below us, watching their halve-nets, should sing, and with much sweetness, the very song the old man had described. They warbled verse and verse alternately, and rock and bay seemed to retain and then release the sound. Nothing is so sweet as a song by the sea-side on a tranquil evening.
SIR WILLIAM MUSGRAVE.
First Fisherman.
"O lady, lady, why do you weep?
Though the wind be loosed on the raging deep,
Though the heaven be mirker than mirk may be,
And our frail bark ships a fearful sea—
Yet thou art safe, as on that sweet night
When our bridal candles gleamed far and bright."—
There came a shriek, and there came a sound,
And the Solway roared, and the ship spun round.
Second Fisherman.
"O lady, lady, why do you cry?
Though the waves be flashing topmast high,
Though our frail bark yields to the dashing brine,
And heaven and earth show no saving sign,
There is One who comes in the time of need,
And curbs the waves as we curb a steed."—
The lightning came with the whirlwind blast,
And cleaved the prow, and smote down the mast.
First Fisherman.
"O lady, lady, weep not, nor wail,
Though the sea runs howe as Dalswinton vale,
Then flashes high as Barnhourie brave,
And yawns for thee like the yearning grave—
Though 'twixt thee and the ravening flood
There is but my arm, and this. splintering wood,
The fell quicksand, or the famished brine,
Can ne'er harm a face so fair as thine."
Both.
"O lady, lady, be bold and brave,
Spread thy white breast to the fearful wave,
And cling to me with that white right hand,
And I'll set thee safe on the good dry land."—
A lightning flash on the shallop strook,
The Solway roared, and Caerlaverock shook:
From the sinking ship there were shriekings cast,
That were heard above the tempest's blast.
The young fishermen having concluded their song, my companion proceeded: "The lightning still flashed vivid
