ST. BOS WELLS. 239 



ride from Branksome Tower to " Melrose's holy pile," to 

 seek " the monk of St. Mary's Aisle." 



" Unchallenged thence passed Deloraine 

 To ancient Riddel I's fair domain, 



Where A ill, from mountain freed, 

 Down from the lakes did raving come ; 

 Each wave was crested with tawny foam, 



Like the mane of a chestnut steed. 



Never heavier man and horse 

 Stemmed a midnight torrent's force. 



The warrior's very plume, I say, 

 Was daggled by the dashing spray ; 

 Yet, through good heart, and our Ladye's grace, 



At length he gained the landing place." 



I have never seen the Aill raging after this fashion, but 

 its wide channel must contain a large quantity of water 

 when the river happens to be in full flood, and its swift 

 current will make it, I can imagine, at such times, very 

 dangerous to ford. The lakes alluded to in the poem, are 

 those which constitute its source, viz., Headshaw, Essen- 

 side, and Shielswood, &c. They are situated among the 

 Selkirkshire hills, in the neighbourhood of Ashkirk, and 

 all contain trout. The Aill is a tributary of the Teviot, 

 Avhich it joins from the left bank at the village of Ancrum : 

 both rivers contain good trout and are well worthy the 

 attention of the angler. 



I assume that no disciple of Walton will ever visit 

 St. Boswells without at intervals laying aside his rod 

 thoughtfully to luxuriate among the interesting and sug- 

 gestive scenes that surround him. The nearest of them in 



