A Border Song.
Separated into two scenes. Both scenes depict knights on horseback dressed in armour
and holding spears. The bottom scene
includes bulls, as well as a castle and hills in the distance. The scenes are separated
by a rope that ends in a noose on the
right-hand side of the bottom scene. 1/3 page.
To horse ! For who would idly bide,1
With a moon so round and clear ?2
’Twill merrier be to-night to ride3
Than hungry-eyed sit here.4
“ The board is bare,” my lady pleads,5
And shall we fast perforce ?6
Never, while herd in England feeds,7
And Harden owns a horse.8
What though in our last border fray9
We lost a cousin brave ?10
As sound a sleep is his, I say,11
As comes to churchyard grave.12
Rather than toss on couch of pain,13
Sinking by slow degree,14
Who would not fall on starlit plain,15
Or ’neath the greenwood tree ?16
The thrall of peace is all I fear ;17
No battle doom I dread ;18
There hath not died this many a year19
A chief of Scott in bed.20
To horse ! and use to-night, my friends,21
The moonlight as you may,22
Till English valleys make amends23
For our poor cheer to-day.24