Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. He calls it EGLINTOUNE, A TRAGEDY OF THE WEST COUNTRY. No pen but rural lovers' on thy trees Hath ever told thy praises, Eglintoune. Sweet stream and bonnie brae, rest yet unsung. Dear, dear thy mossy dales, thy woodland glades, And wimpling burns to me, for by their brinks, And in their shades, the sweetest pang that flies, Like singing angel arrow through the soul, There met me, barbed; there, smiling, struck me first! And shall it be, oh grand and gloomy woods, That ye should vanish from the face of earth, With none to dream the simplest song of praise Or language to your lovers' ears, your sighs And Druid croonings of your oaken boughs? What time my Philomela was unkind, Thy croaking glades gave echoes to my thoughts, Thy gloomy places shadowed forth my grief, Thy open meads the moments when I hoped. When sad October, cunning limner, came And painted glories on thy greenwood leaves, I read this ruin picture in their tints: --II. Scene--Kilwinning Cathedral--The Abbot and Monks Feasting in the Judgment Hall after burning a Witch--Enter Page from Eglintoune. Abbot. Come, little page, I welcome thee in wine! How doth thy master and his lady fair, Whom Holy Mother Mary ever wear Upon her careful bosom as a gem? Page and Monks. Amen! Page. My lord is hunting o'er the sands Our good Saint Vinnen, heaven rest his soul! Cursed long ago with Garnock's churlish stream, Which, as he hung'ring came, withheld its fish. Across Ardyirr's silent stony wastes, My lady ambleth, loving, by his side To hold sweet converse in the baron's keep With Marion, maiden of the midnight locks. The game is scarce and shy, and when my lord In wrath bethought him of the ancient cause, His anger leaped from him in unknown tongues, And calling me, who rode..
