the glen❞—a beautiful and sequestered vale, connected with Traquair, and situated about three miles above Traquair House. The recited copies, from which it is probable Sir Walter Scott collected the verses he has here brought together, exist in Buchan's "Ancient Ballads and Songs," and in Motherwell's "Minstrelsy, Ancient and Modern." It derives interest and importance, however, less from its intrinsic merit, than from the circumstance of its having given to Scott the hint upon which he founded one of the most brilliant and spirit-stirring of his compositions—the famous and favourite ballad of Young Lochinvar. It will gratify the curious to compare the passages in the two that most nearly resemble each other. We, therefore, print the following extracts from Young Lochinvar, taken from the notes to the modern edition of the "Minstrelsy:"

"Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword,

(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word)

O, come ye in peace here or come ye in war, Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?"

*

'She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scaur;

They'll have fleet steeds that follow,' quoth young Lochinvar."

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Gordon of Lochinvar was, we are told, the head of a powerful branch of that name, afterwards Viscounts of Lochinvar. Motherwell's version, entitled Catherine Johnstone, was obtained from recitation in the West of Scotland," and shows the state in which the "popular ballad" is there preserved. The 'Laird o' Lamington" here figures; and it is worthy of remark, as proving a common origin, that "the Laird of Lamington" was the title given to the ballad in the first edition of the Border Minstrelsy. A few stanzas from Motherwell's version will exhibit the variations between the two copies. The Lord of Lamington having received tidings that his lady-love was about to be wedded to an English gentleman, suddenly enters the weddinghouse, where

"Four and twenty belted knights

Sat at a table round;"

denied,

In silver cups did flow; But aye she drank to Lamington,

For with him would she go.

"O, meikle was the good red wine,
In silver cups gaed round;
At length they began to whisper words,
None could them understand. /

"O came ye here for sport, young man,
Or came ye here for play?
Or came ye for our bonny bride,
On this her wedding-day?'

"I came not here for sport,' he said,
"Neither did I for play;

But for one word o' your bonnie bride, I'll mount and go away.'

ear,

When they reach'd the hall door, and the

charger stood near:

So light to the croupe the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle before her he sprung!

To hear what they would say; But the first question he ask'd at her, Was always answer'd nay; The next question, he ask'd at her, Was 'Mount and come away!'

"It's up the Couden bank,

And down the Couden brae;
And aye she made the trumpet sound,
It's a weel won play.

"O, meikle was the blood was shed,

Upon the Couden brae;

And aye she made the trumpet sound,
It's a' fair play."

Of the two versions to which we have referred, and another published by Mr. Buchan, Mr. Robert Chambers has composed a fourth. Several stanzas, however, are obviously borrowed from other sources,-Gil Morrice especially. The following passages occur towards the conclusion:

"There were four and twenty bonnie boys,

A' clad in Johnstone-grey; They said they would take the bride again,

By the strong hand, if they may.

"Some o' them were right willing men,

But they were na willing a'; And four and twenty Leader lads

Bade them mount and ride awa'.

"Then whingers flew frae gentles' sides,
And swords flew frae the sheas;
And red and rosy was the blude
Ran down the lilye bracs.

"The blood ran down by Cadden bank,

And down by Cadden brae; And, sighing, said the bonnie bride, 'O, wae's me for foul play!'

"My blessing on your heart, sweet thing!
Wae to your wilful will!
There's mony a gallant gentleman

Whose blude ye hae garr'd spill.””
THERE was a may, and a weel-far'd may,
Lived high up in yon glen:
Her name was Katharine Janfarie,
She was courted by mony men.

Up then came Lord Lauderdale,

Up frae the Lawland Border; And he has come to court this may, A' mounted in good order.

But out then came Lord Lochinvar,
Out frae the English Border,
All for to court this bonny may,

Weel mounted, and in order.

He told her father, he told her mother,
And a' the lave o' her kin;
But he told na the bonny may hersell,
Till on her wedding e'en.

She sent to the Lord o' Lauderdale,

Gin he wad come and see; And he has sent word back again, Weel answer'd she suld be.

And he has sent a messenger Right quickly through the land, And raised mony an armed man To be at his command.

The bride looked out at a high window,
Beheld baith dale and down,
And she was aware of her first true love,
With riders mony a one.

She scoffed him, and scorned him,
Upon her wedding day;

And said "It was the Fairy court
To see him in array!

"O come ye here to fight, young lord,
Or come ye here to play?
Or come ye here to drink good wine
Upon the wedding day?"-

"I come na here to fight," he said,
"I come na here to play;
I'll but lead a dance wi' the bonny bride,
And mount and go my way."

It is a glass of the blood-red wine
Was filled up them between,
And aye she drank to Lauderdale,
Wha her true love had been.

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2)

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30

35

40

45

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["One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear, When they reach'd the hall door, and the charger stood

near;

So light to the croupe 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) Lochin-
Marmion.]

var."