Classic Poem

Part III

The knyght has sent hys servyng menne
In secret haste awaie,
To spie some place besyde the sea
Where he mote safelie staie.

The land of Mathers all was hys,
And on the steepie shore
A fearfull rocke looks o'er the waves,
A-lystening to their roar.

So there thae buyld a lordlie kaim
All onne the stonie rock,
Which mote defie the sovereign's arms,
And eke the tempest's shock.

It mounted even from the clyffe,
Most fryghtfull to be seen:
Twae yron yettes dyd stand before
And a deepe fosse between.

Now comes the gloomie murtherer
Up from the murkie ground,
Whereyn hys ladie hyd him sale
From danger all around.

For sure the kyng sent forth hys lawes,
Wyth manie menne abroad,
And horses, all caparysoned,
To meet hym on the road.

'Twas " noon of nyght " — which time he choose
To speed hym on the waie —
Ne honest manne would shun the lyght
That beameth in the daie.

Hys ladye on the palfrie rode,
And eke hys lyttle one;
And all so near unto the Kaim
As you mote caste a stone.

And there thae met the horsemenne, who
Informed were bie spyes —
Now all hys guyltless famylie
Sent forth most pyteous cryes.

" Stand back! " sed he, " or bie the Godde
Who thys strong arm dyd make,
I'll cleave thie helmet to thie beard;
Whereat youre troppe shall quake. "

" O knave! " quod then the horsemanne bold,
" What man would yield to thee,
Sith thou wouldst boyl hys bodie all,
And sup hym wyth the brie?

" But yield thiself, thou man-eater!
Thie wife and menials all;
And sue for pardonne to the kyng,
Wha syttes at Sterlyng's hall. "

Ne moe of parlie dyd thae holde
And broyl of scoffing words,
But forth thae drew the sheenying steel
And clashed thaer lyerie swordes.

Lycke terryer dog wyth furyous brock
Thae grippet each other round,
Tyll Urie wrung the horsemanne's neck,
And flung him onne the ground.

But now the sudden raid is o'er;
And who hath wonne the daie?
The knyght hath slayne the leader bold;
But the ladye is borne awaie.

And Urie heard her dolefull cries,
But could ne helpe hys dame —
For why? The horsemenne followed fast
As he ran to the Kaim.

Now see hym there, a woefull wretch
In drearie prison pent,
No tears, nor sighs, nor wordes had he
To give hys sorrow vent.

But sometimes mopyng bie himself,
All mournfull and alone,
Ye would have heard hym strike the floor
And utter forth a groan.

Hys food was aye the alten cake,
Hys drink the lympyd well;
Ne could he look on sodden flesh —
He shuddered at the smell.

All long and yrksome was hys nyght
As he did watch to see
The moonbeams dancing on the waves
So sheen and merrylie:

He heard the hawk whoop round the tower,
He heard the sea-mew screame;
And the roaring waves that shook the rock
Would shake hym from hys dream.

All long and yrksome was the daie,
As he dyd sytte and spie
The seals dysporting in the sea,
Tossing the waters hygh.

He saw the salmon spryng at even,
The coote and wylde-ducks swym;
But though thae all were verie glad,
Ne gladness was for hym.

Thys was the lyfe of the gloomie knyght,
Untill the daie dyd come
When good Kyng James hys pardon made,
And called hym to hys home.

Now woe betyde the cruel deed!
And woe betyde the pain!
And grant good Godde that never more
The lycke may come again!