The dame had a love-dimpling cheek,
And glamour in her e'e;

A pleasant smile, that seemed to say,
""Tis summer aye with me."

Bruce gazed upon her glist'ning e'e,
Bright as the evening star;
But while he looked she was off,
Light o'er the fields afar.

"Beshrew me Selby! but the quean
Glides lightly o'er the lea;

Her kilted coats, and limbs so fleet,
Delight my heart to see!"

Nor moss, nor mire, nor bank, nor brae,
Can make her stay or stand;
And while the King delighted looks

She twins him of his land.

Such power have woman's witching charms,

And beauty's dimpling smile,

They reave us of our goods and gear,

And wisest hearts beguile.

"See!" said the King," how light she leaps!

She'll Galloway enclose,

She'll herry me of a' my land,

Come, Selby,-to our brose!"

She's through the holms, and o'er the slacks, And far beyond the hill;

See! there she comes around the bughts,

And now she's past the mill.

The fleetest horse will sometimes tire,
And swallows seek for rest,

And eagles, that can scale the sky,
Come cowering to their nest;

Dame Sprotte had like a falcon flown,
Nor had she missed her game;

And now, her second circle clos'd,
Again she reaches hame.

Though fleet of limb, and light of heel,
And fain for rank and gear,

She set her on the knocking-stane,
And said, " I'll rin nae mair.”

She looked east, she looked west,

She looked o'er the lea,

And said, "I like this morning's wark,

It fills my heart with glee!

"The kiln, the mill, the meadow green,

The birks and hazel-shaw,

Yon sheep-clad hill, and ferny bank,

I've fairly won them a'!

"I've made Mark Sprotte a gentleman,

Although I wadna stand,

It wasna time to let him kiss,

And lose a lump of land!

"Now, I'll be Lady of the Mount,

With a' the trees around.

Mark Sprotte of Kingsmount,' it maun be; There's music in the sound!

"Our sons, for King and country's weal, Shall stand in battle bauld;

Our daughters, rich and fair, shall rise

To honours yet untauld!

"While waves Dalbeattie's branching wood,
Or green grass cleeds our knowes,
While wimpling Orr seeks Solway Firth
Through bonny haughs and hows;

"So lang our bairns, by charter'd right, My morning's wark shall heir;

And, waxing mighty in the land,

Shall Scotland's honour share,

"And when their King shall cross the Orr,

Be it with friends or foes,

In feudal-fee, they shall present

A bowl of buttered brose,"

The King was list'ning with delight,
And look'd well pleased, I ween;

For beauty beamed in Marion's face,

And sparkled in her een:

"You've fixed the terms!" cried gallant Bruce, "Most loyal Lady Sprotte!

I seal the charter on your cheek,

SKETCHES OF VILLAGE CHARACTER:

AN EXTRACT.

ONE fine morning, after breakfast, Mrs Grahame proposed that they should have a walk; and she, accompanied by her daughter, and their guests, took their way along a finely sheltered narrow glen, where the rivulet was sometimes heard to brawl and murmur among the rocks, overshadowed by the weeping birch and branching hazel; and, a little farther on, seemed to sleep on the level and grassy meadow, where it spread its bosom to the sky, reflecting the lofty beeches on its banks; while the trout jumped with quivering fin, snatching at the fly jumping in the sun-beams. After leaving the valley, they saw before them a large and thickly clustered village; the straw-roofed cottages peeping through the trees, and the blue smoke curling above them, till it was lost in viewless ether; the varied aspects of the little fields as they passed, indicated that they were cultivated by different tenants; a man and his wife were seen reaping in one quarter; perhaps, in another, there was the addition of a daughter; and, in a third, some younglings were making awkward