ED MAR AND ELWINNA: 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE WOER-WARLOCK. 
 
 AN OLD BALLAD, 
 BUT NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. 
 
 lipm 
 
 5 2 1 9 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 
 PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY THE BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 I 
 
 MDCCXCIII. 
 
 7<P
 
 ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 "PR 
 
 BY THE "333 I 
 
 EDITOR. 
 
 HP HE manufcript of the following ballad was, along 
 A with fome other old pieces, both in verfe and 
 profe, written by the' fame author, put into my hands 
 by my grandfather two or three years ago. Not that 
 the old gentleman (who is fince dead) had any thought 
 of publifhing them : He was a man that, while he cared 
 more for the antiquity of his family than for poetry, 
 prized alfo golden more than literary treafure, and per- 
 haps had never looked into them. Their age gave them all 
 their value to him. He had been informed that I, who 
 was his favourite, made verfes; and, having fent for 
 
 me
 
 ( vi ) 
 
 me one day, he advifed me to give over fo idle and dan- 
 gerous a practice, as he called it ; but concluded his ad- 
 vice with telling me, that, if I liked metre, he would 
 fhow me fomething curious in it. Away he went, and 
 returned with the old pieces I have mentioned. They 
 were written, he faid, by an anceftor of the family, who 
 was a fchoolm after, and lived, he was fure, feveral ge- 
 nerations ago, but how many he could not tell. 
 
 Th e only piece among them, that feemed to be worth 
 printing, was the ballad now prefented to the public* 
 But its language was fo old, that it would have been to 
 by far the greateft part of readers as if written in a foreign 
 tongue : Its ftyle, too was uncouth. I, therefore, thought, 
 though perhaps fome antiquaries Will think otherwife, 
 that it would be doing but jufticeto the poem ; and what 
 the author himfelf, could the old carle have rifen from 
 his cold couch after a deep of two or three centuries to be 
 
 his
 
 ( vii ) 
 
 Ins own editor, would have done, to modernize it, (ftill, 
 however preferving its character), and fo render it not 
 only intelligible to all, but to the generality more pleaf- 
 ing. Thus I thought, and I have acted accordingly. Yet, 
 though, I confefs, I have made free with the MS. in chang- 
 ing the old fpelling to the modern, in fubftituting Englifh 
 words for Scottifh ones, which were now fo obfolete that 
 they would have hurt the reading, in altering expreflions, 
 that were pedantic or had too much of the rude boldnefs 
 of " other days," in fmoothing rugged lines, and in mak- 
 ing rhymes more exact, I have meddled with none of the 
 fentiments. The ballad's character is ftill entire, and its 
 antiquity ftill very evident.
 
 EDMAR AND ELWINNA 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. 
 
 I. 
 
 FAST by the rill, that feem'd to talk, 
 
 ('Twas merry May's fweet time,) 
 Liftening fhe flood, in beauty's beft, 
 
 Stood, like all round, in prime. 
 
 II. 
 
 O, fure fhe is a maid fo fair, 
 
 Her fairer fwain ne'er woo'd ! 
 And blithe is fhe, to fmiling giv'n, 
 
 But what is better, good ; 
 
 a in.
 
 1 fcDMAR AND ELWINNA: Olt, 
 
 III. 
 
 For never yet could fhe think ill, 
 
 Mild as the nun and true. 
 Her form is of the figure jimp *. 
 
 Her eyes they are fo blue ! 
 
 IV. 
 
 I'll tell fhe is fo noble' a dame, 
 
 (Nor tell I it through pride,) 
 'Twould much befeem, ay, our Scotch kingf 
 
 To lit by her fair fide. 
 
 V. 
 
 And eaft } fhe looks, and weft fhe looks, 
 And to the north and fouth, 
 
 Now 
 
 * Jimp figure is flender make. 
 
 f One of oui Jameses without doubt, but which of them I have 
 no authority to fay. 
 \ Eaftward. 
 $ WeRward.
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK* 3 
 
 Now whom, deem ye, mould (he look for 
 But Edmar, happy youth ? 
 
 VI. 
 
 Full much fhe feels within her heart* 
 
 Full much fhe thinks in mind, 
 But fhort while turn her cares all day 
 
 From Edmar good and kind. 
 
 VII. 
 
 And this, wot ye, is Venus' eve*, 
 
 The prime of eves to love ; 
 Hearts are both fooner fix'd its tide, 
 
 And fix'd, they ne'er more move. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Now why comes not my true-love ? why ? 
 
 He tryjled\ me 'gainft eve 
 To meet him on this green-grafs bank, 
 
 To hear love, and believe. 
 
 IX. 
 
 * Friday eve. 
 
 f Made an appointment with. This is not juft the exat meaning 
 f tryjied here, but I cannot wel! find words to explain it better.
 
 EDMAR AND ELWINNA I OR, 
 
 IX. 
 
 Yet fure, by my proud fide, ere long 
 
 Shall he thofe troutlings view, 
 If heaven forbid all harm to come, 
 
 For aye his lips were true. 
 
 X. 
 
 With this her anxious eyes look round, 
 (And they are twins ftar-born,) 
 
 Look up the haugh, * look down the haugh, 
 Which hazel trees adorn. 
 
 XI. 
 
 A native fear that dwells in them 
 Prays aye, (and wins th'implore,) 
 
 Good Powers ! guard me, for Vm f elf -weak ! 
 But now this three times o'er. 
 
 XII. 
 
 * A haugh is a low piece of ground on die banks of a dream.
 
 THE WOOER- WARLOCK. 
 
 XII. 
 
 And at each /oughing* of the leaf 
 
 She turns, and thinks to fpy 
 The coming of her bonny joe \ : 
 
 And aye is heav'd the figh. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Long, long fhe waits, and fore fhe longs, 
 
 Yet cannot wall's power 
 Find of her love more than whenfirft 
 
 She came, before the hour. 
 
 XIV. , 
 
 When lo ! with reverend ftep, full flow 
 Defcends the haugh a wight 
 
 B Of 
 
 * Kfough is a foft found ; to fough is to found foftly, &o But in- 
 deed lough conveys an idea through Scottifh ears, which to exprefs in 
 words is difficult. It is pronounced by the more polifhed fwains as if 
 written fouff. 
 
 f Sweetheart, friend, &c.
 
 6 EDMAR AND ELWINNA! OR* 
 
 Of ancient form. Now, ween ye, who 
 Comes on her boding fight ? 
 
 XV. 
 
 Bent down, like withered branch, he comes : 
 
 A ftaff flays up each hand. 
 His coat and gloves are of the gray* 
 
 Weav'd in the fair Mers-land. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 And girds his loins a leathern zone, 
 
 (Its buckle-band is fpy'd) ; 
 While coal-black is his bonnet broad, 
 
 No ribbands give it pride. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 And O, full long and fnowy too, 
 The fign of eighty years, 
 
 Waves 
 
 * Coarfe cloth, called fo from its colour ; and alio natural gray, 
 from its being made of white wool mixed with black, not dyed by the 
 3 .nds of man, but of Nature, or the produce of the black fheep.
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. 
 
 Waves down his beard ! The warlock-wight 
 Ah ! much Elwinna fears ! 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 Now Chrift be with me ! thrice fhe prays^ 
 
 'Tis Glorloz of the knoww * ! 
 And thrice is crofs'd her bofom white, 
 
 And thrice is crofs'd her brow. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Our loves, our loves (Ah ! how it bodes !) 
 
 Shall Evil's face fee firft, 
 Since, for my joe, the firft I've fpy'd 
 
 Is warlock, pilgrim worft. 
 
 XX. 
 
 And fhe hath tripp'd, yet trembling- much* 
 
 To pafs him on the right, 
 And fpeak the firft word, all his fpeils 
 
 To break, ay, in his fpite 
 
 * Steep, or rather hillock. 
 
 XXL
 
 EDMAR AND ELWINNA l OR, 
 
 XXI. 
 
 For warlocks' fpells may broken be 
 
 By fpells of Chriftian men. 
 (Be then not fearful, though ye meet 
 
 The ill wight in the glen.) 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Thrice hail J thou carle of knowledge deep ! 
 
 Thrice hail ! command thou me ! 
 Thrice hail ! I crave for boon thy grace ! 
 
 And on his right flands fhe. 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 And happy now fhe is, I trow, 
 
 For fpells can do no ill : 
 When coughing thrice, and breathing faft, 
 
 The warlock Hays him ftill. 
 
 XXIV. 
 Then lifting flowly up his neck, 
 
 It
 
 THE WOOER-WARLQCK. 
 
 (It dows * not climb fo high 
 But that his bonnet fhades his eyes) 
 He flowly makes reply : 
 
 XXV. 
 
 Hail, daughter fair ! (for fair art thou 
 
 As e'er won young man's heart ! < 
 
 Mine eyes are veil'd with age, but this 
 
 My fpells to me impart.) 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 My boon to thee fhall be my grace, 
 
 If thy foft arm of youth 
 Will flay my weary frame of eld, 
 
 And if thou wilt tell truth. 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Sore quakes the maiden to hear this ; 
 Yet forer to gainfay : 
 
 G So 
 
 * To dow y I think, is to be able to find in one's felf to do.
 
 10 EDMAR AND ELWINNA : OR 
 
 So muttering thrice, O Chrift fhield me ! 
 She muft prepare t'obey. 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 When (thrice now crofs'd her bofom white, 
 
 And thrice her lovely brow,) 
 She fees one arm hide it in glove, 
 
 And one its charms avow. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 And wots fhe not that things unlike 
 
 To evil's Lord pertain ? * 
 The taper limb (like fnow of morn) 
 
 Soon the pleas'd air doth gain. 
 
 XXX. 
 
 Her left hand now fhe trembling put^ 
 Beneath the fpell-wight's arm ; 
 
 But then, o'er it, the rival right 
 Forms crofs to keep from harm. 
 
 ' This line (lands in the MS. thus, 
 
 Are dower of evil's thane* 
 
 XXXI.
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. II 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 And in her fhaking heart flie fays, 
 Would fragments were with me 
 
 Of Chrifl's dear tomb, or Mary's houfe, 
 Borne to beft Italy ! 
 
 XXXII. 
 
 Now fonfe* befal thee, daughter true, 
 For this true daughter's deed ! 
 
 And for thy love I'll give a boon ; 
 Thy fortune, child, Til read f. 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 This hand /hall blefs a youth, wbofe heart 
 
 Is love up to the brim. 
 Sixfons, full brave, and daughters fix, 
 
 Full fair, Jbalt thou give him. 
 
 * That which is good, fortunate, &c. 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 f To > read the fortune of a lady (for inftance) among the Scots, is 
 to foretel it by reading it in magic characters.
 
 12 IDMAR AND ELWINNA : OR, 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Tour loves Jh all be the wonder JIM 
 
 Of all the cajlles round : 
 So churn? d y each f wain JIj all hajle to wed, 
 
 Each maid he willing found. 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 jindyeJJj all live (and live aye hlejl) 
 
 Till nought your eyes can fpy. 
 Tour Jons 1 Jons' fonsjhall round the couch 
 
 Stand weeping, when ye die. 
 
 XXXVI. 
 
 Now tell thy fire, O ftar-lov'd dame ! 
 
 (I charg'd thee to be true) 
 If in this mead lurks Edmar young, 
 
 His coat and bonnet blue. 
 
 XXXVII: 
 
 For he hath wrought me mickle ill ; 
 And hither, at this hour 
 
 Of
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. I3 
 
 Of eve, have crawl'd my rigid limbs, 
 With all my fpells of power. 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 And well can I full mickle ill 
 
 Work him, O virgin dame ! 
 For I was born the feventb fon : 
 
 And Glorloz is my name. 
 
 XXXIX. 
 
 I'm cunning in the lore of ftars ; 
 
 And me, to aid, have fworn 
 Their numerous fprights, (whofe power fvvays all), 
 
 While prickly grows the thorn. 
 
 XL. 
 
 And hear : Who works dread Glorloz ijl, 
 
 Shall not on Venus' eve 
 Begin his love ; and love begun 
 
 Shall but his bofom grieve. 
 
 D XLT.
 
 14 EDMAR AND ELWINNA '. OR, 
 
 XLI. 
 
 His flocks and herds no more fhall thrive 
 His health fhall thrive no more ; 
 
 No more his babes j but he (hall fade 
 As mow when rills run o'er. 
 
 XL1I. 
 
 And at the hour of fiends, his couch 
 
 Shall fee flill fights of blood ; 
 And hear flill fearful groans and yells ; 
 
 And naught fhall work him good. 
 
 XLIII. 
 
 Now tell with truth, O lady fair! 
 
 (And telling, be full loud ; 
 Few founds now pafs mine ears, grown dull 
 
 With age, that makes me proud), 
 
 XL1V. 
 
 If in this meadow hides himfelf, 
 Falfe Edmar, as I ween : 
 
 For
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. '5 
 
 For fiercely burns my warlock-ire, 
 And ill fhall it be feen. 
 
 XLV. 
 
 With angry tone the warlock threats, 
 While trembles lith * and limb 
 
 Elwinna ; and the more fhe thinks, 
 The peril looks more grim. 
 
 XLVI. 
 
 I knew, I knew much ill was nigh 
 
 Our loves, foon as I fpy'd 
 The ominous wight, a warlock, for 
 
 The true knight of my fide \ 
 
 XLVII. 
 
 And pearl-like ftands the molten woe 
 
 Upon her brow of love : 
 Yet, from the crofs, to wipe, dares not 
 
 Her fnowy right hand move. 
 
 
 * Joint. 
 
 XLVIII.
 
 i6 
 
 EDMAR AND ELWINNA! OK, 
 
 XLVIII. 
 
 Good Chrifl ! forbid his warlock-fpells 
 
 To work my Edmar harm ! 
 And king art thou, ev'n warlocks fear ! 
 
 !No fpellcan ftay thine arm ! 
 
 XLIX. 
 
 Low prays flie thus ; then fadly wails : 
 Why wouldft thou do him wrong ? 
 
 Why wouldft thou work fweet Edmar ill, 
 The bell that e'er was young ? 
 
 L. 
 
 How can it be that thou can'ft find 
 
 Within thy heart, O fire ! 
 To harm a one fo goodly good 
 
 O' ilka * heart's defire ! 
 
 LI. 
 
 He holds his vaffals as his fons : 
 And to his lairdly f hall 
 
 Every. f Lordly. 
 
 Crawls
 
 the wooer-warlock;. 17 
 
 Crawls in, ay, many a pilgrim bent, 
 But out come dancing all. 
 
 LII. 
 
 Then, much he grieves to hunt the hare, 
 
 And oft would flay behind ; 
 And when he hooks the pretty trout, 
 
 He fore relents in mind. 
 
 LIII. 
 
 how, then, would he e'er work ill 
 To beard and locks like thine ? 
 
 1 tell thee, daughter, he hath wrought 
 
 Me mickle ill in mine. 
 
 , LIV. 
 
 For, at the foot of Dirring-hill, 
 
 My fon dwells, true though low : 
 The hether * caps his clay-built cot, 
 Blithe fwain nay, now not fo. 
 
 E LV. 
 
 * Heath,
 
 1 8 EDMAR AND ELWINNA : Oft 
 
 LV. 
 
 tor, dame, he hath a daughter fair, 
 
 And he hath only one, 
 All iimple, as the bouncing lamb, 
 
 And good : but fhe's undone. 
 
 LVI. 
 
 Ill Edmar fcour'd the heathy hills ; 
 
 And, pafling near the gate, 
 He fpy'd the ruddy damfel, who 
 
 On blue-flone knitting fate. 
 
 LVII. 
 
 O ! but ye are a maid as fair 
 As e'er look'd for the youth ! 
 
 And will ye give me milk to drink, 
 To cool my burning mouth ? 
 
 LVIII. 
 
 He afks in guile ; his mouth burns not : 
 But he hath an ill aim; 
 
 For
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. 19 
 
 For in his wicked heart he'ath faid, 
 F II lie with this fweet dame. 
 
 LIX. 
 
 And flie hath raif 'd her from the (lone, 
 
 And tripp'd it with good will ; 
 And foon the double-lugged* quaigbf 
 
 With the thick milk doth fill. 
 
 LX. 
 
 Now, blufhing, fhe hath giv'n the difli ; 
 
 But not to him her eyes, 
 Which from her foot unfliod, that ftrokes 
 
 The hether, dare not rife. 
 
 LXI. 
 
 He drinks, and breathes, and drinks again : 
 Such beauty, damfel bright, 
 
 * Doubleeared. 
 
 f A quaigh is a round wooden difh with two ears. 
 
 Was
 
 20 EDMAR AND ELWlttNAt OR, 
 
 Was ne'er made for this cot obfcure, 
 But to give laird's hall light. 
 
 LXIT. 
 
 And fits your fire within the cot ? 
 
 Or doth your mother fpin ? 
 My fire he feeds the far off flocks ; 
 
 My mother's not within. 
 
 LXIII. 
 
 For Hie hath fped her to the fair, 
 
 To fell her rural ftore ; 
 And, fir, I flay to tend the cot, 
 
 At home there's no one more. 
 
 LXIV. 
 
 He's glad, and lights foon from the Heed, 
 
 Which ties he to the gate ; 
 Then clafps the maid and kifles her, 
 
 All blufhing and full blate *. 
 
 * Bafhfu!, 
 
 LXV.
 
 THE WOOER-WARtOCH. %l 
 
 LXV. 
 
 Syne* he hath led her to the couch, 
 
 And luftily talks love, 
 While dreadful things he prays may come, 
 
 If ever he falfe prove. 
 
 LXVI. 
 
 Full fix moons, now, and one have fhin'd, 
 
 Ay, fince the filly dame 
 Was maid no more ; but, day by day, 
 
 Bedew'd her ruin'd name. 
 
 LXVII. 
 
 For now fhe's like a faded flower : 
 
 Men fling it to the mire, 
 Though on its Item it charm'd each eye, 
 
 $.nd made each breaft afpire. 
 
 * Then ; after that. 
 
 
 LXVIIL
 
 23 EDMAR AND ELWINNA : OR 
 
 LXVIII. 
 
 The pride of virgin purenefs gone ! 
 
 Gone chaftity divine ! 
 Now fwains, that erft fued at her feet, 
 
 To trample her would join. 
 
 LXIX. 
 
 And often at the dead of night 
 
 She cries along the heath, 
 Sweet Chrift ! give both the babe and me 
 
 To the bleft cave of death ! 
 
 LXX. 
 
 But ere fleep ftretch me, fure fhall gripe 
 The perjur'd wight my fpells. 
 
 Now, lire, 'tis not my Edmar : no, 
 But fome wrong'd maiden's elfe. 
 
 LXXI. 
 
 I ken it clearly from thy tale : 
 O ! how can it be he, 
 
 Who
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. 2$ 
 
 Who hath fo often kneel'd and fworn, 
 He ne'er lov'd one but me ? 
 
 LXXIL 
 
 And now (though much my bofom feels 
 
 The weeping maid's fad plight) 
 If not my Edmar's was the ill, 
 
 My Edmar's why the wite * ? 
 
 lxxih. 
 
 For if another did the wrong, 
 
 And mark'd him with the brand, 
 Could my love, he, prevent the deed ? 
 
 Or who fcapes Falfehood's hand ? 
 
 LXXIV. 
 
 Would e'er he make a maiden good 
 An ill one, and defpif 'd ? 
 
 Or 
 
 * Blame. The editor thought ivite Scottish, till he found it in Spen- 
 fer. That fine old bard has feveral words which, though nowobfolete 
 in England, are Hill generally ufed in Scotland.
 
 24 EDMAR AND ELWINNA! OR, 
 
 Or fo turn all her joy to woe, 
 The grave were all fhe priz'd ? 
 
 LXXV. 
 
 Then, too, our mutual love began 
 
 On day, by Venus ow'd *. 
 And knew'fl thou him, he's good and true 
 
 As e'er was prieft of God. 
 
 LXXVI. 
 
 O me ! he's fweeter than the milk 
 
 That reeks yet in the pail ! 
 And fofter than the molten pearl 
 
 That decks each morn the dale * 
 
 LXXVII. 
 
 Yet, as our Wallace, brave is he, 
 And fierce 'gainft each falfe foe 5 
 
 Then, gallant as the pilgrim knight, 
 That frees wrong'd dames from woe. 
 
 LXXVIII. 
 
 * To owe has here the old fenfe of to poffcfs i to be the owner of; 
 t.9 own.
 
 The wooer-warlock. 25 
 
 LXXVIII. 
 
 He's lovelier than maid's tongue can tell, 
 
 Or maid's eye wifli to fee : 
 And he 'ath ne'er lov'd, nor e'er will love, 
 
 O lire ! but only me. 
 
 LXXIX. 
 
 
 Now tell me nought, O daughter dear ! 
 
 Of all his charms fo rare, 
 
 Or of the oaths he 'ath fworn to thee : 
 
 Thy words are words of air. 
 
 LXXX. 
 
 What's bonnier than the freckled fnake : 
 
 What's fair as fnow to view ? 
 What's fweeter than the ringing bourn * ? 
 
 What nobler than the yewf ? 
 
 G LXXXI. 
 
 * Rill. 
 
 f The yew, it would feem, has loft its fame fince the mufket fup- 
 planted the bow.
 
 26 EDMAR AND ELWINNAI OR, 
 
 LXXXI. 
 
 The firft hath many flung to death ; 
 
 The fecond many ftarv'd ; 
 The third hath drown'd th* uncautious maid , 
 
 The fourth foul murderers ferv'd*. 
 
 LXXXII. 
 
 O, fimple fair ! didft thou think right, 
 
 Or know the ways of youth ; 
 The bonnier is the wanton wight, 
 
 The viler is his truth. 
 
 LXXXIII. 
 
 And what the common oaths of love 
 
 From men ? words, to work ill ; 
 Wiles, to win each his filly maid 
 
 (Too waxen) to his will. 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 
 * It is a common fuppofition, that the yew contains a deadly poi- 
 fon.
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. ^7 
 
 LXXXIV. 
 
 For, while their lips found awful words, 
 Thus fays their bofom's drift, 
 
 To break love-oath'' s fo venial Jin, 
 We'll tell it not atjhrift *. 
 
 LXXXV. 
 
 As witnefs (to a grandfire's woe) 
 The oaths that wrought the mama 
 
 And ruin of my pride and hope, ] 
 And blow my fury's flame. 
 
 LXXXVI. 
 
 Yet deem thou not, O precious maid ! 
 
 I think thy Edmar blithe, 
 The Edmar that hath rous'd mine ire, 
 
 Which foon full ill mall kythe f. 
 
 * Confeflion. f Appear. 
 
 LXXXVII.
 
 28 IDMAR AND LWINNA : Oft 
 
 LXXXVII. 
 
 To Icen this give me not my fpells ; 
 f But lift, and learn from me 
 The Edmar that hath hated mine, 
 And tell if this loves thee. 
 
 LXXXVIII. 
 
 Ill Edmar is an only fon, 
 
 And lives i' th' fair Mers-land. 
 
 Wide are his fields, nor few ; the flocks 
 Many that wear his brand*. 
 
 LXXXIX. 
 
 Brown are the locks that ihade his back ; 
 
 And peat-brown are his eyes. 
 He loves a maid on fairer, no, 
 
 The fun did never rife. 
 
 * Diflinclive mark put on (beep* 
 
 xc.
 
 THE WOOER- WARLOCK. 2p 
 
 xc. 
 
 Her name the one is mufic, he 
 
 Sings coming from the chace ! 
 Gay fmiles lit thronging in her look 
 
 As in their chofen place. 
 
 XCI. 
 
 And flax-fair are the trefTes long 
 
 That feek her bofom white. 
 Her voice, none fweeter charms the Spring : 
 
 Her eyes what blue fo bright ? 
 
 XCII. 
 
 Dame, thou haft feen the azure veil 
 
 Round Cheviot's brow of fnow, 
 Weav'd by the fun in ether's loom, 
 
 More bright their blue, I trow. 
 
 XCIII. 
 
 When fond proud youngling Smiles would try 
 Her lovely mouth * to ope, 
 
 H To 
 
 * Her lovely mouth ; in the MS. Her mouth's bleft bower.
 
 i 
 
 30 EDMAR AND ELWINNA t OR 
 
 To fhow two flocks of mow- white twins. 
 (And temperance gives them hope.) 
 
 XCIV. 
 
 In mould how fair Heav'n caft her form J 
 
 Nor had ill Art the foul, 
 "With fingers rude, to dare to fpoil, 
 
 Or Heaven's own aim controul. 
 
 xcv. 
 
 If fair her form, as fair her mind, 
 
 Ay, fairer, hold me true : 
 She's conftant as the cooing dove, 
 
 She's full as gallefs, too. 
 
 XGVL 
 
 Now, fhe an only daughter is ; 
 
 And her white flocks are {een 
 By thofe of the falfe Edmar, wot : 
 
 One rill runs down between. 
 
 XCVJI. 
 
 On Venus' eve, along the mead, 
 
 With bow unbent, came he ; ;jsj 0r
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. 31 
 
 Nor thought of love, but on his hounds, 
 Or making forayers* flee. 
 
 XCVIII. 
 
 So Edmar came, when on his eyes, 
 
 From out a hazle-bower, 
 Tripp'd forth the maid, how bright ! He ftood 
 
 What fill'd his foul that hour ! 
 
 XCIX. 
 
 What heed I feud ! what, family-rage ? 
 
 Th* eternal pact fhall make 
 A lady of fuch beauty mine ! 
 
 Life's worth but for her fake ! 
 
 C. 
 
 He 'xclaim'd : then, keeling, told his love. 
 
 She blufh'd ; and to him faid, 
 If ye love me, O, I love you. 
 
 And that bleft eve was made 
 
 CL 
 
 * Robbers on the borders, fo named from foray, which fignifies a 
 plundering incurfion ; and is probably a provincial corruption of forage.
 
 32 EDMAR AND ELWINNA!. OR, 
 
 CI. 
 
 The mutual vow, to love till death : 
 
 And oft hath Edmar chide 
 Slow Time, that will not hafle and give 
 
 His arms fo fair a bride. 
 
 CII. 
 
 And one day late the fire of each 
 
 Laid in the cell of death, 
 While their aye -jarring feud through life, 
 
 With them gave up its breath, 
 
 cm. 
 
 To be inhumed in the couch 
 
 Of their join'd houfes' heirs. 
 And lift ! this eve (my fpells mow me) 
 
 This meadow Edmar bears, 
 
 CIV. : 
 
 Come to hear wrong'd Elwinna's love, 
 
 Told in love's own pure ftyle. 
 And is my Edmar falfe to me ? 
 ' And is my Edmar vile ? Qy
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. , 3$ 
 
 cv. 
 
 The crofs disjoints ; and me had fall'n 
 
 Straight down upon the mead, 
 But that with care the gray carl's arms 
 
 Stay her in time of need. 
 
 CVL 
 
 Oh ! from this hour forth, never more 
 
 Will I go through my gate ! 
 Farewell for aye mine ancient hall ! 
 
 And maids that on me wait ! 
 
 CVII. 
 
 For I will hie me to the dame 
 
 Whofe wrongs lone Dining hears ; 
 And as we have been like in woes, 
 
 We fhall be like in tears. 
 
 CVIII. 
 
 We'll weep within the cot by day, 
 And wet the heath by night ; 
 
 I Till
 
 34 EDMAR AND ELWINNA! OR, 
 
 Till Death fhall ftretch us in one tomb, 
 And make our wrongs all right. 
 
 CIX. 
 
 Now fpeak not thus, my daughter lov'd ; 
 
 Why tak'ft thou evil fo ? 
 O ! truft my years, knows its own pains 
 
 The lairdliejl* blifs below. 
 
 CX. 
 
 And what boots whining grief? ray, it 
 
 Alone makes fuffering fore. 
 The milk once fpilt upon the pool 
 
 Can ne'er be gathered more ; 
 
 CXI. 
 
 The ftone once tumbled from the hill 
 
 Can ne'er climb up again : 
 Then for why deeds can ne'er b' undone 
 
 Should fhe that's wife complain ? 
 
 * Lordlieft. 
 
 cxrr.
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. 3 $ 
 
 CXII. 
 
 In (both that is the why I wail ; 
 
 For O ! could deeds V undone, 
 Hope would mine through my darkfome bread, 
 
 As through dark clouds the fun. 
 
 CXIII. 
 
 But deeds, once done, are done for aye ; 
 
 So aye muft be my woe : 
 And grief, not comfort, give thy words. 
 
 To Dirring-hill I'll go. 
 
 CXIV. 
 
 But loofe thou firft my leathern zone, 
 
 (Unlock the buckle band), 
 And eafe me of my coat of gray, 
 
 That lightened I may Hand, 
 
 cxv. 
 
 To go to feek ill Edmar out, 
 And forrow on him lay, 
 
 Worfr
 
 36 EDMAR AND ELWINNA : OR 
 
 Worfe forrow than he 'ath laid on thee. 
 fire not fo, I pray ! 
 
 CXVI. 
 
 I pardon all he'ath laid on me ; 
 
 Nor e'er can wifh him pain : 
 And too thy fon's wrong'd child will join 
 
 His fafety to obtain, 
 
 CXVII. 
 
 True he hath done much wrong to her; 
 
 So hath he done to me. 
 Pluck off my gray, thou matchlefs maid, 
 
 And good fhall come to thee. 
 
 CXVIII. 
 
 Now, lhe doth tremble limb and lith 
 
 To give an aiding hand 
 To warlock bent to harm her joe. 
 
 Yet dare fhe not withftand. 
 
 CXIX.
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. 
 
 CXIX. 
 
 And fhe hath loos'd the leathern zone ; 
 
 And fyne the coat of gray- 
 She hath ta'en by the right-hand fleeve, 
 
 The carle to difarray, 
 
 cxx. 
 
 And now the bonnet black (with locks 
 
 Of age) is tofPd behind ; 
 While chefnut locks, noftunted length, 
 
 Fall curling in the wind. 
 
 CXXI. 
 
 Then from a foft unwrinkled chin 
 
 The beard, fo fnowy feen, 
 Defcends, and fhows by Nature's hand 
 
 It had not planted been. 
 
 CXXIL 
 
 And who now ftands before her gaze 
 But Edmar, or a fhade 
 
 K Of 
 
 jrfl
 
 3$ EDMAR. AND ELVVINNA : OK, 
 
 Of Edmar, rais'd by fpells ! Thofe eyes? 
 Now faints entreat for aid ! 
 
 CXXIII. 
 
 The warlock hath put on the form 
 
 Of Edmar to work ill ! 
 O ! break his fpells, great God of Heav'n ! 
 
 Nor let him win my will ! 
 
 CXXIV. 
 
 $ut foon the youth the trembling maid 
 
 Holds in his happy arms ! 
 And prefling thrice her filken cheek, 
 
 I'll guard thee from all harms ! 
 
 cxxv. 
 
 No warlock's fpells have ftol'n my form, 
 
 But I am Rofvil's fon. 
 O ! free me from my falfehood feign'd, 
 
 And pardon what I've done. 
 
 exxvi,
 
 THE WOOER-WARLOCK. 39 
 
 CXXVI. 
 
 O me ! 'tis my own Edmar's voice ! 
 
 My Edmar's voice again ! 
 Ay, 'tis the Edmar's whofe true heart 
 
 Shall ne'er caufe thine to plain.- 
 
 CXXVII. 
 
 And the ill Edmar I told of 
 Is not thy Edmar, here, 
 But hard-foul'd Edmar of the hill, 
 Who ne'er could fried a tear. 
 
 CXXVIII, 
 
 Could e'er I wrong fweet woman fo 
 
 As make fweet woman weep ! 
 Could e'er I purchafe tranfient blifs 
 
 With her long woe and deep ! 
 
 CXX1X. 
 
 Could e'er I love, Elwinna, tell, 
 
 Another maid than thee ! 
 E'er feek to win another heart, 
 
 When thine was kept for me ! CXX2*
 
 40 EDMAR AND ELWINNA, &C. 
 
 cxxx. 
 
 I cloth'd me as a warlock-wight 
 To hear thy matchlefs love. 
 
 Thou'rt fairer than all maids below ! 
 Thou'rt good as all above ! 
 
 CXXXI. 
 
 Now told I not, it was riot you ? 
 
 For will I knew you true. 
 And ye will ne'er love none but me * ; 
 
 And I'll love none but you. 
 
 CXXXII. 
 
 So Hymen tied th' eternal knot, 
 
 (It was on Venus' day) : 
 And long they liv'd, and aye lov'd well j 
 
 And they were happy aye. 
 
 * Two negatives were very often ufed, by our fathers, to ftrengthen 
 
 each other. 
 
 T HE EN D.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT LOS ANGELES 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
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