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In thraws of death, with walowit cheik

All panting on the plain,

The fainting corps of warriours lay,
Ne're to arife again;

290

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On Norways coaft the widowit dame
May wash the rocks with tears,

May lang luik ow'r the fhiplefs feas

Befor her mate appears.

300

Ceafe, Emma, cease to hope in vain;

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Set up for monument,

Thousands fu' fierce that fummer's day

Fill'd keen war's black intent.

Let Scots, while Scots, praise Hardyknute,

Let Norse the name ay dread,

Ay how he faught, aft how he fpar'd,

Shall latest ages read.

305

310

XL. Now

XL.

Now loud and chill blew th' weftlin wind,
Sair beat the heavy shower,

Wan near his ftately tower.

Mirk grew the night ere Hardyknute

315

His tow'r that us'd wi' torches blaze

To fhine fae far at night,

Seem'd now as black as mourning weed,

Nae marvel fair he figh'd.

XLI.

320

"There's nae light in my lady's bower,

There's nae light in my ha';

Nae blink fhines round my FAIRLY fair,

Nor ward stands on my wa'

"What bodes it? Robert, Thomas, fay ;"-325

Nae answer fitts their dread.

"Stand back, my fons, I'le be your guide;"

But by they paft with speed.

XLII.

"As faft I've fped owre Scotlands faes,"

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** In an elegant publication, intitled, "Scottish Tra gic Ballads, printed by and for 7. Nichols, 1781, Svo." may be feen a continuation of the Ballad of HARDYKNUTE, by the addition of a SECOND PART, which bath fince been acknowledged to be his own compofition, by the ingenious Editor-To whom the late Sir D. Dalrymple communicated (fubfequent to the account drawn up above in p. 96.) extracts of a letter from Sir JOHN BRUCE, of Kinross, to Lord Binning, which plainly proves the pretended difcoverer of the fragment of Hardyknute to have been Sir John Bruce himself. His words are, To perform my promife, Ifend you a "true copy of the Manufcript I found fome weeks ago in a vault at Dumferline. It is written on vellum in a fair Gothic character, but fo much defaced by time, as you'll "find that the tenth part is not legible." He then gives the whole fragment as it was first published in 1719, fave one or two ftanzas, marking Jeveral paffages as having perished by being illegible in the old MS. Hence it appears, that Sir John was the author of HARDYKNUTE, but afterwards ufed Mrs. Wardlaw to be the midwife of his Poetry, and fuppreffed the ftory of the vault; as is well obferved by the Editor of the Tragic Ballads, &c. of Maitland's Scot. Foets, voi. I. p. cxxvii.

To this gentleman we are indebted for the ufe of the copy, whence the fecond edition was afterwards printed, as the Jame was prepared for the prefs by John Clerk, M. D. of Edinburgh, an intimate companion of Lord Prefident Forbes.

The title of the first edition was, "HARDYKNUTE, A "FRAGMENT. Edinburgh, printed for James Watson, "Sc. 1719," folio, 12 pages.

Stanzas not in the first edition are, Nos. 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42.

In the prefent impreffion the orthography of Dr. Clerk's copy has been preferved, and his readings carefully followed, except in a few inftances, wherein the common edition appeared preferable: viz. He had in ver. 20. but.-v. 50. of harm.v. 64. every.—v. 67, lo down.~~. 83. That mitted.- -v. 89. And omitted.v. 143. With argument VOL. II.

H 8

but

but vainly ftrave Lang. 148. fay'd.-v. 155. mcampit on the plain. 156. Norfe fquadrons.-v. 158. regand revers.v. 170. his ftrides he bent.v. 171. minftrals playand Pibrochs fine.-v. 172. flately went. -v. 182. mon.-v. 196. fharp and fatal.- .219. which. -v. 241. stood wyld.--Stanza 39 preceded fanza 38.v. 305 There.v. 313. blew weitling. 336. had originally been, He fear'd a' cou'd be fear'd.

The Editor was alfo informed, on the authority of Dr. David Clerk, M. D. of Edinburgh (Jon of the aforefaid *Dr. John Clerk), that between the prefent flanzas 36 and 37, the two following had been intended, but were on maturer confideration omitted, and do not now appear among the MS. additions:

Now darts flew wavering through flaw speed,
Scarce could they reach their aim ;

Or reach'd, fcarce blood the round point drew,
'Twas all but fhot in vain:

Right ftrengthy arms forfeebled grew,

Sair wreck'd wi' that day's toils:

E'en fierce-born minds now lang'd for peace,
And curs'd war's cruel broils.

Yet ftill wars borns founded to charge,
Swords clafh'd and harness rang;

But faftly fae ilk blafter blew

The hills and dales fraemang.

Nae echo heard in double dints,

Nor the lang-winding horn,

Nae mair fhe blew out brade as she

Did eir that fummers morn.

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A BALLAD OF LUTHER, THE POPE, A CARDINAL, AND A HUSBANDMAN,

In the former Book we brought down this fecond Series of poems, as low as about the middle of the fixteenth century. We now find the Mufes deeply engaged in religious controverfy. The fudden revolution, wrought in the opi nions of mankind by the Reformation, is one of the most ftriking events in the hiftory of the human mind. It could not but engrofs the attention of every individual in that and therefore no other writings would have any chance to be read, but fuch as related to this grand topic. The alterations made in the established religion by Henry VIII, the fudVOL, II.

I

age,

den

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