"O who is the lord of this castel, But up and spake Lord Percy then, "It's I am the lord of this castel, 66 'If thou'rt the lord of this castel, For ere I cross the Border fell,1 He took a lang spear in his hand, But O how pale his lady looked As doun before the Scottish spear "Had we twa been upon the green, I wad hae had you, flesh and fell,3 "Now gae up to the Otterburne, 1 highland. 2 the one. 3 skin. 4 if. "The Otterburne is a bonnie burn,1 But there is nought at Otterburne "The deer rins wild on hill and dale, "Yet I will stay at Otterburne, "Thither will I come," Earl Percy said, They lichted high on Otterburne, And he that had a bonnie boy, Then up and spake a little boy, "Methinks I see an English host "Nine wargangs 2 beiring braid and wide, It wad do any living gude, To see their colours fly!" "If this be true, my little boy, The brawest bower 3 o' the Otterburne "But I hae dreamed a dreary dream, I saw a deid man win a fight, He belted on his gude braid-sword, But he forgot the hewmont 5 strong, When Percy wi' the Douglas met, They swakkit swords, and they twa swat, But Percy wi' his gude braid-sword, And then he called his little foot-page, And said "Run speedilie, And fetch my ae1 dear sister's son, "My nephew gude!" the Douglas said, "My wound is deep; I fain wad sleep! Tak' thou the vanguard o' the three, And bury me by the bracken bush, That grows on yonder lily lea. "O bury me by the bracken bush, Let never living mortal ken 2 He lifted up that noble lord, Wi' the saut 3 tear in his e'e; The moon was clear, the day drew near Ere day the Scotsmen slew. The Gordons gay, in English blude 1 own. 2 know. 8 salt. The Lindsays flew like fire about, The Percy and Montgomery met, They swakkit1 swords, and sair they swat, "Now yield thee, yield thee, Percy!" he said, “To whom maun I yield," Earl Percy said, "Thou shalt not yield to lord or loun,2 This deed was done at the Otterburne Earl Douglas was buried at the bracken bush, KING HENRY THE FOURTH WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE ALL the thirteen years of his reign, Henry IV. was occupied with the struggle to maintain himself on the throne. Richard's friends refused to believe that their king was dead, and gave ready credence to an impostor who was harboured at the court of Scotland. The great barons who had taken Henry's part against Richard, the Percys of Northumberland and the Mortimers of the Marches, were dissatisfied a person of low rank. 1 smote. 2 |