Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume XXIV Part 25

_Sir Alex_.--What! they fly too!--thank Heaven! thank Heaven!

My cup of joy o'erflows, and floods my heart More than my griefs!

_Richard_.--'Tis true, my father-- To this, our unknown saviour, do we owe Our life and yours!--'twas he, too, seized the torch, And bid the bonfire blaze to Scotland's freedom.

_Sir Alex_.--Forgive me, reverend stranger, if that I, In the delirium of a parent's joy, O'erlooked the hand that saved me: Kneel, my sons, And with your father, at this stranger's feet, Pour out your thanks, and beg his blessing also.

_[They kneel around the supposed friar, who casts off the disguise, and is discovered to be their mother_.

_Lady Seton_.--A _mother_, in her children's cause, fears nothing, And needs not _thanks_-- A _woman_, in her _country's cause_, Can dare what man dare! [_They start up._

_Sir Alex_.--What! my Matilda!

_Richard_.--My mother!

_Henry_.--Ha! my mother!

_Lady Seton_.--Joy, joy, my sons; your mother's done her duty!

And joy, my husband, we have saved our _honour_.

_Sir Alex_.--Matilda, thou hast ta'en my heart anew, And with it, too, my words!

_Provost Ramsay_.--The like o' this! I may weel say, what, in the universal globe, tempted me to be a bachelor!

[_Exeunt._

XXV.

FAREWELL TO A PLACE ON THE BORDERS.

Lochmaben! I from thee must part, 'Tis destined so to be; Thy lovely lochs, dear to my heart, I never more may see.

The heaven of May is mirror'd clear Within thy waters deep; So shall my soul with loving care Thine image ever keep.

I've seen Edina's rocky walls, Her palaces and bowers; I've gazed on London's lofty halls, And monumental towers.

In yon green isle towards the west, I've roamed without control; And many a wild, romantic coast Has charm'd my inmost soul.

But aye to me the sunniest rays Have thrown their sweetest gleams Where Bruce was born, and summer days Inspired my youthful dreams.

The water lilies there shall rest, And minnows round them play; The coot shall build her floating nest, When I am far away.

But ah! no more thy streams and glens Shall bless my sight, Lochmaben; Farewell, farewell, lochs, woods, and fens-- Farewell, farewell, Lochmaben!

GLOSSARY AND GENERAL INDEX.

GLOSSARY.

--A--

A', _adj._ all.

ABAK, _adv._ behind.

ABASIT, _part. pa._ confounded; abashed.

ABBACY, _s._ an abbey.

ABEE--_to let abee_, to let alone; not to meddle with.

ABEECH, ABIEGH, _adv._ aloof; "at a shy distance;" keep aloof.

ABLE, ABLIS, ABLINS, AIBLINS, _adv._ perhaps; peradventure.

ABONE, ABOW, ABOON, ABUNE, _prep_, above.

ABOOT, _prep_, about.

AE, _adj._ one; only; single.

AFF, _adv._ off; away.

AFFCAST, _s._ a castaway.

AFFCOME, s. the termination of any business. "I gied him his _affcome_," I gave him a down-setting, or offset.

AFEIRD, _part. pa._ afraid.

AFFHAND, _adj._ plain; honest; blunt; without premeditation.

AFFLUFF, _adv._ extempore.

AFORE, _prep_, before.

AFFPUT, _s._ pretence for delay.

AFFPUTTING, _adj._ trifling; delaying.

AFFSIDE, _s._ offside.