674
THE EVE OF SAINT JOHN.
Yet was his helmet hacked and hewed,
His acton pierced and tore;
His axe and his dagger with blood imbrued,—
But it was not English gore.
His acton pierced and tore;
His axe and his dagger with blood imbrued,—
But it was not English gore.
He lighted at the Chapellage,
He held him close and still;
And he whistled thrice for his little foot-page,
His name was English Will.
He held him close and still;
And he whistled thrice for his little foot-page,
His name was English Will.
"Come thou hither, my little foot-page;
Come hither to my knee;
Thou art young, and tender of age,
I think thou art true to me.
Come hither to my knee;
Thou art young, and tender of age,
I think thou art true to me.
"Come, tell me all that thou hast seen,
And look thou tell me true!
Since I from Smaylho'me tower have been,
What did thy lady do?"
And look thou tell me true!
Since I from Smaylho'me tower have been,
What did thy lady do?"
"My lady, each night, sought the lonely light,
That burns on the wild Watchfold;
For, from height to height, the beacons bright
Of the English foemen told.
That burns on the wild Watchfold;
For, from height to height, the beacons bright
Of the English foemen told.
"The bittern clamoured from the moss,
The wind blew loud and shrill;
Yet the craggy pathway she did cross,
To the eiry Beacon Hill.
The wind blew loud and shrill;
Yet the craggy pathway she did cross,
To the eiry Beacon Hill.
"I watched her steps, and silent came
Where she sat her on a stone;
No watchman stood by the dreary flame;
It burnèd all alone.
Where she sat her on a stone;
No watchman stood by the dreary flame;
It burnèd all alone.
"The second night I kept her in sight,
Till to the fire she came,
And, by Mary's might! an armèd Knight
Stood by the lonely flame.
Till to the fire she came,
And, by Mary's might! an armèd Knight
Stood by the lonely flame.
"And many a word that warlike lord
Did speak to my lady there;
But the rain fell fast, and loud blew the blast,
And I heard not what they were.
Did speak to my lady there;
But the rain fell fast, and loud blew the blast,
And I heard not what they were.
"The third night there the sky was fair,
And the mountain blast was still,
As again I watched the secret pair,
On the lonesome Beacon Hill.
And the mountain blast was still,
As again I watched the secret pair,
On the lonesome Beacon Hill.
"And I heard her name the midnight hour,
And name this holy eve;
And say, 'Come this night to thy lady's bower;
Ask no bold Baron's leave.
And name this holy eve;
And say, 'Come this night to thy lady's bower;
Ask no bold Baron's leave.
"'He lifts his spear with the bold Buccleuch;
His lady is all alone;
His lady is all alone;
