Lord Derwent, a Fragment

" O Why look ye so pale, my lord ?

And why look ye so wan ?
And why stand mounted at your gate
So early in the dawn ?"

" O well may I look pale, ladye ;
For how can I look gay,
When I have fought the live-long night,
And fled at break of day ?"

" And is the Border troop arrived?

And have they won the day ?
It must have been a bloody field,
Ere Derwent fled away.

" But where got ye that stately steed,
So stable and so good ?
And where got ye that gilded sword,
So dyed with purple blood ?"

" I got that sword in bloody fray,
" Last night on Eden downe ;
I got the horse and harness too,
Where mortal ne'er got one."

" Alight, alight, my noble lord ;
God mot you- save and see !
For never till this hour was I,
Afraid to look on thee."

He turned him to the glowing east,
That stained both tower and tree :
" Prepare, prepare, my lady fair,
Prepare to go with me.

" Before this dawning day shall close,
A deed shall here be done,
That men unborn shall shrink to hear,
And dames the tale shall shun.

" The morning blushes to the chin,
The foul intent to see.

Prepare, prepare, my lady fair,
Prepare to follow me.

" Alight, alight, my noble lord,
I'll live or die with thee ;
I see a wound deep in your side,
And hence you cannot flee."

She looked out o'er her left shoulder
To list a heavy groan ;
But when she turned her round again,
Her noble lord was gone.

She looked to East, and West, and South,
And all around the tower
Through house and hall ; but man nor horse
She never could see more.

She turned her round and round about,
All in a doleful state ;
And there she saw her little foot-page
Alighting at the gate.

" Oh ! open, open, noble dame,
And let your servant in ;
Our furious foes are hard at hand,
The castle fair to win."

" But tell me, Billy, where's my lord ?

Or whither is he bound !
He's gone just now, and in his side
A deep and deadly wound."

" Why do you rave, my noble dame,
And look so wild on me ?
Your lord lies on the bloody field,
And him you'll never see.

" With Scottish Jardine, hand to hand,
He fought most valiantlye,
Put him to flight, and broke his men,
With shouts of victory.

" But Maxwell, rallying, wheeled about,
And charged us fierce as hell ;
Yet ne'er could pierce the English troops
Till my brave master fell.

" Then all was gone ; the ruffian Scott
Bore down our flying band ;
And now they waste with fire and sword
The Links of Cumberland.

" Lord Maxwell's gone to Carlisle town
With Jardine hastilye,
And young Kilpatrick, and Glencairn
Are come in search of thee."

" How dare you lie, my little page,
Whom I pay meat and fee ?
The cock has never crowed but once
Since Derwent was with me.

" The bird that sits on yonder bush,
And sings so loud and clear,
Has only three times changed his note
Since my good lord was here."

" Whoe'er it was, whate'er it was,
I'm sure it was not he ;
I saw him dead on Eden plain,
I saw him with my ee.

" I saw him stand against an host,
While heaps before him fell ;
I saw them pierce his manly side,
And bring the last farewell.

' O run,' he cried, ' to my lad ye,
And bear the fray before ;
Tell her I died for England's right.' —
" Then word spake never more.

" Come let us fly to Westmoreland,
For here you cannot stay ;
Short be thy shrift ; our steeds are swift,
And well I know the way."

I will not fly, I cannot -fly ;
My heart is wonder sore ;
My brain it turns, my blood it burns,
And I dare not look before."

She turned her eye to Borrowdale ;
Her heart grew chill with dread ; —
For there she saw the Scottish bands,
Kilpatrick at their head.

Red blazed the beacon of Pownell,
On Skiddaw there were three ;
The warder's horn o'er muir and fell
Was heard continually.

Dark grew the sky, the wind was still,
The sun in blood arose ;
But oh ! how many a gallant man
Ne'er saw that evening close !