This I establish just and right,
That hurrying on to closest fight,
Youth against youth, with fervent heat,
Should rush, nor man from man retreat.
Long time was this the hero's pride;
And all who by the virgin's side
Aspire to lie and taste her charms,
Should nobly stem the roar of arms.

Doubtless the fates our actions lead,
Beyond their limits none can tread.
Little of yore did I foresee,

That Ella would my death foresee,
When half-expiring with my wound,
Anxious I threw my garb around;
Conceal'd it from the warrior train,
And launch'd my vessels on the main :
Then over all the Scotian flood

We gave the beasts of prey their food.

Hence springing in my thoughtful mind,
A never failing joy I find;

For well I know superbly graced,
For me the lofty seat is placed.
For me the gen'rous mead shall foam
In father Balder's festal dome :
From goblets pour'd its copious tide
By skulls of recreant foes supplied.
The brave shall ne'er lament their death
In Odin's splendid courts beneath;
No clamours vain I thither bear,
No sickly murmurs of despair.

Aslanga's sons would soon draw nigh,
With utmost swiftness hither fly,

And arm'd with falchions gleaming bright
Prepare the bitter deeds of fight,

If told, or could they but divine

What woe, what dire mischance is mine,
How many serpents round me hang,
And tear my flesh with poisonous fang;
A mother to my sons I gave,

With native worth who stamp'd them brave.

Fast to th' hereditary end,

To my allotted goal I tend.

Fix'd is the vipers mortal harm;

Within my heart, his mansion warm,
In the recesses of my breast

The writhing snake hath form'd his nest.
Yet Odin may in vengeance spread
The bloody scourge o'er Ella's head,
My son's fierce anger, at the tale,
Shall change to red, from deadly pale.
The fiery youths, at my decease,
Shall starting shun the seat of peace.

Full fifty times I trod the field,

My standard rear'd, and poised my shield,
War's willing guest; nor deem'd the force
Of human hand would check my course.
Panting to gain a matchless name,
And soar o'er every king in fame,
For well in earliest years I taught
My sword to drink the crimson draught,
The Sisters now my steps invite ;
Unmov'd I quit the realms of light.

Warn'd from within-break off the lay!
Th' inviting Sisters chide my stay.
By Odin sent, I hear their call,
They bid me to his fatal hall.

With them high-throned, the circling bowl
Of foaming mead shall cheer my soul.
With joy I yield my vital breath,
And laugh in the last pangs of death.

POPULAR CUSTOMS ON THE BORDERS.

Births.

When I approached the bed on which my wife and her new born infant lay, she remained silent, and regarded me with an exulting, yet steady look arising from a confliction of newly awakened feelings. To me it was sufficient: I read it as if she had actually uttered these words :-"We are now PARENTS! I have surmounted the danger; and here is the living pledge of our affections!"-MS.

HATEVER is common amongst the people of a district has a tendency to be considered unworthy of close observation or particular notice, hence the decline and loss of a great many of our ancient usages. Probably the observances, on the occurrence of births in former times, were few; and this may in some measure account for the slight way in which they are treated by nearly all our recorders of popular manners. If such was the case, the number of these customs have still undergone further diminution, in descending, on the current of time, nearer to our own age; yet with such a meagre field before us, we are of opinion that a brief glance over some which were lately prevalent amongst the peasantry of the Borders, will not appear altogether worthless to those who respect whatever may serve to elucidate the history of their immediate predecessors.

A

When an accession is likely to be made to a family, perhaps the first object of the pregnant female is to have her blankets and sheets with a nicely variegated quilt well cleaned and aired, and to provide such articles of clothing as her confinement may require. small piece of thick woollen stuff for the head, with a few caps of muslin, edged with lace, flannels, shifts, and some nightgowns called wyllies are prepared for the expected infant. What may be necessary for herself is only trifling :-one portion, however, if she is a prudent woman, claims her especial attention, and that consists of a shift, a cap, a black ribbon and a pair of stockings, in case the event which she is approaching, be attended with death. Men seldom look into these minor matters; yet in furnishing what may be needful for the coming of the little stranger, there must, to the mother, be something solemn in the thought that habiliments suitable for the grave, both for herself and her offspring, ought also to be included. Sup

posing however that circumstances will turn out favourably, all the necessary articles are neatly done up, and carefully put away in a slight open basket. The other things are folded together and deposited in the corner of a drawer, whence, unless the case prove really serious, they may not readily be removed.

The next matter of consideration is and has been from time immemorial, to provide a large brown loaf and a cheese-the latter of goodly dimensions and very superior quality. Some bottles of spirits with one of wine are also procured; and to this, on the north side of the Border, a quantity of rich cake called short bread forms an indispensable accompaniment. Of the last material, when it comes to be used, pieces are wrapped neatly up in white paper and sent to those members of the family who reside at a distance, also to females with whom the mother may be on terms of intimate friendship.

Until within the remembrance of those who are yet in the prime of life, and throughout the whole tract of country included within and adjoining the Borders, our mothers, like the Hebrews and Egyptians of old, habitually preferred the skill of the midwife, in their hour of need, to the ability of the doctor; and it is even surprising how very successful many of these professional females* were through a long course of practice. It therefore followed that when the assistance of this individual was required, an active rider mounted a strong horse, capable of carrying double, and hastened to her residence. During the five minutes that she put herself in order, the horseman fastened her seat close to his saddle, mounted again, got her on behind him, and then the main aim was to be at home as speedily as possible. By the time of their arrival, two or three female friends, selected from the nearest neighbours, had the house cleared of its junior inmates by threatening to put red hot cinders either on or in the shoes of whoever remained; and then they kept full possession of the spot till "the Lady in the straw" was through her difficulty. When this period arrived, the little new-comer was carefully dressed and laid upon the knee of one of the matrons; the store of good mirthinspiring cheer was produced; the cheese and loaf were assailed in gallant style, and the health of the mother and the child had to be drunk by all present. It may readily be supposed on such occasions that the chief female in office, who always took especial care to be on terms of the most cordial intimacy with her acquaintances, contributed much, by the affability and kindness she displayed, to make those around her both merry and comfortable. At a fitting time, tea

* In Liddesdale a midwife is still living who has officiated at upwards of seventeen hundred births-a number nearly equal to the whole population of the parish in which she resides.

and a spice cake, enriched often from the delicious cream which found its way into it, were prepared to the party; and afterwards, when every circumstance was looking favourable with the mother, and she was committed to the charge of her nurse, the other attendants withdrew. The midwife either remained for a space or returned home, and regulated her visits as her aid might be deemed requisite.

The

When the mother was again able to attend to her domestic duties, but before she appeared publicly, a number of female neighbours were on an afternoon invited to see her and the child. They came arrayed in their better clothes, and, the elder members of the family being present, they partook of tea; after which glasses of spirits were dealt around, and the evening was spent in a very agreeable manner. mother made it a point of observance to enter no friend's house until she attended divine service at either church or chapel, and on her way thither, she was generally accompanied by her husband who took with him a portion of bread and cheese, and bestowed it on the first person whom they met on the road. On this occasion it was and is still deemed unlucky to go forth empty handed.

From a very distant period it has been customary, that when the infant is for the first time taken into a neighbour's house, it is there presented with a little salt, an egg, and a piece of bread—at least these articles are put together and folded into the slip of the little visitor. In thickly inhabited places near a church, and, even in Newcastle, when the child is carried out to be baptized, the offering of bread and cheese, accompanies it, and these are presented in like manner to the first person whose chance it may be to meet the party. If the receiver be in possession of a piece of money, whether of copper or silver, it is frequently given, on behalf of the young sojourner, in exchange for the gift.

It is with some sensations of regret that we observe many old customs to be on the decline, and these already enumerated are of the number. Amongst the higher portion of the community, they are seldom regarded; and as it appears to be one of the besetting sins of the present age, that those in a common rank of life closely imitate the more fashionable classes in habits, manners, and appearance, little hope can be entertained that they will ever again become popular. Cleanliness and neatness of dress are, at all times and with all people, desirable; but we are in no respect favourable to any part of society being smitten with the insatiable desire of appearing otherwise than may be conformable to their station in life. At the same time we are not averse to improvement; but as we regard with veneration whatever was observed by our ancestors, if we permit their usages to sink into oblivion, it were well if we keep in mind and