Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Charms of melody, or, Siren medley

BALLADS ANCIENT ani> moderjt, legendaries, &c.
Fair blufh'd the morn when Mcy loot'd o'er
The caftle wall \o fheen ;
And, lol the warlike Saxon youth
Were fporting on the green.
There Herg;ii,_Ofa'i elJcft foi),
Lenn'd on his burniiii'd lance,
And all the arined youth around
Obey'd his manly glance.
His locks as blaclt as raven's wing
Adown his (houldeis flow'd.
His chee'is outvy'd the blufti of morii;
His lips like rofe-buds glow'd.
And foon the lovely form oi Mcy
Has caught his piercing eyes :
He gives tiie iign, the band retire,
Willie big with love he fighs:
" Oh, thou, for wkom I dar'd the feas,
" And came with peace or war;
" Oh, by that crofs that veils thy breaft.,
" Relieve thy lover's care!
" For thee I'll quit my father's throne,
" With thee the wilds explore;
" Or with thee Ihare the Britifh crown,
" With thee the crofs adore."
Beneath the tim'rous virgin blufti.
With lo\-e's foft warmth fhe glows;
So blufliing thro' the dew of morn
Appears the opening rofe.
'Twas now the hour of m'orning prayer.
When men their fins bewail,
And Eimer hea-d king Arthur's horn
Shrill founding thro' the dale.
"The pearly tears from Mey's bright eyes
Like April dew-drops fell.
When with a parting dear eulbrace
Her brother, bade farewell.
The cix)fs, wilhfparkling diamonds brigiit,
That veil'd her fnowy breaft.
With prayers to Heaven, her lily-hands
Have &x.'d. on Elmer's veil.
'Now, with five hundred bowmen true,
"He march 'd acrofs the plain,
"Till with his gallant yeomandrie,
He join'diing Arthur's train.
Full forty thoufand Saxcn fpears,
Came glittering down the hill,
And" with their fliouts and clang of arms
The diftant vallies fill.
Old Of a, dreft in Odin's garb,
Affum'd the hoary god ;
And Hengtji, like the warlike Ihor,
Before the horfemen rode.
With dreadful rage the combat bums,
The capuins fhout amain ;
And Ehner's tall viftorious fpear,
Far glances o'er the plain.
To flop its courfe jovi\i% Hengiji &t\v.
Like lightning o'er the field ;
And foon his eyes the well-known crofs
On Ehner's veil beheld.
- The flighted lover fwell'd his bread..
His eyes fhot li\ing fire ;
A'ld all his martial heat before
To this was mild deiice.
On his imagin'd rival's front,
With whirlwind fpeed he preil.
And glancing to the lun, his Iwurd
Relounds on Elmer's creft.
The foe gave way, the princely youth
With heedlefs rage purfued,
'Till tremblinj in his cloven helm
Sir £/?;ztr's javelin ilood.
He bo7/'d his head, flow dropt his ipear,
I'he reins fell through his hand,
And ftain'd with blood, his ilately corfe
h?.y breathlefs on the ftrand.
" O bear me off," Sir E'ir.e'r cry'd,
" Before my painful light
" The combat I'u ims — yet Hivgiji's veil
" I claim, as vi<ilor's right,"
Brave Hengift's fall the Saxons faw,
And all in terror fled.
The bowmen, to the caille gales,
.The bold Sir Edzvurd led.
■" Oh, waih my wounds, my ilfter dear,
" O pull this Saxon dart,
" That whizzing from young Hcngyi's arm
" Has aimolt pierc'd my heart.
" Yet in my hall this veil ihali hang,
" And Britons yet unborn,
" Shall with the trophies of to-day,
" Ihsir folem.i feails adorn."
All trembling. May, beheld the- veil;
'• Oh, Mirlin .'" loud (he cry'd,
" Thy words are true — nny flaughter'd love
" Shall ha\e a breaihleis bride I
■" Oil, Elmer, Elmer, boa ft no more,
" That low my Hevgiji lies 1
" Oh, Hengifl, cruel was ihy arm ;
" ^y brother bleeds, and dies !"
She fpake — the rofes left her cheek,
And life's warm fpirits. fled :
So nipt by winter's lingering blafts,
The fnow-drop bov-fs the head.
Yet parting life one ftruggle gave,
She lifts her languid eyes;
" Return, my Hengi/i, oh,, return,
" My flaughter'd love 1" .flie cries.
" Oh — ftill he lives— -he finiles again,
*' With aU his grace he moves:
" I come — I come, where bow nor fpear
" Shall more difturb our loves." —
She fpake— Ihe dy 'd. The Saxon dart
W as drawn -from -Sl-mers Side ;
.And thrice he call'd his iiller Mey,
And thrice lie.groan'di — and dy'd.
Where in the dale a mofs-grown crofs
O'erfhades an aged thorn.
Sir Elmer's and young Hengift's corfe
.Were by the fpearmen borne ;
And there all clad in robes of white,
With many a figh and tear.
The \illage maids, to Hengift's grave,
.Did Mey's fair body bear.
And there at dawn, and fall of day.
All from the neighbouring groves.
The turtles wail in wiuow'd notes,
And fing their haplefs loves.