by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Otterbourne
Language: English
"To horse! to horse!" Lord Percy cried, "And quick brace on your armour gleaming, My merry men; on yon hill side I see the Douglas' banner streaming; And many a Scottish wife shall mourn Her husband's fate at Otterbourne." Then loud o'er hill and glen remote The brazen trumpet's clang resounded; And as he caught the well-known note Each trembling war-horse proudly bounded: For well he knew no hunter's horn Waken'd thy echoes, Otterbourne. And now the charging squadrons meet, Their falchions in the moonbeams glancing; And swiftly flew the arrowy sleet, Midst plumes and pennons gaily dancing: And many a knight, with corslet torn, Bow'd his proud crest at Otterbourne. 'Tis o'er! -- the chief who oft has led The battle-tide lies in his glory: The lowly mound that marks his bed Too plainly tells the fatal story. The house of Douglas long shall mourn The bloody field of Otterbourne.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Catherine Charlotte Maberly (1805 - 1875), "Otterbourne", published 1844? [ voice and piano ], from Songs, ballads, &c, no. 1, London : Cramer, Addison & Beale; text confirmed with The Keepsake, edited by Frederic Mansel Reynolds, 1841, page 232 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2024-01-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 150