Wallas out owr yon burn he lap, And he hes lichtit law down on yon plain; And he wes awar, o ane gaie ladie, As scho wes at the well waschin. Considerable discrepancies, however, exist between the two accounts; a cir. cumstance which may easily be accounted for, from the love the lower orders have of the marvellous. It was first printed, we believe, in Johnstone's Scots Musical Museum, and after that republished by the late ingenious Mr. John Findlay of Glasgow, in his Scottish, Historical, and Romantic Ballads. From an old M.S. copy of it, in the possession of a friend, we have been able to give what we humbly consider rather a better text, besides restoring it to its original orthography, which, to our antiquarian readers, must be a matter of some consequence. The generality of Editors very often fall into one, or other, or both of these prime errors, when editing the poetical remains of former ages, namely, that of corrupting the text by their own interpolations, and that, of modernising the ancient spelling, under the pretext of obliging their readers, who, for the most part, we dare say, would rather thank them to let it alone. No apology we imagine is necessary to the public for ocoupying their attention with these effusions in honour of Wallace. Every thing connected with him is dear to the hearts of Scotsmen-all his well known haunts are visited with a superstitious awe and veneration-his name is the thrilling watchword of patriotism, liberty, and independence. The finest trait in our national character will be lost when his praises are no longer sung with rapture, and his atchievements no longer remembered with interest. Would to God this event may never happen. “ Laigh down in yon wee hostleir hous Thair bin fyftein Inglismen I lede, And thai are seikin for gude Wallas, Ittis him to tak and him to heid.” “ Thair is nocht in my purs” quod gude Wallas, Thair is nocht ava, not ane bare pennie, Thir fyftein Inglismen to see.” And quhan he cam to yon wee hostleir hous, He bade Benedicite be thair ; « And quhat lerges to ane puir eild wicht, Haif ye in charitie to spair ? He strak the brym Captane alangis the chaffis blade, That nevit ane bit o meal he ate mair, And he stickit the lave at the buird quhare thai sat, And he left them aw lyin spreitless thair. The denner wes nae weil readie, Nor wes it on the tabill set, Quhyll uther fyftein Inglismen Wer lichtit aw down fornentis the yett.' The gude-wyff scho had ane auld gude-man, Be gude Wallas he sikarlie stude, . Quhyll ten o thir fyftein Inglismen Befoir the dure lay steipit in thair blude. The uthir fyff to the grene-wud ran, And he hangit them ilk ape on the bowis roun, And on the neist morn, wi his mirrie men aw, He sat at dyn in Lochmaben toun. Glowing with love, on fire for fame, A Troubadour that hated sorrow, Beneath his lady's window came, And thus he sung his last good-morrow : • My arm it is my country's right, My heart is in my true love's bower; Gaily for love and fame to fight, Befits the gallant Troubadour.” And while he march'd with helm on head, And harp in hand, the descant rung, My heart is in my lady's bower; I come, a gallant Troubadour.” Even when the battle-roar was deep, With dauntless heart he hew'd his way, Mid splintering lance, and falchion sweep, And still was heard his warrior-lay; "My life it is my country's right, My heart is in my lady's bower; Becomes the gallant Troubadour!" Alas ! upon the bloody field, He fell beneath the foeman's glaive, My heart is in my lady's bower; Becomes the gallant Troubadour !" Wilt thou not waken, Bride of May, While flowers are fresh and the sweet bells chime? A match with Time. |