Traditional Tales of the English and Scottish Peasantry (Volume 1) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1822. Excerpt: ... 3. I 've trod thy banner in the dust, And caused the raven call From thy bride-chamber, to the owl Hatch'd on thy castle wall; I 've made thy minstrels' music dumb, And silent now to fame Art thou, save when the orphan casts His curses on thy name. Now thou may'st say to good men's prayers A long and last farewell: There's hope for every sin save thine-- Adieu, adieu, Dalzell 4. The grim pit opes for thee her gates, Where punish'd spirits wail, And ghastly death throws wide her door, And hails thee with a Hail. Deep from the grave there comes a voice, A voice with hollow tones, Such as a spirit's tongue would have That spoke through hollow bones: -- "Arise, ye martyr'd men, and shout From earth to howling hell; He comes, the persecutor comes AU hail to thee, Dalzell " O'er an old battle-field there rush'd A wind, and with a moan The sever'd limbs all rustling rose, Even fellow bone to bone. "Lo there he goes," I heard them cry, "Like babe in swathing band, Who shook the temples of the Lord, And pass'd them 'neath his brand. Curs'd be the spot where he was born, There let the adders dwell, And from his father's hearthstone hiss: All hail to thee, DalzelP." 6. I saw thee growing like a tree-- Thy green head touch'd the sky- But birds far from thy branches built, The wild deer pass'd thee by; No golden dew dropt on thy bough, Glad summer scorned to grace Thee with her flowers, nor shepherds wooed Beside thy dwelling place: ' The axe has come and hewn thee down, Nor left one shoot to tell Where all thy stately glory grew: Adieu, adieu, Dalzell 7. An ancient man stands by thy gate, His head like thine is grey; Grey with the woes of many years, Years four-score and a day. Five brave and stately sons were his; Two daughters, sweet and rare; An old dame, dearer than them all, And lands bo...