Page:Traditional Tales of the English and Scottish Peasantry - 1887.djvu/291

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE SEVEN FORESTERS OF CHATSWORTH.
287

The outlaw stood upon Chatsworth rock.
And shouted shrill and gaily;
Till the dun deer leaped from brake and bower,
Two miles down Derwent Valley


The outlaw stood upon Chatsworth rock,
Looking o'er the vale so narrow;
And his voice flew fleet as away from the string
Starts off the thirsty arrow.


And loudly it rung in Haddon Wood,
Where the deer in pairs were dernan:[1]
And loudly it rung in Haddon Hall,
And up rose Julia Vernon.


"If ever I heard my true love's voice,
'Tis now through my bowers ringing;
His voice is sweet as the wild bird's note,
When the buds bloom to its singing.


"For well I know my true love's voice,
It sounds so gay and clearly:
An angel's voice in a maiden's ear
Would ne'er drop down so dearly."


She took her green robe in a hand
White as the opening lily,
And the morning sun and the lovely maid
Looked down on Chatsworth Valley.


Around the brow of the high green hill
The sun's fair beams were twining,
And bend and fall of the Derwent stream
In golden light were shining.


The silver smoke from Chatsworth tower,
Like a pennon broad went streaming,
And gushed against the morning sky,
And all the vale was gleaming.


She gave one look on the broad green land,
And back her tresses sheddin',
With her snowy neck, and her bonnie blue eyes,
Came down from the hill of Haddon.


She saw the wild dove start from its bower,
And heard the green boughs crashing;
And saw the wild deer leap from its lair,
And heard the deep stream dashing.


And then she saw her own true Jove
Bound past by bush and hollow;
And after him seven armed men
With many a shout and hollo.


  1. Dernan, concealing. "Abusing and harming his Majesty's good subjects by their darned (concealed) stouths."—Arts of James I. of England. Anglo-Saxon, dearn-an.