'No chieftain of that noble house
Now leads our youth to arms;

The bordering Scots despoil our fields,
And ravage all our farms.

"Their halls and castles, once so fair,

Now moulder in decay;

Proud strangers now usurp their lands,
And bear their wealth away.

'Not far from hence, where yon full stream Runs winding down the lea,

Fair Warkworth lifts her lofty towers,
And overlooks the sea.

Those towers, alas! now lie forlorn, With noisome weeds o'erspread, Where feasted lords and courtly dames, And where the poor were fed.

'Meantime far off, mid Scottish hills,
The Percy lives unknown;
On strangers' bounty he depends,
And may not claim his own.

'O might I with these aged eyes
But live to see him here,

Then should my soul depart in bliss!
He said, and dropp'd a tear.

'And is the Percy still so lov'd

Of all his friends and thee?

Then bless me, father,' said the youth, 'For I, thy guest, am he.'

Silent he gaz'd, then turn'd aside
To wipe the tears he shed;
And lifting up his hands and eyes,
Pour'd blessings on his head:

'Welcome, our dear and much-lov'd lord,
Thy country's hope and care :
But who may this young lady be,
That is so wondrous fair?"

'Now, father! listen to my tale,
And thou shalt know the truth:
And let thy sage advice direct
My unexperienc'd youth.

"In Scotland I've been nobly bred
Beneath the regent's hand,*
In feats of arms, and every lore
To fit me for command.

'With fond impatience long I burn'd
My native land to see:

At length I won my guardian friend,
To yield that boon to me.

"Then up and down in hunter's garb
1 wander'd as in chase,

Till in the noble Neville's housef
I gain'd a hunter's place.

Robert Stuart, duke of Albany. See the continuator of Fordan's Scoti-Chronicon, cap. 18, cap. 23, &c.

+ Ralph Nelville, first earl of Westmoreland, whose principal residence was at Raby Castle, in the bishopric of Durham,

'Sometime with him I liv'd unknown,
Till I'd the hap so rare,

To please this young and gentle dame,
That baron's daughter fair.'

'Now, Percy,' said the blushing maid,
"The truth I must reveal;
Souls great and generous, like to thine,

Their noble deeds conceal.

'It happen'd on a summer's day,
Led by the fragrant breeze,
I wander'd forth to take the air
Among the green-wood trees.

'Sudden a band of rugged Scots,
That near in ambush lay,
Moss-troopers from the border-side,
There seiz'd me for their prey.

'My shrieks had all been spent in vain,
But Heaven, that saw my grief,
Brought this brave youth within my call,
Who flew to my relief.

With nothing but his hunting spear,
And dagger in his hand,

He sprung like lightning on my foes,
And caus'd them soon to stand.

He fought, till more assistance came;
The Scots were overthrown;

Thus freed me, captive, from their bands,
To make me more his own.'

'O happy day! the youth replied:
'Bless'd were the wounds I bare!
From that fond hour she deign'd to smil
And listen to my prayer.

And when she knew my name and birth,
She vow'd to be my bride;
But oh! we fear'd, (alas, the while!)
Her princely mother's pride:

"Sister of haughty Bolingbroke,*
Our house's ancient foe,

To me, I thought, a banish'd wight,
Could ne'er such favour show.

'Despairing then to gain consent,
At length to fly with me

I won this lovely timorous maid;
To Scotland bound are we.

"This evening, as the night drew on,
Fearing we were pursued,

We turn'd adown the right-hand path,
And gain'd this lonely wood:

"Then lighting from our weary steeds
To shun the pelting shower,
We met thy kind conducting hand,
And reach'd this friendly bower.'

*Joan, countess of Westmoreland, mother of the young lady, was daughter of John of Gaunt, and half-sister of King Henry IV.

< Now rest ye both,' the hermit said;
'Awhile your cares forego :
Nor lady, scorn my humble bed;
We'll pass the night below."

PART II.

Lovely smil'd the blushing morn,
And every storm was fled:
But lovelier far, with sweeter smile,
Fair Eleanor left her bed.

She found her Henry all alone,

And cheer'd him with her sight;
The youth consulting with his friend
Had watch'd the livelong night.

What sweet surprise o'erpower'd her breast,
Her cheek with blushes dyed,
When fondly he besought her there
To yield to be his bride!→

• Within this lonely hermitage
There is a chapel meet:

Then grant, dear maid, my fond request,
And make my bliss complete.'

'O Henry! when thou deign'st to sue,
Can I thy suit withstand?

When thou, lov'd youth, hast won my heart,
Can I refuse my hand ?

* Adjoining to the cliff, which contains the chapel of the hermitage, are the remains of a small building, in which the hermit dwelt. This consisted of one lower apartment with a little bed-chamber over it, and is now in ruins: whereas the chapel, cut in the solid rock, is still very entire and perfect.

VOL. VI.

10