t ^ A 1 "mi 5®S Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Getty Research Institute https://archive.org/details/ladyoflake00scot_3 > >> 85 >) ?> 9 2 >> r> I°° » » III „ » 127 » » 143 » „ 154 )) r> 194 » . » 200 Cjjc ink of tljt lalic. —o-O^S^Oo— (Canto Jirst—Tbc CJjase. ARP of the North ! that mouldering long haft hung On the wych-elm that fhades St. Fillan’s fpring, And down the fitful breeze thy num¬ bers flung, Till envious ivy did around thee cling, Muffling with verdant ringlet every ftring— Oh Minftrel Harp ! ftill muft thine ac¬ cents fleep ? Mid ruffling leaves and fountains mur¬ muring. K 2 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto Stili muft thy Tweeter founds their filence keep, Nor bid a warrior fmile, nor teach a maid to weep ? Not thus, in ancient days of Caledon, Was thy voice mute amid the feftal crowd, When lay of hopelefs love, or glory won, Aroufed the fearful, or fubdued the proud. At each according paufe, was heard aloud Thine ardent fymphony fublime and high ! Fair dames and crefted chiefs attention bow’d ; For (Fill the burthen of thy minftrelfy Was Knighthood’s dauntlefs deed, and Beauty’s matchlefs eye Oh wake once more ! how rude foe’er the hand That ventures o’er thy magic maze to ftray ; Oh wake once more ! though fcarce my (kill command Some feeble echoing of thine earlier lay : Though harfh and faint, and foon to die away, And all unworthy of thy nobler ftrain, Yet if one heart throb higher at its fway, S he wizard note has not been touched in vain. Then filent be no more ! Enchantrefs, wake again 1 i. The Hag at eve had drunk his fill, Where danced the moon on Monan’s rill, the chase.] the LADY OF THE LAKE. And deep his midnight lair had made In lone Glenartney’s hazel lhade ; But, when the fun his beacon red, Had kindled on Benvoirlich’s head, The deep-mouthed bloodhound’s heavy bay Refounded up the rocky way, And faint, from farther diftance borne, Were heard the clanging hoof and horn. ii. As chief who hears his warder call, “To arms ! the foemen ftorm the wall !” The antler’d monarch of the wafte Sprang from his heathery couch in hafte. But, ere his fleet career he took, The dew-drops from his flanks he fhook ; Like crefted leader proud and high, Tolled his beamed frontlet to the fky ; A moment gazed adown the dale, A moment fnufFed the tainted gale, A moment Aliened to the cry, That thickened as the chafe drew nigh , Then, as the headmolt foes appeared, With one brave bound the copfe he cleared, And, llretching forward free and far, Sought the wild heaths of Uam-Var. a 2 4 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto i. III. Yelled on the view the opening pack— Rock, glen, and cavern paid them back ; To many a mingled found at once The awakened mountain gave refponfe. An hundred dogs bayed deep and ftrong, Clattered an hundred fteeds along, Their peal the merry horns rang out, An hundred voices joined the fhout ; With hark, and whoop, and wild halloo, No reft Benvoirlich’s echoes knew. Far from the tumult fled the roe, Clofe in her covert cowered the doe, The falcon, from her cairn on high, Caft on the rout a wondering eye, Till far beyond her piercing ken The hurricane had fwept the glen#. Faint, and more faint, its failing din Returned from cavern, cliff", and linn, And fflence fettled, wide and ftill, On the lone wood and mighty hill. IV. Lels loud the lounds of fylvan war Difturbed the heights of Uam-Var, THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 5 And roufed the cavern where ’tis told A giant made his den of old ; For ere that fteep afcent was won, High in his pathway hung the fun, And many a gallant, flayed per force, Was fain to breathe his faltering horfe ; And of the trackers of the deer Scarce half the lefTening pack was near ; So fhrewdly, on the mountain fide, Had the bold burft their mettle tried. v. The noble Stag was paufing now Upon the mountain’s fouthern brow, Where broad extended far beneath, The varied realms of fair Menteith. With anxious eye he wander’d o’er Mountain and meadow, mofs and moor, And pondered refuge from his toil, By far Lochard or Aberfoyle. But nearer was the copfewood grey That waved and wept on Loch-Achray, And mingled with the pine-trees blue On the bold cliffs of Ben-venue. Frefh vigour with the hope returned— With flying foot the heath he fpurned, 6 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. Held weftward with unwearied race, And left behind the panting chafe. vi. ’Twere long to tell what {feeds gave o’er, As fwept the hunt through Cambus-more ; What reins were tightened in defpair. When rofe Benledi’s ridge in air ; Who flagged upon Bochaftle’s heath, Who (hunned to {fern the flooded Teith— For twice, that day, from fhore to fhore, The gallant Stag fwam ftoutly o’er. Few were the {fragglers, following far, That reached the lake of Vennachar ; And when the Brig of Turk was won, The headmoft horfeman rode alone. VII. Alone, but with unbated zeal, That horfeman plied the fcourge and {feel For, jaded now, and fpent with toil, Embofled with foam, and dark with foil, While every gafp with fobs he drew, The labouring Stag {trained full in view. Two dogs of black Saint Hubert’s breed. Unmatched for courage, breath, and fpeed, [canto i. THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 7 Fall on his flying traces came, And all but won that defperate game ; For, fcarce a fpear’s length from his haunch, Vindidlive toiled the bloodhounds {launch ; Nor nearer might the dogs attain, Nor farther might the quarry flrain. Thus up the margin of the lake, Between the precipice and brake, O’er Hock and rock their race they take. VIII. The hunter marked that mountain high, The lone lake’s weftern boundary, And deemed the Stag mull turn to bay, Where that huge rampart barred the way ; Already glorying in the prize, Meafured his antlers with his eyes ; For the death-wound, and death-halloo, Muttered his breath, his whinyard drew ; But, thundering as he came prepared, With ready arm and weapon bared, The wily quarry {hunned the {hock, And turned him from the oppofing rock ; Then, dattiing down a darkfome glen, Soon loft to hound and hunter’s ken, 8 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto I. In the deep Trofachs’ wildefl nook His folitary refuge took. There while, dole couched, the thicket fhed Cold dews and wild-flowers on his head, He heard the baffled dogs in vain Rave through the hollow pafs amain, Chiding the rocks that yelled again. ix. Clofe on the hounds the hunter came, To cheer them on the vanifhed game ; But, Humbling in the rugged dell, The gallant horfe exhauHed fell. The impatient rider {trove in vain To roufe him with the fpur and rein, For the good Heed, his labours o’er, Stretched his Hiff limbs, to rife no more. Then, touched with pity and remorfe, He forrowed o’er the expiring horfe : — u I little thought, when firH thy rein I flacked upon the banks of Seine, That highland eagle ere fliould feed On thy fleet limbs, my matchlefs Heed ! Woe worth the chafe, woe worth the day, That cofls thy life, my gallant grey!” THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 9 X. Then through the dell his horn refounds, From vain purfuit to call the hounds. Back limped, with flow and crippled pace, The fulky leaders of the chafe ; Clofe to their mafter’s fide they prefled, With drooping tail and humbled creft ; But ftill the dingle’s hollow throat Prolonged the fwelling bugle-note. The owlets ftarted from their dream, The eagles anfwered with their fcream, Round and around the founds were caft, Till echo feemed an anfwering blaft ; And on the hunter hied his way, To join fome comrades of the day ; Yet often paufed, fo ftrange the road, So wondrous were the fcenes it fhow’d XI. The weftern waves of ebbing day Rolled o’er the glen their level way ; Each purple peak, each flinty fpire, Was bathed in floods of living fire. But not a fetting beam could glow Within the dark ravines below, c 10 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto i. Where twined the path, in fhadow hid, Round many a rocky pyramid. Shooting abruptly from the dell Its thunder-fplintered pinnacle ; Round many an infulated mafs, The native bulwarks of the pafs, Huge as the tower which builders vain Prefumptuous piled on Shinar’s plain. Their rocky fummits, fplit and rent, Formed turret, dome, or battlement, Or feemed fantaftically fet With cupola or minaret, Wild crefts as pagod ever decked, Or mofque of eaftern architect. Nor were thefe earth-born cattles bare, Nor lacked they many a banner fair ; For, from their fhivered brows difplayed, Far o’er the unfathomable glade, All twinkling with the dew-drop fheen, The briar-rofe fell in ftreamers green, And creeping fhrubs of thoufand dyes Waved in the weft-wind’s fummer fighs. XII. Boon nature fcattered, free and wild, Each plant or flower, the mountain’s child. THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 1 I Here eglantine embalmed the air, Hawthorn and hazel mingled there ; The primrofe pale, and violet flower, Found in each clifc a narrow bower ; Fox-glove and night-fhade, fide by fide, Emblems of punifhment and pride, Grouped their dark hues with every flain The weather-beaten crags retain ; With boughs that quaked at every breath, Grey birch and afpen wept beneath ; Aloft, the alh and warrior oak Call anchor in the rifted rock ; And higher yet, the pine-tree hung His fhattered trunk, and frequent flung, Where feemed the cliffs to meet on high, His boughs athwart the narrowed Iky. Higheft of all, where white peaks glanced, Where gliftening ftreamers waved and danced, The wanderer’s eye could barely view The fummer heaven’s delicious blue ; So wondrous wild, the whole might feem The fcenery of a fairy dream. XIII. Onward, amid the copfe ’gan peep A narrow inlet, {till and deep, 12 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto x. Affording fcarce fuch breadth of brim As ferved the wild-duck’s brood to l'wim ; Loft for a fpace, through thickets veering, But broader when again appearing, Tall rocks and tufted knolls their face Could on the dark-blue mirror trace ; And farther as the hunter ftray’d, Still broader fweep its channels made. The fhaggy mounds no longer ftood, Emerging from entangled wood, But, wave-encircled, feemed to float, Like caftle girdled with its moat ; Yet broader floods extending ftill, Divide them from their parent hill. Till each, retiring, claims to be An iflet in an inland fea. XIV. And now, to iftue from the glen, No pathway meets the wanderer’s ken, Unlefs he climb, with footing nice, A far projecting precipice. The broom’s tough roots his ladder made, The hazel faplings lent their aid ; And thus an airy point he won, Where, gleaming with the fetting fun, THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. *3 One burnifh’d Iheet of living gold, Loch-Katrine lay beneath him rolled ; In all her length far winding lay, With promontory, creek, and bay, And iflands that, empurpled bright, Floated amid the livelier light ; And mountains, that like giants Hand, To fentinel enchanted land. High on the fouth, huge Ben-venue Down to the lake in mafles threw Crags, knolls, and mounds, confufedly hurled, The fragments of an earlier world ; A wildering foreft feathered o’er His ruined iides and fummit hoar, While on the north, through middle air, Ben-an heaved high his forehead bare. xv. From the fteep promontory gazed The Stranger, raptured and amazed ; And, “ What a fcene were here,” he cried, “ For princely pomp or churchman’s pride ! On this bold brow, a lordly tower ; In that loft vale, a lady’s bower ; On yonder meadow, far away, The turrets of a cloifter grey. the lady of the lake. [canto i. 14 How blythely might the bugle horn Chide, on the lake, the lingering morn ! How fweet, at eve, the lover’s lute Chime, when the groves were fflll and mute ! And, when the midnight moon fhould lave Her forehead in the filver wave, How folemn on the ear would come The holy matin’s diftant hum, While the deep peal’s commanding tone Should wake, in yonder iflet lone, A fainted hermit from his cell, To drop a bead with every knell ! — And bugle, lute, and bell, and all, Should each bewildered ftranger call To friendly feaft, and lighted hall. XVI. 11 Blythe were it then to wander here ! But now—befhrew yon nimble deer !—- Like that fame hermit’s, thin and fpare, The copfe muft give my evening fare ; Some moffy bank my couch muft be, Some ruffling oak my canopy. ^ et pafs we that—the war and chafe Give little choice of refflng place ;— ELLEN E ISLE p. 15. THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 15 A fummer night, in green-wood fpent, Were but to-morrow’s merriment ; But hofts may in thefe wilds abound, Such as are better miffed than found ; To meet with highland plunderers here Were worfe than lofs of fteed or deer. I am alone ;—my bugle ftrain May call fome ftraggler of the train ; Or, fall the worft that may betide, Ere now this faulchion has been tried.” XVII. But fcarce again his horn he wound, When lo ! forth ftarting at the found, From underneath an aged oak, That flanted from the iflet rock, A Damfel, guider of its way, A little (kiff fhot to the bay, That round the promontory fteep Led its deep line in graceful fweep. Eddying, in almoft viewlefs wave, The weeping willow twig to lave, And kifs, with whifpering found and flow, The beach of pebbles bright as fnow. The boat had touch’d this filver ftrand, Juft as the Hunter left his ftand, i6 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto I. And flood concealed amid the brake, To view this Lady of the Lake. The maiden paufed, as if again She thought to catch the diftant ftrain, With head up-raifed, and look intent, And eye and ear attentive bent, And locks flung back, and lips apart, Like monument of Grecian art, In liftening mood, fhe feemed to ftand The guardian Naiad of the ftrand. XVIII. And ne’er did Grecian chifel trace A sNymph, a Naiad, or a Grace, Of finer form, or lovelier face ! What though the fun, with ardent frown, Had (lightly tinged her cheek with brown The fportive toil, which, Ihort and light, Had dyed her glowing hue fo bright, Served too in haftier ('well to fhow Short glimpfes of a breaft of fnow ; What though no rule of courtly grace To meafured mood had trained her pace— A foot more light, a ftep more true, Ne’er from the heath-flower dafhed the dew ; THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. r 7 E’en the flight hare-bell raifed its head, Elaftic from her airy tread : What though upon her lpeech there hung I he accents of the mountain tongue— Thofe filver founds, fo foft, fo dear, The liftener held his breath to hear. XIX. A chieftain’s daughter feemed the maid ; Her fatin fnood, her filken plaid, Her golden brooch, fuch birth betray’d. And feldom was a fnood amid Such wild luxuriant ringlets hid, Whofe glofly black to fhame might bring The plumage of the raven’s wing ; And feldom o’er a breafl fo fair, Mantled a plaid with modeft care; And never brooch the folds combined Above a heart more good and kind. H er kindnefs and her worth to fpy, You need but gaze on Ellen’s eye ; Not Katrine, in her mirror blue, Gives back the Ihaggy banks more true, Than every free-born glance confefled The guilelefs movements of her breafl ; n i8 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto {. Whether joy danced in her dark eye, Or woe or pity claimed a figh, Or filial love was glowing there, Or meek devotion poured a prayer, Or tale of injury called forth T he indignant fpirit of the north. One only paffion, unrevealed, With maiden pride the maid concealed, Yet not lefs purely felt the flame; — Oh need I tell that paffion’s name ? xx. Impatient of the filent horn, Now on the gale her voice was borne : — tc Father ! ” fhe cried—the rocks around Loved to prolong the gentle found. Awhile (lie paufed, no anfwer came— “ Malcolm, was thine the blafl: ? ” the name Lefs refolutely uttered fell, The echoes could not catch the fwell. u A Stranger, I,” the Huntfman faid, Advancing from the hazel fhade. The maid alarmed, with hafty oar, Pufhed her light fhallop from the fhore, And, when a fpace was gained between, Cloler fhe drew her bofom’s fcreen ; THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. l 9 (So forth the ftartled fwan would fwin<>- So turn to prune his ruffled wing;) Then fafe, though fluttered and amazed, She paufed, and on the ftranger gazed. Not his the form, nor his the eye, That youthful maidens wont to fly. XXI. On his bold vifage middle age Had (lightly prefled its fignet fage, Yet had not quenched the open truth, And fiery vehemence of youth ; Forward and frolic glee was there, The will to do, the foul to dare, The fparkling glance, foon blown to fire, Of hafty love, or headlong ire. His limbs were call in manly mould, For hardy fports, or contefl: bold ; And though in peaceful garb arrayed, And weaponlefs, except his blade, His (lately mien as well implied A high-born heart, a martial pride, As if a baron’s creft he wore. And fheathed in armour trod the fhore. Slighting the petty need he fhowed, He told of his benighted road : 20 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto I. His ready fpeech flowed fair and free, In phrafe of gentleft courtefy ; Yet feemed that tone and gefture bland Lefs ufed to fue than to command. XXII. Awhile the maid the ftranger eyed, And, reaflured, at laft replied, That highland halls were open ftill To wildered wanderers of the hill. “ Nor think you unexpected come To yon lone ifle, our defert home : Before the heath had loft the dew, This morn, a couch was pulled for you ; On yonder mountain’s purple head Have ptarmigan and heath-cock bled, And our broad nets have fwept the mere, To furnifh forth your evening cheer.” “ Now, by the rood, my lovely maid, Your courtefy has erred,” he faid ; “ No right have I to claim, mifplaced, The welcome of expeCted gueft. A wanderer, here by fortune toft, My way, my friends, my courfer loft, I ne’er before, believe me, fair, Have ever drawn your mountain air, THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 21 Till on this lake’s romantic ftrand, I found a fay in fairy land.” XXIII. “ I well believe,” the maid replied, As her light fkifF approached the fide— “ I well believe, that ne’er before Your foot has trod Loch-Katrine’s fliore ; But yet, as far as yefternight, Old Allan-Bane foretold your plight— A grey-haired fire, whofe eye intent Was on the vifioned future bent. He faw your {feed, a dappled grey, Lie dead beneath the birchen way ; Painted exadl your form and mien, Your hunting fuit of Lincoln green, That tafTell’d horn fo gaily gilt, That faulchion’s crooked blade and hilt, That cap with heron’s plumage trim, And yon two hounds fo dark and grim. He bade that all fhould ready be, To grace a gueft of fair degree ; But light I held his prophecy, And deemed it was my father’s horn, Whofe echoes o’er the lake were borne.” 22 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto I. XXIV. The Stranger fmiled :—“ Since to your home, A deftined errant knight I come, Announced by prophet Tooth and old, Doomed, doubtlefs, for achievement bold, I’ll lightly front each high emprize, For one kind glance of thofe bright eyes ; Permit me, firft, the tafk to guide Your fairy frigate o’er the tide.” The maid, with fmile fupprefTed and fly, The toil unwonted faw him try ; For feldom, fure, if e’er before, His noble hand had grafped an oar : Yet with main ftrength his ftrokes he drew, And o’er the lake the fhallop flew ; With heads eredt and whimpering cry, The hounds behind their pafTage ply. Nor frequent does the bright oar break The darkening mirror of the lake, Until the rocky ifle they reach, And moor their fhallop on the beach. xxv. The Stranger viewed the fhore around ; ’ Fwas all fo clofe with copfe-wood bound, THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 2 3 Nor track nor pathway might declare That human foot frequented there, Until the mountain-maiden fhowed A clambering unfufpedfed road, T hat winded through the tangled fcreen, And opened on a narrow green, Where weeping birch and willow round With their long fibres fwept the ground ; Here for retreat in dangerous hour, Some chief had framed a ruftic bower. XXVI. It was a lodge of ample fize, But ftrange of ftru&ure and device ; Of fuch materials, as around The workman’s hand had readieft found. Lopped of their boughs, their hoar trunks bared, And by the hatchet rudely fquared, To give the walls their deftined height, The fturdy oak and afh unite ; While mofs, and clay, and leaves combined To fence each crevice from the wind. The lighter pine-trees, over-head, Their flender length for rafters fpread, And withered heath and rufhes dry Supplied a ruflet canopy. 24 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto I. Due weftward, fronting to the green, A rural portico was feen, Aloft on native pillars borne, Of mountain fir with bark unfhorn, Where Ellen’s hand had taught to twine The ivy and Idaean vine, The clematis, the favoured flower, Which boafts the name of virgin-bower, And every hardy plant could bear Loch-Katrine’s keen and fearching air. An inftant in this porch (lie firaid, And gaily to the ftranger faid, “ On heaven and on thy lady call, And enter the enchanted hall ! ” XXVII. u My hope, my heaven, my trull; muft be, My gentle guide, in following thee.” He crofted the threfhold—and a clang Of angry fteel that inftant rang. To his bold brow his fpirit rufhed, But foon for vain alarm he blufhed, When on the floor he faw difplayed, Caufe of the din, a naked blade Dropped from the fheath, that carelefs flung Upon a flag’s huge antlers fwung ; THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 25 For all around, the walls to grace, Hung trophies of the fight or chafe : A target there, a bugle here, A battle-axe, a hunting fpear, And broad-fwords, bows, and arrows ftore, With the tufked trophies of the boar. Here grins the wolf as when he died, And there the wild cat’s brindled hide The frontlet of the elk adorns, Or mantles o’er the bifon’s horns ; Pennons and flags defaced and ftained, That blackening {freaks of blood retained, And deer-fkins, dappled, dun, and white, With otter’s fur and feal’s unite, In rude and uncouth tapeffry all, To garnifh forth the fylvan hall. XXVIII. The wondering Stranger round him gazed, And next the fallen weapon raifed ; Few were the arms whofe finewy ftrength Sufficed to ffretch it forth at length. And as the brand he poifed and fwayed, “ I never knew but one,” he faid, “ Whofe ftalwart arm might brook to wield A blade like this in battle field.” E 26 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto I. She fighed, then fmiled and took the word ; “You fee the guardian champion’s fword : As light it trembles in his hand, As in my grafp a hazel wand ; My fire’s tall form might grace the part Of Ferragus, or Afcabart; But in the abfent giant’s hold Are women now, and menials old.” XXIX. The miftrefs of the manfion came, Mature of age, a graceful dame ; Whofe eafy ftep and ftately port Had well become a princely court, To whom, though more than kindred knew, Young Ellen gave a mother’s due. Meet welcome to her gueft {lie made, And every courteous right was paid, That hofpitality could claim, Though all unafked his birth and name. Such then the reverence to a gueft, "1 hat fellefl: foe might join the feaft, And from his deadlieft foeman’s door Unqueftioned turn, the banquet o’er. At length his rank the Stranger names— “ The knight of Snowdoun, James Fitz-James ; THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 27 Lord of a barren heritage, Which his brave fires, from age to age, By their good fwords had held with toil ; His fire had fallen in fuch turmoil, And he, God wot, was forced to (land Oft for his right with blade in hand. This morning with Lord Moray’s train He chafed a ftalwart ftag in vain, Outftripped his comrades, miffed the deer, Loft his good fteed, and wandered here.” xxx. Fain would the Knight in turn require The name and ftate of Ellen’s fire ; Well fhowed the elder lady’s mien. That courts and cities fhe had feen ; Ellen, though more her looks difplayed The fimple grace of fylvan maid, In fpeech and gefture, form and face, Showed fhe was come of gentle race; ’Twere ftrange in ruder rank to find Such looks, fuch manners, and fuch mind. Each hint the Knight of Snowdoun gave, Dame Margaret heard with filence grave ; Or Ellen, innocently gay, Turned all inquiry light away. 28 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto i. u Wierd women we ! by dale and down, We dwell afar from tower and town. We ftem the flood, we ride the blaft, On wandering knights our fpells we calf ; While viewlefs minftrels touch the ftring, ’Tis thus our charmed rhymes we fing.” She fang, and ftill a harp unfeen Filled up the fymp hony between. xxxi. Sony. “ Soldier, reft ! thy warfare o’er, Sleep the fleep that knows not breaking ; Dream of battled fields no more, Days of danger, nights of waking. In our ifie’s enchanted hall, Hands unfeen thy couch are ftrewing, Fairy ftrains of mufic fall, Every fenfe in /lumber dewing. Soldier, reft! thy warfare o’er, Dream of fighting fields no more ; Sleep the fleep that knows not breaking, Morn of toil, nor night of waking. “ No rude found /hall reach thine ear, Armour’s clang, or war-fteed champing, Trump nor pibroch fummon here Muftering clan, or l'quadron tramping. THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE, 2 9 Yet the lark’s flirill life may come At the day-break from the fallow, And the bittern found his drum, Booming from the fedgy fliallow. Ruder founds lhall none be near, Guards nor warders challenge here, Here’s no war-feed’s neigh and champing, Shouting clans or lquadrons famping.” XXXII. She paufed—then, blufhing, led the lay To grace the of the Her mellow notes awhile prolong The cadence of the flowing fong, Till to her lips in meafured frame The minftrel verfe fpontaneous came. Sokij continued. “ Huntfman, ref! thy chal'e is done, While our fumbrous l'pells aflail ye, Dream not, with the rifing fun, Bugles here fiall found reveillie. Sleep ! the deer is in his den; Sleep ! thy hounds are by thee lying 5 Sleep! nor dream in yonder glen, How thy gallant feed lay dying. Huntfman, ref! thy chafe is done, Think not of the rifing fun, For at dawning to aflail ye, Here no bugles found reveillie. 3 ° THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto I. XXXIII. The hall was cleared—the Stranger’s bed Was there of mountain heather fpread, Where oft an hundred guefts had lain, And dreamed their foreft fports again. But vainly did the heath-flower fhed Its moorland fragrance round his head ; Not Ellen’s fpell had lulled to reft The fever of his troubled breaft. In broken dreams the image rofe Of varied perils, pains, and woes ; His fteed now flounders in the brake, Now finks his barge upon the lake ; Now leader of a broken hoft, His ftandard falls, his honour’s loft. Then—from my couch may heavenly might Chafe that worft phantom of the night ! — Again returned the fcenes of youth, Of confident undoubting truth ; Again his foul he interchanged With friends whofe hearts were long elfranged. They come in dim proceflion led, The cold, the faithlels, and the dead ; As warm each hand, each brow as gay, As if they parted yefterday. THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 3 1 And doubt diftradfs him at the view, Oh were his fenfes falfe or true ! Dreamed he of death, or broken vow, Or is it all a vifion now ! xxxiv. At length, with Ellen in a grove, He feemed to walk, and fpeak of love ; She liftened with a blufh and fish ; His fuit was warm, his hopes were hffh. He fought her yielded hand to clafp, And a cold gauntlet met his grafp ; The phantom’s fex was changed and gone, Upon its head a helmet fhone ; Slowly enlarged to giant fize, With darkened cheek and threatening eyes, The grifly vifage, ffern and hoar, To Ellen Hill a likenefs bore. He woke, and, panting with affright. Recalled the vifion of the night. The hearth’s decaying brands were red, And deep and dulky luftre fhed, Half fhowing, half concealing all The uncouth trophies of the hall. Mid thofe the ftranger fixed his eye Wh ere that huge faulchion hung on high, 3 2 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto I. And thoughts on thoughts, a countlefs throng, Rufhed, chafing countlefs thoughts along, Until, the giddy whirl to cure, He rofe, and fought the moonfhine pure. xxxv. The wild rofe, eglantine, and broom, Wafted around their rich perfume ; The birch-trees wept in fragrant balm, The afpens fiept beneath the calm; The filver light with quivering glance, Played on the water’s ftill expanfe— Wild were the heart whofe paflion’s fway Could rage beneath the fober ray ! He felt its calm, that warrior gueft, While thus he communed with his breaft : cc Why is it at each turn I trace Some memory of that exiled race ? Can I not mountain maiden fpy, But flie muft bear the Douglas eye? Can I not view a highland brand, But it muft match the Douglas hand ? Can I not frame a fevered dream, But ftill the Douglas is the theme ?— I’ll dream no more—by manly mind Not even in deep is will refigned. THE CHASE.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 33 My midnight orifon laid o’er, I’ll turn to reft, and dream no more.” His midnight orifon he told, A prayer with every bead of gold, Configned to Heaven his cares and woes, And fank in undifturbed repofe ; Until the heath-cock Ihrilly crew, And morning dawned on Ben-venue. Canto Stconb —CIjc Jshtnb. T morn the black-cock trims his jetty wing, ’Tis morning prompts the linnet’s blytheft lay, All nature’s children feel the matin fpring Of life reviving, with reviving day ; And while yon little bark glides down the bay, Wafting the ftranger on his way again, Morn’s genial influence roufed a minftrel grey, And lweetly o’er the lake was heard thy (train, Mix’d with the founding harp, oh white-haired Allan-Bane ! ii. Song. “ Not falter yonder rowers’ might Flings from their oars the fpray, Not falter yonder rippling bright, That tracks the lhallop’s courfe in light, Melts in the lake away, 3 6 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. ("canto II. Than men from memory erafe The benefits of former days ; Then, Stranger, go ! good fpeed the while, Nor think again of the lonely ifle. “ High place to thee in royal court, High place in battled line, Good hawk and hound for fylvan Iport. Where Beauty fees the brave refort, The honoured meed be thine ! True be thy fword, thy friend fincere, Thy lady conftant, kind, and dear, And loft in love’s and friendlhip’s fmile, Re memory of the lonely ifle. III. jionij co ntinue it- “ But if beneath yon fouthern Iky A plaided ftranger roam, Whofe drooping creft and ftifled figh, And sunken cheek and heavy eye, Pine for his highland home; Then, warrior, then be thine to ftiow The care that loothes a wanderer’s woe ; Remember then thy hap ere while A ftranger in the lonely ifle. “ Or if on life’s uncertain main Milhap lhall mar thy fail j If faithful, wife, and brave in vain, Woe, want, and exile thou fuftain Beneath the fickle gale; —- « LOCH KATRINE p. 36. THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 37 Wafte not a figh on fortune changed, On thanklefs courts, or friends eftranged, But come where kindred worth (hall fmile, To greet thee in the lonely ifle.” IV. As died the founds upon the tide, The fhallop reached the main-land fide, And ere his onward way he took, The Stranger call a lingering look, Where eafily his eye might reach The Harper on the iflet beach, Reclined againft a blighted tree, As wafted, grey, and worn as he. To minftrel meditation given, His reverend brow was raifed to heaven, As from the riling fun to claim A fparkle of infpiring flame. His hand, reclined upon the wire, Seemed watching the awakening fire ; So ftill he fate, as thofe who wait Till judgment fpeak the doom of fate ; So ftill, as if no breeze might dare To lift one lock of hoary hair ; So ftill as life itself were fled, In the laft found his harp had fped. 3 * THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto II. V. Upon a rock with lichens wild, Befide him Ellen fate and liniled. Smiled (he to fee the {lately drake Lead forth his fleet upon the lake, While her vexed fpaniel, from the beach, Bayed at the prize beyond his reach ? Yet tell me then, the maid who knows, Why deepened on her cheek the rofe ?— Forgive, forgive, Fidelity ! Perchance the maiden fmiled to fee Yon parting lingerer wave adieu, And flop and turn to wave anew ; And, lovely ladies, ere your ire Condemn the heroine of my lyre, Show me the fair would fcorn to fpy, And prize fuch conqueft of her eye ! • VI. While yet he loitered on the fpot, It feemed as Ellen marked him not, But when he turned him to the glade, One courteous parting flgn fhe made; And after, oft the knight would fay, That not when prize of feftal day THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 39 Was dealt him by the brighteft fair Who e’er wore jewel in her hair, So highly did his bofom fwell, As at that fimple mute farewell. Now with a trufty mountain guide. And his dark Itag-hounds by his ftde, He parts—the maid, unconfcious ftill, Watch’d him wind llowly round the hill ; But when the Itately form was hid, The guardian in her bofom chid— “Thy Malcolm ! vain and felhfh maid!” ’Twas thus upbraiding confcience laid ; “Not fo had Malcolm idly hung On the fmooth phrafe of fouthern tongue ; Not fo had Malcolm /trained his eye Another Itep than thine to fpy.” “ Wake, Allan-Bane !” aloud fhe cried, To the old Minftrel by her fide, “ Aroufe thee from thy moody dream ! I’ll give thy harp heroic theme, And warm thee with a noble name ; Pour forth the glory of the Graeme.” Scarce from her lip the word had rulhed, When deep the confcious maiden blulhed, For of his clan, in hall and bower, Youno- Malcolm Graeme was held the flower. & 40 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto ii. VII. The mindrel waked his harp—three times Arofe the well-known martial chimes, And thrice their high heroic pride In melancholy murmurs died. “ Vainly thou bidil, oh noble maid ! ” Clafping his withered hands, he faid, tc Vainly thou bidd me wake the drain, Though all unwont to bid in vain. Alas ! than mine a mightier hand Has tuned my harp, my drings has fpanned , I touch the chords of joy, but low And mournful anfwer notes of woe ; And the proud march, which vidtors tread, Sinks in the wailing for the dead. O well for me, if mine alone That dirge’s deep, prophetic tone ! If, as my tuneful fathers faid, This harp, which erd Saint Modan 1 waved, Can thus its mader’s fate foretell, Then welcome be the mindrel’s knell ' VIII. “ But ah 1 dear lady, thus it dghed The eve thy fainted mother died ; THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 41 And fuch the founds which, while I drove To wake a lay of war or love, Came marring all the fedal mirth, Appalling me who gave them birth ; And, difobedient to my call, Wailed loud through Bothwell’s bannered hall, Ere Douglafles, to ruin driven, Were exiled from their native heaven. Oh ! if yet worfe mifhap and woe My mailer’s houfe mud undergo, Or aught but weal to Ellen fair, Brood in thefe accents of defpair, No future bard, fad harp ! fhall fling Triumph or rapture from thy dring ; One fhort, one Anal drain fhall flow, Fraught with unutterable woe, Then fhivered fhall thy fragments lie, Thy mader cad him down and die.” IX. Soothing Ihe anfwered him, “ Afluage, Mine honoured friend, the fears of age ; All melodies to thee are known, That harp has rung, or pipe has blown, In lowland vale, or highland glen, From Tweed to Spey — what marvel, then, G 42 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto it. At times, unbidden notes fhould rife, Confufedly bound in memory’s ties, Entangling, as they rufh along, The war-march with the funeral fong ? Small ground is now for boding fear ; Obfcure, but fafe, we reft us here. My fire, in native virtue great, Refigning lordfhip, lands, and ftate, Not then to fortune more refigned, Than yonder oak might give the wind ; The graceful foliage ftorms may reave, The noble ftem they cannot grieve. For me”—fhe ftooped, and, looking round, Plucked a blue hare-bell from the ground, “ For me, whofe memory fcarce conveys An image of more fplendid days, This little flower, that loves the lea, May well my Ample emblem be ; It drinks heaven’s dew as blithe as rofe That in the King’s own garden grows, And when I place it in my hair, Allan, a bard is bound to fwear He ne’er faw coronet fo fair.” Then playfully the chaplet wild She wreathed in her dark locks, and fmiled. THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 43 X. Her fmile, her fpeech, with winning fway, Wiled the old harper’s mood away. With fuch a look as hermits throw When angels ftoop to foothe their woe, He gazed, till fond regret and pride Thrilled to a tear, then thus replied :— “ Lovelieft and beft ! thou little know’ft The rank, the honours thou haft loft ! Oh might I live to fee thee grace, In Scotland’s court, thy birthright place, To fee my favourite’s ftep advance, The lighteft in the courtly dance, The caufe of every gallant’s figh, And leading ftar of every eye, And theme of every minftrel’s art, The lady of the Bleeding Heart ! ” XI. u Fair dreams are thefe,” the maiden cried, (Light was her accent, yet fhe fighed,) “ Yet is this mofly rock to me Worth fplendid chair and canopy; Nor would my footftep fpring more gay In courtly dance than blythe ftrathfpey, 44 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto II. Nor half fo pleafed mine ear incline To royal minftrel’s lay as thine ; And then for fuitors proud and high. To bend before my conquering eye, Thou, flattering bard ! thyfelf wilt fay. That grim Sir Roderick owns its fway. The Saxon fcourge, Clan-Alpine’s pride, The terror of Loch-Lomond’s fide, Would, at my fuit, thou know’ft, delay A Lennox foray—for a day.” XII. The ancient bard his glee reprefled : “ Ill haft thou cholen theme for jeft ! For who, through all this weftern wild, Named Black Sir Roderick e’er, and fmiled ? In Holy-Rood a knight he flew ; I faw, when back the dirk he drew, Courtiers give place before the ftride Of the undaunted homicide. And flnce, though outlawed, hath his hand, Full fternly kept his mountain land. Who elfe dared give — ah ! woe the day. That I fuch hated truth fhould fay— The Douglas, like a ftrickened deer, Difowned by every noble peer, Even the rude refuge we have here ? THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 45 Alas, this wild marauding chief, Alone might hazard our relief, And now thy maiden charms expand, Looks for his guerdon in thy hand ; Full foon may difpenfation fought. To back his fuit, from Rome be brought. Then, though an exile on the hill. Thy father, as the Douglas, ftill Be held in reverence and fear. But though to Roderick thou’rt fo dear, That thou might’ft guide with filken thread, Slave of thy will, this chieftain dread ; Yet, oh loved maid, thy mirth refrain ! Thy hand is on a lion’s mane.” XIII. u Minftrel,” the maid replied, and high Her father’s foul glanced from her eye, “ My debts to Roderick’s houfe I know : All that a mother could beftow, To Lady Margaret’s care I owe, Since firft an orphan in the wild, She forrowed o’er her lifter’s child ; To her brave chieftain fon, from ire Of Scotland’s king who Ihrouds my fire, A deeper, holier debt is owed ; And, could I pay it with my blood, 46 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto II. Allan ! Six" Roderick fhould command My blood, my life—but not my hand. Rather will Ellen Douglas dwell A votarefs in Maronnan’s cell ; Rather through realms beyond the fea, Seeking the world’s cold charity, Where ne’er was fpoke a Scottifh word, And ne’er the name of Douglas heard, An outcaft pilgrim will fhe rove, Than wed the man fhe cannot love. XIV. u Thou fhak’ft, good friend, thy trefles grey- That pleading look, what can it fay, But what I own ?—I grant him brave, But wild as Bracklinn’s thundering wave ; And generous—fave vindictive mood, Or jealous tranfport chafe his blood : I grant him true to friendly band As his claymore is to his hand : But oh ! that very blade of Reel More mercy for a foe would feel : I grant him liberal, to fling Among his clan the wealth they bring. When back by lake and glen they wind, And in the Lowland leave behind, THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 47 Where once fome pleafant hamlet flood, A mafs of afhes flaked with blood. The hand, that for my father fought, I honour, as his daughter ought ; But can I clafp it reeking red, From peafants flaughtered in their fhed ? No ! wildly while his virtues gleam, They make his paffions darker feem, And flafh along his fpirit high, Like lightning o’er the midnight fky. While yet a child—and children know, Inflindlive taught, the friend and foe- I fhuddered at his brow of gloom, His fhadowy plaid and fable plume ; A maiden grown, I ill could bear His haughty mien and lordly air ; But, if thou join’ll a fuitor’s claim, In ferious mood, to Roderick’s name, I thrill with anguifh ! or, if e’er A Douglas knew the word, with fear. To change fuch odious theme were bell— What think’fl thou of our ftranger guefl ? ” xv. “ What think I of him ? woe the while That brought fuch wanderer to our ifle ! 4 8 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto II. 1* Thy father’s battle-brand, of yore For Tine-man forged by fairy lore, What time he leagued, no longer foes, His Border fpears with Hotfpur’s bows, Did, felf-unfcabbarded, fore-fhow The footftep of a fecret foe. If courtly fpy, and harboured here, What may we for the Douglas fear ? What for this ifland, deemed of old Clan-Alpine’s laft and fureft hold ? If neither fpy nor foe, I pray What yet may jealous Roderick fav ? —Nay, wave not thy difdainful head ! Bethink thee of the difcord dread, That kindled when at Beltane game, Thou ledfF the dance with Malcolm Graeme ; Still, though thy fire the peace renewed, Smoulders in Roderick’s breaft the feud ; Beware !—But hark, what founds are thefe ? My dull ears catch no faltering breeze, No weeping birch, nor afpens wake, Nor breath is dimpling in the lake, Still is the canna’s hoary beard, y et, by my minftrel faith, I heard— And hark again ! fome pipe of war Sends the bold pibroch from afar.” THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 49 XVI. Far up the lengthened lake were fpied Four darkening fpecks upon the tide, That, flow enlarging on the view, Four manned and mafted barges grew, And bearing downwards from Glengyle, Steered full upon the lonely ifle ; The point of Brianchoil they pafled, And, to the windward as they caff, Againff the fun they gave to fhine The bold Sir Roderick’s bannered pine. Nearer and nearer as they bear, Spears, pikes, and axes, flafh in air. Now might you fee the tartans brave, And plaids and plumage dance and wave ; Now fee the bonnets fink and rife, As his tough oar the rower plies ; See, flaftiing at each ffurdy ftroke, The wave afcending into fmoke ; See the proud pipers on the bow, And mark the gaudy ftreamers flow From their loud chanters down, and fweep The furrowed bofom of the deep, As, rufhing through the lake amain, They plied the ancient Highland ffrain. H 50 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto II. XVII. Ever, as on they bore, more loud And louder rung the pibroch proud. At firfl: the founds, by diftance tame, Mellowed along the waters came, And, lingering long by cape and bay, Wailed every harlher note away ; [’hen, burfting bolder on the ear, The clan’s fhrill Gathering they could hear ; Ehofe thrilling founds, that called the might Of old Clan-Alpine to the fight. Thick beat the rapid notes, as when The muftering hundreds fhake the glen, And, hurrying at the fignal dread, The battered earth returns their tread. Then prelude light, of livelier tone, Exprefied their merry marching on, Ere peal of clofing battle rofe, With mingled outcry, fhrieks, and blows ; And mimic din of ftroke and ward, As broad-fword upon target jarred ; And groaning paufe, ere yet again, Condenfed, the battle yelled amain ; The rapid charge, the rallying fhout, Retreat borne headlong into rout, THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 5 1 And burfts of triumph, to declare Clan-Alpine’s conqueft—all were there. Nor ended thus the flrain ; but flow, Sunk in a moan prolonged and low, And changed the conquering clarion fwell, For wild lament o’er thole that fell. XVIII. The war-pipes ceafed ; but lake and hill Were bufy with their echoes Hill ; And, when they llept, a vocal ftrain Bade their hoarfe chorus wake again, While loud an hundred clanfmen raife 1'heir voices in their Chieftain’s praile. Each boatman, bending to his oar, With meafured fweep the burthen bore, In fuch wild cadence, as the breeze Makes through December’s leaflefs trees. The chorus firll could Allan know, u Roderigh Vich Alpine, ho! iro!” And near, and nearer as they rowed, DiHindi the martial ditty flowed. 52 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto ii. XIX. Soitg. Hail to the chief who in triumph advances! Honoured and bleffed be the ever-green Pine! Long may the Tree in his banner that glances Flourilh, the Ihelter and grace of our line! Heaven fend it happy dew, Earth lend it fap anew, Gaily to bourgeon, and broadly to grow, While every highland glen Sends our Ihout back agen, “ Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho ! ieroe ! ” Ours is no fapling, chance-fown by the fountain, Blooming at Beltane, in winter to fade ; When the whirlwind has ftripped every leaf on the mountain, The more lhall Clan-Alpine exult in her ihade. Moored in the rifted rock, Proof to the tempell’s Ihock, Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow j Menteith and Breadalbane, then, Echo his praife agen, “ Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho ! ieroe ! ” XX. Proudly our pibroch has thrilled in Glen Fruin, And Banachar’s groans to our flogan replied ; Glen Lufs and Rofs-dhu, they are fmoking in ruin, And the bell of Loch-Lomond lie dead on her fide. Widow and Saxon maid Long lhall lament our raid, Think of Clan-Alpine with fear and with woe ; Lennox and Leven-glen Shake when they hear agen, “ Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho ! ieroe ! ” THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 53 Row, vaffals, row, for the pride of the Highlands ! Stretch to your oars, for the ever-green Pine ! Oh ! that the rofe-bud that graces yon iflands, Were wreathed in a garland around him to twine ! Oh that fome feedling gem, Worthy fuch noble Item, Honoured and bleffed in their lhadow might grow ! Loud Ihould Clan-Alpine then Ring from her deepmoft glen, “ Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho ! ieroe ! ” XXI. With all her joyful female band, Had Lady Margaret fought the ftrand. Loofe on the breeze their trefTes hew, And high their fnowy arms they threw, As echoing back with fhrill acclaim And chorus wild the chieftain’s name; While, prompt to pleafe, with mother’s art, The darling paffion of his heart, The Dame called Ellen to the ftrand, To greet her kinfman ere he land ; u Come, loiterer, come ! a Douglas thou, And fhun to wreathe a victor’s brow ? ” Reluctantly and flow, the maid The unwelcome fummoning obeyed. And, when a diflant bugle rung In the mid-path afide (he fprung: 54 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto II. u Lift, Allan-Bane ! from mainland caft, I hear my father’s fignal blaft. Be ours,” fhe cried, “the fkiff to guide. And waft him from the mountain fide.” Then, like a funbeam fwift and bright, She darted to her fhallop light, And, eagerly while Roderick fcanned, For her dear form, his mother’s band, "Fhe iflet far behind her lay, And (he had landed in the bay. XXII. Some feelings are to mortals given, With lefs of earth in them than heaven ; And if there be a human tear From paflion’s drofs refined and clear, A tear fo limpid and fo meek, It would not ftain an angel’s cheek, ’Tis that which pious fathers fhed Upon a duteous daughter’s head ! And as the Douglas to his breaft His darling Ellen clofely prefled, Such holy drops her trefles fteep’d, Though ’twas an hero’s eye that weep’d. Nor while on Ellen’s faltering tongue Her filial welcomes crowded hung, THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 55 Marked fhe, that fear (afFecStion’s proof) Still held a graceful youth aloof; No ! not till Douglas named his name, Although the youth was Malcolm Graeme. XXIII. Allan, with willful look the while, Marked Roderick landing on the ifle ; His mafter piteoufly he eyed, Then gazed upon the chieftain’s pride, Then dallied, with hafty hand, away From his dimmed eye the gathering fpray ; And Douglas, as his hand he laid On Malcolm’s fhoulder, kindly faid, tc Canft thou, young friend, no meaning fpy In my poor follower’s gliftening eye ? I’ll tell thee :—he recalls the day, When in my praife he led the lay O’er the arched gate of Bothwell proud, While many a minftrel anfwered loud, When Percy’s Norman pennon, won In bloody field, before me fhone, A.nd twice ten knights, the leaf! a name As mighty as yon chief may claim, Gracing my pomp behind me came. 56 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto ii. Yet truft me, Malcolm, not fo proud Was I of all that marfhalled crowd, Though the waned crefcent owned my might, And in my train trooped lord and knight, Though Blantyre hymned her holieft lays, And Bothwell’s bards flung back my praife, As when this old man’s filent tear, And this poor maid’s affedtion dear, A welcome give more kind and true, Than aught my better fortunes knew. Forgive, my friend, a father’s boaft ; Oh ! it out-beggars all I loft ! ” XXIV. Delightful praife !—like fummer rofe, That brighter in the dew-drop glows, The bafhful maiden’s cheek appeared— For Douglas fpoke, and Malcolm heard. The flufh of fhame-faced joy to hide, The hounds, the hawk, her cares divide 5 The loved carefles of the maid The dogs with crouch and whimper paid ; And, at her whiftle, on her hand The falcon took his favourite ftand, Clofed his dark wing, relaxed his eye, Nor, though unhooded, fought to fly. THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE, 57 And truft, while in fuch guife file Hood, Like fabled Goddefs of the Wood, That if a father’s partial thought O’erweighed her worth and beauty aught, Well might the lover’s judgment fail To balance with a jufter fcale ; For with each fecret glance he ftole, The fond enthufiaft fent his foul. xxv. Of ftature fair and flender frame, But firmly knit, was Malcolm Graeme. The belted plaid and tartan hofe Did ne’er more graceful limbs difclofe ; His flaxen hair, of funny hue, Curled clofely round his bonnet blue ; Trained to the chafe, his eagle eye The ptarmigan in fnow could fpy ; Each pafs, by mountain, lake, and heath, He knew, through Lennox and Menteith ; Vain was the bound of dark-brown doe, When Malcolm bent his founding bow, And fcarce that doe, though winged with fear, Outftripp’d in fpeed the mountaineer ; Right up Ben-Lomond could he prefs, And not a fob his toil confefs. i 58 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto ii. His form accorded with a mind Lively and ardent, frank and kind ; A blyther heart, till Ellen came, Did never love nor forrow tame ; It danced as lightfome in his breaft, As played the feather on his creft. Yet friends, who neareft knew the youth, His fcorn of wrong, his zeal for truth, And bards, who faw his features bold, When kindled by the tales of old, Said, were that youth to manhood grown, Not long; fhould Roderick Dhu’s renown Be foremoft voiced by mountain fame, But quail to that of Malcolm Graeme. xxvi. Now back they wend their watery way, And, cc Oh my fire !” did Ellen fay, “ Why urge thy chafe fo far aftray ? And why fo late returned ? And why ” The reft was in her fpeaking eye. u My child, the chafe I follow far, ’Tis mimicry of noble war ; And with that gallant paftime reft Were all of Douglas I have left. THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 59 I met young Malcolm as I ftrayed Far eaftward in Glenfinlas’ fhade, Nor ftrayed I fafe ; for, all around, Hunters and horfemen fcoured the ground. This youth, though ftili a royal ward, Rifked life and land to be my guard, And through the pafies of the wood Guided my fteps not unpurfued ; And Roderick fhall his welcome make, Defpite old fpleen, for Douglas’ fake. Then muft he feek Strath-Endrick glen, Nor peril aught for me agen.” XXVII. Sir Roderick, who to meet them came, Reddened at fight of Malcolm Graeme, Yet, nor in acftion, word, or eye, Failed aught in hofpitality. In talk and fport they whiled away The morning of that fummer day ; But at high noon a courier light Held fecret parley with the knight, Whole moody afpeift foon declared That evil were the news he heard. Deep thought feemed toiling in his head ; Yet was the evening banquet made, 6o THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto II. Ere he affembled round the flame, His mother, Douglas, and the Graeme, And Ellen too ; then caft around His eyes, then fixed them on the ground, As ftudying phrafie that might avail Beft to convey unpleafant tale. Long with his dagger’s hilt he played, Then raifed his haughty brow, and laid XXVIII. u Short be my Ipeech ; nor time affords, Nor my plain temper, glozing words. Kinfman and father—if fuch name Douglas vouchfafe to Roderick’s claim ; Mine honoured mother ; Ellen—why, My coufin, turn away thine eye ? And Graeme, in whom I hope to know Full foon a noble friend or foe, When age (hall give thee thy command, And leading in thy native land— Lift all ! The King’s vindictive pride Boafts to have tamed the Border-fide, Where chiefs, with hound and hawk who came To fhare their monarch’s fylvan game, Themfelves in bloody toils were fnared, And when the banquet they prepared, THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 6 I And wide their loyal portals flung, O’er their own gateway ftruggling hung. Loud cries their blood from Meggat’s mead, From Yarrow braes, and banks of Tweed, Where the lone dreams of Ettrick glide, And from the filver Teviot’s fide ; The dales, where martial clans did ride, Are now one fheep-walk wafte and wide. This tyrant of the Scottifh throne, So faithlefs, and fo ruthlefs known, Now hither comes ; his end the fame, The fame pretext of fylvan game. What grace for highland chiefs, judge ye, By fate of Border chivalry. Yet more ; amid Glenfinlas green, Douglas, thy {lately form was feen. This by efpial fure I know : Your counfel in the {freight I {how.” XXIX. Ellen and Margaret fearfully Sought comfort in each other’s eye, Then turned their ghallly look, each one, This to her fire, that to her fon. The hafty colour went and came In the bold cheek of Malcolm Graeme ; 62 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto ir. But, from his glance it well appeared, ’Twas but for Ellen that he feared ; While forrowful, but undifmay’d, The Douglas thus his counfel faid :— “ Brave Roderick, though the tempeft roar, It may but thunder and pafs o’er ; Nor will I here remain an hour, To draw the lightning on thy bower 5 For well thou know’!!, at this grey head The royal bolt were fierce!! fped. For thee, who, at thy King’s command, Canft aid him with a gallant band, Submiffion, homage, humbled pride, Shall turn the monarch’s wrath afide. Poor remnants of the Bleeding Heart, Ellen and I will feek, apart, The refuge of fome foreft cell ; There, like the hunted quarry, dwell, Till, on the mountain and the moor, The ftern purfuit be pafied and o’er.” xxx. “ No, by mine honour!” Roderick faid, “ So help me heaven, and my good blade ! No, never ! Blafted be yon pine, My fathers’ ancient creft, and mine, THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 6 3 If from its (hade in danger part The lineage of the Bleeding Heart ! Hear my blunt fpeech. Grant me this maid To wife, thy counfel to mine aid ; To Douglas, leagued with Roderick Dhu, Will friends and allies flock enow ; Like caufe of doubt, diftrufl, and grief, Will bind to us each Weftern Chief. When the loud pipes my bridal tell, The links of Forth fhall hear the knell, The guards fhall {fart in Stirling’s porch, And when I light the nuptial torch, A thoufand villages in flames. Shall fcare the flumbers of King James. —Nay, Ellen, blench not thus away, And, mother, ceafe thefe flghs, I pray ; I meant not all my heat might fay. Small need of inroad, or of fight, When the fage Douglas may unite Each mountain clan in friendly band, To guard the pafles of their land, Till the foiled King, from pathlefs glen, Shall bootlefs turn him home agen.” XXXI. There are who have, at midnight hour, In dumber fcaled a dizzy tower, 6 4 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto II. And, on the verge that beetled o’er The ocean-tide’s inceflant roar. Dreamed calmly out their dangerous dream, Till wakened by the morning beam ; When, dazzled by the eaftern glow, Such Harder call: his glance below, And faw unmeafured depth around, And heard unintermitted found, And thought the battled fence fo frail, It waved like cobweb in the gale ; Amid his fenfes’ giddy wheel, Did he not defperate impulfe feel, Headlong to plunge himfelf below, And meet the word: his fears forefhow ? Thus, Ellen, dizzy and aftound, As fudden ruin yawned around, By croffing terrors wildly toffed, Still for the Douglas fearing moll, Could fcarce the defperate thought withftand, To buy his fafety with her hand. XXXII. Such purpofe dread could Malcolm fpy In Ellen’s quivering lip and eye, And eager rofe to fpeak—but ere His tongue could hurry forth his fear, THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 65 Had Douglas marked the hedfic ftrife, Where death Teemed combating with life ; For to her cheek, in feverifh flood, One inftant rufhed the throbbing blood, Then ebbing back, with fudden fway, Left its domain as wan as clay. u Roderick, enough ! enough I ” he cried, u My daughter cannot be thy bride ; Not that the blufh to wooer dear, Nor palenefs that of maiden fear. It may not be —forgive her, chief, Nor hazard aught for our relief. Againfl: his fovereign, Douglas ne’er Will level a rebellious fpear. ’Twas I that taught his youthful hand To rein a fleed and wield a brand. I fee him yet, the princely boy 1 Not Ellen more my pride and joy ; I love him ftill, delpite my wrongs, By hafty wrath and flanderous tongues. Oh feek the grace you well may find, Without a caufe to mine combined.” XXXIII. Twice through the hall the Chieftain Erode ; The waving of his tartans broad, K 66 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto ii And darkened brow, where wounded pride With ire and difappointment vied, Seemed, by the torch’s gloomy light. Like the ill Demon of the night, Stooping his pinions’ lhadowy fway Upon the nig'nted pilgrim’s way : But, unrequited Love ! thy dart Plunged deepeft its envenomed fmart, And Roderick, with thine anguifh flung, At length the hand of Douglas wrung, While eyes, that mocked at tears before, With bitter drops were running o’er. The death-pangs of long cherifhed hope Scarce in that ample breafl had fcope, But, ftruggling with his fpirit proud, Convulfive heaved its chequered fhroud, While every fob—fo mute were all— Was heard diflindlly through the hall. The fon’s defpair, the mother’s look, Ill might the gentle Ellen brook ; She rofe, and to her fide there came, To aid her parting Heps, the Graeme. xxxiv. Then Roderick from the Douglas broke— As flafhes flame through fable fmoke, THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 6 7 Kindling its wreaths, long, dark, and low, To one broad blaze of ruddy glow, So the deep anguifh of defpair Burft, in fierce jealoufy, to air. With ftalwart grafp his hand he laid On Malcolm’s bread and belted plaid : “ Back, beardlefs boy ! ” he fternly faid, tc Back, minion ! hold’ll: thou thus at nought The lefion I fo lately taught ! This roof, the Douglas, and that maid, Thank thou for punilhment delayed.” Eager as greyhound on his game, Fiercely with Roderick grappled Graeme. u Perifh my name, if aught afford its chieftain fafety, fave his (word ! ” Thus as they ftrove, their defperate hand Griped to the dagger or the brand, And death had been—but Douglas role, And thruff between the ftruggling foes His giant ftrength :— u Chieftains, forego ! 1 hold the firff who ffrikes, my foe. Madmen, forbear your frantic jar ! What ! is the Douglas fallen fo far, His daughter’s hand is deemed the (poll Of fuch diflionourable broil ! ” 68 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto ii. Sullen and {lowly, they unclafp, As ftruck with ftiame, their defperate grafp, And each upon his rival glared, With foot advanced, and blade half bared. xxxv. Ere yet the brands aloft were flung, Margaret on Roderick’s mantle hung, And Malcolm heard his Ellen’s fcream, As faltered through terrific dream. Then Roderick plunged in {heath his fword, And veiled his wrath in fcornful word. u Reft fafe till morning ; pity ’twere Such cheek Ihould feel the midnight air ! Then may’ft thou to James Stuart tell, Roderick will keep the lake and fell. Nor lackey, with his free-born clan, The pageant pomp of earthly man. More would he of Clan-Alpine know, Thou canft our ftrength and pafies {how. Malife, what ho ? ”—his henchman came ; “ Give our fafe conduct to the Graeme.” \ oung Malcolm anfwered, calm and bold, “Fear nothing for thy favourite hold. the island.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 69 The fpot, an angel deigned to grace, Is blefled, though robbers haunt the place ; Thy churlifh courtefy for thofe Referve, who fear to be thy foes. As fafe to me the mountain way At midnight, as in blaze of day, Though, with his boldeft at his back, Even Roderick Dhu befet the track. Brave Douglas—lovely Ellen—nay, Nought here of parting will I fay. Earth does not hold a lonefome glen, So fecret, but we meet agen. Chieftain ! we too fhall find an hour,” He faid, and left the fylvan bower. xxxvi. Old Allan followed to the ftrand, (Such was the Douglas’s command,) And anxious told, how, on the morn, The ftern Sir Roderick deep had fworn, The Fiery Crofs Ihould circle o’er Dale, glen, and valley, down, and moor. Much were the peril to the Gramme, From thofe who to the fignal came ; Far up the lake ’twere fafeft land, Himfelf would row him to the ftrand. 70 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto ii. He gave his counfel to the wind, While Malcolm did, unheeding, bind, Round dirk and pouch and broad-fword rolled, His ample plaid in tightened fold, And ftripped his limbs to fuch array As beft might fuit the watery way. XXXVII. 1'hen fpoke abrupt Farewell to thee, Pattern of old fidelity ! ” The minftrel’s hand he kindly prefled, “ Oh ! could I point a place of reft ! My fovereign holds in ward my land, My uncle leads my vaflal band ; To tame his foes, his friends to aid, Poor Malcolm has but heart and blade. Yet, if there be one faithful Graeme, Who loves the Chieftain of his name, Not long fhall honoured Douglas dwell, Like hunted flag in mountain cell ; Nor, ere yon pride-fwollen robber dare — 1 may not give the reft to air ! — Tell Roderick Dhu, I owed him nought, Not the poor fervice of a boat, To waft me to yon mountain fide ; ” Then plunged he in the flafhing tide. THE ISLAND.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 7 1 Bold o’er the flood his head he bore, And floutly fteered him from the fhore ; And Allan {trained his anxious eye. Far ’mid the lake his form to fpv. Darkening acrofs each puny wave, To which the moon her filver gave, Faft as the cormorant could fkim. The fwimmer plied each adtive limb ; Then landing in the moonlight dell. Loud fhouted of his weal to tell. The Minftrel heard the far halloo, And joyful from the fhore withdrew. ■ dTanlo Cjmfr.—®fjc 6uttering. e race IME rolls his ceafelefs courfe. Th of yore Who danced our infancy upon their knee, And told our marvelling boyhood legends flore, Of their ftrange ventures happ’d by land or fea, How are they blotted from the things that be ! H ow few, all weak and withered of their force, Wait, on the verge of dark eternity, Like ftranded wrecks, the tide returning hoarfe, To fweep them from our fight ! Time rolls his ceafelefs courfe. Yet live there (fill who can remember well, How, when a mountain chief his bugle blew, Both field and foreft, dingle, cliff, and dell, And folitary heath, the fignal knew; 4 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto III. And faft the faithful clan around him drew, What time the warning note was keenly wound, What time aloft their kindred banner flew, While clamorous war-pipes yelled the gathering found, And while the Fiery Crofs glanced, like a meteor, round. ii. The fummer dawn’s reflected hue To purple changed Loch-Katrine blue ; Mildly and foft the weftern breeze Juft killed the lake, juft ftirred the trees, And the pleafed lake, like maiden coy. Trembled but dimpled not for joy ; The mountain fhadows on her breaft Were neither broken nor at reft ; In bright uncertainty they lie, Like future joys to Fancy’s eye. The water-lily to the light Her chalice rear’d of filver bright ; The doe awoke, and to the lawn, Begemmed with dew-drops, led her fawn ; T he grey mift left the mountain fide, The torrent fhowed its gliftening pride ; Inviflble in flecked Iky, The lark fent down her revelry; the gathering.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 75 The blackbird and the fpeckled thrufh Good-morrow gave from brake and bufh ; In anfwer cooed the cufhat dove, Her notes of peace, and reft, and love. hi. No thought of peace, no thought of reft, Afluaged the ftorm in Roderick’s breatt. With fheathed broad-fword in his hand, Abrupt he paced the iflet ftrand, And eyed the rifing fun, and laid His hand on his impatient blade. Beneath a rock, his vaflals’ care Was prompt the ritual to prepare, With deep and deathful meaning fraught ; For fuch Antiquity had taught Was preface meet, ere yet abroad The Crofs of Fire fhould take its road. The fhrinking band flood oft aghaft At the impatient glance he caft ;— Such glance the mountain eagle threw, As, from the cliffs of Ben-venue, She fpread her dark fails on the wind, And high in middle heaven reclined. With her broad fhadow on the lake, Silenced the warblers of the brake. 7 6 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto hi. IV. A heap of withered boughs was piled, Of juniper and rowan wild, Mingled with fhivers from the oak, Rent by the lightning’s recent ftroke. Brian the Hermit, by it Rood, Barefooted, in his frock and hood. His grilled beard and matted hair Obfcured a vifage of defpair ; His naked arms and legs, feamed o’er. The fears of frantic penance bore. That Monk, of favage form and face, The impending danger of his race Had drawn from deepeft folitude, Far in Benharrow’s bofom rude. Not his the mien of Chriftian prieft, But Druid’s, from the grave releafed, Whofe hardened heart and eye might brook On human facrifice to look. And much, ’twas faid, of heathen lore Mixed in the charms he muttered o’er ; The hallowed creed gave only worfe And deadlier emphafis of curfe. No peafant fought that Hermit’s prayer, His cave the pilgrim Ihunned with care ; THE gathering.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 77 The eager huntfman knew his bound, And in mid chafe called off his hound ; Or if, in lonely glen or ffraith. The defert-dweller met his path, He prayed, and figned the crofs between, While terror took devotion’s mien. v. Of Brian’s birth ftrange tales were told. His mother watched a midnight fold. Built deep within a dreary glen, Where fcattered lay the bones of men, In fome forgotten battle flain, And bleached by drifting wind and rain. It might have tamed a warrior’s heart, To view fuch mockery of his art ! The knot-grafs fettered there the hand, Which once could burft an iron band ; Beneath the broad and ample bone, That bucklered heart to fear unknown, A feeble and a timorous gueft. The field-fare framed her lowly nefi: ; There the flow blind-worm left his flime On the fleet limbs that mocked at time ; And there, too, lay the leader’s fkull, Still wreathed with chaplet flufhed and full, 78 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto III. For heath-bell, with her purple bloom, Supplied the bonnet and the plume. All night, in this fad glen, the maid Sate {hrouded in her mantle’s {hade : •—She laid, no {hepherd fought her fide, No hunter’s hand her fnood untied, Yet ne’er again to braid her hair, The virgin fnood did Alice wear ; Gone was her maiden glee and fport, Her maiden girdle all too fhort, Nor fought fhe, from that fatal night. Or holy church or bleffed rite, But locked her fecret in her breaft, And died in travail, unconfelTed. VI. Alone, among his young compeers, Was Brian from his infant years A moody and heart-broken boy, Eftranged from fympathy and joy, Bearing each taunt which carelefs tongue D fc> On his myfterious lineage flung. Whole nights he fpent by moonlight pale, To wood and ftream his hap to wail. Till, frantic, he as truth received What of his birth the crowd believed, THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 79 And fought, in mift and meteor fire, To meet and know his Phantom Sire ! In vain to foothe his wayward fate, The cloifter oped her pitying gate ; In vain the learning of the age Unclafped the fable-lettered page ; Even in its treafures he could find Food for the fever of his mind. Eager he read whatever tells Of magic, cabala, and fpells. And every dark purfuit allied To curious and prefumptuous pride, Till, with fired brain and nerves o’erftrung And heart with myftic horrors wrung, Defperate he fought Benharrow’s den, And hid him from the haunts of men. VII. The defert gave him vifions wild, Such as might fuit the Spedtre’s child. Where with black cliffs the torrents toil, He watched the wheeling eddies boil, Till, from their foam, his dazzled eyes Beheld the river-demon rife ; The mountain mift took form and limb Of noontide hag, or goblin grim ; 8 o THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto III. The midnight wind came wild and dread, Swelled with the voices of the dead ; Far on the future battle-heath His eye beheld the ranks of death : Thus the lone Seer, from mankind hurled, Shaped forth a difembodied world. One lingering fympathy of mind Still bound him to the mortal kind; The only parent he could claim Of ancient Alpine’s lineage came. Late had he heard, in prophet’s dream, The fatal Ben-Shie’s boding fcream ; Sounds, too, had come, in midnight blaF, Of charging Feeds, careering faF Along Benharrow’s Fiingly fide, Where mortal horfeman ne’er might ride ; The thunderbolt had fplit the pine— All augur’d ill to Alpine’s line. He girt his loins, and came to fhow The fignals of impending woe, And now Food prompt to blefs or ban, As bade the Chieftain of his clan. VIII. ’Twas all prepared—and from the rock, A goat, the patriarch of the flock, THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 8 I Before the kindling pile was laid, And pierced by Roderick’s ready blade. Patient the fickening vicftim eyed The life-blood ebb in crimfon tide, Down his clogged beard and fhaggy limb, Till darknefs glazed his eyeballs dim. The grifly prieft, with murmuring prayer, A {lender croftlet framed with care. A cubit’s length in meafure due; The (haft and limbs were rods of yew, Whofe parents in Inch-Cailliach wave Their fhadows o’er Clan-Alpine’s grave, And, anfwering Lomond’s breezes deep, Soothe many a chieftain’s endlefs deep. The Crofs, thus formed, he held on high, With wafted hand and haggard eye, And ftrange and mingled feelings woke, While his anathema he {'poke. IX. u Woe to the clanfman, who fhall view This fymbol of fepulchral yew, Forgetful that its branches grew Where weep the heavens their holieft dew On Alpine’s dwelling low 1 M 82 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. j^CANTO III. Deferter of his Chieftain’s truft, H e ne’er (hall mingle with their dull, But, from his fires and kindred thruft, Each clanfman’s execration juft Shall doom him wrath and woe,” He paufed--the word the Vaftals took, With forward ftep and fiery look, On high their naked brands they fhook, Their clattering targets wildly ftrook; And firft, in murmur low, Then, like the billow in his courfe, That far to feaward finds his fource, And fiings to fhore his muftered force, Burft, with loud roar, their anfwer hoarfe, “Woe to the traitor, woe!” Ben-an’s grey fcalp the accents knew, The joyous wolf from covert drew, The exulting eagle fcreamed afar— They knew the voice of Alpine’s war. x. The fhout was hufhed on lake and fell, The monk refumed his muttered fpell. Difmal and low its accents came, The while he fcathed the Crol's with flame ; And the few words that reached the air, Although the holieft name was there, THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 8 3 Had more of blafphemy than prayer. But when he fhook above the crowd Its kindled points, he fpoke aloud : — “ Woe to the wretch, who fails to reai At this dread fign the ready fpear 1 For, as the flames this fymbol fear, His home the refuge of his fear, A kindred fate fhall know ; Far o’er its roof the volumed flame Clan-Alpine’s vengeance fhall proclaim, While maids and matrons on his name Shall call down wretchednefs and fhame, And infamy and woe ! ” Then rofe the cry of females, fhrill As gofs-hawk’s whiffle on the hill, Denouncing mifery and ill, Mingled with childhood’s babbling trill Of curfes Hammered flow ; Anfwering, with imprecation dread, u Sunk be his home in embers red ! And curfed be the meaneft filed That e’er fhall hide the houfelefs head We doom to want and woe !” A fharp and fhrieking echo gave, Coir-Urifkin, thy Goblin-cave ! And the grey pafs where birches wave, On Beala-nam-bo. V 84 THE lady of the lake. XI. Then deeper paul'ed the prieft anew, And hard his labouring breath he drew, While, with fet teeth and clenched hand, And eyes that glowed like fiery brand, He meditated curfe more dread, And deadlier, on the clanfman’s head, Who, fummoned to his Chieftain’s aid, The fignal faw and difobeyed. The crofllet’s points of fparkling wood, He quenched among the bubbling blood, And as again the fign he reared, Hollow and hoarfe his voice was heard : “ When flits this Crofs from man to man, Vich-Alpine’s fummons to his clan, Burfl: be the ear that fails to heed ! Palfied the foot that fhuns to fpeed ! May ravens tear the carelefs eyes ! Wolves make the coward heart their prize. As finks that blood-ftream in the earth, So may his heart’s-blood drench his hearth As dies in hilling gore the fpark, Quench thou his light, Deftrudfion dark ! And be the grace to him denied, Bought by this fign to all befide ! ” [canto III sJR- . ... ' V ' **> . . . •> ■ - v t • • * y . * - < > 4 • r % THE GATHERING. J THE LADY OF THE LAKE. «5 He ceal'ed : no echo gave agen The murmur of the deep Amen. XII. Then Roderick, with impatient look, From Brian’s hand the fymbol took : “ Speed, Malife, fpeed ! ” he said, and gave The crofllet to his henchman brave ; “ The mufter-place be Lanrick Mead— Inftant the time—fpeed, Malife, fpeed ! ” Like heath-bird, when the hawks puri'ue, A barge acrofs Loch-Katrine flew ; High Rood the henchman on the prow ; So rapidly the barge-men row, The bubbles, where they launched the boat, Were all unbroken and afloat, Dancing in foam and ripple ft ill, When it had neared the mainland hill ; And from the filver beech’s fide Still was the prow three fathom wide. When lightly bounded to the land The meflenger of blood and brand. XIII. Speed, Malife, fpeed ! the dun deer’s hide O 11 fleeter foot was never tied. 86 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto hi. Speed, Malife, fpeed ! 1'uch caufe of hade Thine active finews never braced. Bend ’gaind the deepy hill thy breast, Burd down like torrent from its cred ; With fhort and fpringing footdep pafs The trembling bog and falfe morafs ; Acrofs the brook like roebuck bound, And thread the brake like quefting hound ; The crag is high, the fcaur is deep, Yet (brink not from the defperate leap ; Parched are thy burning lips and brow, Yet by the fountain paufe not now ; Herald of battle, fate, and fear, Stretch onward in thy fleet career ! The wounded hind thou track’d not now, Purfued not maid through greenwood bough, Nor plyed thou now thy flying pace With rivals in the mountain race ; But danger, death, and warrior deed Are in thy courfe—Speed, Malife, fpeed ! XIV. Fall as the fatal fymbol flies, In arms the huts and hamlets rife ; From winding glen, from upland brown, They poured each hardy tenant down. THE GATHERING.j THE LADY OF THE LAKE. ^7 Nor flacked the meffenger his pace ; He fhowed the fign, he named the place, And, preffing forward like the wind, Left clamour and furprife behind. The filherman forfook the flrand, The fwarthy fmith took dirk and brand ; With changed cheer, the mower blythe, Left in the half-cut fwathe his fcythe ; The herds without a keeper Arrayed, The plough was in mid-furrow flraid, The falc’ner tolled his hawk away, The hunter left the Hag at bay : Prompt at the fignal of alarms, Each fon of Alpine rulhed to arms ; So fwept the tumult and affray Along the margin of Achray. Alas, thou lovely lake ; that e’er Thy banks fhould echo founds of fear 1 The rocks, the bolky thickets, fleep So Hilly on thy bofoin deep, The lark’s blythe carol from the cloud, Seems for the fcene too gaily loud. xv. Speed, Malife, fpeed ! the lake is pafl, Duncraggan’s huts appear at lafl, 88 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto hi. And peep, like mofs-grown rocks, half feen, Half-hidden in the copfe, fo green ; There may’ll thou reft, thy labour done, Their Lord lhall fpeed the ftgnal on. As Hoops the hawk upon his prey. The henchman Ihot him down the way. —What woful accents load the gale ? The funeral yell, the female wail ! A gallant hunter’s fport is o’er, A valiant warrior fights no more. Who, in the battle or the chafe, At Roderick’s fide lhall fill his place ! — Within the hall, where torch’s ray Supplies the excluded beams of day, Lies Duncan on his lowly bier, And o’er him ftreams his widow’s tear. His ftripling fon Hands mournful by, His youngeft weeps, but knows not why ; The village maids and matrons round The difmal coronach refound. XVI. Corouadj. He is gone on the mountain, He is loft to the foreft, Like a fummer-dried fountain, When our need was the foreft THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. The font, re-appearing, From the rain-drops /hall borrow, But to us comes no cheering, To Duncan no morrow! The hand of the reaper Takes the ears that are hoary, But the voice of the weeper Wails manhood in glory; The autumn winds ru/hing Waft the leaves that are feared:, But our flower was in flu/hing, When blighting was neareft. Fleet foot on the correi. Sage counfel in cumber, Red hand in the foray, How found is thy /lumber ! Like the dew on the mountain, Like the foam on the river, Like the bubble on the fountain, Thou art gone, and for ever ! XVII. See Stumah, who, the bier befide, His mafter’s corpfe with wonder eyed— Poor Stumah ! whom his lead; halloo Could fend like lightning o’er the dew, Briftles his creft, and points his ears, As if fome ftranger ftep he hears. ’Tis not a mourner’s muffled tread, Who comes to forrow o’er the dead, 9° THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto III. But headlong hafte, or deadly fear, Urge the precipitate career. All Hand aghaft :—unheeding all, The henchman burfts into the hall ! Before the dead man’s bier he Hood, Held forth the Crofs befmeared with blood ! “ The mufter-place is Lanrick Mead ; Speed forth the fignal ! clanlmen, fpeed ! ” XVIII. Angus, the heir of Duncan’s line, Sprang forth and feized the fatal fign. In hafte the ftripling to his fide His father’s dirk and broad-fword tied ; But when he law his mother’s eye Watch him in fpeechlefs agony, Back to her opened arms he flew, Prefled on her lips a fond adieu. “Alas” fhe fobbed—“and yet be gone, And fpeed thee forth, like Duncan’s fon !” One look he call: upon the bier, Dallied from his eye the gathering tear, Breathed deep, to clear his labouring breaft, And toll’d aloft his bonnet creft, Then, like the high-bred colt when freed Firft he eftays his fire and fpeed, THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. He vanifhed, and o’er moor and mofs Sped forward with the Fiery Crofs. Sufpended was the widow’s tear, While yet his footfteps (lie could hear ; And when fhe marked the henchman’s eye Wet with unwonted fympathy, “ Kinfman,” fhe faid, “ his race is run, That fhould have fped thine errand on ; The oak has fallen—the fapling bough Is all Duncraggan’s fhelter now. Yet truft I well, his duty done, The orphan’s God will guard my fon. And you, in many a danger true, At Duncan’s heft your blades that drew, To arms, and guard that orphan’s head ! Let babes and women wail the dead.” Then weapon-clang, and martial call, Refounded through the funeral hall, While from the walls the attendant band Snatched fword and targe, with hurried hand; And fhort and flitting energy Glanced from the mourner’s funken eye, As if the founds to warrior dear Might roufe her Duncan from his bier. But faded foon that borrowed force ; Grief claimed his right, and tears their courfe. 9 2 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto hi. XIX. Benledi faw the Crofs of Fire, It glanced like lightning up Strath-Ire. O’er dale and hill the fummons flew, Nor reft nor paufe young Angus knew ; The tear that gathered in his eye, He left the mountain breeze to dry ; Until, where Teith’s young waters roll, Betwixt him and a wooded knoll, That graced the fable ftrath with green, The chapel of Saint Bride was feen. Swoln was the ftream, remote the bridge, But Angus paufed not on the edge ; Though the dark waves danced dizzily, Though reeled his fympathetic eye, He dallied amid the torrent’s roar ; His right hand high the crofslet bore, Flis left the pole-axe grafped, to guide And ftay his footing in the tide. He ftumbled twice—the foam fplafhed high, With hoarfer fwell the ftream raced by ; And had he fallen—for ever there, Farewell Duncraggan’s orphan heir ! But ftill as if in parting life, Firmer he grafped the Crofs of ftrife, I > THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 93 Until the oppofing bank he gained, And up the chapel pathway {trained. xx. A blythefome rout, that morning tide, Had fought the chapel of Saint Bride. H er troth Tombea’s Mary gave To Norman, heir of Armandave, And, ilTuing from the Gothic arch, The bridal now refumed their march. In rude, but glad proceffion, came Bonneted fire and coif-clad dame ; And plaided youth, with jeft and jeer, Which fnooded maiden would not hear ; And children, that, unwitting why, Lent the gay fhout their fhrilly cry ; And minftrels, that in meafures vied Before the young and bonny bride, Whofe downcafl eye and cheek difclofe The tear and blufh of morning role. With virgin ftep, and bafhful hand, She held the kerchief’s fnowy band ; The gallant bridegroom, by her fide, Beheld his prize with vidtor’s pride, And the glad mother in her ear Was clofely whifpering word of cheer. 94 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto III- XXI. Who meets them at the church-yard gate ? The meftenger of fear and fate ! Hafte in his hurried accent lies, And grief is fwimming in his eyes. All dripping from the recent flood, Panting and travel-foiled he flood, The fatal fign of fire and fword Held forth, and fpoke the appointed word : u The mufter-place is Lanrick Mead ; Speed forth the fignal ! Norman, fpeed ! ” And muff he change fo foon the hand, Juft linked to his by holy band, For the fell crofs of blood and brand ? And muft the day, fo blythe that rofe, And promifed rapture in the clofe, Before its fetting hour, divide The bridegroom from the plighted bride ? Oh fatal doom !—it muft ! it muft ! Clan-Alpine’s caufe, her Chieftain’s truft, Her fummons dread, brooks no delay ; Stretch to the race—away ! away ! THE gathering.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 95 XXII. Yet flow he laid his plaid afide, And, lingering, eyed his lovely bride, Until he faw the flarting tear Speak woe he might not flop to cheer ; Then, trufting not a fecond look, In hafte he fped him up the brook, Nor backward glanced, till on the heath Where Lubnaig’s lake fupplies the Teith. What in the racer’s bofom flirred ? The fickening pang of hope deferred, And memory, with a torturing train Of all his morning vifions vain. Mingled with love’s impatience, came The manly third: for martial fame ; The ftormy joy of mountaineers, Ere yet they rufh upon the fpears ; And zeal for clan and chieftain burning, And hope, from well-fought field returning, With war’s red honours on his creft, To clafp his Mary to his bread:. Stung by fuch thoughts, o’er bank and brae, Like fire from dint he glanced away, While high refolve, and feeling drong, Burft into voluntary fong. 9 6 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto hi. XXIII. Sung. The heath this night mull be my bed, The bracken curtain for my head, My lullaby the warder’s tread. Far, far from love and thee, Mary ; To-morrow eve, more ftilly laid, My couch may be my bloody plaid, My vefper long, thy wail, fweet maid ! It will not waken me, Mary! I may not, dare not, fancy now The grief that clouds thy lovely brow, I dare not think upon thy vow, And all it promifed me, Mary. No fond regret mull: Norman know; When burfts Clan-Alpine on the foe, His heart mull be like bended bow, His foot like arrow free, Mary. A time will come with feeling fraught! For, if I fall in battle fought, Thy haplefs lover’s dying thought Shall be a thought on thee, Mary ! And if returned from conquered foes, How blithely will the evening clofe, How fweet the linnet fing repofe To my young bride and me, Mary ! XXIV. Not fafter o’er thy heathery braes, Balquidder, fpeeds the midnight blaze. THE gathering.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 9 Rufhing, in conflagration ffrong, Thy deep ravines and dells along, Wrapping thy cliffs in purple glow, And reddening the dark lakes below ; Nor fafter fpeeds it, nor fo far, As o’er thy heaths the voice of war. The fignal roufed to martial coil The fullen margin of Loch-Voil, Waked {till Loch-Doine, and to the fource Alarmed, Balvaig, thy fwampy courfe ; Thence fouthward turned its rapid road Adown Strath-Gartney’s valley broad, Till rofe in arms each man might claim A portion in Clan-Alpine’s name ; From the grey fire, whofe trembling hand Could hardly buckle on his brand, To the raw boy, whofe {haft and bow Were yet fcarce terror to the crow. Each valley, each fequeftered glen, Muttered its little horde of men, That met as torrents from the height, In Highland dale their ftreams unite, Still gathering, as they pour along, A voice more loud, a tide more ftrong, Till at the rendezvous they flood By hundreds prompt for blows and blood ; o 9 8 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto III. Each trained to arms fince life began, Owning no tie but to his clan, No oath, but by his Chieftain’s hand, No law, but Roderick Dhu’s command. xxv. That fummer morn had Roderick Dhu Surveyed the fkirts of Ben-venue, And lent his fcouts o’er hill and heath, To view the frontiers of Menteith. All backward came with news of truce ; Still lay each martial Graeme and Bruce, In Rednock courts no horfemen wait, No banner waved on Cardrofs gate, On Duchray’s towers no beacon Ihone, Nor feared the herons from Loch-Con ; All feemed at peace. Now, wot ye why The Chieftain, with fuch anxious eye, Ere to the mufter he repair, This weftern frontier fcann’d with care ? — In Ben-venue’s moll darkfome cleft, A fair, though cruel pledge was left ; For Douglas, to his promife true, That morning from the ille withdrew. And in a deep fequeftered dell Had fought a low and lonely cell. THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 99 By many a bard in Celtic tongue, Has Coir-nan-Urifkin been fung ; A fofter name the Saxons gave, And called the grot the Goblin-cave. XXVI. It was a wild and ftrange retreat, As e’er was trod by outlaw’s feet. The dell, upon the mountain’s creft, Yawned like a gafh on warrior’s breall ; Its trench had flayed full many a rock, Hurled by primeval earthquake fhock From Ben-venue’s grey fummit wild, And here, in random ruin piled, They frowned incumbent o’er the fpot, And formed the rugged fylvan grot. The oak and birch, with mingled fliade, At noontide there a twilight made, Unlefs when fhort and fudden fhone Some ftraggling beam on cliff or ffone, With fuch a glimpfe as prophet’s eye Gains on thy depth, Futurity. No murmur waked the folemn ftill, Save tinkling of a fountain rill ; But when the wind chafed with the lake, A fullen found would upward break, 100 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto Ill. With dalhing hollow voice, that fpoke The inceflant war of wave and rock. Sufpended cliffs, with hideous fway, Seemed nodding o’er the cavern grey. From fuch a den the wolf had fprung. In fuch the wild cat leaves her young ; Yet Douglas and his daughter fair. Sought, for a fpace, their fafety there. Grey Superftition’s whifper dread Debarred the lpot to vulgar tread ; For there, fhe faid, did fays refort, And fatyrs hold their fylvan court, By moonlight tread their myftic maze, And blaft the rafh beholder’s gaze. XXVII. Now eve, with weftern fhadows long, Floated on Katrine bright and ftrong, When Roderick, with a chofen few, RepalTed the heights of Ben-venue. Above the Goblin-cave they go, Through the wild pafs of Beal-nam-bo ; The prompt retainers fpeed before, To launch the fhallop from the fhore, For crols Loch-Katrine lies his way To view the palTes of Achray, BEAL-NAM-BO j THE PASS OF THE CATTLE. p. ioo. THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 101 And place his clanfmen in array. Yet lags the Chief in mufing mind, Unwonted fight, his men behind. A fingle page, to bear his fword, Alone attended on his lord ; The reft their way through thickets break, And foon await him by the lake. It was a fair and gallant fight, To view them from the neighbouring height, By the low-levelled funbeam’s light ; For ftrength and ftature, from the clan Each warrior was a chofen man, As even afar might well be feen, By their proud ftep and martial mien. Their feathers dance, their tartans float, Their targets gleam, as by the boat A wild and warlike group they Hand, That well became fuch mountain ftrand. XXVIII. Their Chief, with ftep relu£tant, ftill Was lingering on the craggy hill, Hard by where turned apart the road To Douglas’s obfcure abode. It was but with that dawning morn That Roderick Dhu had proudly fworn, 102 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto III. To drown his love in war’s wild roar, Nor think of Ellen Douglas more ; But he who Items a ftream with fand, And fetters flame with flaxen band, Has yet a harder talk to prove— By firm refolve to conquer love ! Eve finds the Chief, like reftlefs ghoft, Still hovering near his treafure loft ; For though his haughty heart deny A parting meeting to his eye, Still fondly ftrains his anxious ear 'Fhe accents of her voice to hear, And inly did he curfe the breeze That waked to found the ruftling trees. But, hark ! what mingles in the ftrain ? It is the harp of Allan-Bane, That wakes its meafures flow and high, Attuned to facred minftrelfy. What melting voice attends the firings ? ’Tis Ellen, or an angel, fings ! XXIX. Jfpm la tjjc Virgin. Ave Marla ! Maiden mild ! Liften to a maiden’s prayer; Thou canft hear though from the wild, Thou canft fave amid defpair. THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I0 3 Safe may we fleep beneath thy care, Though banifhed, outcaft, and reviled— Maiden, hear a maiden’s prayer ! Mother, hear a fuppliant child! Ave Maria ! Ave Maria ! undefiled ! The flinty couch we now rnuft fhare, Shall feem with down of eider piled, If thy protection hover there. The murky cavern’s heavy air Shall breathe of balm if thou haft fmiled ; Then Maiden, hear a maiden’s prayer ! Mother, lift a fuppliant child ! Ave Maria ! Ave Maria ! Stainlefs ftyled ! Foul demons of the earth and air, From this their wonted haunt exiled, Shall flee before thy prefence fair. We bow us to our lot of care, Beneath thy guidance reconciled 5 Hear for a maid a maiden’s prayer And for a father hear a child! Ave Maria ! XXX. Died on the harp the clofing hymn— Unmoved in attitude and limb, As liftening ftill, Clan-Alpine’s lord Stood leaning on his heavy fword, Until the page with humble fign, Twice pointed to the fun’s decline. 104 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto Hi. Then, while his plaid he round him caft, “It is the laft time—’tis the laft”— He muttered thrice—“ the laft time e’er That angel-voice fhall Roderick hear ! ” It was a goading thought—his ftride Hied haftier down the mountain fide ; Sullen he Hung him in the boat, And inftant crofs the lake it ftiot. They landed in that filvery bay, And eaftward held their hafty way, Till, with the lateft beams of light, The band arrived on Lanrick height, Where muftered in the vale below, Clan-Alpine’s men in martial fhow. xxxi. A various fcene the clanfmen made, Some fate, fome flood, fome fiowly ftrayed ; But moft, with mantles folded round, Were couched to reft upon the ground, Scarce to be known by curious eye, From the deep heather where they lie, So well was matched the tartan fcreen With heath-bell dark and brackens green ; Unlefs where, here and there, a blade, Or lance’s point a glimmer made, THE GATHERING.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. Like glow-worm twinkling through the fhade. But, when, advancing through the gloom, They law the Chieftain’s eagle plume, Their Ihout of welcome, fhrill and wide, Shook the Ifeep mountain’s Heady fide. Thrice it arofe, and lake and fell Three times returned the martial yell. It died upon Bochaftle’s plain. And Silence claimed her evening reign. p (£ miter Jfcwrtlj.—(Lire |1 top!) kit. HE rofe is faired: when ’tis buddino- new. And hope is brighteft when it dawns from fears ; The rofe is fweeteft wafhed with morning dew, And love is lovelieft when embalmed in tears. Oh wilding rofe, whom fancy thus en¬ dears, 1 bid your bloffoms in my bonnet wave. Emblem of hope and love through future years ! ” Thus fpoke young Norman, heir of Armandave, What time the fun arofe on Vennachar’s broad wave. ii. Such fond conceit, half laid, half lung, Love prompted to the bridegroom’s tongue. io8 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto IV. All while he ftripped the wild-rofe fpray. His axe and bow befide him lay, For on a pafs ’twixt lake and wood, A wakeful fentinel he flood. Hark 1—on the rock a footflep rung, And inftant to his arms he fprung. “ Stand, or thou died !—What, Malife ? — foon Art thou returned from Braes of Doune. By thy keen ftep and glance I know, Thou brino-’ft us tidings of the foe.” (For while the Fiery Crofs hied on. On diftant fcout had Malife gone.) “Where fleeps the Chief?” the henchman faid. “ Apart, in yonder milfy glade ; To his lone couch I’ll be your guide.” Then called a flumberer by his fide, And ftirred him with his flackened bow “ Up, up, Glentarkin ! roufe thee, ho ! We feek the Chieftain ; on the track, Keep eagle watch till I come back.” hi. Together up the pafs they fped : “What of the foeman ?” Norman faid. “ Varying reports from near and Far ; This certain—that a band of war THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I09 Has for two days been ready boune, At prompt command to march from Doune ; King James, the while, with princely powers, Holds revelry in Stirling towers. Soon will this dark and gathering cloud Speak on our glens in thunder loud. Inured to bide fuch bitter bout, The warrior’s plaid may bear it out ; But, Norman, how wilt thou provide A fhelter for thy bonnie bride ? ” “ What ! know ye not that Roderick’s care To the lone ifle hath caufed repair Each maid and matron of the clan, And every child and aged man Unfit for arms ? and given his charge, Nor ficifF nor fhallop, boat nor barge, Upon thefe lakes fhall float at large, But all befide the iflet moor, That fuch dear pledge may reft fecure ?” IV. “ ’ Tis well advifed—the Chieftain’s plan Befpeaks the father of his clan. But wherefore deeps Sir Roderick Dhu Apart from all his followers true ? ” “ It is, becaufe lad: evening-tide Brian an augury hath tried, I 10 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto iv. Of that dread kind which mud not be Unlefs in dread extremity, The Taghairm called ; by which, afar, Our fires forefaw the events of war. Duncraggan’s milk-white bull they flew- MALISE. u Ah ! well the gallant brute I knew, The choicefl: of the prey we had, When fwept our merry-men Gallangad. His hide was fnow, his horns were dark, His red eye glowed like fiery fpark ; So fierce, fo tamelefs, and fo fleet. Sore did he cumber our retreat, And kept our ftouteft kernes in awe, Even at the pafs of Beal ’maha. But fleep and flinty was the road, And fharp the hurrying pikeman’s goad, And when we came to Dennan’s Row, A child might fcathelefs {broke his brow.” v. NORMAN. “ That bull was flain ; his reeking hide They ftretched the cataradf befide, Whofe waters their wild tumult tofs A down the black and craggy bofs * : TORRENT in THE HERO’S TARGE, p. hi. THE PROFHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I I 1 Of that huge cliff, whofe ample verge Tradition calls the Hero’s Targe. Couched on a (helve beneath its brink, Clofe where the thundering torrents fink, Rocking beneath their headlong fway, And drizzled by the ceafelefs fpray, Midft groan of rock, and roar of ftream, The wizard waits prophetic dream. Nor diftant refts the Chief :—but hufh 1 See, gliding flow through miff and bufh, The Hermit gains yon rock, and ftands To gaze upon our {lumbering bands. Seems he not, Malife, like a ghoft, That hovers o’er a flaughtered hofl; ? Or raven on the blafted oak, That, watching while the deer is broke, His morfel claims with fullen croak ?” MALISE. “ Peace ! peace ! to other than to me, Thy words were evil augury ; But ftill I hold Sir Roderick’s blade Clan-Alpine’s omen and her aid, Not aught that, gleaned from heaven or hell, Yon fiend-begotten monk can tell. The Chieftain joins him, fee—and now, Together they defcend the brow.” THE LADY OF THE LAKE. VI. And as they came, with Alpine’s Lord The Hermit Monk held folemn word : “ Roderick ! it is a fearful ftrife, For man endowed with mortal life, Whofe fhroud of fentient clay can Fill Feel feverifh pang and fainting chill, Whofe eye can flare in ftony trance, Whofe hair can roufe like warrior’s lance- ’ Tis hard for fuch to view unfurl’d, The curtain of the future world. Yet witnefs every quaking limb, My funken pulfe, mine eyeballs dim, My foul with harrowing anguifh torn, This for my Chieftain have I borne ! The fhapes that fought my fearful couch, An human tongue may ne’er avouch ; No mortal man—fave he, who, bred Between the living and the dead, Is gifted beyond nature’s law, Had e’er furvived to fay he faw. At length the fateful anfwer came, In characters of living flame ! Not fpoke in word, nor blazed in fcroll But borne and branded on my foul ; THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE, “3 Which spills the foremost foeman’s life, That party conquers in the strife.” vii. u Thanks, Brian, for thy zeal and care ! Good is thine augury, and fair. Clan-Alpine ne’er in battle flood, But firft our broad-fwords tailed blood. A furer vidlim flill I know. Self-offered to the aufpicious blow : A fpy hath fought my land this morn, No eve fhall witnefs his return ! My followers guard each pafs’s mouth, To eafl, to weflward, and to fouth ; Red Murdoch, bribed to be his guide. Has charge to lead his fleps afide, Till, in deep path or dingle brown, He light on thofe fhall bring him down. But fee, who comes his news to fhow ! Malife ! what tidings of the foe ?” VIII. “At Doune, o’er many a fpear and glaive, Two Barons proud their banners wave. I faw the Moray’s filver liar, And marked the fable pale of Mar.” Q THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto iv. "4 “By Alpine’s foul, high tidings thofe ! I love to hear of worthy foes. When move they on?” “To-morrow’s noon Will fee them here for battle boune.” “Then fhall it fee a meeting {fern !— But, for the place—fay, couldft thou learn Nought of the friendly clans of Earn ? Strengthened by them we well might bide The battle on Benledi’s fide. Thou couldft not ? — well ! Clan-Alpine’s men Shall man the Trofachs’ fhaggy glen ; Within Loch-Katrine’s gorge we’ll fight, All in our maids’ and matrons’ fight. Each for his hearth and houfehold fire, Father for child, and fon for fire— Lover for maid beloved ! — but why— Is it the breeze affedfs mine eye ? Or doft thou come, ill-omen’d tear ! A meftenger of doubt or fear ? No ! fooner may the Saxon lance Unfix Benledi from his ftance, Than doubt or terror can pierce through The unyielding heart of Roderick Dhu ; ’Tis ftubborn as his trufty targe. Each to his poft !—all know their charge.” The pibroch founds, the bands advance, The broad-fwords gleam, the banners dance, THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. TI 5 Obedient to the Chieftain’s glance I turn me from the martial roar, And feek Coir-Urifkin once more. IX. Where is the Douglas ?—he is gone ; And Ellen fits on the grey Hone Fall by the cave, and makes her moan ; While vainly Allan’s words of cheer Are poured on her unheeding ear. “He will return—dear lady, trull ! — With joy return ; he will — he mull ! Well was it time to feek afar Some refuge from impending v/ar, When e’en Clan-Alpine’s rugged fwarm Are cow’d by the approaching llorm. I faw their boats, with many a light, Floating the live-long yellernight, Shifting like Hallies darted forth By the red llreamers of the north ; I marked at morn how clofe they ride, Thick moored by the lone iflet’s fide, Fike wild ducks couching in the fen, When Hoops the hawk upon the glen. Since this rude race dare not abide The peril on the mainland fide, THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto iv. I 16 Shall not thy noble father’s care Some fafe retreat for thee prepare ? ” x. ELLEN. “ No, Allan, no ! Pretext fo kind My wakeful terrors could not blind. When in fuch tender tone, yet grave, Douglas a parting blefling gave, The tear that gliftened in his eye Drowned not his purpofe fixed and high. My foul, though feminine and weak, Can image his j e’en as the lake, Itfelf difturbed by flighted: ftroke, Reflects the invulnerable rock. He hears reports of battle rife, He deems himfelf the caufe of ftrife. I faw him redden, when the theme Turned, Allan, on thine idle dream, Of Malcolm Graeme in fetters bound, Which I, thou faid’ft, about him wound. Think’ft thou he trow’d thine omen aught ? Oh no ! ’twas apprehenfive thought For the kind youth—for Roderick too— (Let me be juft) that friend fo true ; THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. ll 7 In danger both, and in our caufe ! Minftrel, the Douglas dare not paufe. Why elfe that folemn warning given, c If not on earth, we meet in heaven ? ’ Why elfe, to Cambus-kenneth’s fane, If eve return him not again, Am I to hie and make me known ! Alas ! he goes to Scotland’s throne, Buys his friend’s fafety with his own ; He goes to do—what I had done, Had Douglas’ daughter been his fon ! ” XI. cc Nay, lovely Ellen ! — dearefl, nay ! If aught fhould his return delay He only named yon holy fane As fitting place to meet again. Be fure he’s fafe ; and for the Graeme, Heaven’s bleffing on his gallant name ! My vifioned fight may yet prove true, Nor bode of ill to him or you. When did my gifted dream beguile ? Think of the ftranger at the ifle, And think upon the harpings flow, That prefaged this approaching woe ! 118 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto IV. Sooth was my prophecy of fear ; Believe it when it augurs cheer. Would we had left this difmal fpot ! Ill luck ftill haunts a fairy grot. Of luch a wondrous tale I know— Dear lady, change that look of woe ! My heart was wont thy grief to cheer - ELLEN. “ Well, be it as thou wilt ; I hear, But cannot ftop the burfting tear.” The Minftrel tried his fimple art, But diftant far was Ellen’s heart. XII. Dallas ALICE BRAND. Merry it is in the good green wood, When the mavis and merle are Tinging, When the deer fweeps by, and the hounds are in cry, And the hunter’s horn is ringing. “ Oh Alice Brand ! my native land Is loft for love of you; And we muft hold by wood and wold, As outlaws wont to do. “ Oh Alice! ’twas all for thy locks fo bright, And ’twas all for thine eyes fo blue, That on the night of our lucklefs flight, Thy brother bold I flew. THE PROPHECY. THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 119 “ Now muft I teach to hew the beech, The hand that held the glaive, For leaves to fpread our lowly bed, And flakes to fence our cave. “ And for veil of pall, thy fingers fmall, That wont on harp to llray, A cloak muft fhear from the flaughtered deer To keep the cold away.” “ Oh Richard ! if my brother died, ’Twas but a fatal chance; For darkling was the battle tried, And Fortune fped the lance. “ If pall and vair no more I wear, Nor thou the crimfon fheen, As warm, we’ll fay, is the ruflet grey, As gay the foreft-green. “ And, Richard, if our lot be hard, And loft thy native land, Still Alice has her own Richard, And he his Alice Brand.” XIII. JkHatr tontraucb. ’ Tis merry, ’tis merry, in good green wood, So blythe Lady Alice is finging; On the beech’s pride, and the oak’s brown fide, Lord Richard’s axe is ringing. Up fpoke the moody Elfin King, Who won’d within the hill —■ Like wind in the porch of a ruined church, His voice was ghoftly fhrill. 120 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto jv. “ Why founds yon ftroke on beech and oak, Our moonlight circle’s fcreen ? Or who comes here to chafe the deer, Beloved of our Elfin Queen ? Or who may dare on wold to wear The fairy’s fatal green ? “ Up, Urgan, up ! to yon mortal hie, For thou wert chriftened man ; For crofs or fign thou wilt not fly. For muttered word or ban. “ Lay on him the curfe of the withered heart, The curse of the fleeplefs eye ; Till he wilh and pray that his life would part, Nor yet find leave to die.” XIV. toniunub. ’Tis merry, ’tis merry, in good green wood, Though the birds have ftilled their finging j The evening blaze doth Alice raife, And Richard is fagots bringing. Up Urgan flarts, that hideous dwarf, Before Lord Richard Hands, And, as he crolfed and blefled himfelf, “ I fear not fign,” quoth the grifly elf, “ That is made with bloody hands.” But out then fpoke Ihe, Alice Brand, That woman void of fear— “ And if there’s blood upon his hand, ’Tis but the blood of deer.” the prophecy.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I 21 “ Now loud thou lieft, thou bold of mood ! It cleaves unto his hand, The ftain of thine own kindly blood, The blood of Ethert Brand.” Then forward ftepp’d fhe, Alice Brand, And made the holy fign— “And if there’s blood on Richard’s hand, A fpotlefs hand is mine. “ And I conjure thee, Demon elf, By Him whom Demons fear, To fhow us whence thou art thyfelf? And what thine errand here ? XV. ^ullobf toittiiuui). “ ’Tis merry, ’tis merry, in Fairy land, When fairy birds are finging, When the court doth ride by their monarch’s fide, With bit and bridle ringing : “ And gaily Ihines the Fairy land — But all is gliftening Ihow, Like the idle gleam that December’s beam Can dart on ice and fnow. “ And fading, like that varied gleam, Is our inconftant fhape, Who now like knight and lady feem, And now like dwarf and ape. “ It was between the night and day, When the Fairy King has power, That I fank down in a finful fray, And, ’twixt life and death, was fnatched away To the joylefs Elfin bower. R 122 THE LADY OF THF. LAKE. [canto IV. “ But wift I of a woman bold, Who thrice my brow durft fign, I might regain my mortal mould As fair a form as thine.” She croffed him once—Ihe croffed him twice — That lady was fo brave ; The fouler grew his goblin hue, The darker grew the cave. She croffed him thrice, that lady bold : He rofe beneath her hand The faireft knight on Scottish mold, Her brother, Ethert Brand ! Merry it is in the good green wood, When the mavis and merle are finging, But merrier were they in Dunfermline grey, When all the bells were ringing. XVI. Juft as the minftrel founds were ftaid, A ftranger climbed the fteepy glade ; His martial ftep, his ftately mien, His hunting fuit of Lincoln green. His eagle glance remembrance claims— ’Tis Snowdoun’s Knight, ’tis James Fitz-James ! Ellen beheld as in a dream, Then ftarting, fcarce fupprefted a fcream : “ Oh ftranger ! in fuch hour of fear, What evil hap has brought thee here ? ” THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I2 3 “ An evil hap how can it be, That bids me look again on thee ? By promife bound, rny former guide Met me betimes this morning tide. And marfhall’d, over bank and bourne. The happy path of my return.” u The happy path !—what ! faid he nought Of war, of battle to be fought, Of guarded pafs ? ”— lc No, by my faith ! Nor faw I aught could augur fcathe.” tc Oh hafte thee, Allan, to the kern —Yonder his tartans I difcern ; Learn thou his purpofe, and conjure That he will guide the ftranger fure ! — What prompted thee, unhappy man ? The meaneft ferf in Roderick’s clan Had not been bribed by love or fear, Unknown to him, to guide thee here.” XVII. “ Sweet Ellen, dear my life mulf be, Since it is worthy care from thee ; Yet life I hold but idle breath, When love or honour’s weighed with death. Then let me profit by my chance, And fpeak my purpofe bold at once. 124 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto IV. I come to bear thee from a wild, Where ne’er before fuch bloflom fmiled ; By this foft hand to lead thee far From frantic fcenes of feud and war. Near Bochaftle my horfes wait ; They bear us foon to Stirling gate. I’ll place thee in a lovely bower, I’ll guard thee like a tender flower-” u Oh ! hufh, Sir Knight ! ’twere female art To fay I do not read thy heart ; "Too much, before, my felfifh ear Was idly foothed my praife to hear. That fatal bait hath lured thee back, In deathful hour, o’er dangerous track ; And how, oh how, can I atone The wreck my vanity brought on ! One way remains — I’ll tell him all— Yes ! flruggling bofom, forth it {hall ! Thou, whole light folly bears the blame, Buy thine own pardon with thy fhame ! But firfl:— my father is a man Outlawed and exiled, under ban ; The price of blood is on his head, With me ’twere infamy to wed. Still would’fl: thou fpeak ? — then hear the truth ! Fitz-James, there is a noble youth— THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 125 If yet he is !—expofed for me And mine to dread extremity— Thou haft the fecret of my heart ; Forgive, be generous, and depart.” XVIII. Fitz-James knew every wily train A lady’s fickle heart to gain, But here he knew and felt them vain. There fhot no glance from Ellen’s eye, To give her fteadfaft fpeech the lie ; In maiden confidence fhe flood, Though mantled in her cheek the blood, And told her love with fuch a figh Of deep and hopelefs agony, As death had fealed her Malcolm’s doom, And fhe fat forrowing on his tomb. Hope vanifhed from Fitz-James’s eye, But not with hope fled fympathy. He proffered to attend her fide, As brother would a lifter guide. u Oh ! little know’ll thou Roderick’s heart ! Safer for both we go apart. Oh hafte thee, and from Allan learn, If thou may’ll truft yon wily kern.” With hand upon his forehead laid, The conflict of his mind to lhade, 126 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto IV. A parting Hep or two he made ; Then, as fome thought had crofled his brain, He paufed, and turned, and came again. xix. u Hear, lady, yet, a parting word ! — It chanced in fight that my poor fword Preferved the life of Scotland’s lord. This ring the grateful monarch gave, And bade, when I had boon to crave, To bring it back and boldly claim The recompenfe that I would name. Ellen, I am no courtly lord, But one who lives by lance and fword, Whofe caftle is his helm and fhield, His lordfhip, the embattled field. What from a prince can I demand, Who neither reck of Hate nor land ? Ellen, thy hand—the ring is thine ; Each guard and ufher knows the fign. Seek thou the king without delay ; This fignet (hall fecure thy way ; And claim thy fuit, whate’er it be, As ranfom of his pledge to me.” He placed the golden circlet on, Paufed—killed her hand—and then was crone. O - ■ ' i ■ --s-r a * ■ - .-=■ *. ’ ' - t. ;• ' * - p. 127- THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I27 The aged Minflrel flood aghafl, So haflily Fitz-James fhot pall. He joined his guide, and wending down The ridges of the mountain brown, Acrofs the flream they took their way. That joins Loch-Katrine to Achray. xx. All in the Trofachs’ glen was Hill, Noontide was lleeping on the hill : Sudden his guide whooped loud and high— u Murdoch ! was that a fignal cry ? ” He Hammered forth— cc I fhout to fcare Yon raven from his dainty fare.” He looked—he knew the raven’s prey, His own brave Heed :—“ Ah ! gallant grey ! For thee—for me perchance—’t were well We ne’er had feen the Trofachs’ dell. Murdoch, move firfl—but filently ; Whiffle or whoop, and thou flialt die.” Jealous and fullen, on they fared, Each filent, each upon his guard. XXI. Now wound the path its dizzy ledge Around a precipice’s edge, 128 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto IV. When lo ! a wafted female form, Blighted by wrath of fun and ftorm, In tattered weeds and wild array, Stood on a cliff beftde the way, And glancing round her reftlefs eye Upon the wood, the rock, the fky, Seemed nought to mark, yet all to fpy. Her brow was wreathed with gaudy broom ; With gefture wild fhe waved a plume Of feathers, which the eagles fling To crag and cliff from dufky wing ; Such fpoils her defperate ftep had fought, Where fcarce was footing for the goat. The tartan plaid fhe firft defcried, And fhrieked, till all the rocks replied ; As loud fhe laughed when near they drew, For then the lowland garb ftie knew ; And then her hands fhe wildly wrung, And then fhe wept, and then fhe fung. She fung !—the voice, in better time, Perchance to harp or lute might chime ; And now, though ftrained and roughened, ft ill Rung wildly fweet to dale and hill. THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I 29 XXII. Song. “ They bid me deep, they bid me pray, They lay my brain is warped and wrung— I cannot deep on highland brae, I cannot pray in highland tongue. But were I now where Allan glides, Or heard my native Devan’s tides, So fweetly would I reft and pray That heaven would clofe my wintry day! “’Twas thus my hair they made me braid, They bade me to the church repair; It was my bridal morn, they Laid, And my true love would meet me there. But woe betide the cruel guile, That drowned in blood the morning fmile ! And woe betide the fairy dream ! I only waked to fob and fcream.” XXIII. “ Who is this maid ? what means her lay ? She hovers o’er the hollow way, And flutters wide her mantle grey, As the lone heron fpreads his wing. By twilight, o’er a haunted fpring.” u ’Tis Blanche of Devan,” Murdoch laid, “ A crazed and captive lowland maid, » s 1 3 o THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto iv. Ta’en on the morn (he was a bride, When Roderick forayed Devan-fide. The gay bridegroom refiftance made, And felt our Chief’s unconquered blade. I marvel (he is now at large, But oft fhe ’fcapes from Maudlin’s charge ; Hence, brain-fick fool !” He raffed , his bow : tc Now, if thou ftrikeft her but one blow, I’ll pitch thee from the cliff as far As ever peafant pitched a bar.” u Thanks, champion, thanks ! ” the Maniac cried, And preffed her to Fitz-James’s fide. u See the grey pennons I prepare, To feek my true-love through the air ! 1 will not lend that favage groom, To break his fall, one downy plume ! No !—deep amid difjointed ftones, The wolves fhall batten on his bones, And then fhall his detefted plaid, By bufh and briar in mid-air Raid, Wave forth a banner fair and free, Meet fignal for their revelry.” XXIV. “ Hufh thee, poor maiden, and be ftill ! ” “ Oh 1 thou look’d kindly, and I will t THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. '3 1 Mine eye has dried and wafted been, But ftill it loves the Lincoln green ; And, though mine ear is all unftrung, Still, ftill it loves the lowland tongue. “ For oh my fweet William was forelter true, He dole door Blanche’s heart away ! His coat it was all of the greenwood hue, And lb blythely he trilled the Lowland lay ! u It was not that I meant to tell . . , But thou art wife, and guefteft well.” Then, in a low and broken tone, And hurried note, the fong went on. Still on the Clanfman, fearfully, She fixed her apprehenfive eye ; Then turned it on the Knight, and then Her look glanced wildly o’er the glen. xxv. “ The toils are pitched, and the (takes are let, Ever ling merrily, merrily ; The bows they bend, and the knives they whet, Hunters live fo cheerily. “ It was a Hag, a (tag of ten, Bearing his branches fturdily ; He came (lately down the glen, Ever ling hardily, hardily. 13 2 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto iv. “ It was there he met with a wounded doe, She was bleeding deathfully ; She warned him of the toils below, Oh fo faithfully, faithfully 1 “ He had an eye, and he could heed, Ever ling warily, warily ; He had a foot, and he could fpeed— Hunters watch fo narrowly." XXVI. Fitz-James’s mind was paffion-tofs’d, When Ellen’s hints and fears were loft j But Murdoch’s fhout fufpicion wrought. And Blanche’s fong conviction brought. Not like a flag that fpies the fnare, But lion of the hunt aware, He waved at once his blade on high, u Difclofe thy treachery, or die ! ” Forth at full fpeed the Clanfman flew, But in his race his bow he drew : The (haft juft grazed Fitz-James’s creft, And thrilled in Blanche’s faded breaft. Murdoch of Alpine ! prove thy fpeed, For ne’er had Alpine’s fon fuch need ! With heart of fire, and foot of wind, The fierce avenger is behind ! THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. *33 Fate judges of the rapid ftrife— The forfeit death—the prize is life ! Thy kindred ambufli lies before, Clofe couched upon the heathery moor ; Them couldft thou reach !—it may not be— Thine ambufhed kin thou ne’er fhalt fee, The fiery Saxon gains on thee ! Refiftlefs fpeeds the deadly thruft, As lightning lfrikes the pine to dull: ; With foot and hand Fitz-James muft Ifrain, Ere he can win his blade again. Bent o’er the fall’n, with falcon eye, He grimly fmiled to fee him die; Then flower wended back his way, Where the poor maiden bleeding lay. XXVII. She fate beneath the birchen tree, Her elbow refting on her knee; She had withdrawn the fatal (haft, And gazed on it, and feebly laughed ; Her wreath of broom and feathers grey, Daggled with blood, befide her lay. The Knight to ftaunch the life-ftream tried— u Stranger, it is in vain ! ” fhe cried : J 34 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto iv. u This hour of death has given me more “ Of reafon’s power than years before ; For, as these ebbing veins decay, My frenzied vifions fade away. A helplefs injured wretch I die, And fomething tells me in thine eye, That thou wert mine avenger born. Seed: thou this trefs ? Oh ! {fill I’ve worn This little trefs of yellow hair, Through danger, frenzy, and defpair ! It once was bright and clear as thine, But blood and tears have dimmed its fhine. I will not tell thee when ’twas Hired, Nor from what guiltlefs victim’s head-— My brain would turn !—but it fhall wave Like plumage on thy helmet brave, Till fun and wind fhall bleach the {fain, And thou wilt bring it me again. I waver {fill 1—Oh God ! more bright Let Reafon beam her parting light ! — Oh ! by thy knighthood’s honoured fign, And for thy life preferved by mine, When thou fhalt fee a darkfome man, Who boalfs him Chief of Alpine’s clan, With tartans broad and fhadowy plume, And hand of blood, and brow of gloom, THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. *35 Be thy heart bold, thy weapon ftrong, And wreak poor Blanche of Devan’s wrong ! —- They watch for thee by pafs and fell . . . Avoid the path . . Oh God ! . . farewell 1 ” XXVIII. A kindly heart had brave Fitz-James, Fall poured his eyes at pity’s claims ; And now with mingled grief and ire, He faw the murdered maid expire. u God, in my need, be my relief, As I wreak this on yonder Chief!” A lock from Blanche’s treffes fair He blended with her bridegroom’s hair ; The mingled braid in blood he dyed, And placed it on his bonnet fide : u By Him whofe word is truth ! I fwear, No other favour will I wear, Till this fad token I embrue In the beft blood of Roderick Dhu ! — But hark ! what means yon faint halloo ? The chafe is up—but they fhall know, The flag at bay’s a dangerous foe.” Barred from the known but guarded way, Through copfe and cliffs Fitz-James muff ffray, T 3 6 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. ! CANTO IV. And oft muft change his defperate track, By ftream and precipice turned back. Heartlefs, fatigued, and faint, at length, From lack of food, and lofs of ftrength, He couch’d him in a thicket hoar, And thought his toils and perils o’er : — tc Of all my rafh adventures pall, This frantic feat muft prove the laft ! Who e’er fo mad but might have gueff’d That all this highland hornet’s neft Would mufter up in fwarms fo loon As e’er they heard of bands at Doune ? Like bloodhounds now they fearch me out Hark, to the whiftle and the fhout ! If farther through the wilds I go, I only fall upon the foe ; I’ll couch me here till evening grey, Then darkling try my dangerous way.” XXIX. The fhades of eve come (lowly down, The woods are wrapped in deeper brown, The owl awakens from her dell, The fox is heard upon the fell ; Enough remains of glimmering light To guide the wanderer’s fteps aright, THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 1 37 Yet not enough from far to fhow His figure to the watchful foe. With cautious ftep, and ear awake, He climbs the crag and threads the brake ; And not the fummer folffice, there, 'Temper’d the midnight mountain air, But every breeze that fwept the wold Benumbed his drenched limbs with cold. In dread, in danger, and alone, Famifiied and chilled, through ways unknown, Tangled and bleep, he journey’d on ; Till, as a rock’s huge point he turned, A watch-fire clofe before him burned. xxx. Befide its embers red and clear, Balked, in his plaid, a mountaineer ; And up he fprung with fword in hand “ Thy name and purpofe ! Saxon, Hand ! ” “ A Arranger.” “ What doft thou require ? ” “ Refi: and a guide, and food and fire. My life’s befet, my path is lofir, The gale has chilled my limbs with fro fir.” “Art thou a friend to Roderick?” “No.” “ Thou darefi: not call thyfelf a foe ? ” T i 3 8 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto IV. “ I dare ! to him and all the band He brings to aid his murderous hand.” “ Bold words ! but though the beaft of game The privilege of chafe may claim. Though fpace and law the flag we lend, Ere hound we flip, or bow we bend. Who ever reck’d, where, how, or when. The prowling fox was trapped or flain ? Thus, treacherous fcouts—yet fure they lie, Who fay thou earned a fecret fpy ! ” “ They do, by heaven ! Come Roderick Dhu, And of his clan the boldeft two, And let me but till morning reft, I write the falfehood on their creft.” cc If by the blaze I mark aright, Thou bear’d the belt and fpur of Knight.” “ Then by thefe tokens may’ft thou know, Each proud oppreflor’s mortal foe.” “ Enough, enough ; fit down and fhare A foldier’s couch, a foldier’s fare.” XXXI. He gave him of his highland cheer, The hardened flefti of mountain deer ; Dry fuel on the fire he laid, And bade the Saxon fhare his plaid. THE PROPHECY.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 139 He tended him like welcome gueft, Then thus his further fpeech addrefied “ Stranger, I am to Roderick Dhu A clanfman born, a kinfman true; Each word againft his honour fpoke, Demands of me avenging ftroke ; Yet more — upon thy fate, ’tis said, A mighty augury is laid. It refts with me to wind my horn, Thou art with numbers overborne ; It refts with me, here, brand to brand, Worn as thou art, to bid thee Hand : Rut not for clan nor kindred’s caufe, Will I depart from honour’s laws ; To aflail a wearied man were fhame, And ftranger is a holy name ; Guidance and reft, and food and fire, In vain he never mult require. Then reft thee here till dawn of day ; Myfelf will guide thee on the way, O’er ftock and ftone, through watch and ward, Till paft Clan-Alpine’s outmoft guard, As far as Coilantogle’s ford — From thence thy warrant is thy fword.” “ I take thy courtefy, by Heaven, As freely as ’tis nobly given ! ” 140 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. CANTO IV. “Well, reft thee ; for the bittern’s cry Sings us the lake’s wild lullaby.” With that he fhook the gathered heath, And fpread his plaid upon the wreath ; And the brave foemen, fide by fide, Lay peaceful down, like brothers tried. And flept until the dawning beam Purpled the mountain and the ftream. Cimfo Jnffb.—Clje Combat. i. AIR as the earliefl beam of eaftern light, When firft, by the bewildered pilgrim fpied, It fmiles upon the dreary brow of night, And filvers o’er the torrent’s foaming tide, And lights the fearful path on mountain fide ; Fair as that beam, although the faireft far, Giving to horror grace, to danger pride, Shine martial Faith, and Courtefy’s bright ftar, Through all the wreckful ftorms that cloud the brow of war. II. That early beam, fo fair and fneen, Was twinkling through the hazel fcreen, 142 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. When, roufing at its glimmer red, The warriors left their lowly bed, Looked out upon the dappled Iky, Muttered their foldier matins by, And then awaked their fire, to fteal, As fhort and rude, their foldier meal. That o’er, the Gael around him threw His graceful plaid of varied hue, And, true to promife, led the way, By thicket green and mountain grey. A wildering path ! they winded now Along the precipice’s brow, Commanding the rich fcenes beneath, The windings of the Forth and Teith, And all the vales between that lie, Till Stirling’s turrets melt in fky ; Then, funk in copfe, their fartheft glance Gained not the length of horfeman’s lance. ’Twas oft fo fteep, the foot was fain Afliftance from the hand to gain ; So tangled oft, that, burfting through, Each hawthorn fhed her fhowers of dew— That diamond dew, fo pure and clear, It rivals all but Beauty’s tear ! • ' ■ . * / BENLED1. P- J 43' THE COMBAT.J THE LADY OF THE LAKE. M3 III. At length they came where, ftern and ffeep, The hill finks down upon the deep. Here Vennachar in filver flows, There, ridge on ridge, Benledi rofe ; Ever the hollow path twined on, Beneath fteep bank and threatening ffone ; An hundred men might hold the poll: With hardihood againft a hoft. The rugged mountain’s fcanty cloak Was dwarfifh fhrubs of birch and oak, With fhingles bare, and cliff's between, And patches bright of bracken green, And heather black, that waved fo high, It held the copfe in rivalry. But where the lake flept deep and ftill, Dank offers fringed the fwamp and hill ; And oft both path and hill were torn, Where wintry torrent down had borne, And heaped upon the cumbered land Its wreck of gravel, rocks, and fand. So toilfome was the road to trace, The guide, abating of his pace, Led flowly through the pafs’s jaws, And afked Fitz-James, by what ftrange cauie 144 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. He fought thefe wilds, traverfed by few Without a pafs from Roderick Dhu ? IV. u .Brave Gael, my pafs, in danger tried, Hangs in my belt, and by my fide 5 Yet footh to tell,” the Saxon faid, u I dreamed not now to claim its aid. When here, but three days fince, I came, Bewildered in purfuit of game, All feemed as peaceful and as (till, As the mift (lumbering on yon hill ; Thy dangerous chief was then afar, Nor foon expedited back from war. Thus faid, at lead, my mountain guide, Though deep, perchance, the villain lied.” “ Yet why a fecond venture try ? ” u A warrior thou, and afk me why ! Moves our free courfe by fuch fixed caufe, As gives the poor mechanic laws ? Enough, I fought to drive away The lazy hours of peaceful day ; Slight caufe will then fuffice to guide A Knight’s free footfteps far and wide ;— A falcon flown, a greyhound (frayed, The merry glance of mountain maid 5 THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 1 45 Or, if a path be dangerous known, The danger’s felf is lure alone.” v. “ Thy fecret keep, I urge thee not ; Yet, ere again ye fought this fpot, Say, heard ye nought of lowland war, Againft Clan-Alpine raifed by Mar ? ” “No, by my word ; of bands prepared To guard King James’s fports I heard ; Nor doubt I aught, but, when they hear This mufter of the mountaineer, Their pennons will abroad be flung, Which elfe in Doune had peaceful hung.” “ Free be they flung !—for we were loth Their filken folds fhould feaft the moth. Free be they flung !—as free (hall wave Clan-Alpine’s pine in banner brave. But, ftranger, peaceful fince you came, Bewildered in the mountain game, Whence the bold boaft by which you fhow Vich-Alpine’s vowed and mortal foe ? ”— “ Warrior, but yefter-morn I knew Nought of thy Chieftain, Roderick Dhu, Save as an outlaw’d defperate man, The chief of a rebellious clan, u 14.6 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. Who, in the Regent’s court and fight, With ruffian dagger {tabbed a knight ; Yet this alone might from his part Sever each true and loyal heart.” VI. Wrothful at fuch arraignment foul, Dark lowered the clanfman’s fable fcowl. A fpace he paufed, then fternly faid— cc And heard’ft thou why he drew his blade ? Heard’ft thou that fhameful word and blow Brought Roderick’s vengeance on his foe ? What recked the Chieftain, if he flood On highland heath or Holy-Rood ? He writes fuch wrong where it is given, If it were in the court of heaven.” “ Still was it outrage ;—yet, ’tis true, Not then claimed fovereignty his due ; While Albany, with feeble hand, Held borrowed truncheon of command, The young king, mew’d in Stirling tower, Was If ranger to relpedt and power. But then, thy chieftain’s robber life !— Winning mean prey by caufelefs ftrife, Wrenching from ruined lowland fwain His herds and harveft reared in vain— the combat.] the LADY OF THE LAKE. 147 Methinks a foul like thine fhould fcorn The fpoils from fuch foul foray borne.” VII. The Gael beheld him grim the while, And anfwered with difdainful fmile '■ t Saxon, from yonder mountain high, I marked thee fend delighted eye, Far to the fouth and ealt, where lay, Extended in fucceflion gay, Deep waving fields and paftures green, With gentle Hopes and groves between : — Thefe fertile plains, that foftened vale. Were once the birthright of the Gael ; The ftranger came with iron hand, And from our fathers reft the land. Where dwell we now ? See, rudely lwell Crag over crag, and fell o’er fell. Afk we this favage hill we tread, For fattened fleer or houfehold bread ; Afk we for flocks thefe fhingles dry, And well the mountain might reply — ‘ To you, as to your fires of yore, Belong the target and claymore ! I give you fhelter in my bread:, Your own good blades mult win the reft.’ 148 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. CANTO V- Pent in this fovtrefs of the North, Think’ft thou we will not Tally forth, To fpoil the fpoiler as we may, And from the robber rend the prey ? Ay, by my foul !—While on yon plain The Saxon rears one fhock of grain ; While, of ten thoufand herds, there ftrays But one along yon river’s maze— The Gael, of plain and river heir, Shall, with Prong hand, redeem his {hare. Where live the mountain chiefs who hold, That plundering lowland field and fold Is aught but retribution true ? Seek other caufe ’gainst Roderick Dhu.” VIII. Anfwered Fitz-James,—“ And, if I fought, Think’fl thou no other could be brought ? What deem ye of my path waylaid, My life given o’er to ambufcade ? ” “ As of a meed to rafhnefs due: Hadft thou fent warning fair and true — I feek my hound, or falcon {frayed, I feek, good faith, a Highland maid— Free hadft thou been to come and go; But fecret path marks fecret foe. THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. J 49 Nor yet, for this, even as a fpy, Hadft thou, unheard, been doomed to die, Save to fulfil an augury.” “ Well, let it pafs ; nor will I now Frefh caufe of enmity avow, To chafe thy mood and cloud thy brow. Enough, I am by promife tied To match me with this man of pride : Twice have I fought Clan-Alpine’s glen In peace; but when I come agen, I come with banner, brand, and bow, As leader feeks his mortal foe. For love-lorn fwain, in lady’s bower, Ne’er panted for the appointed hour, As I, until before me Hand This rebel Chieftain and his band.” IX. “ Have then thy wifh ! ”—he whittled lhrill, And he was anfwered from the hill ; Wild as the fcream of the curlew, From crag to crag the fignal flew, Inftant, through copfe and heath, arofe, Bonnets, and fpears, and bended bows ; On right, on left, above, below, Sprang up at once the lurking foe; 150 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto v- From fhingles grey their lances ftart, The bracken bufh fends forth the dart, The rufhes and the willow-wand Are briftling into axe and brand, And every tuft of broom gives life To plaided warrior armed for ftrife. That whiftle garrifon’d the glen At once with full five hundred men. As if the yawning hill to heaven A fubterranean hoft had given. Watching their leader’s beck and will, All filent there they Food and {fill. Like the loofe crags whofe threatening mafs Lay tottering o’er the hollow pafs, As if an infant’s touch could urge Their headlong paflage down the verge, With Hep and weapon forward flung, Upon the mountain-fide they hung. The mountaineer caff glance of pride Along Benledi’s living fide. Then fixed his eye and fable brow Full on Fitz-James—“How fay’ft thou now ? Thefe are Clan-Alpine’s warriors true ; And, Saxon—I am Roderick Dhu ! ” THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 15 1 X. Fitz-James was brave :—though to his heart The life-blood thrilled with fudden hart, He mann’d himfelf with dauntlefs air, Returned the Chief his haughty hare, His back againft a rock he bore, And firmly placed his foot before : — “Come one, come all ! this rock fhall fiv From its firm bafe as foon as I !” Sir Roderick marked—and in his eyes Refpedf was mingled with furprife, And the ftern joy which warriors feel In foemen worthy of their fteel. Short fpace he flood—then waved his hand ; Down lank the difappearing band ; Each warrior vanifhed where he flood, In broom or bracken, heath or wood ; Sank brand, and fpear, and bended bow, In ofiers pale and copfes low ; It feemed as if their mother Earth Had fwallowed up her warlike birth. The wind’s lafi: breath had tolled in air Pennon, and plaid, and plumage fair— The next but fwept a lone hill-fide, Where heath and fern were waving wide ; 152 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. The fun’s laft glance was glinted back, From fpear and glaive, from targe and jack— The next, all unrefledfed, fhone On bracken green and cold grey ftone. XI. Fitz-James looked round—yet fcarce believed The witnefs that his fight received ; Such apparition well might feem Delufion of a dreadful dream. Sir Roderick in fufpenfe he eyed, And to his look the Chief replied, “Fear nought—nay, that I need not fay— But—doubt not aught from mine array. Thou art my gueft ;—I pledged my word As far as Coilantogle’s ford : Nor would I call a clanfman’s brand For aid againft one valiant hand, Though on our ftrife lay every vale Rent by the Saxon from the Gael. So move we on j—I only meant To fhow the reed on which you leant, Deeming this path you might purfue Without a pafs from Roderick Dhu.” They moved :—I faid Fitz-James was brave As ever knight that belted glaive; the combat.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. Yet dare not fay, that now his blood Kept on its wont and tempered flood, As, following Roderick’s ftride, he drew That Teeming lonefome pathway through, Which yet, by fearful proof, was rife With lances, that to take his life Waited but fignal from a guide, So late difhonoured and defied. Ever, by ftealth, his eye fought round The vanifhed guardians of the ground, And {Till from copfe and heather deep, Fancy faw fpear and broadfword peep, And in the plover’s fhrilly {Train, The fignal whiftle heard again. Nor breathed he free, till far behind The pafs was left ; for then they wind Along a wide and level green, Where neither tree nor tuft was feen, Nor ruflh, nor bulh of broom was near, To hide a bonnet or a fpear. XII. The Chief in filence ftrode before, And reached that torrent’s founding fliore, Which, daughter of three mighty lakes, From Vennachar in filver breaks, ] 53 x 154 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto v. Sweeps through the plain, and ceafelefs mines On Bochaftle the mouldering lines, Where Rome, the Emprefs of the world, Of yore her eagle wings unfurl’d. And here his courfe the Chieftain Raid, Threw down his target and his plaid, And to the lowland warrior laid : — “ Bold Saxon ! to his promife juft, Vich-Alpine has difcharged his truft. This murderous chief, this ruthlefs man, This head of a rebellious clan, Hath led thee fafe through watch and ward, Far paft Clan-Alpine’s outmoft guard. Now, man to man, and fteel to fteel, A chieftain’s vengeance thou fhalt feel, See, here, all vantagelefs I ftand, Armed, like thyfelf, with ftngle brand ; For this is Coilantogle’s ford, And thou mull keep thee by thy fword.” XIII. The Saxon paufed : — “ I ne’er delayed. When foeman bade me draw my blade ; Nay more, brave Chief, I vow’d thy death ; Yet fure thy fair and generous faith, l THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 1 55 And my deep debt for life preferved, A better meed have well deferved :— Can nought but blood our feud atone ? Are there no means ? ”— u No, Stranger, And hear—to fire thy flagging zeal— The Saxon caufe refts on thy fteel ; For thus fpoke Fate, by prophet bred Between the living and the dead : u Who fpills the foremoft foeman’s life, His party conquers in the Rrife.” u Then, by my word,” the Saxon laid, u The riddle is already read. Seek yonder brake beyond the cliff — There lies Red Murdoch, ftark and Rift. Thus Fate has folved her prophecy. Then yield to Fate, and not to me. To James, at Stirling, let us go, When, if thou wilt be Rill his foe, Or if the King fhall not agree Fo grant thee grace and favour free, 1 plight mine honour, oath, and word, That, to thy native Rrengths refiored, With each advantage (halt thou Rand, That aids thee now to guard thy land.' none ! 156 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto v. XIV. Dark lightning flalhed from Roderick’s eye— “ Soars thy prefumption, then, fo high, Becaufe a wretched kern ye flew, Homage to name to Roderick Dhu ? He yields not, he, to man nor Fate ! Thou add’ll; but fuel to my hate— My clanfman’s blood demands revenge. Not yet prepared ? By heaven, I change My thought, and hold thy valour light As that of fome vain carpet-knight, Who ill deferved my courteous care, And whofe bell; boalf is but to wear A braid of his fair lady’s hair.” “ I thank thee, Roderick, for the word ! It nerves my heart, it lfeels my fword ; For I have fworn this braid to Fain In the bell blood that warms thy vein. Now, truce, farewell! and ruth, be gone ! —- Yet think not that by thee alone, Proud Chief! can courtefy be Ihown ; Though not from copfe, or heath, or cairn, Start at my whiFle clanfmen Fern, Of this fmall horn one feeble blaF Would fearful odds againF thee caF. THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 1 57 But fear not—doubt not—which thou wilt — We try this quarrel hilt to hilt.” Then each at once his faulchion drew, Each on the ground his fcabbard threw, Each looked to fun, and ftream, and plain, As what they ne’er might fee again ; Then foot, and point, and eye oppofed, In dubious Itrife they darkly doled. xv. Ill fared it then with Roderick Dhu, That on the field his targe he threw, Whole brazen ftuds and tough bull-hide Had death fo often dafhed afide ; For, trained abroad his arms to wield, Fitz-James’s blade was fword and Ihield, He pradifed every pafs and ward, To thruft, to Itrike, to feint, to guard ; While lei's expert, though fironger far, The Gael maintained unequal war. Three times in doling ftrife they Hood, And thrice the Saxon fword drank blood No Hinted draught, no fcanty tide, The gufhing flood the tartans dyed. Fierce Roderick felt the fatal drain, And fhowered his blows like wintry rain, 158 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. And, as firm rock, or caflle-roof, Againft the winter fhower is proof, The foe, invulnerable ftill, Foiled his wild rage by Ready fldll ; Till, at advantage ta’en, his brand Forced Roderick’s weapon from his hand, And, backwards borne upon the lea, Brought the proud Chieftain to his knee. XVI. “ Now, yield thee, or, by Him who made 'I'he world, thy heart’s blood dyes my blade ! u Thy threats, thy mercy, I defy ! Let recreant yield who fears to die.” Like adder darting from his coil, Like wolf that dafhes through the toil. Like mountain-cat who guards her young, Full at Fitz-James’s throat he fprung, Received, but reck’d not of a wound, And locked his arms his foeman round. Now, gallant Saxon, hold thine own ! No maiden’s hand is round thee thrown ! That defperate grafp thy frame might feel Through bars of brafs and triple Reel ! They tug, they flrain !—down, down, they go, The Gael above, Fitz-James below ! THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 1 59 The Chieftain’s gripe his throat comprefs’d, His knee was planted on his breaft ; His clotted locks he backward threw, Acrofs his brow his hand he drew, From blood and mill; to clear his fight, "Then gleam’d aloft his dagger bright 1 But hate and fury ill fupplied The ftream of life’s exhaufted tide, And all too late the advantage came, To turn the odds of deadly game ; For, while the dagger gleam’d on high, Reeled foul and fenfe, reeled brain and eve. Down came the blow ! but in the heath The erring blade found bloodless fbeath. The ftruggling foe may now unclafp The fainting Chief’s relaxing grafp ; Unwounded from the dreadful clofe, But breathlefs all, Fitz-James arofe. XVII. He faltered thanks to Heaven for life, Redeemed, unhoped, from defperate flrife ; Next on his foe his look he call:, Whofe every gafp appeared his laft In Roderick’s gore he dipp’d the braid, “ Poor Blanche ! thy wrongs are dearly paid ; i6o THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. Yet with thy foe muft die, or live, The praife that Faith and Valour give.” With that he blew a bugle-note, Undid the collar from his throat, Unbonnetted, and by the wave Sate down his brow and hands to lave. Then faint afar are heard the feet Of rufhing Feeds in gallop fleet ; The founds increafe, and now are feen Four mounted fquires in Lincoln green ; Two who bear lance, and two who lead, By loofened rein, a faddled Feed ; Each onward held his headlong courfe, And by Fitz-James rein’d up his horfe, With wonder viewed the bloody fpot— “ Exclaim not, gallants ! queFion not. You, Herbert and Luffnefs, alight, And bind the wounds of yonder knight ; Let the grey palfrey bear his weight. We deFined for a fairer freight, And bring him on to Stirling Fraight ; 1 will before at better fpeed, To feek frefh horfe and fitting weed. The fun rides high ; I muF be boune, To fee the archer-game at noon ; But lightly Bayard clears the lea. De Vaux and Herries, follow me ! THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 1 6 1 XVIII. “ Stand, Bayard, ftand ! ” the fteed obeyed, With arching neck and bended head, And glancing eye, and quivering ear, As if he loved his lord to hear. No foot Fitz-James in ftirrup ftaid, No grafp upon the faddle laid. But wreathed his left hand in the mane, And lightly bounded from the plain, Turned on the horfe his armed heel, And ftirred his courage with the fteel. Bounded the fiery fteed in air, The rider fate eredf and fair, Then, like a bolt, from fteel crofs-bow Forth launched, along the plain they go. They dafhed that rapid torrent through. And up Carhonie’s hill they flew; Still at the gallop pricked the Knight, His merry-men followed as they might. Along thy banks, fwift Teith ! they ride, And in the race they mock thy tide ; Torry and Lendrick now are paft, And Deanftown lies behind them caft ; They rife, the bannered towers of Doune, They fink in diftant woodland foon; Y i62 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. Blair-Drummond fees the hoofs ftrike fire, They fweep like breeze through Ochtertyre ; They mark juft glance and difappear The lofty brow of ancient Keir ; They bathe their courfers’ fweltering fides, Dark Forth ! amid thy fluggifh tides, And on the oppofing fhore take ground, With plafh, with fcramble, and with bound. Right hand they leave thy cliffs, Craig-forth, And foon the bulwark of the North, Grey Stirling, with her towers and town, Upon their fleet career looked down. XIX. As up the flinty path they ftrained, Sudden his fteed the leader reined ; A fignal to his fquire he flung, Who inftant to his ftirrup fprung : — u Seeft thou, De Vaux, yon woodfman grey, Who town-ward holds the rocky way, Of ftature tall and poor array ? Mark’ft thou the firm, yet active ftride, With which he fcales the mountain fide ? Know’ft thou from whence he comes, or whom ? ” “ No, by my word ; — a burly groom THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 163 He feems, who in the field or chafe A Baron’s train would nobly grace.” “ Out, out, De Vaux ! can fear fupply, And jealoufy, no fharper eye ? Afar, ere to the hill he drew, That ftately form and ftep I knew ; Like form in Scotland is not feen, Treads not fuch ftep on Scottifh green. ’Tis James of Douglas, by Saint Serle ! The uncle of the banifhed Earl. Away, away, to court, to fhow The near approach of dreaded foe : The king muft ftand upon his guard ; Douglas and he mull meet prepared.” 1'hen right hand wheeled their Heeds, and flraight They won the cattle’s poftern gate. xx. The Douglas, who had bent his way From Cambus-Kenneth’s abbey grey, Now, as he climbed the rocky fhelf, Held fad communion with himfelf:— “Yes ! all is true my fears could frame ; A prifoner lies the noble Graeme, And fiery Roderick foon will feel The vengeance of the royal Iteel. 164 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. I, only I, can ward their fate— God grant the ranfom come not late ! The Abbefs hath her promife given, My child fhall be the bride of heaven ;- Be pardoned one repining tear ! For He who gave her, knows how dear How excellent—but that is by, And now my bufinefs is to die. Ye towers ! within whole circuit dread A Douglas by his fovereign bled, And thou, oh fad and fatal mound ! That oft haft heard the death-axe found, As on the nobleft of the land Fell the Hern headfman’s bloody hand— The dungeon, block, and namelefs tomb Prepare—for Douglas feeks his doom ! But hark ! what blythe and jolly peal Makes the Francifcan fteeple reel ? And fee ! upon the crowded ftreet, In motley groups what mafquers meet ! Banner and pageant, pipe and drum. And merry morrice-dancers come. I guefs, by all this quaint array, The burghers hold their fports to-day. James will be there—he loves fuch fhow, Where the good yeoman bends his bow, THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 165 And the tough wreftler foils his foe, As well as where, in proud career, The high-born tilter Olivers fpear. I’ll follow to the Caftle-park, And play my prize—King James fliall mark, If age has tamed thefe finews ftark, Whofe force fo oft, in happier days, His boyifh wonder loved to praife.” XXI. The Caflle gates were open flung, The quivering draw-bridge rocked and rung, And echoed loud the flinty flreet Beneath the courfers’ clattering feet, As flowly down the deep defcent Fair Scotland’s King and nobles went, While all along the crowded way Was jubilee and loud huzza. And ever James was bending low, To his white jennet’s faddle-bow, Doffing his cap to city dame. Who fmiled and blufhed for pride and fhame. And well the fimperer might be vain — He chofe the faireft of the train. Gravely he greets each city fire, Commends each pageant’s quaint attire, THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. 166 Gives to the dancers thanks aloud, And fmiles and nods upon the crowd, Who rend the heavens with their acclaims, “ Long live the Commons’ King, King James ! ” Behind the King thronged peer and knight, And noble dame and damfel bright, Whofe fiery fteeds, ill brooked the flay Of the fteep ftreet and crowded way. But in the train you might difcern Dark lowering brow and vifage ftern : There nobles mourned their pride retrained, And the mean burghers’ joys difdained ; And chiefs, who, hoftage for their clan, Were each from home a banifhed man, 'There thought upon their own grey tower, Their waving woods, their feudal power, And deemed themfelves a fhameful part Of pageant, which they curfed at heart. XXII. Now, in the Caftle-park, drew out Their chequered bands the joyous route. There morricers, with bell at heel, And blade in hand, their mazes wheel ; But chief, befide the butts, there ftand Bold Robin Hood and all his band— THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 167 Friar Tuck with quarter-ftaflF and cowl, Old Scathelocke with his furly fcowl, Maid Marian, fair as ivory bone, Scarlet, and Mutch, and Little John ; Their bugles challenge all that will, In archery to prove their fkill. The Douglas bent a bow of might— His firft fhaft centered in the white. And when in turn he fhot again, His fecond fplit the firft in twain. From the King’s hand muft Douglas take A ftlver dart, the archers’ ftake ; Fondly he watched with watery eye, Some anfwering glance of fympathy— No kind emotion made reply ! Indifferent as to archer wight, The monarch gave the arrow bright. XXIII. Now, clear the ring ! for, hand to hand, The manly wreftlers take their ftand. Two o’er the reft fuperior rofe, And proud demanded mightier foes, Nor called in vain ; for Douglas came. —For life is Hugh of Larbert lame ; 168 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto v- Scarce better John of Alloa’s fare, Whom fenfelefs home his comrades bear. Prize of the wreftling match, the King To Douglas gave a golden ring, While coldly glanced his eye of blue, As frozen drop of wintry dew. Douglas would fpeak, but in his bread: His ftruggling foul his words fupprelT’d : Indignant then he turned him where T'heir arms the brawny yeomen bare, To hurl the maffive bar in air. When each his utmoft (Length had fhown, The Douglas rent an earth-fad Hone From its deep bed, then heaved it high, And fent the fragment through the fky, A rood beyond the fartheft mark ; And dill in Stirling’s royal park, The grey-haired fires, who know the pad. To {Dangers point the Douglas-cad, And moralife on the decay Of Scottifh drength in modern day. XXIV. The vale with loud applaufes rang, The Ladies’ Rock fent back the clang ; THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 169 The King, with look unmoved, bellowed A purfe well filled with pieces broad. Indignant fmiled the Douglas proud, And threw the gold among the crowd. Who now, with anxious wonder, lean, And lharper glance, the dark grey man ; Till whifpers rofe among the throng. That heart fo free, and hand fo llrong, Mull to the Douglas blood belong : O O The old men mark’d, and Ihook the head, To fee his hair with filver fpread, And wink’d afide, and told each fon Of feats upon the Englifh done, Ere Douglas of the ftalwart hand Was exiled from his native land. The women praifed his ftately form. Though wreck’d by many a winter’s llorm ; The youth, with awe and wonder, faw His llrength furpaffing nature’s law. Thus judged, as is their wont, the crowd, Till murmur rofe to clamours loud. But not a glance from that proud ring Of peers who circled round the King, With Douglas held communion kind, Or called the banilh’d man to mind ; z 170 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. No, not from thofe who, at the chafe, Once held his fide the honoured place, Begirt his board, and, in the field, Found fafety underneath his flrield ; For he, whom royal eyes difown, When was his form to courtiers known ! xxv. The monarch faw the gambols flag, And bade let loofe a gallant ftag, Wbofe pride, the holiday to crown, Two favourite grey-hounds fhould pull down, That venifon free, and Bourdeaux wine, Might ferve the archery to dine. But Lufra—whom from Douglas’ fide Nor bribe nor threat could e’er divide— The fleetefl hound in all the North, Brave Lufra faw, and darted forth. She left the royal hounds mid-way, And, dafhing on the antler’d prey, Sunk her fharp muzzle in his flank, And deep the flowing life-blood drank. The King’s flout huntfinan faw the fport By flrange intruder broken fhort, Came up, and, with his leafh unbound, In anger flruck the noble hound. THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I?I The Douglas had endured, that morn, The King’s cold look, the nobles’ fcorn, And laE, and word to fpirit proud, Had borne the pity of the crowd ; But Lufra had been fondly bred, To fhare his board, to watch his bed, And oft would Ellen, Lufra’s neck, In maiden glee, with garlands deck ; They were luch playmates, that with name Of Lufra, Ellen’s image came. His Eifled wrath is brimming high, In darkened brow and flafhing eye ; As waves before the bark divide, The crowd gave way before his Eride ; Needs but a buffet and no more, The groom lies fenfelefs in his gore. Such blow no other hand could deal, Though gauntleted in glove of fteel. XXVI. Then clamoured loud the royal train, And brandifhed fwords and Eaves amain. But Eern the Baron’s warning— u Back ! Back on your lives, ye menial pack ! Beware the Douglas. Yes ! behold, King James, the Douglas, doomed of old, 172 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. And vainly fought for near and far, A vidtim to atone the war, A willing vidlim now attends, Nor craves thy grace but for his friends.” “ Thus is my clemency repaid ? Prefumptuous Lord ! ” the monarch faid ; “ Of thy mis-proud ambitious clan, Thou, James of Bothwell, wert the man, The only man, in whom a foe My woman-mercy would not know : But fhall a Monarch’s prefence brook Injurious blow, and haughty look ? What ho ! the Captain of our Guard ! Give the offender fitting ward. Break off the fports ! ”—for tumult rofe, And yeomen ’gan to bend their bows— “ Break off the fports ! ” he faid, and frowned, “ And bid our horfemen clear the ground.” XXVII. Then uproar wild and mifarray Marr’d the fair form of feftal day. The horfemen pricked among the crowd, Repelled by threats and infult loud ; To earth are borne the old and weak, The timorous fly, the women fhriek ; THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. J 73 With flint, with iliaft, with ftafF, with bar, The hardier urge tumultuous war. At once round Douglas darkly fweep The royal fpears in circle deep, And flowly fcale the pathway fteep ; While on the rear in thunder pour The rabble with difordered roar. With grief the noble Douglas faw The commons rife again!! the law, And to the leading foldier laid, “ Sir John of Hyndford ! ’twas my blade That knighthood on thy fhouldei laid ; For that good deed permit me then A word with thefe mifguided men. XXVIII. “ Hear, gentle friends ! ere yet, for me, Ye break the bands of fealty. My life, my honour, and my caufe, I tender free to Scotland’s laws. Are thefe fo weak as muft require The aid of your mifguided ire ? Or, if I fuffer caufelefs wrong, Is then my felfilh rage fo lfrong, My fenfe of public weal fo low, That, for mean vengeance on a foe, *74 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V- Thofe cords of love I fhould unbind, Which knit my country and my kind ? Oh no ! Believe, in yonder tower It will not foothe my captive hour, To know thofe fpears our foes fhould dread, For me in kindred gore are red ; To know, in fruitlefs brawl begun, For me, that mother wails her fon ; For me, that widow’s mate expires ; For me, that orphans weep their fires ; That patriots mourn infulted laws, And curfe the Douglas for the caufe. Oh let your patience ward fuch ill, And keep your right to love me ftill ! ” XXIX. The crowd’s wild fury funk again In tears, as tempefts melt in rain. With lifted hands and eyes, they prayed For bleffings on his generous head, Who for his country felt alone, And prized her blood beyond his own. Old men, upon the verge of life, Bleffed him who ftayed the civil ftrife ; And mothers held their babes on high, The felf-devoted chief to fpy, THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. J 75 Triumphant over wrong and ire, To whom the prattlers owed a fire : Even the rough foldier’s heart was moved ; As if behind fome bier beloved, With trailing arms and drooping head, The Douglas up the hill he led, And at the caftle’s battled verge, With fighs, refigned his honoured charge. xxx. The offended Monarch rode apart, With bitter thought and fwelling heart, And would not now vouchfafe again Through Stirling ftreets to lead his train. “ Oh Lennox, who would wifh to rule This changeling crowd, this common fool ! H ear’ft thou,” he faid, “the loud acclaim With which they fihout the Douglas name ? With like acclaim, the vulgar throat Strained for King James their morning note ; With like acclaim they hailed the day When firft I broke the Douglas’ fway ; And like acclaim would Douglas greet, If he could hurl me from my feat. Who o’er the herd would wifh to reign, Fantaftic, fickle, fierce, and vain ? 176 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto v. Vain as the leaf upon the ftream, And fickle as a changeful dream ; Fantaftic as a woman’s mood, And fierce as Frenzy’s fevered blood. Thou many-headed monfter-thing, Oh who would wifli to be thy king ! XXXI. “But foft ! what meflenger of l'peed Spurs hitherward his panting fieed ? I guefs his cognizance afar— What from our coufyi, John of Mar ?” “ He prays, my liege, your fports keep bound Within the fafe and guarded ground : O O For fome foul purpofe yet unknown— Moft fure for evil to the throne — The outlawed Chieftain, Roderick Dhu, Has fummoned his rebellious crew ; ’ Tis faid, in James of Bothwell’s aid Thefe loole banditti ftand arrayed. The Earl of Mar, this morn, from Doune, To break their mufter marched, and foon Your grace will hear of battle fought ; But earneftly the Earl befought, Till for fuch danger he provide, With fcanty train you will not ride.” THE COMBAT.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 1 77 XXXII. “ Thou warn’ft me I have done amifs, T fhould have earlier looked to this : I loft it in this buftling day. Retrace with fpeed thy former way ; Spare not for fpoiling of thy fteed, The beft of mine fhall be thy meed. Say to our faithful Lord of Mar, We do forbid the intended war ; Roderick, this morn, in ftngle fight, Was made our prifoner by a knight, And Douglas hath himfelf and caufe Submitted to our kingdom’s laws. The tidings of their leaders loft VV ill foon diftolve the mountain hoft, Nor would we that the vulgar feel, For their Chief’s crimes, avenging fteel. Bear Mar our meflage, Braco, fiy.” He turned his fteed—“My liege, I hie ; Yet, ere I crofs this lily lawn, I fear the broad-fwords will be drawn.” The turf the flying courfer fpurned, And to his towers the King returned. 2 A i 7 8 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto V. XXXIII. Ill with King James’s mood that day Suited gay feaft and minftrel lay ; Soon were difmified the courtly throng, And foon cut fhort the feftal fono. O Nor lels upon the faddened town The evening funk in forrow down ; The burghers fpoke of civil jar, Of rumoured feuds and mountain war, Of Moray, Mar, and Roderick Dhu, All up in arms : the Douglas too, They mourned him pent within the hold “Where flout Earl William was of old And there his word the fpeaker ftaid, And finger on his lip he laid, Or pointed to his dagger blade. But jaded horfemen from the weft. At evening to the caflle prefTed : And bufy talkers faid they bore Tidings of fight on Katrine’s fhore ; At noon the deadly fray begun, And lafted till the let of fun. Thus giddy rumour fhook the town, Till clofed the night her pennons brown. Canf 0 Cbc dhitarb 11 oom. u u c —' I. % HE fun, awakening, through the frnoky air Of the dark city calls a fullen glance, Roufing each caitiff to his talk of care, Of finful man the fad inheritance ; Summoning revellers from the lagging dance, Scaring the prowling robber to his den ; Gilding on battled tower the warder’s lance, And warning Undent pale to leave his pen, And yield his drowfy eyes to the kind nurfe of men. What various fcenes, and oh ! what fcenes of woe, Are witneffed by that red and llruggling beam ! The fevered patient, from his pallet low, Through crowded hofpital beholds its Itream ; The ruined maiden trembles at its gleam, i8o THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. The debtor wakes to thought of gyve and jail, The love-lorn wretch darts from tormenting dream ; The wakeful mother, by the glimmering pale, Trims her fick infant’s couch, and foothes his feeble wail. ii. At dawn the towers of Stirling- rang With foldier-dep and weapon clang, While drums, with rolling note, foretell Relief to weary fentinel. Through narrow loop and cafement barr’d, The funbeams fought the Court of Guard, And, druggling with the fmoky air, Deadened the torches’ yellow glare. In comfortlefs alliance fhone 'The lights through arch of blackened done, And fhowed wild fhapes in garb of war. Faces deformed with beard and fear, All haggard from the midnight watch, And fevered with the dern debauch ; For the oak table’s maflive board, Flooded with wine, with fragments ffored, And beakers drained, and cups o’erthrown. Showed in what lport the night had flown. Some, weary, fnored on floor and bench ; Some laboured Fill their third: to quench ; THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 181 Some, chilled with watching, fpread their hands O’er the huge chimney’s dying brands ; While round them, or befide them flung, At every ftep their harnefs rung. hi. Thefe drew not for their fields the fword, Like tenants of a feudal lord. Nor owned the patriarchal claim Of chieftain in their leader’s name ; Adventurers they, from far who roved, To live by battle which they loved. There the Italian’s clouded face, The fwarthy Spaniard’s there you trace ; The mountain-loving Switzer there More freely breathed in mountain-air ; The Fleming there defpifed the foil, That paid fo ill the labourer’s toil ; Their rolls fhowed French and German name ; And merry England’s exiles came, To fhare, with ill-concealed difdain, Of Scotland’s pay the fcanty gain. All brave in arms, well trained to wield The heavy halbert, brand, and fhield ; In camps licentious, wild, and bold ; In pillage, fierce and uncontrolled ; THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. 182 And now, by holytide and feaft, From rules of difcipline releafed. IV. They held debate of bloody fray, Fought ’twixt Loch-Katrine and Aehray. Fierce was their fpeech, and, mid their words, Their hands oft grappled to their fwords ; Nor funk their tone to fpare the ear Of wounded comrades groaning near, Whofe mangled limbs, and bodies gored, Bore token of the mountain fword, Though, neighbouring to the Court of Guard, Their prayers and feverifh wails were heard Sad burden to the ruffian joke, And favage oath by fury fpoke ! — At length upftarted John of Brent, A yeoman from the banks of Trent ; A ftranger to refpedt or fear, In peace a chafer of the deer, In hoft a hardy mutineer, But ftill the boldeft of the crew, When deed of danger was to do. He grieved, that day their games cut Ihort, And marr’d the dicers’ brawling fport, the guard room.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 183 And fhouted loud, u Renew the bowl ! And, while a merry catch I troll, Let each the buxom chorus bear, Like brethren of the brand and ipear.” v. SoLicr's Song. Our vicar ftill preaches that Peter and Poule Laid a Twinging long curie on the bonny brown bowl, That there’s wrath and defpair in the jolly black jack, And the leven deadly iins in a flagon of Tack ; Yet, whoop, Barnaby ! off with thy liquor, Drink upfees out, and a fig for the vicar ! Our vicar he calls it damnation to Tip The ripe ruddy dew of a woman’s dear lip, Says, that Beelzebub lurks in her kerchief To ily, And Apollyon Ihoots darts from her merry black eye j Yet whoop, Jack ; kifs Gillian the quicker, Till The bloom like a role, and a fig for the vicar ! Our vicar thus preaches—and why Ihould he not ? For the dues of his cure are the placket and pot ; And ’tis right of his office poor laymen to lurch, Who infringe the domains of our good mother Church. Yet whoop, bully-boys ! off with your liquor, Sweet Marjorie’s the word, and a fig for the vicar ! VI. The warder’s challenge heard without, Stayed in mid roar the merry fhout. 184 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto vi. A foldier to the portal went— u Here is old Bertram, firs, of Ghent ; And, beat for jubilee the drum ! A maid and minltrel with him come.” Bertram, a Fleming, grey and fcarr’d, Was entering now the Court of Guard, A harper with him, and, in plaid, All muffled clofe, a mountain maid, Who backward fhrunk to ’fcape the view Of the loofe fcene and boifterous crew. “What news?” they roared:—■“ I only know. From noon till eve we fought with foe, As wild and as untameable As the rude mountains where they dwell. On both fides {tore of blood is loft, Nor much fuccefs can either boalt.” “ But whence thy captives, friend ? fuch fpoil As theirs mult needs reward thy toil. Old doft thou wax, and wars grow lharp ; Thou now halt glee-maiden and harp, Get thee an ape, and trudge the land, The leader of a juggler band.” VII. “ No, comrade ;—no fuch fortune mine. After the fight, thefe fought our line, THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE, l8 5 That aged harper and the girl, And, having audience of the Earl, Mar bade I fhould purvey them {feed, And bring them hitherward with fpeed. Forbear your mirth and rude alarm, For none fhall do them fhame or harm.” u Hear ye his boaft !” cried John of Brent, Ever to ftrife and jangling bent, “ Shall he ftrike doe befide our lodge, And yet the jealous niggard grudge To pay the forefter his fee ? I'll have my fhare howe’er it be, Defpite of Moray, Mar, or thee.” Bertram his forward ftep withftood ; And burning in his vengeful mood, Old Allan, though unfit for ftrife, Laid hand upon his dagger knife ; But Ellen boldly ftepp’d between, And dropp’d at once the tartan fcreen ; So, from his morning cloud, appears The fun of May, through fummer tears. The favage foldiery, amazed, As on defcended angel gazed ; Even hardy Brent, abafhed and tamed, Stood half admiring, half afhamed. 2 B 186 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto vi. VIII. Boldly fhe fpoke— cc Soldiers, attend ! My father was the foldier’s friend ; Cheered him in camps, in marches led, And with him in the battle bled. Not from the valiant, or the ftrong, Should exile’s daughter fuffer wrong.” Anfwered De Brent, moft forward ftill In every feat or good or ill, u I fhame me of the part I played ; And thou an outlaw’s child, poor maid ! An outlaw I by Foreft laws, And merry Needwood knows the caufe. Poor Rofe — if Rofe be living now ”— He wiped his iron eye and brow, “ Muft bear fuch age, I think as thou. Hear ye, my mates ; I go to call The Captain of our watch to hall : There lies my halbert on the floor ; And he that fleps my halbert o’er, To do the maid injurious part, My fhaft fhall quiver in his heart ! Beware loofe fpeech, or jelling rough : Ye all know John de Brent. Enough.” THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I8 7 IX. Their Captain came, a gallant young- (Of Tullibardine’s houfe he fprung) : Nor wore he yet the fpurs of knight, Gay was his mien, his humour light, And, though by courtefy controlled, Forward his fpeech, his bearing bold. The highborn maiden ill could brook The fcanning of his curious look And dauntlefs eye ; and yet, in footh, Young Lewis was a generous youth ; But Ellen’s lovely face and mien, Ill-fuited to the garb and fcene, Might lightly bear conlfruction ftrange, And give loofe fancy fcope to range. “ Welcome to Stirling towers, fair maid ! Come ye to feek a champion’s aid, On palfrey white, with harper hoar, Like errant damofel of yore ? Does thy high queft a knight require, Or may the venture fuit a fquire ? ” Her dark eye flafhed ; fhe paufed and fighed, u Oh what have I to do with pride !— Through fcenes of forrow, fhame, and ft rife, A fuppliant for a father’s life, 188 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. I crave an audience of the King. Behold, to back my fuit, a ring, The royal pledge of grateful claims, Given by the Monarch to Fitz-James.” x. The fignet ring young Lewis took, With deep refpedl and altered look ; And faid— u This ring our duties own ; And pardon, if, to worth unknown, In femblance mean obfcurely veiled, Lady, in aught my folly failed. Soon as the day flings wide his gates. The King fhall know what fuitor waits. Pleafe you, meanwhile, in fitting bower, Repofe you till his waking hour; Female attendance fhall obey Your heft, for fervice or array. Permit I marfhal you the way.” But, ere fhe followed, with the grace And open bounty of her race, She bade her flender purfe be ihared Among the foldiers of the guard. The reft with thanks their guerdon took ; But Brent, with fhy and awkward look, THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 189 On the reludlant maiden’s hold Forced bluntly back the proffered gold ;— “ Forgive a haughty Englifh heart, And oh, forget its ruder part ! The vacant purfe (hall be my {hare, Which in my barret-cap I’ll bear, Perchance, in jeopardy of war, Where gayer creffs may keep afar.” With thanks—’twas all fhe could—the maid His rugged courtefy repaid. XI. When Ellen forth with Lewis went, Allan made fuit to John of Brent : — “ My lady fafe, oh let your grace Give me to fee my mailer’s face ! His minftrel I—to fhare his doom Bound from the cradle to the tomb. Tenth in defcent, fince firft my fires Waked for his noble houfe their lyres, Nor one of all the race was known But prized its weal above their own. With the Chief’s birth begins our care : Our harp muff foothe the infant heir, Teach the youth tales of fight, and grace His earlieft feat of field or chafe : 190 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. In peace, in war, our rank we keep, We cheer his board, we foothe his deep, Nor leave him till we pour our verfe, A doleful tribute ! o’er his hearfe. Then let me fhare his captive lot ; It is my right—deny it not ! ” “Little we reck,” faid John of Brent, “We fouthern men, of long defcent ; Nor wot we how a name—a word— Makes clanfmen vaflals to a lord : Yet kind my noble landlord’s part— God blefs the houfe of Beaudefert ! And, but I loved to drive the deer, More than to guide the labouring fleer, I had not dwelt an outcaft here, Gome, good old Minflrel, follow me ; Thy Lord and Chieftain {halt thou fee.” XII. Then, from a rufted iron hook, A bunch of ponderous keys he took, Lighted a torch, and Allan led Through grated arch and pafTage dread. Portals they palled, where, deep within, Spoke prifoner’s moan and fetters’ din ; THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I 9 I Through rugged vaults, where, loofely ftored, Lay wheel, and axe, and headfman’s fword, And many an hideous engine grim, For wrenching joint, and crufhing limb, By artifts formed, who deemed it fhame And fin to give their work a name. They halted at a low-browed porch, And Brent to Allan gave the torch, While bolt and chain he backward rolled, And made the bar unhafp its hold. They entered — ’twas a prifon-room Of ftern fecurity and gloom. Yet not a dungeon ; for the day Through lofty gratings found its way, And rude and antique garniture Decked the fad walls and oaken floor ; Such as the rugged days of old, Deem’d fit for captive noble’s hold. “ Here,” faid De Brent, “ Thou may’ft remain, Till the Leech vifit him again. Strict is his charge, the warders tell, To tend the noble prifoner well.” Retiring then, the bolt he drew, And the lock’s murmurs growl’d anew. Roufed at the found, from lowly bed A captive feebly raifed his head ; 192 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. The wondering Minftrel looked, and knew Not his dear lord, but Roderick Dhu ! For, come from where Clan-Alpine fought, They, erring, deemed the Chief he fought. XIII. As the tall fhip, whofe lofty prore Shall never ftem the billows more, Deferted by her gallant band, Amid the breakers lies aftrand,— So, on his couch, lay Roderick Dhu ! And oft his fevered limbs he threw In tols abrupt, as when her fides Lie rocking in the advancing tides, That fhake her frame with ceafelefs beat, Yet cannot heave her from her feat ; Oh ! how unlike her courfe on fea ! Or his free ftep on hill and lea ! — Soon as the Minflrel he could fcan, “What of thy lady?—of my clan? — My mother ?—Douglas ?—tell me all ! Have they been ruined in my fall ? Ah, yes ! or wherefore art thou here ! Yet fpeak—fpeak boldly !—do not fear.” (For Allan, who his mood well knew, Was choked with grief and terror too.) THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. *93 “ Who fought—who fled ? Old man, be brief; Some might—for they had loft their Chief. Who bafely live ?—who bravely died ? ” “Oh, calm thee, Chief!” the Minftrel cried, “Ellen is fafe ■, ”—“For that, thank Heaven!” “ And hopes are for the Douglas given ; The Lady Margaret too is well, And, for thy clan—on field or fell, Has never harp of minflrel told, Of combat fought fo true and bold. Thy ftately pine is yet unbent, Though many a goodly bough is rent.” XIV. The Chieftain reared his form on high, And fever’s fire was in his eye; But ghaftly, pale, and livid Freaks Chequered his fwarthy brow and cheeks. —“ Hark, Minftrel ! I have heard thee play, With mealure bold on feftal day, In yon lone ifle . . . again where ne’er Shall harper play, or warrior hear . . . That ftirring air that peals on high, O’er Dermid’s race our vidfory. Strike it !—and then (for well thou canft) Free from thy minftrel-fpirit glanced, 2 c 194 THE LADY OF THE LAKE [canto VI. Fling me the picture of the fight, When met my clan the Saxon might. I’ll liften, till my fancy hears The clang of fwords, the crafh of fpears ! Thefe grates, thefe walls, fhall vanifh then, For the fair field of fighting men, And my free fpirit burft away, As if it foared from battle fray.” The trembling bard with awe obeyed— Slow on the harp his hand he laid ; But foon remembrance of the fight He witnefled from the mountain’s height, With what old Bertram told at night, Awakened the full power of fong, And bore him in career along ;— As fhallop launched on river’s tide, That flow and fearful leaves the fide. But, when it feels the middle ftream, Drives downward fwift as lightning’s beam. “ The Minftrel came once more to view The eallern ridge of Ben-venue, For, ere he parted, he would fay Farewell to lovely Loch-Achray — t m - ' . F.OCH ACHRAY AND BENVENUE. p. 194. ' M.vk': the guard room.] the LADY OF THE LAKE. J 95 Where fhall he find, in foreign land. So lone a lake, fo fweet a flrand !— There is no breeze upon the fern, No ripple on the lake, Upon her eyrie nods the erne, The deer has fought the brake ; The finall birds will not fing aloud, The fpringing trout lies ftill, So darkly glooms yon thunder cloud, That fwathes, as with a purple fhroud, Benledi’s diftant hill. Is it the thunder’s folemn found That mutters deep and dread, Or echoes from the groaning ground The warrior’s meafured tread ? Is it the lightning’s quivering glance That on the thicket ftreams, Or do they flafh on fpear and lance The fun’s retiring beams ? —I fee the dagger-crefl: of Mar, I fee the Moray’s filver ftar, Wave o’er the cloud of Saxon war. That up the lake comes winding far ! To hero bound for battle-ftrife, Or bard of martial lay, ’ Twere worth ten years of peaceful life, One glance at their array ! 196 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto vi. XVI. “ Their light-armed archers far and near Surveyed the tangled ground ; Their centre ranks, with pike and fpear, A twilight foreft frowned ; Their barbed horfemen, in the rear, The ftern battalia crowned. No cymbal claflhed, no clarion rang, Still were the pipe and drum ; Save heavy tread, and armour’s clang, The fullen march was dumb. There breathed no wind their crefts to (hake, Or wave their flags abroad ; Scarce the frail afpen feem to quake, That fhadowed o’er their road. Their vanward fcouts no tidings bring, Can roufe no lurking foe, Nor fpy a trace of living thing, Save when they ftirred the roe ; The hoft moves like a deep-fea wave. Where rife no rocks its pride to brave, High-fwelling, dark, and flow. The lake is pafled, and now they gain A narrow and a broken plain, Before the Trofachs’ rugged jaws ; And here the horfe and fpearmen pauled, THE GUARD room.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. l 97 While, to explore the dangerous glen, Dive through the pafs the archer-men. XVII. “ At once there rofe fo wild a yell Within that dark and narrow dell, As all the fiends, from heaven that fell, Had pealed the banner-cry of hell ! Forth from the pafs in tumult driven, Like chaff before the wind of heaven, The archery appear : For life ! for life ! their flight they ply— And fhriek, and fhout, and battle-cry. And plaids and bonnets waving high, And broad-fwords flafhing to the fky, Are maddening in the rear. Onward they drive, in dreadful race, Purfuers and purfued ; Before that tide of flight and chafe, How fliall it keep its rooted place, The fpearmen’s twilight wood ? — ‘Down, down,’ cried Mar, ‘your lances down! Bear back both friend and foe ! ’ Like reeds before the tempeft’s frown, That ferried grove of lances brown At once lay levell’d low ; 198 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. And clofely fhouldering fide to fide, The briftling ranks the onfet bide. — ‘We’ll quell the favage mountaineer, As their Tinchel cows the game ! They come as fleet as foreft deer, We’ll drive them back as tame.’ XVIII. “ Bearing before them, in their courfe, The relics of the archer force. Like wave with creft of fparkling foam, Right onward did Clan-Alpine come. Above the tide, each broad-fword bright Was brandiihino- like beam of lio;ht. Each targe was dark below ; And with the ocean’s mighty fwing, When heaving to the tempeft’s wing, They hurled them on the foe. I heard the lance’s fliivering crafh, As when the whirlwind rends the afh ; I heard the broad-fword’s deadly clang, As if an hundred anvils rang ! But Moray wheeled his rearward rank Of horfemen on Clan-Alpine’s flank — ‘ My banner-man, advance ! I fee,’ he cried, ‘ their column fhake. THE GUARD room.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. I 99 Now, gallants ! for your ladies’ fake, Upon them with the lance ! ’ The horfemen dafhed among the rout, As deer break through the broom ; Their fteeds are flout, their fwords are out, They foon make lightfome room. Clan-Alpine’s beft are backward borne — Where, where was Roderick then ! One blaft upon his bugle-horn Were worth a thoufand men. And refluent through the pafs of fear The battle’s tide was pour’d ; Vanifhed the Saxon’s ftruggling fpear, Vanifhed the mountain fword. As Bracklinn’s chafm, fo black and fleep, Receives her roaring linn, As the dark caverns of the deep Suck the wild whirlpool in, So did the deep and darkfome pafs Devour the battle’s mingled mafs ; None linger now upon the plain, Save thofe who ne’er fhall fight again. XIX. u Now weftward rolls the battle’s din, That deep and doubling pafs within. 200 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. Minftrel, away ! the work of fate Is bearing on : its iiTue wait, Where the rude Trofachs’ dread defile Opens on Katrine’s lake and ifle. Grey Ben-venue I foon repafied, Loch-Katrine lay beneath me call. The fun is fet—the clouds are met— The lowering fcowl of heaven An inky hue of livid blue To the deep lake has given ; Strange gufts of wind from mountain glen Swept o’er the lake, then funk agen. I heeded not the eddying furge, Mine eye but faw the Trofachs’ gorge, Mine ear but heard that fullen found, Which like an earthquake Ihook the ground. And fpoke the ftern and defperate ftrife That parts not but with parting life, Seeming, to minftrel-ear, to toll The dirge of many a paffing foul. Nearer it comes—the dim-wood glen The martial flood difgorged agen, But not in mingled tide ; The plaided warriors of the North, High on the mountain thunder forth, And overhang its fide ; • ■ ■ " • > ■-,J\ ■ - - .... , ■■ \ • . ■* t ■■ x - . • THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 201 While by the lake below appears The darkening cloud of Saxon fpears. At weary bay each fhattered band, Eyeing their foemen, ffernly ffand ; Their banners ftream like tatter’d fail, That flings its fragments to the gale, And broken arms and difarray Marked the fell havoc of the day. xx. “ Viewing the mountain’s ridge alkance, The Saxons flood in fullen trance, Till Moray pointed with his lance, And cried — ‘ Behold yon ifle ! See ! none are left to guard its ftrand, But women weak, that wring the hand : ’Tis there of yore the robber band Their booty wont to pile ;— My purfe, with bonnet-pieces ftore, To him will fwim a bow-fhot o’er, And loofe a fhallop from the fhore. Lightly we’ll tame the war-wolf then, Lords of his mate, and brood, and den.’ Forth from the ranks a fpearman fprung, On earth his cafque and corflet rung, He plunged him in the wave 2 D 202 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. | CANTO VI. All faw the deed—the purpofe knew, And to their clamours Ben-venue A mingled echo gave ; The Saxons fhout, their mate to cheer, The helplefs females fcream for fear, And yells for rage the mountaineer. ’ Twas then, as by the outcry riven, Poured down at once the lowering heaven ; A whirlwind fwept Loch Katrine’s breaff, Her billows reared their fnowy creft. Well for the fwimmer fwelled they high, To mar the Highland markfman’s eye ; For round him fhowered, ’mid rain and hail, The vengeful arrows of the Gael. In vain. He nears the ifle—and lo ! His hand is on a fhallop’s bow. —Juft then a flafh of lightning came, It tinged the waves and ftrand with flame ; I marked Duncraggan’s widowed dame, Behind an oak I faw her Hand, A naked dirk gleamed in her hand :— It darkened—but amid the moan Of waves I heard a dying groan ;— Another flafh ! the fpearman floats A weltering corfe befide the boats, And the {fern Matron o’er him flood, Her hand and dagger ffreaming blood. THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 203 XXI. “ c Revenge ! revenge ! ’ the Saxons cried, The Gaels’ exulting fhout replied. Defpite the elemental rage, Again they hurried to engage ; But, ere they clofed in defperate fight, Bloody with fpurring came a knight, Sprang from his horfe, and, from a crag, Waved ’ twixt the hofts a milk-white flao. O Clarion and trumpet by his fide Rang forth a truce-note high and wide. While, in the monarch’s name, afar A herald’s voice forbade the war, For Bothwell’s lord, and Roderick bold, Were both, he faid, in captive hold.” — But here the lay made fudden ftand, 'The harp efcap’d the minftrel’s hand ! Oft had he ftolen a glance, to fpy How Roderick brooked his minftrelfy : At firft, the Chieftain, to the chime, With lifted hand, kept feeble time ; That motion ceafed—yet feeling ftrong Varied his look as changed the fong ; At length, no more his deafened ear The minftrel melody can hear ; 204 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. His face grows fharp—his hands are clenched, As if fome pang his heart-firings wrenched ; Set are his teeth, his fading eye Is fternly fixed on vacancy. Thus, motionlefs, and moanlefs, drew His parting breath, flout Roderick Dhu !— Old Allan-Bane looked on aghaft, While grim and ftill his fpirit palled ; But when he faw that life was fled, He poured his wailing o’er the dead. XXII. ITamerd. “And art thou cold, and lowly laid, Thy foeman’s dread, thy people’s aid, Breadalbane’s boaft, Clan-Alpine’s Ihade ! For thee lhall none a requiem fay ? — For thee, who loved the minftrel’s lay, For thee, of Both well’s houfe the flay, The Ihelter of her exiled line, E’en in this prifon-houfe of thine, I’ll wail for Alpine’s honoured pine ! “ What groans lhall yonder valleys fill ! What Ihrieks of grief lhall rend yon hill ! What tears of burning rage lhall thrill, When mourns thy tribe thy battles done, Thy fall before the race was won, Thy fword ungirt ere fet of fun ! THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 205 There breathes not clanfman of thy line, But would have given his life for thine. Oh woe for Alpine’s honoured pine ! “ Sad was thy lot on mortal ftage !— The captive thrulh may brook the cage, The prifoned eagle dies for rage. Brave fpirit, do not fcorn my ftrain ! And, when its notes awake again, Even ihe, fo long beloved in vain, Shall with my harp her voice combine, And mix her woe and tears with mine, To wail Clan-Alpine’s honoured pine.” XXIII. Ellen, the while, with burfting heart, Remained in lordly bower apart, Where played, with many-coloured gleams, Through floried pane the riling beams. In vain on gilded roof they fall, And lighten’d up a tapeftried wall, And for her ufe a menial train A rich collation fpread in vain. The banquet proud, the chamber gay, Scarce drew one curious glance aftray ; Or, if fhe looked, ’twas but to fay, With better omen dawned the day In that lone ille, where waved on high 1'he dun deer’s hide for canopy ; 206 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto vr. Where oft her noble father fhared The fimple meal her care prepared, While Lufra, crouching by her fide, Her ftation claimed with jealous pride, And Douglas, bent on woodland game, Spoke of the chafe to Malcolm Graeme, Whofe anfwer, oft at random made, The wandering of his thoughts betrayed — Thofe who fuch fimple joys have known Are taught to prize them when they’re gone. But fudden, fee, floe lifts her head ! The window feeks with cautious tread. What diftant mufic has the power To win her in this woeful hour ! ’ Twas from a turret that o’erhung Her latticed bower, the (train was fung. XXIV. ITaij of tjje Jfmjjrisonctr “ My hawk is tired of perch and hood, My idle greyhound loathes his food, My horfe is weary of his flail, And I am lick of captive thrall. I wifh I were as I have been, Hunting the hart in foreft green, With bended bow and bloodhound free, For that’s the life is meet for me. the guard room.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 207 I hate to learn the ebb of time. From yon dull fteeple’s drowfy chime, Or mark it as the funbeams crawl, Inch after inch, along the wall. The lark was wont my matins ring, The fable rook my vefpers fing ; Thefe towers, although a king’s they be, Have not a hall of joy for me. No more at dawning morn I rife, And fun myfelf in Ellen’s eyes, Drive the fleet deer the foreft through, And homeward wend with evening dew ; A blythefome welcome blythely meet, And lay my trophies at her feet, While fled the eve on wing of glee — That life is loft to love and me !” XXV. The heart-fick lay was hardly faid The lift’ner had not turned her head, It trickled Hill, the ftarting tear, When light a footftep ftruck her ear, And Snowdoun’s graceful Knight was near. She turned the haftier, left again The prifoner fhould renew his ftrain. u Oh welcome, brave Fitz-James !” fhe faid ; “ How may an almoft orphan maid Pay the deep debt.” u Oh fay not fo ! To me no gratitude you owe. 208 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto vi. Not mine, alas ! the boon to give, And bid thy noble father live ; I can but be thy guide, fweet maid, With Scotland’s King thy fuit to aid. No tyrant he, though ire and pride May lead his better mood abide. Come, Ellen, come !—’tis more than time ; He holds his court at morning prime.” With beating heart, and bofom wrung, As to a brother’s arm file clung. Gently he dried the falling tear, And gently whifpered hope and cheer ; Her faltering fteps half led, half flaid, Through gallery fair and high arcade, Till, at his touch, its wings of pride A portal arch unfolded wide. XXVI. Within ’twas brilliant all and light, A thronging fcene of figures bright ; It glowed on Ellen’s dazzled fight, As when the fetting fun has given Ten thoufand hues to fummer even, And, from their tiffue, fancy frames Aerial knights and fairy dames. the guard room.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 209 Still by Fitz-James her footing flaid ; A few faint Heps fhe forward made, Then flow her drooping head fhe raifed, And fearful round the prefence gazed ; For him fhe fought, who owned this Hate, Fhe dreaded prince whofe will was fate ! She gazed on many a princely port, Might well have ruled a royal court ; On many a fplendid garb (he gazed— Then turned bewildered and amazed, For all flood bare ; and, in the room, Fitz-James alone wore cap and plume. To him each lady’s look was lent, On him each courtier’s eye was bent ; Midft furs, and filks, and jewels fheen, He Hood, in Ample Lincoln green, The centre of the glittering ring — And Snowdoun’s Knight is Scotland’s King ! XXVII. As wreath of fnow, on mountain breaff, Slides from the rock that gave it reft, Poor Ellen glided from her Hay, And at the Monarch’s feet fhe lay ; No word her choking voice commands — She fhowed the ring-—fhe clafped her hands. 2 E 210 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto vi. Oh ! not a moment could he brook, The generous prince, that fuppliant look ! Gently he railed her—and the while Checked with a glance the circle’s fmile. Graceful, but grave, her brow he kiffed, And bade her terrors be difmifled— cc Yes, Fair; the wandering poor Fitz-James The fealty of Scotland claims. To him thy woes, thy wifhes, bring ; He will redeem his fignet ring. Afk nought for Douglas—yefter even, His prince and he have much forgiven : Wrong hath he had from flanderous tongue, I, from his rebel kinfmen, wrong. We would not to the vulgar crowd Yield what they craved with clamour loud ; Calmly we heard and judged his caufe, Our council aided, and our laws. I branched thy father’s death-feud ftern, With flout De Vaux and grey Glencairn ; And Both well’s Lord henceforth we own The friend and bulwark of our Throne. But, lovely infidel, how now ? What clouds thy mifbelieving brow ? Lord James of Douglas, lend thine aid ; Thou mud confirm this doubting maid.” THE GUARD ROOM.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 21 I XXVIII. Then forth the noble Douglas fprung, And on his neck his daughter hung. The Monarch drank, that happy hour, The fweeteft, holieft draught of power — When it can fay, with godlike voice, Arife, fad Virtue, and rejoice ! Yet would not James the general eye On nature’s raptures long Ihould pry ; He ftepp’d between —“ Nay, Douglas, nay, Steal not my profelyte away ! The riddle ’tis my right to read, That brought this happy chance to fpeed, Yes, Ellen, when difguifed I ftray, In life’s more low but happier way, ’Tis under name which veils my power, Nor falfely veils — for Stirling’s tower Of yore the name of Snowdoun claims, And Normans call me James Fitz-James. Thus watch I o’er infulted laws, Thus learn to right the injured caufe.” Then in a tone apart, and low, — “ Ah, little trait’refs ! none muft know What idle dream, what lighter thought, What vanity full dearly bought, 212 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. Joined to thine eye’s dark witchcraft, drew My fpell-bound deps to Ben-venue, In dangerous hour, and all but gave Thy Monarch’s life to mountain glaive ! ” Aloud he fpoke—“Thou dill doft hold That little talifman of gold, Pledge of my faith, Fitz-James’s ring— What feeks fair Ellen of the King?” XXIX. Full well the confcious maiden gueffed, He probed the weaknefs of her bread: ; But, with that confcioufnefs, there came A lightening of her fears for Graeme, And more fhe deemed the monarch’s ire Kindled ’gainft him, who, for her fire, Rebellious broad-fword boldly drew ; And to her generous feeling true, She claimed the grace of Roderick Dhu. “Forbear thy fuit : — the King of Kings Alone can day life’s parting wings. I know his heart, I know his hand, Have fhared his cheer, and proved his brand ;— My faired earldom would I give To bid Clan-Alpine’s Chieftain live ! THE GUARD room.] THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 213 Haft thou no other boon to crave ? — No other captive friend to fave ?” Blufhing, file turned her from the King, And to the Douglas gave the ring, As if fhe wifhed her fire to fpeak The fuit that ftained her glowing cheek. “ Nay, then, my pledge has loft its force, And ftubborn juftice holds her courfe. Malcolm, come forth ! ”—And, at the word, Down kneel’d the Graeme to Scotland’s Lord. “ For thee, rafh youth, no fuppliant fues, From thee may Vengeance claim her dues. Who, nurtured underneath our fmile, Haft paid our care by treacherous wile, And fought amid thy faithful clan, A refuge for an outlawed man, Difhonouring thus thy loyal name. Fetters and warder for the Graeme ! ” His chain of gold the King unftrung, The links o’er Malcolm’s neck he flung, Then gently drew the glittering band, And laid the clafp on Ellen’s hand. 214 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. [canto VI. Harp of the North, farewell ! The hills grow dark, On purple peaks a deeper (hade defcending ; In twilight copfe the glow-worm lights her fpark, The deer, half feen, are to the covert wending. Refume thy wizard elm ! the fountain lending, And the wild breeze, thy wilder minftrelfy ; Thy numbers fweet with Nature’s vefpers blending, With diftant echo from the fold and lea, And herd-boy’s evening pipe, and hum of houfing bee. Yet, once again, farewell, thou Minftrel Harp ! Yet, once again, forgive my feeble fway, And little reck I of the cenfure (harp May idly cavil at an idle lay. Much have I owed thy (trains on life’s long way, Through fecret woes the world has never known, When on the weary night dawned wearier day, And bitterer was the grief devoured alone. That I o’erlived fuch woes, Enchantrefs ! is thine own. Hark ! as my lingering footfteps flow retire, Some Spirit of the Air has waked thy (tring ! ’Tis now a Seraph bold, with touch of fire, ’ Tis now the brufh of Fairy’s frolic wing. THE GUARD ROOM. THE LADY OF THE LAKE. 2I 5 Receding now, the dying numbers ring Fainter and fainter down the rugged dell, And now the mountain breezes fcarcely bring A wandering witch-note of the diftant fpell— And now, ’tis filent all ! — Enchantrefs, fare thee well 1 RICHARD EARRETT, PRINTER, I 3, MARK LANE, LONDON. ■ , s i ■ Wd¥'\ Ugl mm sas 3|jJ[jjT[K ■IBl 111 1 yM f§f Mil ^nilMrlwUliS Jj5 f§| ^laliiliS 1 I i 1 ri ill V j \ 1 \Jgt fj ill h 4 I 31 nil ■ am