and war became 'The theme of every tongue.

'Now high heroic acts they tell; 'Their perils past recal: 'When, lo! a damsel, young and fair, 'Stepp'd forward thro' the hall.

'She Bertram courteously address'd; 'And kneeling on her knee; 'Sir knight, the lady of thy love 'Hath sent this gift to thee.

'Then forth she drew a glittering helm 'Well-plated many a fold, 'The casque was wrought of temper'd steel, 'The crest of burnish'd gold.

'Sir knight, thy lady sends thee this, 'And yields to be thy bride, 'When thou hast prov'd this maiden gift, 'Where sharpest blows are try'd.

'Young Bertram took the shining helm, 'And thrice he kiss'd the same: 'Trust me, I'll prove this precious casque 'With deeds of noblest fame.

'Lord Percy, and his barons bold, 'Then fix upon a day 'To scour the marches, late opprest, 'And Scottish wrongs repay.

'The knights assembled on the hills 'A thousand horse and more: 'Brave Widdrington, tho' sunk in years, 'The Percy standard bore.

'Tweed's limpid current soon they pass, 'And range the borders round: 'Down the green slopes of Tiviotdale 'Their bugle-horns resound.

'As when a lion in his den 'Hath heard the hunter's cries, 'And rushes forth to meet his foes; 'So did the Douglas rise.

'Attendant on their chief's command, 'A thousand warriors wait: 'And now the fatal hour drew on 'Of cruel, keen debate.

'A chosen troop of Scottish youths 'Advance before the rest; 'Lord Percy mark'd their gallant mien, 'And thus his friend address'd.

'Now, Bertram, prove thy lady's helm; 'Attack yon forward band; 'Dead or alive I'll rescue thee, 'Or perish by their hand.

'Young Bertram bow'd with glad assent, 'And spurr'd his eager steed, 'And, calling on his lady's name, 'Rush'd forth with whirlwind speed.

'As when a grove of sapling oaks 'The livid lightning rends; 'So fiercely, 'mid the opposing ranks, 'Sir Bertram's sword descends.

'This way and that he drives the steel, 'And keenly pierces thro'; 'And many a tall and comely knight, 'With furious force he slew.

'Now closing fast on ev'ry side, 'They hem Sir Bertram round; 'But, dauntless, he repels their rage, 'And deals forth many a wound.

'The vigour of his single arm 'Had well nigh won the field; 'When, ponderous, fell a Scottish axe, 'And clove his lifted shield.

'Another blow his temples took, 'And rest his helm in twain; 'That beauteous helm, his lady's gift! '—His blood bedew'd the plain.

'Lord Percy saw his champion fall 'Amid th'unequal fight; 'And now, my noble friends, he said, 'Let's save this gallant knight.

'Then rushing in, with stretch'd out shield, 'He o'er the warrior hung; 'As some fierce eagle spreads her wing 'To guard her callow young.

'Three times they strove to seize their prey, 'Three times they quick retire. 'What force could stand his furious strokes, 'Or meet his martial fire?

'Now gathering round on every part, 'The battle rag'd amain; 'And many a lady wept her lord, 'That hour untimely slain.

'Percy and Douglas, great in arms, 'There all their courage show'd; 'And all the field was strew'd with dead, 'And all with crimson flow'd.

'At length the glory of the day 'The Scotts reluctant yield, 'And, after wond'rous valour shown, 'They slowly quit the field.

'All pale, extended on their shelds, 'And weltering in his gore, 'Lord Percy's knights their bleeding friend 'To Wark's fair castle bore.

'Well hast thou earn'd my daughter's love, 'Her father kindly said; 'And she herself shall dress thy wounds, 'And tend thee in thy bed.

'A message went; no daughter came; 'Fair Isabel ne'er appears; 'Beshrew me, said the aged chief, 'Young maidens have their fears.

'Cheer up, my son; thou shalt her see, 'So soon as thou canst ride; 'And she shall nurse thee in her bower; 'And she shall be thy bride.

'Sir Bertram at her name reviv'd; 'He blest the soothing sound: 'Fond hope supply'd the nurse's care, 'And heal'd his ghastly wound.'