65 "O was it warwolf in the wood?
Or was it mermaid in the sea?
Or was it man or vile woman,
My ain true love, that mis-shaped thee?"—
"It wasna warwolf in the wood,
70 Nor was it mermaid in the sea:
But it was my wicked step-mother,
And wae and weary may she be!"—
"O, a heavier weird shall light her on,
Than ever fell on vile woman;
75 Her hair shall grow rough, and her teeth grow lang,
And on her four feet shall she gang.
"None shall take pity her upon;
In Wormeswood she aye shall won;
And relieved shall she never be,
80 Till St. Mungo come over the sea."—
And sighing said that weary wight,
"I doubt that day I'll never see!"
[8]. If by Estmere Crags we are to understand the rocky cliffs of Northumberland, in opposition to Westmoreland, we may bring our scene of action near Bamborough, and thereby almost identify the tale of Kempion with that of the Laidley Worm of Spindleston, to which it bears so strong a resemblance.—SCOTT. But why should we seek to do this?
KEMP OWYNE.
Kemp Owyne, says Motherwell, "was, no doubt, the same Ewein or Owain, ap Urien the king of Reged, who is celebrated by the bards, Taliessin and Llywarch-Hen, as well as in the Welsh historical Triads. In a poem of Gruffyd Llwyd, A.D. 1400, addressed to Owain Glyndwr, is the following allusion to this warrior. 'Thou hast travelled by land and by sea in the conduct of thine affairs, like Owain ap Urien in days of yore, when with activity he encountered the black knight of the water.' [3] His mistress had a ring esteemed one of the thirteen rarities of Britain, which, (like the wondrous ring of Gyges) would render the wearer invisible." Minstrelsy, p. lxxxiii.
[3] ]
"On sea, on land, thou still didst brave
The dangerous cliff and rapid wave;
Like Urien, who subdued the knight,
And the fell dragon put to flight,
Yon moss-grown fount beside;
The grim, black warrior of the flood,
The dragon, gorged with human blood,
The waters' scaly pride."
Jones's Welsh Bards, i. 41.