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,

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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?”

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"I long woo'd your daughter, my suit you denied ; Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tideAnd now am I come, with this lost love of mine, 21 To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine. There are 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, 25 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 lips 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;

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While her mother did fret and her father did fume, And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and

plume;

And the bride-maidens whispered, ""T were better by

far

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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;

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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
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 Cannobie Lee,
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

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Lochinvar ?

THE DAFFODILS

WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

I WANDERED lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

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Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay :

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company :

I gazed, and gazed, but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

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LORD ULLIN'S DAUGHTER

THOMAS CAMPBELL

A CHIEFTAIN to the Highlands bound
Cries," Boatman, do not tarry!
And I'll give thee a silver pound
To row us o'er the ferry!"

-"Now who be ye, would cross Lochgyle, This dark and stormy water?"

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-"Oh, I'm the chief of Ulva's isle, And this, Lord Ullin's daughter.

"And fast before her father's men

Three days we've fled together, For should he find us in the glen, My blood would stain the heather.

"His horsemen hard behind us ride,

Should they our steps discover, Then who will cheer my bonny bride When they have slain her lover?"

Out spoke the hardy Highland wight,
"I'll go, my chief, I'm ready:

It is not for your silver bright,
But for your winsome lady:-

“And by my word! the bonny bird
In danger shall not tarry;

So though the waves are raging white,
I'll row you o'er the ferry."

By this the storm grew loud apace,
The water-wraith was shrieking;
And in the scowl of heaven each face
Grew dark as they were speaking.

But still as wilder blew the wind,
And as the night grew drearer
Adown the glen rode arméd men,
Their trampling sounded nearer.

"O haste thee, haste!" the lady cries,

"Though tempests round us gather;

I'll meet the raging of the skies,

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But not an angry father!"

The boat has left a stormy land,
A stormy sea before her,-

When, oh, too strong for human hand!
The tempest gather'd o'er her.

And still they row'd amidst the roar
Of waters fast prevailing :

Lord Ullin reach'd that fatal shore,

His wrath was changed to wailing.

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For, sore dismay'd, through storm and shade 45 His child he did discover:

One lovely hand she stretch'd for aid,

And one was round her lover.

"Come back! come back!" he cried in grief,
"Across this stormy water,

And I'll forgive your Highland chief: —
My daughter! - O my daughter!"

'T was vain: the loud waves lash'd the shore, Return or aid preventing:

The waters wild went o'er his child,

And he was left lamenting.

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