Ellie went home sad and slow:
If she found the lover ever,

With his red-roan steed of steeds,
Sooth I know not! but I know
She could never show him-never,
That swan's nest among the reeds!
ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING.

Romance and Reality

Lochinvar

Oh, young Lochinvar is come out of the west; Through all the wide Border his steed was the best;

And save his good broad-sword he weapons had

none;

He rode all unarmed, and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like the young Lochinvar.

He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone;

He swam the Eske river where ford there was

none;

But, ere he alighted at Netherby gate,

The bride had consented, the gallant came late:
For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war,
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.

Romance So boldly he entered the Netherby hall, 'Mong bridesmen and kinsmen, and brothers and all:

and Reality

Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword

(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word),

"Oh, come ye in peace here, or come ye in war, Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochin

"I long wooed your daughter, my suit you de-
nied ;--

Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide;
And now I am come, with this lost love of mine
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochin-
var."

The bride kissed the goblet; the knight took it

up:

He quaffed off the wine, and he threw down the

cup.

She looked down to blush, and she looked up to

sigh,

With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye.

He took her soft hand ere her mother could bar,"Now tread we a measure!

said young Loch

invar.

So stately his form, and so lovely her face,
That never a hall such a galliard did grace;
While her mother did fret, and her father did

fume,

And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet
and plume;
And the bride-maidens whispered, " "Twere better
by far

66

To have matched our fair cousin with young
Lochinvar."

One touch to her hand, and one word in her

ear,

When they reached the hall door and the charger
stood near;

So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung,
So light to the saddle before her he sprung!
"She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and
scaur!

They'll have fleet steeds that follow!" quoth
young Lochinvar.

There was mounting 'mong Græmes of the Netherby clan;

Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode
and they ran;

There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee;
But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they

see.

Romance

and Reality

Romance So daring in love, and so dauntless in war, and Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young LochReality

invar?

From "Marmion."

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

Jock of Hazeldean

"Why weep ye by the tide, ladie?
Why weep ye by the tide?
I'll wed ye to my youngest son,
And ye sall be his bride;
And ye sall be his bride, ladie,
Sae comely to be seen "-
But aye she loot the tears down fa'
For Jock of Hazeldean.

"Now let this wilfu' grief be done,
And dry that cheek so pale;
Young Frank is chief of Errington,
And lord of Langley-dale;
His step is first in peaceful ha',

His sword in battle keen ".
But aye she loot the tears down fa'
For Jock of Hazeldean.

"A chain of gold ye sall not lack,
Nor braid to bind your hair;
Nor mettled hound, nor managed hawk,
Nor palfrey fresh and fair;

But she loot the tears down fa' aye

For Jock of Hazeldean.

The kirk was decked at morning-tide,
The tapers glimmered fair;

The priest and bridegroom wait the bride,
And dame and knight are there.
They sought her baith by bower and ha',
The ladie was not seen!

She's o'er the Border, and awa'

Wi' Jock of Hazeldean.

Romance

and

Reality

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

The Lady of Shalott

PART I

On either side the river lie

Long fields of barley and of rye,

That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And through the fields the road runs by
To many-towered Camelot;

And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow

Round an island there below,

The island of Shalott.