The Fox-Chace, V

At Ladykirk the cover lay, Where, steep and high, a birken brae Hangs o’er the river Tweed: Hence many a fox the hounds have driven, Whose dirtied brush has oft been given, The foremost horseman’s meed. This bank, in former days, has been Sad witness of a different scene; When Norham’s border castle rang With England’s war foreboding clang; When threatened feud was heard to sound Defiance to the Scottish ground; When cannon roared from Norham’s wall, The English border clans to call: Then flew the fox this brae of birk, And far from Scottish Ladykirk; And sought he, much against his will, The safe retreat of Chiviot hill.