And very mournful is the tale,
Which ye so fain would know.

THE HERMIT'S TALE.

27 Young lord, thy grandsire had a friend
In days of youthful fame;

Yon distant hills were his domains,
Sir Bertram was his name.

28 Where'er the noble Percy fought,
His friend was at his side;

And many a skirmish with the Scots
Their early valour try'd.

29 Young Bertram lov'd a beauteous maid,
As fair as fair might be;
The dew-drop on the lily's cheek
Was not so fair as she.

30 Fair Widdrington the maiden's name,
Yon towers her dwelling place;1
Her sire an old Northumbrian chief
Devoted to thy race.

31 Many a lord, and many a knight
To this fair damsel came;
But Bertram was her only choice;
For him she felt a flame.

32 Lord Percy pleaded for his friend,
Her father soon consents;

None but the beauteous maid herself
His wishes now prevents.

1 Widdrington Castle is about five miles south of Warkworth.

33 But she with studied fond delays
Defers the blissful hour;

And loves to try his constancy,
And prove her maiden power.

34 That heart, she said, is lightly priz'd,
Which is too lightly won;
And long shall rue that easy maid
Who yields her love too soon.

35 Lord Percy made a solemn feast In Alnwick's princely hall;

And there came lords, and there came knights,
His chiefs and barons all.

36 With wassel, mirth, and revelry
The castle rung around:

Lord Percy call'd for song and harp,
And pipes of martial sound.

37 The Minstrels of thy noble house,
All clad in robes of blue,

With silver crescents on their arms,
Attend in order due.

38 The great achievements of thy race They sung their high command: 'How valiant Mainfred o'er the seas First led his northern band.1

39 Brave Galfrid next to Normandy With venturous Rollo came;

1 See Dugdale's baronage, &c.

And from his Norman castles won
Assum'd the Percy name.1

40 They sung, how in the Conqueror's fleet
Lord William shipp'd his powers,
And gain'd a fair young Saxon bride
With all her lands and towers.2

41 Then journeying to the Holy Land,
There bravely fought and dy'd:
But first the silver Crescent wan,
Some Paynim Soldan's pride.

42 They sung how Agnes, beauteous heir,
The queen's own brother wed

Lord Josceline, sprung from Charlemagne,
In princely Brabant bred.3

43 How he the Percy name reviv'd,
And how his noble line

Still foremost in their country's cause
With godlike ardour shine.'

44 With loud acclaims the listening crowd
Applaud the masters' song,

1 In Lower Normandy are three places of the name of Percy, whence the family took the surname De Percy.-2 William de Percy (fifth in descent from Galfrid or Geoffrey de Percy, son of Mainfred), assisted in the conquest of England, and had given him the large possessions in Yorkshire, of Emma de Porte (so the Norman writers name her), whose father, a great Saxon lord, had been slain fighting along with Harold. This young lady, William from a principle of honour and generosity, married: for having had all her lands bestowed upon him by the Conqueror, he (to use the words of the old Whitby Chronicle), wedded hyr that was very heire to them, in discharging of his conscience.' See Harl, MSS., 692 (26). He died in Asia, in the first crusade.

Agnes de Percy, sole heiress of her house, married Josceline de Lovain, youngest son of Godfrey Barbatus, duke of Brabant, and brother of Queen Adeliza, second wife of king Henry I. He took the name of Percy, and was ancestor of the earls of Northumberland. His son lord Richard de Percy was one of the twenty-five barons chosen to see the Magna Charta duly observed.

And deeds of arms and war became
The theme of every tongue.

45 Now high heroic acts they tell,
Their perils past recall :

When, lo! a damsel young and fair
Stepp'd forward thro' the hall.

46 She Bertram courteously address'd;
And kneeling on her knee;
Sir knight, the lady of thy love
Hath sent this gift to thee.

47 Then forth she drew a glittering helme
Well-plated many a fold,

The casque was wrought of tempered steel,
The crest of burnish'd gold.

48 Sir knight, thy lady sends thee this,
And yields to be thy bride,

When thou hast prov'd this maiden gift
Where sharpest blows are try'd.

49 Young Bertram took the shining helme
And thrice he kiss'd the same:

Trust me, I'll prove this precious casque
With deeds of noblest fame.

50 Lord Percy, and his barons bold
Then fix upon a day

To scour the marches, late opprest,
And Scottish wrongs repay.

51 The knights assembled on the hills
A thousand horse and more:

Brave Widdrington, tho' sunk in years,
The Percy-standard bore.

52 Tweed's limpid current soon they pass,
And range the borders round:
Down the green slopes of Tiviotdale
Their bugle-horns resound.

53 As when a lion in his den

Hath heard the hunters cries,
And rushes forth to meet his foes
So did the Douglas rise.

54 Attendant on their chief's command
A thousand warriors wait:
And now the fatal hour drew on
Of cruel keen debate.

55 A chosen troop of Scottish youths
Advance before the rest;

Lord Percy mark'd their gallant mien,
And thus his friend address'd.

56 Now, Bertram, prove thy Lady's helme, Attack yon forward band;

Dead or alive I'll rescue thee,
Or perish by their hand.

57 Young Bertram bow'd, with glad assent,
And spur'd his eager steed,
And calling on his Lady's name,
Rush'd forth with whirlwind speed.

58 As when a grove of sapling oaks The livid lightning rends;