Faster and faster

Chief, vassal, page, and groom,
Tenant, and master!

Fast they come, fast they come :
See how they gather !

Wide waves the eagle plume

Blended with heather.

Cast your plaids! draw your blades!
Forward each man set!

Pibroch of Donuil Dhu!

Knell for the onset !

JOCK O HAZELDEAN.

"Why weep ye by the tide? Lady!
Why weep ye by the tide?
I'll wed ye to my youngest son,
And ye shall be his bride:
And ye shall be his bride, Lady!
Sae comely to be seen."

But aye she loot the tears downfa'
For Jock o' Hazeldean.

"Now let this wilfu' grief be done,
And dry that cheek so pale!
Young Frank is chief of Errington,
And lord of Langley-dale;

His step is first in peaceful ha',
His sword in battle keen."

But aye she loot the tears downfa'
For Jock o' Hazeldean.

"A chain of gold ye shall not lack, Nor braid to bind your hair,

Nor mettled hound, nor managed hawk, Nor palfrey fresh and fair;

And you the foremost of them a'

Shall ride, our forest queen.” But aye she loot the tears downfa' For Jock o' Hazeldean.

The kirk was deck'd at morning-tide,

The tapers glimmer'd fair;

The priest and bridegroom wait the bride, But ne'er a bride was there.

They sought her baith by bower and ha'; The lady was not seen :

She's o'er the Border, and awa'

Wi' Jock o' Hazeldean.

LIGHT LOVE.

A weary lot is thine, fair Maid!
A weary lot is thine:

To pull the thorn thy brow to braid,
And press the rue for wine.

A lightsome eye, a soldier's mien,
A feather of the blue,

A doublet of the Lincoln green,

No more of me you knew,

My Love!

No more of me you knew.

This morn is merry June, I trow

The rose is budding fain;

But she shall bloom in winter snow

Ere we two meet again.

He turned his charger as he spake,

Upon the river shore;

He gave his bridle rein a shake,

Said Adieu forevermore,

My Love!

And Adieu forevermore !

DEATH-CHANT.

Wasted, weary, wherefore stay, Wrestling thus with earth and clay? From the body pass away!

Hark! the mass is singing.

From thee doff thy mortal weed!
Mary Mother be thy speed!
Saints to help thee at thy need!
Hark! the knell is ringing.

Fear not snow-drift driving fast,
Sleet, or hail, or levin blast!
Soon the shroud shall lap thee fast,
And the sleep be on thee cast

That shall ne'er know waking.

Haste thee, haste thee to be gone! Earth flits fast, and time draws on : Gasp thy gasp, and groan thy groan ! Day is near the breaking.

"The glowworm o'er grave and stone

Shall light thee steady;

The owl from the steeple sing
Welcome, proud Lady!"

While the moon drops down the West,

Like thy mate upon her nest,

And the stars before the sun

Melt like snowflakes, one by one,

Let thy loud and welcome lay

Pour along

Few notes, but strong!

EVENING:

Jet-bright Wing! Jet-bright Wing!

Flit across the sunset glade :

Lying there in wait to sing,

Listen with thy head awry,

Keeping time with twinkling eye,

While from all the woodland shade

Birds of every plume and note

Strain the throat,

Till both hill and valley ring,
And the warbled minstrelsy,
Ebbing, flowing, like the sea,

Claims brief interludes from thee!

Then with simple swell and fall,
Breaking beautiful through all,
Let thy Pan-like pipe repeat
Few notes, but sweet!

WINTER LIGHTNING.

The flash at midnight,—'twas a light
That gave the blind a moment's sight,
Then sunk in tenfold gloom;
Loud, deep, and long, the thunder broke,
The deaf ear instantly awoke,

Then closed as in the tomb :
An angel might have pass'd my bed,
Sounded the trump of God, and fled.

So Life appears: a sudden birth,
A glance revealing heaven and earth;
It is, and it is not!

So Fame the poet's hope deceives,
Who sings for after-time, and leaves
A name-to be forgot.

Life is a lightning-flash of breath;
Fame but a thunder-clap at death.

JAMES HOGG.

1772-1835.

TO THE LARK.

Bird of the wilderness!
Blithesome and cumberless,—

Sweet be thy matin, o'er moorland and lea!
Emblem of happiness!

Bless'd is thy dwelling-place :

O to abide in the desert with thee!

Wild is thy lay, and loud,
Far in the downy cloud :