MacMillan's Reading Books Part 8

He stay'd not for brake, and he stopped not for stone, He swam the Eske river where ford there was none-- But, ere he alighted at Netherby gate, The bride had consented, the gallant came late; For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war, Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar!

So boldly he entered the Netherby Hall, Among bridesmen, and kinsmen, and brothers, and all!-- Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword-- For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word-- "Oh come ye in peace here, or come ye in war?-- Or to dance at our bridal? young Lord Lochinvar!"

"I long woo'd your daughter, my suit you denied: Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide!

And now am I come, with this lost love of mine, To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine!

There be maidens in Scotland, more lovely by far, That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar!"

The bride kissed the goblet, the knight took it up, He quaffed off the wine, and he threw down the cup!

She looked down to blush, and she looked up to sigh-- With a smile on her lip, and a tear in her eye.

He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar-- "Now tread we a measure!" said young Lochinvar,

So stately his form, and so lovely her face, That never a hall such a galliard did grace!

While her mother did fret, and her father did fume, And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume, And the bride-maidens whispered, "'Twere better by far To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar!"

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 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!" cried young Lochinvar.

There was mounting 'mong Graemes of the Netherby clan; Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran; There was racing and chasing on Cann.o.bie Lea, But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see!

So daring in love, and so dauntless in war, Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar?

SCOTT.

[Notes: _Lochinvar_. The song sung by Dame Heron in 'Marmion,' one of Scott's longest and most famous poems. The fame of Scott (1771-1832) rests partly on these poems, but much more on the novels, in which he is excelled by no one.

_He stay'd not for brake_. Brake, a word of Scandinavian origin, means a place overgrown with brambles; from the crackling noise they make as one pa.s.ses over them.

_Love swells like the Solway_. For a scene in which the rapid advance of the Solway tide is described, see the beginning of Scott's novel of 'Redgauntlet.'

_Galliard_. A gay rollicker. Used also in Chaucer.

_Scaur_. A rough, broken ground. The same word as scar.]

LEARNING TO RIDE.

Some time before my father had bought a small Shetland pony for us, Moggy by name, upon which we were to complete our own education in riding, we had already mastered the rudiments under the care of our grandfather's coachman. He had been in our family thirty years, and we were as fond of him as if he had been a relation. He had taught us to sit up and hold the bridle, while he led a quiet old cob up and down with a leading rein. But, now that Moggy was come, we were to make quite a new step in horsemanship. Our parents had a theory that boys must teach themselves, and that a saddle (except for propriety, when we rode to a neighbour's house to carry a message, or had to appear otherwise in public) was a hindrance rather than a help. So, after our morning's lessons, the coachman used to take us to the paddock in which Moggy lived, put her bridle on, and leave us to our own devices. I could see that that moment was from the first one of keen enjoyment to my brother.

He would scramble up on her back, while she went on grazing--without caring to bring her to the elm stool in the corner of the field, which was our mounting place--pull her head up, kick his heels into her sides, and go scampering away round the paddock with the keenest delight. He was Moggy's master from the first day, though she not unfrequently managed to get rid of him by sharp turns, or stopping dead short in her gallop. She knew it quite well; and, just as well, that she was mistress as soon as I was on her back. For weeks it never came to my turn, without my wishing myself anywhere else. George would give me a lift up, and start her. She would trot a few yards, and then begin grazing, notwithstanding my timid expostulations and gentle pullings at her bridle. Then he would run up, and pull up her head, and start her again, and she would bolt off with a flirt of her head, and never be content till I was safely on the gra.s.s. The moment that was effected she took to grazing again, and I believe enjoyed the whole performance as much as George, and certainly far more than I did. We always brought her a carrot, or bit of sugar, in our pockets, and she was much more like a great good-tempered dog with us than a pony.

_Memoir of a Brother_. T. HUGHES.

THE CHAMELEON.

Oft has it been my lot to mark A proud, conceited, talking spark, With eyes that hardly served at most To guard their master 'gainst a post: Yet round the world the blade has been To see whatever can be seen.

Returning from his finished tour, Grown ten times perter than before.

Whatever word you chance to drop, The travelled fool your mouth will stop: "Sir, if my judgment you'll allow-- I've seen--and sure I ought to know."

So begs you'd pay a due submission And acquiesce in his decision.

Two travellers of such a cast, As o'er Arabia's wilds they pa.s.sed, And on their way in friendly chat, Now talked of this, and now of that: Discoursed a while, 'mongst other matter, Of the chameleon's form and nature.

"A stranger animal," cries one, "Sure never lived beneath the sun; A lizard's body, lean and long, A fish's head, a serpent's tongue, Its foot with triple claw disjoined; And what a length of tail behind!

How slow its pace! And then its hue-- Who ever saw so fine a blue?"-- "Hold there," the other quick replies, "'Tis green; I saw it with these eyes As late with open mouth it lay, And warmed it in the sunny ray; Stretched at its ease the beast I viewed, And saw it eat the air for food."

"I've seen it, sir, as well as you, And must again affirm it blue: At leisure I the beast surveyed Extended in the cooling shade."

"'Tis green, 'tis green, sir, I a.s.sure you."

"Green!" cried the other in a fury: "Why, do you think I've lost my eyes?"

"'Twere no great loss," the friend replies, "For if they always serve you thus, You'll find them of but little use."

So high at last the contest rose, From words they almost came to blows, When luckily came by a third: To him the question they referred, And begged he'd tell them if he knew, Whether the thing was green or blue?

"Sirs," cries the umpire, "cease your pother, The creature's neither one nor t'other.

I caught the animal last night, And view'd it o'er by candle-light: I marked it well--'twas black as jet.

You stare; but, sirs, I've got it yet: And can produce it"--"Pray, sir, do: I'll lay my life the thing is blue."

"And I'll be sworn, that when you've seen The reptile you'll p.r.o.nounce him green!"

"Well, then, at once to ease the doubt,"

Replies the man, "I'll turn him out: And when before your eyes I've set him, If you don't find him black, I'll eat him,"

He said, and full before their sight, Produced the beast, and lo!--'twas white.

Both stared: the man looked wondrous wise: "My children," the chameleon cries (Then first the creature found a tongue), "You all are right, and all are wrong; When next you tell of what you view, Think others see as well as you!

Nor wonder if you find that none Prefers your eyesight to his own."

MERRICK.

MOSES AT THE FAIR