With silent wonder long they gaz'd,

And neither silence broke;

At length the smother'd passion blaz'd,
Enamour'd ELDRED spoke:

“O sacred Virtue, heav'nly power!
66 Thy wond'rous force I feel;

"I gaze, I tremble, I adore,

"Yet die my love to tell.

"My scorn has oft the dart repell'd
"Which guileful beauty threw;
"But goodness heard, and grace beheld,
"Must every heart subdue."

Quick on the ground her eyes were cast,
And now as quickly rais'd: —

Just then her father haply past,

On whom she trembling gaz'd.

Good ARDOLPH's eye his BIRTHA meets
With glances of delight ;

And thus with courteous speech he greets
The young and graceful Knight:

"O gallant youth, whoe'er thou art,
"Right welcome to this place!
"There's something rises at my heart
"Which says I've seen that face."

"Thou gen'rous Knight," the youth rejoin'd, "Though little known to fame,

"I trust I bear a grateful mind

"Sir ELDRED is my name."

"Sir ELDRED?" ARDOLPH loud exclaim'd,

"Renown'd for worth and power?

"For valour and for virtue fam'd,

"SIR ELDRED OF THE BOWER?

"Now make me grateful, righteous Heaven, "As thou art good to me, "Since to my aged eyes 'tis given "Sir ELDRED's son to see!"

Then ARDOLPH caught him by the hand,
And gaz'd upon his face,
And to his aged bosom strain'd,
With many a kind embrace.

Again he view'd him o'er and o'er
And doubted still the truth,
And ask'd what he had ask'd before,

Then thus address'd the youth: —

"Come now beneath my roof, I pray,
"Some needful rest to take,
"And with us many a cheerful day
"Thy friendly sojourn make."

He enter❜d at the gate straightway
Some needful rest to take;
And with them many a cheerful day
Did friendly sojourn make.

THE END OF THE FIRST PART.

SIR ELDRED OF THE BOWER.

PART II.

ONCE in a social summer's walk,
The gaudy day was fled;

They cheated time with cheerful talk,
When thus Sir ARDOLPH said: -

"Thy father was the firmest friend "That e'er my being blest;

"And ev'ry virtue Heaven could send, "Fast bound him to my breast.

"Together did we learn to bear

"The casque and ample shield;

"Together learn'd in many a war "The deathful spear to wield.

"To make our union still more dear, "We both were doom'd to prove, "What is most sweet and most severe "In heart-dissolving love.

"The daughter of a neighbouring Knight "Did my fond heart engage;

"And ne'er did Heav'n the virtues write "Upon a fairer page.

"His bosom felt an equal wound,

"Nor sigh'd we long in vain; "One summer sun beheld us bound "In Hymen's holy chain.

"Thou wast Sir ELDRED's only child, "Thy father's darling joy;

"On me a lovely daughter smil'd,
"On me a blooming boy.

"But man has woes, has clouds of care,
"That dim his star of life-
"My arms receiv'd the little pair,

"The earth's cold breast, my wife.

"Forgive, thou gentle Knight, forgive, "Fond foolish tears will flow;

"One day like mine thy heart may heave, "And mourn its lot of woe.

"But grant, kind Heaven! thou ne'er may'st know "The pangs I now impart;

"Nor ever feel the parting blow

"That rives a husband's heart.

"Beside the blooming banks of Tay, My angel's ashes sleep;

"And wherefore should her ARDOLPH stay, "Except to watch and weep?

"I bore my beauteous babes away
"With many a gushing tear;

"I left the blooming banks of Tay,
"And brought my darlings here.

"I watch'd my little household cares,
"And form'd their growing youth;
"And fondly train'd their infant years
"To piety and truth."

66 Thy blooming BIRTHA here I see,"
Sir ELDRED straight rejoin'd;
"But why thy son is not with thee,
"Resolve my doubting mind.”

When BIRTHA did the question hear,
She sighed, but could not speak;

And many a soft and silent tear

Stray'd down her damask cheek.

Then pass'd o'er good Sir ARDOLPH's face, A cast of deadly pale;

But soon compos'd, with manly grace,

He thus renew'd his tale :

"For him my heart too much has bled; "For him, my darling son, "Has sorrow press'd my hoary head; "But Heav'n's high will be done.

"Scarce eighteen winters had revolv'd, "To crown the circling year,

"Before my valiant boy resolv'd

"The warrior's lance to bear.

"Too high I priz'd my native land, "Too dear his fame I held,

"T" oppose a parent's stern command, "And keep him from the field.