Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Lyric gems of Scotland

70
Bewcastle brandishes high his broad scimitar,
Ridley is riding his fleet-footed grey ;
Hidley and Howard there,
Wandell and Windermere ;
Lock the door, Lariston, hold them at bay.
"Why dost thou smile, noble Elliott of Lariston ?
Why does the joy-candle gleam in thine eye ?
Thou bold border ranger,
Beware of thy danger,
Thy foes are relentless, determined, and nigh.
Jock Elliott raised up his steel bonnet and lookit —
His hand grasped the sword with a nervous embrace ;
" Oh welcome, brave foemen,
On earth there are no men
More gallant to meet in the foray or chase.
" Little know you of the hearts I have hidden here,
Little know you of the mosstroopers' might,
Linhope and Sorbie true,
Sundhope and Milburn too ;
Gentle in manners but lions in fight.
" I have Mangerton, Ogilvie, Raeburn, and Netherbie,
Old Sim of Whitram and all his array ;
Come all Northumberland,
Teesdale and Cumberland,
Here at the Breaken tower end the affray."
Scowled the broad sun o'er the links o' green Liddesdale,
Bed as the beacon light tipt he the wold —
Many a bold martial eye
Mirror' d that morning sky,
Never more oped on his orbit of gold.
Shrill was the bugle's note, dreadful the warriors' shout,
Lances and halberts in splinters were borne,
Helmet and hauberk then
Braved the claymore in vain,
Buckler and armlet in shivers were shorn.
See how they wane, the proud file of the Windermere,
Howard, ah ! woe to thy hopes of the day,
Hear the rude welkin rend
While the Scots' shouts ascend: —
" Elliott of Lariston, Elliott for aye !"