A lady's * last farewel to her husband. Wrate

a few days before her death.

THou who dost a!l my worldly thoughts

1 employ, Thou'pleasing source of all my earthly joy, Thou tenderest husband, and thou dearest

friend, To thee this last, this fond adieu I send. At length the conqu’ror Death asserts his

right, And will for ever vail me from thy sight. He woos me to him with a cheerful grace, And not one terror clouds his awful face. He promises a lasting rest from pain, And shews that all life's fleeting joys are vain, Th' eternal scenes of heav'n he sets in view, And tells me that no other joys are true. But love, fond love, would yet refift his power, Would fain a while defer the parting hour. He brings thy weeping image to my right, And stays my passage to the realms of light.' But say thou dearest, thou unwearied friend, Say, souldit thou griève to see my forrows

end ? . Thou know'st a painful pilgrimage I've past, And can thou mourn that rest is come at

laft? Rather rejoice to see me shake off life, And die, as I have liv’d, your faithful wife.

Daughter to the celebrated Dr. Welwood,

The he hunting rue thao way,

A memorable fong on the unhappy hunting of Chevy-chace, between Earl Douglas of Scat

land, and Earl Piercy of England. N OD profper long our noble king,

Our lives and safeties all,
A woful hunting once there did

In Chevy-chace befal.
To drive the deer with hound and horn,

Earl Piercy took his way,
The child may rue that was unborn,
- The hunting of that day.
The stout Earl of Northumberland

A vow to God did make,
His pleasure in the Scottish woods

Three summer days to take ;
The choicest harts of Chevy-chace

To kill and bear away.
These tidings to Earl Douglas came,
• In Scotland where he lay;
Who sent Earl Piercy present word,

He would prevent the sport. .
The English Earl not fearing him,.

Did to the woods resort,
With twenty hundred bow-men bold,

All chofeni men of might,
Who knew full well, in time of need,. .

To aim their shafts aright.
The gallant gray-hounds swiftly.ran,

To chace the fallow-deer.
On Monday they began to hunt,

When day-light did appear;
And long before high noon they had

An hundred fat bucks slain.
Then having din'd, the drovers went
To rouse them up again.
Dd3

. The

The bow-men muster'd on the hill,
· Well able to endure.
Their backsides all with special care,

That day were guarded sure.
The hounds ran swiftly thro' the wood;

The nimble deer to take ;
And with their cries the hills and dales

An eccho shrill did make.
Earl Piercy to the quarry went,. .

To view the tender deer;
Quoth he, Earl Douglas promised. :

This day to meet me here :
But if I thought he would not come,

No longer would I stay.
With that a brave young gentleman

Thus to the Earl did say:
Lo yonder doth Lord Douglas' come,

His men in armour bright,
Full fifteen hundred Scottish spears,

All marching in our sight;
All pleasant men of Teviotdale,
• Dwell by the river Tweed.
Then cease your sports, Earl Piercy said,

And take your bows with speed.
And now with me my countrymen,

Your courage to advance ;
For there was ne'er a champion yet,

In Scotland or in France,
That ever did on horse-back come,

But if my hap it were,
I durs encounter man for man

With him to break a spear.
Lord Douglas on a milk-white steed,

Most like a baron bold,
Rode foremost of the company,

Whose armour Thin'd like golda ;
C

Shew

Shew me. (said he)- whose men you be;
· That hunt so boldly here,
That, without my consent, do chace

And kill my fallow-deer.
The first man that did answer make,

was noble Piercy he,
Who said, We list not to declare,

Nor shew whose men we be ;
Yet we will spend our dearest blood

The choicest harts to llay.
Then Douglas swore a solemn oath,

And thus in rage did say,
Ere thus I will outbraved be,

One of us two shall die.
I know thee well, an Earl thou arts

Lord Piercy, so am I.
But truft me, Piercy, pity it were,

And great offence to kill
Any of those our harmless men;.

For they have done no ill: .
Let thee and me the battle try;.

And set our men aside.
Accurst be he, said Earl Piercy,

By whom this is denied.
Then steps a gallant Squire forth,

Witherington by name ;
--Who faid, He would not have it told.

To Henry, his King, for shame,
That ere my captain fought on foot,

And I stood looking on..
You be two Earls said Witherington,

And I a Squire alone...
I'll do the best that I maydo, i

While I have power to stand;
While I have power to wield my sword,

I'll fight with heart and, hand. ..

Our Our Scottish archers bent their bows,

Their hearts were good and true;
At the first flight of arrows sent,

Full fourscore English new.
To drive the deer with hound and horn,

Douglas bade on the bent,
A captain moy'd with meikle pride ;

The spears in shivers went.
They clos'd full fast on every side, .

No Nacknefs there was found;
And many a gallant gentleman

Lay gasping on the ground.
O but it was a grief.to see,

And likewise for to hear,
The cries of men lying in their gore,

Were scatter'd here and there !
At last, these two stout Earls did meet,

Like chiftains of great might;
Like lions mov'd, they fear'd no lord,

And made a cruel fight.
They fought until they both did sweat,

With swords of temp'red steel,
Until the blood, like drops of rain,

They trickling down did feel.
Yield thee, Lord Piercy, Douglas said,

In faith I will thee bring
Where thou shalt high advanced be,

By James, our Scottish King.
Thy ransom I will freely give,

And this report of thee,
Thou art the most couragious knight

That ever I did see.
· No, Douglas, quoth Lord Piercy then,

Thy profer I do scorn.
I will not yield to any Scot :
That ever yet was born.. :' .

give,