91 
THE JASMINE TREE. 
A BARD* once sang of a Jasmine tree 
That grew beside a castle wall, 
The castle where dwelt his ancestry. 
And where he is Lord of tower and hall. 
And passing sweet was his gentle lay. 
Much praising the fair and fragrant Flower, 
Which robeth now in its bright an’ay 
The grey and ancient Border Tower. 
But he deemed that in days of foi’ay rude 
The tree could not have flourished there. 
When warriors in the couit-yard stood. 
And trumpets roused the slumb’ring air. 
He asked the silv’ry flowers if they 
Looked forth as now, when o’er the hill 
Moss-troopers rode to feud or fray, 
“ And bugles blew for belted Will ? ” 
Then said he, that he might not dream 
Of deeds that stern old time did see. 
While gazing on the stany gleam 
Of his own graceful Jasmine tree. 
A maiden chanced to hear' this lay. 
Who marv’ling much it did not tell 
* Lord Morj3eth. 
N 2 
