BY THE REV. JOHN MARRIOTT, A. M.
In the account of Walter Scott of Harden's way of living, it is mentioned, that "when the last Bullock was killed and devoured, it was the Lady's custom to place on the table a dish, which, on being uncovered, was found to contain a pair of clean Spurs; a hint to the Riders, that they must shift for their next meal." See Introduction, p. 88.
The speakers in the following stanzas are Walter Scott of Harden, and his wife, Mary Scott, the Flower of Yarrow.
"Haste, ho! my dame, what cheer the night?
"I look to see your table dight,
"For I ha'e been up since peep o' light,
"Driving the dun deer merrilie.
"Wow! but the bonnie harts and raes
Are fleet o' foot on Ettricke braes;
My gude dogs ne'er, in a' their days,
Forfoughten were sae wearilie.
"Frae Shaws to Rankelburn we ran
A score, that neither stint nor blan;
And now ahint the breckans[102] stan',
And laugh at a' our company.
"We've passed through monie a tangled cleugh,
We've rade fu' fast o'er haugh and heugh;
I trust ye've got gude cheer eneugh
To feast us a' right lustilie."—
"Are ye sae keen-set, Wat? 'tis weel;
Ye winna find a dainty meal;
It's a' o' the gude Rippon steel,
Ye maun digest it manfullie.