Damfels! damfels! mark aright
The doleful tale I fing!

Keep your vows, and heed your plight,
And go to no warrior's tent by night,
To afk for a gay gold ring.*

* I once read in fome Grecian author, whose name I have forgotten, the story which suggested to me the outline of the foregoing ballad. it was, as follows: a young man arriving at the house of a friend, to whofe daughter he was betrothed, was informed, that fome weeks had passed since death had deprived him of his intended bride. Never having feen her, he foon reconciled himself to her lofs, efpecially as, during his ftay at his friend's house, a young lady was kind enough to visit him every night in his chamber, whence the retired at day-break, always carrying with her fome valuable prefent from her lover. This intercourse continued till accident fhewed the young man the picture of his deceased bride, and he recognized, with horror, the features of his pocturnal vifitor. The young lady's tomb being opened, he found in it the various presents which his liberality had bestowed on his unknown inamorata.

No,

LORD Ronald was handfome, Lord Ronald was young;
The green wood he traverfed, and gaily he fung;
His bofom was light, and he fpurr'd on amain,
When lo! a fair lafs caught his steed by the rein.

She caught by the rein, and fhe fank on her knee; -"Now ftay thee, Lord Ronald, and listen to me!"She fank on her knee, and her tears 'gan to flow, "Now ftay thee, Lord Ronald, and pity my woe!"

"Nay, Janet, fair Janet, I needs muft away; "I speed to my mother, who chides my delay.".

"Oh! heed not her chiding; though bitter it be, Thy falfehood and scorn are more bitter to me."

... Nay,

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Nay, Janet, fair Janet, I needs must depart "My brother stays for me to hunt the wild hart."--"Oh! let the hart live, and thy purpose forego, "To footh with compaffion and kindness my woe.

"Nay, Janet, fair Janet, delay me no more; "You please me no longer, my paffion is o'er: "A leman more lovely waits down in yon dell, "So, Janet, fair Janet, for ever farewell!"—

No longer the damfel's entreaties he heard;
His dapple-grey horse through the forest he fpurr'd;
And ever, as onwards the foaming steed flew,
Did Janet with curfes the falfe one pursue.

"Oh! curfed be the day," in distraction fhe cries, "When first did thy features look fair in my eyes! "And curfed the falfe lips, which beguiled me of fame; "And curfed the hard heart, which refigns me to fhame!

"The wanton, whom now you forfake me to please

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May her kiffes be poifon, her touch be disease!

"When you wed, may your couch be a stranger to joy, "And the Fiend of the Foreft your offspring deftroy!

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May the Grim White Woman, who haunts this wood, "The Grim White Woman, who feafts on blood, "As foon as they number twelve months and a day, Tear the hearts of your babes from their bofoms away."

Then frantic with love and remorse home she sped,
Lock'd the door of her chamber, and fank on her bed;
Nor yet with complaints and with tears had fhe done,
When the clock in St. Chriftopher's church ftruck
"one !"-

Her blood, why she knew not, ran cold at the found;
She lifted her head; fhe gazed fearfully round!
When, lo! near the hearth, by a cauldron's blue light,
She faw the tall form of a female in white.

Her eye, fix'd and glaffy, no paffions exprefs'd;

A

No blood fill'd her veins, and no heart warm'd her breaft!
She feem'd like a corfe newly torn from the tomb,
And her breath fpread the chillness of death through the

room.

Her arms, and her feet, and her bofom were bare;

A shroud wrapp'd her limbs, and a snake bound her hair,
This fpectre, the Grim White Woman was she,
And the Grim White Woman was fearful to fee!

And ever, the cauldron as over she bent,
She mutter'd ftrange words of myfterious intent:
A toad, still alive, in the liquor fhe threw,
And loud fhriek'd the toad, as in pieces it flew!

To heighten the charm, in the flames next fhe flung
A viper, a rat, and a mad tiger's tongue;

The

The heart of a wretch, on the rack newly dead,
And an eye, she had torn from a parricide's head.

The flames now divided; the charm was complete;
Her fpells the White Spectre forbore to repeat;
To Janet their produce fhe haften'd to bring,
And placed on her finger a little jet ring!

"From the Grim White Woman," the murmur'd, "receive

"A gift, which your treasure, now loft, will retrieve.

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Remember, 'twas fhe who relieved your despair,

"And when you next fee her, remember your prayer!"—

This faid, the Fiend vanifh'd! no longer around
Pour'd the cauldron its beams; all was darkness profound;
Till the gay beams of morning illumined the skies,
And gay as the morning did Ronald arife.

With hawks and with hounds to the forest rode he:
-" Trallira! trallara! from Janet I'm free!
"Trallira! trallara! my old love, adieu !
"Trallira! trallara ! I'll get me a new !"-

But while he thus caroll'd in bachelor's pride,
A damfel appear'd by the rivulet's fide:
He rein'd in his courfer, and foon was aware,
That never was damfel more comely and fair.