It was an English ladye bright,
(The sun shines fair on Carlisle wall)
And she would marry a Scottish knight,
For Love will still be lord of all.
Blithely they saw the rising sun,
When he shone fair on Carlisle wall;
But they were sad ere day was done,
Though Love was still the lord of all.
Her sire gave brooch and jewel fine,
Where the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall;
Her brother gave but a flask of wine,
For ire that Love was lord of all.
For she had lands both meadow and lea,
Where the sun shine on Carlisle wall;
And he swore her death, ere he would see
A Scottish knight the lord of all!

This narrative from The Lay of the Last Minstrel highlights the eternal power of love over societal and familial obligations. The English lady willingly marries a Scottish knight, defying expectations and setting off a chain of tragic events. Despite the dire consequences, including her own brother's ire and eventual murder of her, the underlying message remains that "Love will still be lord of all." The repetition of "the sun shines fair on Carlisle wall" evokes a sense of unchanging natural beauty and continuity, contrasting with the turmoil caused by human actions. This poem underscores the idea that while human emotions and conflicts are fleeting, the force of love is enduring and ultimate, transcending enmity and conquest.