These were brave words, bravely spoken. Sir Gideon, however, had made up his mind as to the course he meant to pursue, and Willie Scott was at once led forth to make his acquaintance with the "Hanging Tree." But when he drew near and saw the fatal rope dangling in the wind, his courage began to fail him. The prospect was far from inviting, and he pled for a few days respite to think on his sins, "and balance the offer of freedom so kind." But the old laird was inexorable. He simply said to him, "There is the hangman, and there is the priest, make your choice." Thus driven to bay, Willie saw that further parleying would not avail, and so he thought he had better make the best of a bad business. As he thought over the matter, he began to discover certain traits in the young lady's person and character of a more or less pleasing description. He concluded that, after all, he might do worse than wed with the daughter of Elibank.--
"What matter," quo' he, "though her nose it be lang, For noses bring luck an' it's welcome that brings.
There's something weel-faur'd in her soncy gray een, But they're better than nane, and ane's life is sae sweet; An' what though her mou' be the maist I hae seen, Faith muckle-mou'd fok hae a luck for their meat."
Thus everything ended happily, and young Harden had cause to bless the day he found himself at the mercy of Sir Gideon Murray of Elibank. Seldom, indeed, has Border reiver been so beneficently punished!
An' muckle guid bluid frae that union has flowed, An' mony a brave fellow, an' mony a brave feat; I darena just say they are a' muckle mou'd, But they rather have still a guid luck for their meat.
Such is the tradition, as Hogg has given it in his humourous poem. It goes without saying that the poet has embellished and enlarged the story to suit his own purposes. But the tradition has generally been regarded as having some considerable basis of fact. Satchells, in his History of the Scotts, thus refers to Auld Wat of Harden and his famous son--
"The stout and valiant Walter Scott Of Harden who can never die, But live by fame to the tenth degree; He became both able, strong, and stout, Married Philip's daughter, squire of Dryhope, Which was an ancient family, And many broad lands enjoyed he; Betwixt these Scotts was procreat, That much renowned Sir William Scott, I need not to explain his name, Because he ever lives by fame; He was a man of port and rank, He married Sir Gideon Murray's daughter of Elibank."