but, busying himself in his vocation, chanted, as was his wont on going upon any important mission, some fragments of an old ballad, made by one of the minstrels of the house of Maxwell when its glory was at the fullest.
"Give the sail to the south wind, thou mariner bold,
Keep the vessel all stately and steady,
And sever the green grassy sward with her prow,
Where yon lances gleam level and ready."
"An ominous star sits above the bright moon,
And the vessel goes faster and faster;
And see! the changed planet, so lovely e'en now,
Glows like blood, and betokens disaster."
"The moon, thou coward churl—lo! see the swift shafts
All as fleet as the winter snow flying,
And hearken the war-steed! he neighs in his strength,
And tramples the dead and the dying."
And the bark smote the ground, and ashore they all leapt,
With war-shout, and pipe-note, and clangour
Of two-handed claymore and hauberk—and soon
Their foes they consumed in their anger.
All on yon fair shore, where the cowslips bloom thick
And the sea-waves so brightly are leaping,
The sun saw in gladness—the moon saw in death
Three hundred proud Foresters sleeping:
And long shall the Cumberland damosels weep,
Where the sweet Ellenwater is flowan,
The hour the gay lads of Helvellyn were slain
By Lord Maxwell and gallant Glenhowan.
"Ere the song had ceased the bride proceeded to enter the barge, when she perceived at her feet a figure in a black mantle, and scarce refrained from shrieking. 'Margery, what wouldst thou with me, Margery?' she said; 'the cottage thou livest in I have given thee.'
"'Worlds, wealth, and creature comforts are no cares of mine,' said the old domestic of the house of Maxwell. 'I laid me down here, that ere Beatrice Maxwell departs with one of a doomed house she should step over my grey hairs. Have I not said—have I not prayed?'
"'Margery, Margery,' said the bride, 'be silent and be wise.'
"'Are we to stand here, and listen to the idle words of a crazed menial?' said one of the house of Maxwell. 'Aboard, ye gallants, aboard!' And, placing the bride on deck, the barges, urged by oar and sail, darted out of the bay of Preston, while the shout and song of clamouring multitudes followed us far into the ocean.
