"O heavy news," King James did say,
"Scotland can witness be,
"Now God be with him," said our king,
"Since 'twill no better be;
This vow full well the king performed
After at Humbledown;
In one day fifty knights were slain,
With lords of high renown:
1 Brinish, like brine or salt.
2 Humbledown, i.e., Homildon Hill, in Northumberland, where a
battle was fought in 1402.
And of the rest, of small account,
Thus endeth the hunting of Chevy-Chace,
God save the king, and bless this land
With plenty, joy, and peace;
And grant, henceforth, that foul debate
'Twixt noblemen may cease.
THE COMBAT.'
The chief in silence strode before,
And reached that torrent's sounding shore,
Which, daughter of three mighty lakes,2
From Vennachar in silver breaks,
And here his course the chieftain stayed,
Threw down his target and his plaid,
And to the Lowland warrior said:
"Bold Saxon! to his promise just,
Vich-Alpine has discharged his trust.
This murderous chief, this ruthless man,
This head of a rebellious clan,"
Hath led thee safe through watch and ward,
Far past Clan-Alpine's outmost guard.
Now, man to man, and steel to steel,
A chieftain's vengeance thou shalt feel!
See here, all vantageless I stand,
Armed, like thyself, with single brand:
For this is Coilantogle ford,
And thou must keep thee with thy sword."
1 The Combat. The two combatants are a Gael (Roderick Dhu,
a Highland chief) and a Saxon (Fitz-James, i.e., James V., King of Scotland, in disguise).
2 Three mighty lakes: lakes Katrine, Achray, and Vennachar.
3 His target, his shield.
4 Lowland, the south, or Saxon part of Scotland.
5 Vich-Alpine, the descendant of Alpine the family name of Roderick Dhu.
6 Clan, a Scottish tribe or family.
7 Watch and ward, soldiers on guard.
8 Vantageless, without advantage,
The Saxon paused:-"I ne'er delayed,
When foeman bade me draw my blade;
Nay, more, brave chief, I vowed thy death;
Yet sure thy fair and generous faith,
And my deep debt for life preserved,1
A better meed2 have well deserved:
Can nought but blood our feud3 atone?
Are there no means ?"-" No, stranger, none !
And here, to fire thy flagging zeal,-
The Saxon cause rests on thy steel;
For thus spoke Fate, by prophet bred
Between the living and the dead:
'Who spills the foremost foeman's life,
His party conquers in the strife."".
66 Then, by my word," the Saxon said,
"The riddle is already read.
Seek yonder brake beneath the cliff,—
There lies Red Murdock,5 stark and stiff.
Thus Fate hath solved her prophecy;
Then yield to Fate, and not to me.
To James, at Stirling, let us go;
When, if thou wilt be still his foe,
Or if the King shall not agree
To grant thee grace and favour free,
I plight mine honour, oath, and word,
That, to thy native strengths restored,
With each advantage shalt thou stand
That aids thee now to guard thy land."-
Dark lightning flashed from Roderick's eye-
"Soars thy presumption, then, so high,
Because a wretched kern3 ye slew,
Homage to name to Roderick Dhu?
1 Life preserved. Roderick had spared, when he might have
taken, the life of Fitz-James.
2 Meed, reward.
▲ Brake, a place covered with brambles.
5 Red Murdock, one of Roderick's followers, who had been slain
6 Stirling, a very ancient town in Scotland.
8 Kern, a Highland foot-soldier.
He yields not, he, to man nor Fate!
Thou add'st but fuel to my hate :-
My clansman's blood demands revenge.-
Not yet prepared! Nay, then, I change
My thought, and hold thy valour light
As that of some vain carpet knight,
Who ill deserved my courteous care,
And whose best boast is but to wear
A braid of his fair lady's hair."-
"I thank thee, Roderick, for the word!
It nerves my heart, it steels my sword;
For I have sworn this braid' to stain
In the best blood that warms thy vein.
Now, truce farewell! and ruth2 begone!-
Yet think not that by thee alone,
Proud chief! can courtesy be shown;
Though not from copse, or heath, or cairn,3
Start at my whistle clansmen stern,
Of this small horn one feeble blast
Would fearful odds against thee cast.
But fear not-doubt not-which thou wilt-
We try this quarrel hilt to hilt."
Then each at once his falchion' drew;
Each on the ground his scabbard threw;
Each looked to sun, and stream, and plain,
As what they ne'er might see again;
Then foot and point and eye opposed,
In dubious strife they darkly closed.
Ill fared it then with Roderick Dhu,
That on the field his targe7 he threw,
Whose brazen studs and tough bull-hide
Had death so often dashed aside;
For, trained abroad his arms to wield,
Fitz-James's blade was sword and shield.
He practised every pass and ward,
1 This braid, the hair of a young widow who was shot by Mur
dock with an arrow intended
2 Ruth, mercy, pity. 4 Falchion, a sword. 6 Dubious, doubtful.
for Fitz-James.
3 Cairn, a heap of stones.
5 Scabbard, a sword-case.
7 Targe, a target.
To thrust, to strike, to feint,' to guard;
While, less expert, though stronger far,
The Gael maintained unequal war.
Three times in closing strife they stood,
And thrice the Saxon blade drank blood;
No stinted draught, no scanty tide;
The gushing flood the tartans2 dyed.
Fierce Roderick felt the fatal drain,
And showered his blows like wintry rain;
And, as firm rock or castle roof
Against the winter shower is proof,
The foe, invulnerable3 still,
Foiled his wild rage by ready skill;
Till, at advantage ta'en, his brand
Forced Roderick's weapon from his hand,
And backward borne upon the lea,
Brought the proud chieftain to his knee.
"Now, yield thee, or by Him who made
The world, thy heart's blood dyes my blade!"
Thy threats, thy mercy, I defy!
Let recreants yield who fears to die."
Like adder darting from his coil,
Like wolf that dashes through the toil,
Like mountain-cat who guards her young,
Full at Fitz-James's throat he sprung;
Received, but recked not of a wound,
And locked his arms his foeman round.
Now, gallant Saxon, hold thine own!
No maiden's hand is round thee thrown!
That desperate grasp thy frame might feel
Through bars of brass and triple steel!
They tug, they strain! Down, down they go,
The Gael above, Fitz-James below;
The chieftain's gripe his throat compressed,
His knee was planted on his breast;
1 Feint, to pretend to strike one part whilst intending to strike another.
2 Tartans, the plaids worn by Scotchmen.
3 Invulnerable, not to be wounded.
5 Recreant, a mean-spirited, cowardly person. 6 Recked, cared.
|