XXXIX.

Here on a lee, where stands a cross

Set up for monument,

Thousands fu' fierce that summer's day

Fill'd keen war's black intent.

Let Scots, while Scots, praise Hardyknute,

Let Norse the name ay dread,

Ay how he faught, aft how he spar'd,

Shall latest ages read.

XL.

Now loud and chill blew th' westlin wind,

Sair beat the heavy shower,

305

310

"There's nae light in my lady's bower, There's nae light in my ha';

Nae blink shines round my FAIRLY fair,

Nor ward stands on my wa'.

"What bodes it? Robert, Thomas, say;"

Nae answer fitts their dread.

"Stand back, my sons, I'le be your guide:"

But by they past with speed.

325

XLII.

"As fast I've sped owre Scotlands faes,"-
There ceas'd his brag of weir,

Sair sham'd to mind ought but his dame,

And maiden FAIRLY fair.

Black fear he felt, but what to fear

He wist nae yet; wi' dread

330

** In an elegant publication, entitled Scottish Tragic Ballads, printed by and for J. Nichols, 1781, 8vo, may be seen a continuation of the ballad of Hardyknute, by the addition of a Second Part, which hath since been acknowledged to be his own composition by the ingenious editor; to whom the late Sir D. Dalrymple communicated (subsequent to the account drawn up above in p. 101,) extracts of a letter from Sir John Bruce, of Kinross, to Lord Binning, which plainly proves the pretended discoverer of the fragment of Hardyknute to have been Sir John Bruce himself. His words are, "To perform my promise, I send you a true copy of the manuscript I found some weeks ago in a vault at Dumferline. It is written on vellum, in a fair Gothic character, but so much defaced by time, as you'll find that the tenth part is not legible." He then gives the whole fragment as it was first published in 1719, save one or two stanzas, marking several passages as having perished by being illegible in the old MS. Hence it appears that Sir John was the author of Hardyknute, but afterwards used Mrs. Wardlaw to be the midwife of his poetry, and suppressed the story of the vault; as is well observed

by the editor of the Tragic Ballads, and of Maitland's Scot. Poets, vol. i. p. cxxvii.

To this gentleman we are indebted for the use of the copy, whence the second edition was afterwards printed, as the same was prepared for the press by John Clerk, M.D. of Edinburgh, an intimate companion of Lord President Forbes.

The title of the first edition was, "Hardyknute, a Fragment. Edinburgh, printed for James Watson, &c. 1719." folio, twelve pages.

Stanzas not in the first edition are Nos. 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42.

In the present impression the orthography of Dr. Clerk's copy has been preserved, and his readings carefully followed, except in a few instances, wherein the common edition appeared preferable: viz. He had in ver. 20, but. V. 56, of harm.—v. 64, every.—v. 67, lo down.—v. 83, That omitted. v. 89, And omitted.--v. 143, With argument but vainly strave Lang.-v. 148, say'd.-v. 155, incampit on the plain. v. 156, Norse squadrons.-v. 158, regand revers. v. 170, his strides he bent.—v. 171, minstrals playand Pibrochs fine. v. 172, stately went.—v. 182, mon.—v. 196, sharp and fatal. v. 219, which.-v. 241, stood wyld. stanza 39 preceded stanza 38. -v. 305, There -v. 313, blew westling. v. 336 had originally been, He fear'd a' cou'd be fear'd.

The Editor was also informed, on the authority of Dr. David Clerk, M.D. of Edinburgh, (son of the aforesaid Dr. John Clerk,) that between the present stanzas 36 and 37, the two following had been intended, but were on maturer consideration omitted, and do not now an ear among the MS. additions.

sed,

Now darts flew wavering through sla
Scarce could they reach their aim
Or reach'd, scarce blood the round p
'I'was all but shot in vain :

!rew,

Right strengthy arms forfeebled grew,
Sair wreck'd wi' that day's toils:
E'en fierce-born minds now lang'd for peace,
And curs'd war's cruel broils.

Yet still wars horns sounded to charge,
Swords clash'd and harness rang;

But saftly sae ilk blaster blew

The hills and dales fraemang.

Nae echo heard in double dints,
Nor the lang-winding horn;

Nae mair she blew out brade as she
Did eir that summers morn,

END OF THE FIRST BOOK.

A Ballad of Luther, the Pope, a Cardinal, and a Husbandman.

In the former book we brought down this second series of poems as low as about the middle of the sixteenth century. We now find the Muses deeply engaged in religious controversy. The sudden revolution wrought in the opinions of mankind by the Reformation, is one of the most striking events in the history of the human mind. It could not but engross the attention of every individual in