The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, with memoir of the author.

CANTO I.] THE LAST MINSTREL. 47
VII.
Such is the custom of Branksome-Hall. —
Many a valiant knight is here;
But he, the chieftain of them all,
His sword hangs rusting on the wall,
Beside his broken spear.
Bards long shall tell,
How Lord Walter fell!2
When startled burghers fled, afar,
The furies of the Border war;
When the streets of high Dunedin 3
Saw lances gleam, and falchions redden,
And heard the slogan's 4 deadly yellThen the Chief of Branksome fell.
VIII.
Can piety the discord heal,
Or stanch the death-feud's enmity?
Can Christian lore, can patriot zeal,
Can love of blessed charity?
No! vainly to each holy shrine,
In mutual pilgrimage they drew;
Compare also the Ballad of"' Kinmont Willie," (MIinstrelsy.
vol. ii. p. 53.)
" Now word is gane to the bauld keeper,
In Branksome ha' where that he lay," &c.-ED.]
1 [There are not many passages in English poetry more impressive than some parts of stanzas vii. viii. ix."-JEFFREY.]
2 See Appendix, Note D.
3 Edinburgh.
4 The war-cry, or gathering word, of a Border clan.