II. "Thou lord of guile and malice keen, III. Lord Pringle came,—no word he spake, IV. 66 Oh, I had ween'd with fondest heart— V. "But I will see that face so meek, VI. Gently he raised the coffin lid, Sweet was the perfume round that flew ;' For there were strew'd the roses red, And every flower the forest knew. VII. He drew the fair lawn from her face, 'Twas deck'd with many a costly wreath ; And still it wore a soothing grace, Even in the chill abodes of death. VIII. Why starts Lord Pringle to his knee? Why bend his eyes with watchful strain? The maidens shriek his mien to see, The startled priests inquire in vain ! IX. Was that a sob, an earthly sigh, That heaved the flowers so lightly shed? 'Twas but the wind that wander'd by, And kiss'd the bosom of the dead! . X. Are these the glowing tints of life O'er Mary's cheek that come and fly? Ah, no! the red flowers round are rife, The rose-bud flings its soften'd dye. XI. Why grows the gazer's sight so dim? Thou art worth crowns and worlds to him— XII. Short was thy sway, frenzied and short, Thy startling form, of fears the sport, XIII. Slowly she raised her form of grace, And oh, her mild, her languid face Was like a flower too early sprung! XIV. She look'd at pall, she look'd at bier, She saw her lady mother near, And at her side brave Torwoodlee ! XV. 'Twas all a dream, nor boded good, XVI. Needs not to paint that joyful hour, XVII. Diamond and ruby 'ray'd her waist, She wore more gold upon her breast Than would have bought the hills of Yair. XVIII. A foot so light, a form so meet, Ne'er trode Saint Mary's lovely lea; A bride so gay, a face so sweet, The Yarrow braes shall never see. XIX. Old Tushilaw deign'd not to smile, No grateful word his tongue could say, He kiss'd his daughter's cheek the while, Wiped his dark eye, and turn'd away. JAMES HOGG. BRIDAL-BALLAD. THE ring is on my hand, And the wreath is on my brow; Satins and jewels grand Are all at my command, And I am happy now. And my lord he loves me well; But, when first he breathed his vow, I felt my bosom swell, For the words rang as a knell, And the voice seem'd his who fell In the battle down the dell, But he spoke to re-assure me, And thus the words were spoken, That proves me happy now. Would God I could awaken! For I feel I know not how, High resolve, with an expression of offended pride the parenthetical "Fair Imogene said," passed over lightly. V. First two lines, grave narrative-remaining three adversative, in a higher key-sprightly narrative. VI. Sprightly narrative. VII. Simple narrative-Imitative modulation on "tolled "pronounced emphatically in a deep and solemn tone. VIII. AND IX. one Excited narrative-abrupt and broken-ascending in a climax to the last line, where it assumes the character of absolute terror. X. First two lines excited narrative-third line, simple narrative with parenthetical clause-last two lines, easy cheerfulness, with an involuntary expression of trembling and excitement. |