"Put on the fire," the monster said: "It is twelve on the bell." "'Tis scarcely ten, now," said the King; "I heard the clock mysell."-- 100 Before the hour the Queen is brought, The burning to proceed; In a black velvet chair she's set, A token for the dead. She saw the flames ascending high, 105 The tears blinded her ee: "Where is the worthy knight," she said, "Who is to fight for me?"-- Then up and spak the King himsell, "My dearest, have no doubt, 110 For yonder comes the man himsell, As bold as e'er set out."-- They then advanced to fight the duel With swords of temper'd steel, Till down the blood of Rodingham 115 Came running to his heel. Sir Hugh took out a lusty sword, 'Twas of the metal clear, And he has pierced Rodingham Till's heart-blood did appear. 120 "Confess your treachery, now," he said, "This day before you die!"-- "I do confess my treachery, I shall no longer lye: "I like to wicked Haman am, 125 This day I shall be slain."-- The Queen was brought to her chamber, A good woman again. The Queen then said unto the King, "Arbattle's near the sea; 130 Give it unto the northern knight, That this day fought for me." Then said the King, "Come here, Sir Knight, And drink a glass of wine; And, if Arbattle's not enough,[L135] 135 To it we'll Fordoun join." 135. Arbattle is the ancient name of the barony of Arbuthnot. Fordun has long been the patrimony of the same family. S. THE KNIGHT, AND SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER. "This ballad (given from an old black-letter copy, with some corrections) was popular in the time of Queen Elizabeth, being usually printed with her picture before it, as Hearne informs us in his preface to Gul. Neubrig, _Hist. Oxon_, 1719, 8vo. vol. i. p. lxx. It is quoted in Fletcher's comedy of the _Pilgrim_, act 4, sc. 2." PERCY'S _Reliques_, iii. 114. The Scottish ballad corresponding to Percy's has been printed by Kinloch, p. 25. Besides this, however, there are three other Scottish versions, superior to the English in every respect, and much longer. They are _Earl Richard_, Motherwell, p. 377; (also in Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 81;) a ballad with the same title in Kinloch's collection, p. 15; and _Earl Lithgow_, Buchan, ii. 91. In all these, the futile attempts of the knight to escape marrying the lady, and the devices by which she aggravates his reluctance to enter into the match, are managed with no little humour. We give Motherwell's edition a place next to Percy's, and refer the reader for Kinloch's to the Appendix.