Star after star from heaven's high arch shall rush, SECTION XXIX. I. 153. LOCHINVAR'S RIDE. H, young Lochinvar is come out of the West,Through all the wide Border his steed was the best I And save his good broadsword he weapons had none,— He rode all unarmed and he rode all alone. So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war, There never was knight like the young Lochinvar. 2. He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone, He swam the Eske river where ford there was none; But ere he alighted at Netherby gate, The bride had consented, the gallant came late ; 3. So boldly he entered the Netherby hall, 'Mong bridesmen, and kinsmen, and brothers, and all: Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword (For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word), "O, come ye in peace here, or come ye in war, Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar ?" "I long wooed your daughter,-my suit you denied ;Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide; And now am I come with this lost love of mine, To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine. There are maidens in Scotland möre lovely by far, That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar.” 5. The bride kissed the goblet; the knight took it up, He quaffed off the wine, and he threw down the cup, She looked down to blush, and she looked up to sigh, With a smile on her lips, and a tear in her eye. He took her soft hand, ere her mother could bar,— “Now tread we a measure!" said young Lochinvar. 6. So stately his form, and so lovely her face, That never a hall such a galliard did grace; While her mother did fret, and her father did fume, And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume; And the bride-maidens whispered, ""Twere better, by far, To have matched our fair cousin with young Lochinvar." 7. One touch to her hand, and one word in her ear, When they reached the hall-door, and the charger stood near; So light to the croup the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle before her he sprung ! "She is won! we are gone, over bank, bush, and scar ; They'll have fleet steeds that follow," quoth young Lochinvar. 8. There was mounting 'mong Græmes of the Netherby clan ; Forsters, Fenwicks, and Musgraves, they rode and they ran : There was racing and chasing on Cannobie Lee, But the lost bride of Netherby ne'er did they see. So daring in love, and so dauntless in war, Have ye e'er heard of gallant like young Lochinvar ? II. SCOTT. 154. THE KING OF DENMARK'S RIDE. WORD ORD was brought to the Danish king That the love of his heart lay suffering, And pined for the comfort his voice would bring ; Better he loves each golden curl On the brow of that Scandinavian girl Than his rich crown jewels of ruby and pearl ; And his Rose of the Isles is dying! 2. Thirty nobles saddled with speed; (Hǎrry!) Each one mounting a gallant steed 3. His nobles are beaten, one by one; (Hurry!) They have fainted, and faltered, and homeward gone; For strength and for courage trying The king looked back at that faithful child; 4. The king blew a blast on his bugle horn; No answer came; but faint and forlorn The castle portal stood grimly wide; Who had yearned for his voice while dying! 5. The panting steed, with a drooping crest, Stood weary. The king returned from her chamber of rest, And, that dumb companion eyeing, The tears gushed forth which he strove to check; He bowed his head on his charger's neck : 66 "O, steed-that every nerve didst strain, Dear steed, our ride hath been in vain CAROLINE NORTON. U III. 155. SHERIDAN'S RIDE. P from the South at break of day, Bringing to Winchester fresh dismay, As he thought of the stake in that fiery fray, 3. But there is a road from Winchester town, He stretched away with the utmost speed; 4. Still sprung from these swift hoofs, thundering South, 5. Under his spurning feet, the road And the steed, like a bark fed with furnace ire, 6. The first that the General saw were the groups He dashed down the line 'mid a storm of huzzahs, By the flash of his eye, and his red nostril's play, He seemed to the whole great army to say, 7. Hurrah, hurrah for Sheridan ! I Hurrah, hurrah for horse and man! By carrying Sheridan into the fight IV. T. B. REED. 156. THE RIDE FROM GHENT TO AIX. SPRANG to the stirrup (stŭr'rup), and Joris and he : I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three ; "Good speed!" cried the watch, as the gate-bōlts undrew; "Speed !" echoed the wall to us galloping through; Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, And into the midnight we galloped ǎbreast. 2. Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace Neck by neck, stride by stride, never changing our place; |