84 WILLIAM TELL. 'The fault is mine, if fault there be,' 'On manhood let your vengeance fall, 'I will not harm the pretty boy,' 'If blood of his shall stain the ground, 'Draw tight your bow, my cunning man, A mingled noise of wrath and grief Full fifty paces from his child, His cross-bow in his hand, With lip compressed, and flashing eye, Tell firmly took his stand. Sure, full enough of pain and woe The noble boy stood bravely up, 'Shoot straight,' he cried; 'thine aim is sure, 'Heaven bless thee now,' the parent said; 'Thy courage shames me quite :' Then to his ear the shaft he drew, And watched its whizzing flight. 'Tis done! 'tis done !-the child is safe!' Shouted the multitude; 'Man tramples on his brother man, But God is ever good.' For, sure enough, the arrow went As by an angel guided; ""Twas bravely done,' the ruler said, 'No thanks I give thee for thy boon,' 'To God alone my praise is due, And duly shall be paid. "Yet know, proud man, thy fate was near: Not unavenged my child had died, Thy parting hour the same! 'For, see! a second shaft was here, If harm my boy befell: Now go, and bless the heavenly powers My first has sped so well.' God helped the right, God spared the sin; He guards the weak against the strong- 1 William Tell, the legendary hero of Switzerland, is represented by tradition as acting a chief part in freeing his country from the yoke of Austria. Nothing is certainly known about his history; it is even doubtful if there ever was such a man. Rev. J. H. Gurney, The story of shooting the apple occurs in the traditions of other people. Yet the stories of Tell's exploits have helped to cherish Swiss patriotism just as if they had been true. 2 Uri, a canton in the centre of 86 LOCHINVAR. Switzerland, noted for its confederacy with Unterwalden and Schwyz in the assertion of Swiss liberty. It is traversed in all its extent from north to south by the river Reuss, 3 Altorf, the capital of Uri, lies near the head of Lake Lucerne. Foun tains mark the spots where Tell and his son are supposed to have stood when the incidents narrated in the poem occurred. 4 Chamois, a kind of goat whose skin is much valued for a soft kind of leather made from it. LOCHIN VAR. Oh, young Lochinvar is come out of the west! He staid not for brake, and he stopped not for stone, So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall, 'I long wooed your daughter, my suit you denied: The bride kissed the goblet; the knight took it up, He took her soft hand ere her mother could bar- So stately his form, and so lovely her face, While her mother did fret, and her father did fume, One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear, When they reached the hall-door, and the charger stood near; So light to the croup 6 the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle before her he sprung! 'She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur ; They'll have fleet steeds that follow,' quoth young Lochinvar. There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan;7 But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see. Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar? 1 Border or Borderland is the name given to those parts of England and Scotland where the two countries lie contiguous to one another. In former times this district was peopled with a race of hardy warriors whose livelihood depended chiefly on their expertness in plundering. 2 Solway, Solway Firth, an arm of the Irish Sea which forms the boundary between England and Scott. Scotland for upwards of fifty miles. 3 To lead but one measure, to lead only 4 Galliard, sprightly dance. 6 Croup, behind the saddle. 7 There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan. The Graemes of Netherby formed one of the most powerful of Border clans in freebooting times. 88 GLENARA. GLENAR A. O heard ye yon pibroch1 sound sad in the gale, Glenara came first, with the mourners and shroud; In silence they reached over mountain and moor, 'And tell me I charge you, ye clan of my spouse, 'I dreamed of my lady, I dreamed of her shroud,' Cried a voice from the kinsmen, all wrathful and loud; 'And empty that shroud and that coffin did seem; Glenara! Glenara! now read me my dream!' O pale grew the cheek of that chieftain, I ween, 'I dreamed of my lady, I dreamed of her grief, |