The Lady Of The Lake - Canto Fifth Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCCDCDE FFGG HHIIJJKKLL MMNNIIOP QQRRSTUUVVFF WXXYYZZA2A2B2C2II I CCGD2E2F2XXDEC C2B2JJCCD2D2T I G2G2E H2I2J2OK2 LLIIF2F2L2 IIM2M2BBN2 O2O2GD2L2L2P2Q2R2 IIZZS2S2IINNY I T2T2IIJJFFU2U2ZZV2V2 GGIIEEW2W2LLJJNNX2X2 PPY2Y2I I Z2Z2D2 IID2D2L2L2II KKKCCA3A3KL2S2S2Z X2 XXXXX2X2XXN2N2B3ZIIA 3A3R2R2XXX2X2C3C3K2K 2CCKKX X2 N2N2PPEEX X2X2XXZZP2P2KXLLPPCC D3D3TT X2 E3E3F3F3CCX2X2I2G3ZZ XXH3I3X IIJ3J3XXIICCK3K3QQNA 3L3L3FFOO X EEXXXXM3M3D2N3GO3O3M 2M2G3P3XXZZG3 X D2D2LLQ3Q3TR2XXGGI GGIIXXXXXXI2G3Z X XXXIR3R3S3T3BBPPXI2G 3NNNNNNNU3U3V3 XXNNW3W3 X IXCCX3X3G3P3DEP2J3CC NNXXXXZZXX X D2D2X XXK2K2K3K3NNXXXXW2W2 XXBBCCF2F2XXLLQQXX X XXU3U3D2D2X Y3Y3XXZ3Z3NNGA4XXG2G 2BBR3R3R3A4A4NNXX X D2GJ2J2D2D2NNXXPPXXX XBBCCU3U3NNS2S2S2S2X XK3K3LLNN X B4B4K2K2S2S2S2CC C4X XXS2S2NNXXXXP3 R3R3 X S2S2XXF2F2XXR3R3NNS2 S2XXGGK3K3ZZC4C4XXZ3 Z3D4D4S2S2XKXS2S2E4E 4E4X X K2K2Z3Z3H3H3S2XXKF2F 2NNS2S2F4F4X BBS2S2NNB4B4NNS2S2N2 N2 X G4G4XXZZXXNNXXBBNNH4 H4XXXBB X ZZXXF2F2S2S2I4I4S2S2 W2W2S2S2S2NNXXE4E4U3 U3S2S2 X J4J4K4L4F4F4NNM4M4M4 GGNNZZN4N4XXF4F4I4I4 L3L3XXX3X3NN X O4O4NNNNCCLLS2S2P4P4 Q4Q4K3K3NNF4F4GGR4R4 F2F2XXCCS2S2XX X NNI4D3Y2Y2S2S2X D2GNNXXS4S4P3G3XXK3 X S2S2F4F4T4T4S2S2QQQS 2S2XXGD2D2NN X XXXXS2S2M4M4XXXXS2S2 XXNNXXXXX X NNXXNNXXXXS2S2XXXXC3 U4 X XXNNXXF2F2XXXXXXNNF3 F3XXI4I4 X XXS2 XXNNIS2XXNNXXX X XXXXXXS2S2XXXXXXXX IN XX X XXM4M4NNS2S2IXX XXXXXS2S2NNNNThe Combat | A |
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I | - |
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Fair as the earliest beam of eastern light | B |
When first by the bewildered pilgrim spied | C |
It smiles upon the dreary brow of night | B |
And silvers o'er the torrent's foaming tide | C |
And lights the fearful path on mountain side | C |
Fair as that beam although the fairest far | D |
Giving to horror grace to danger pride | C |
Shine martial Faith and Courtesy's bright star | D |
Through all the wreckful storms that cloud the brow of War | E |
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II | - |
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That early beam so fair and sheen | F |
Was twinkling through the hazel screen | F |
When rousing at its glimmer red | G |
The warriors left their lowly bed | G |
Looked out upon the dappled sky | - |
Muttered their soldier matins try | - |
And then awaked their fire to steal | H |
As short and rude their soldier meal | H |
That o'er the Gael around him threw | I |
His graceful plaid of varied hue | I |
And true to promise led the way | J |
By thicket green and mountain gray | J |
A wildering path they winded now | K |
Along the precipice's brow | K |
Commanding the rich scenes beneath | L |
The windings of the Forth and Teith | L |
And all the vales between that lie | - |
Till Stirling's turrets melt in sky | - |
Then sunk in copse their farthest glance | M |
Gained not the length of horseman's lance | M |
'Twas oft so steep the foot was as fain | N |
Assistance from the hand to gain | N |
So tangled oft that bursting through | I |
Each hawthorn shed her showers of dew | I |
That diamond dew so pure and clear | O |
It rivals all but Beauty's tear | P |
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III | - |
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At length they came where stern and steep | Q |
The hill sinks down upon the deep | Q |
Here Vennachar in silver flows | R |
There ridge on ridge Benledi rose | R |
Ever the hollow path twined on | S |
Beneath steep hank and threatening stone | T |
A hundred men might hold the post | U |
With hardihood against a host | U |
The rugged mountain's scanty cloak | V |
Was dwarfish shrubs of birch and oak | V |
With shingles bare and cliffs between | F |
And patches bright of bracken green | F |
And heather black that waved so high | - |
It held the copse in rivalry | W |
But where the lake slept deep and still | X |
Dank osiers fringed the swamp and hill | X |
And oft both path and hill were torn | Y |
Where wintry torrent down had borne | Y |
And heaped upon the cumbered land | Z |
Its wreck of gravel rocks and sand | Z |
So toilsome was the road to trace | A2 |
The guide abating of his pace | A2 |
Led slowly through the pass's jaws | B2 |
And asked Fitz James by what strange cause | C2 |
He sought these wilds traversed by few | I |
Without a pass from Roderick Dhu | I |
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IV | I |
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'Brave Gael my pass in danger tried | C |
Hangs in my belt and by my side | C |
Yet sooth to tell ' the Saxon said | G |
'I dreamt not now to claim its aid | D2 |
When here but three days since | E2 |
I came Bewildered in pursuit of game | F2 |
All seemed as peaceful and as still | X |
As the mist slumbering on yon hill | X |
Thy dangerous Chief was then afar | D |
Nor soon expected back from war | E |
Thus said at least my mountain guide | C |
Though deep perchance the villain lied ' | - |
'Yet why a second venture try ' | - |
'A warrior thou and ask me why | - |
Moves our free course by such fixed cause | C2 |
As gives the poor mechanic laws | B2 |
Enough I sought to drive away | J |
The lazy hours of peaceful day | J |
Slight cause will then suffice to guide | C |
A Knight's free footsteps far and wide | C |
A falcon flown a greyhound strayed | D2 |
The merry glance of mountain maid | D2 |
Or if a path be dangerous known | T |
The danger's self is lure alone ' | - |
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V | I |
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'Thy secret keep I urge thee not | G2 |
Yet ere again ye sought this spot | G2 |
Say heard ye naught of Lowland war | E |
Against Clan Alpine raised by Mar ' | - |
'No by my word of bands prepared | H2 |
To guard King James's sports I heard | I2 |
Nor doubt I aught but when they hear | J2 |
This muster of the mountaineer | O |
Their pennons will abroad be flung | K2 |
Which else in Doune had peaceful hung ' | - |
'Free be they flung for we were loath | L |
Their silken folds should feast the moth | L |
Free be they flung as free shall wave | I |
Clan Alpine's pine in banner brave | I |
But stranger peaceful since you came | F2 |
Bewildered in the mountain game | F2 |
Whence the bold boast by which you show | L2 |
Vich Alpine's vowed and mortal foe ' | - |
'Warrior but yester morn I knew | I |
Naught of thy Chieftain Roderick Dhu | I |
Save as an outlawed desperate man | M2 |
The chief of a rebellious clan | M2 |
Who in the Regent's court and sight | B |
With ruffian dagger stabbed a knight | B |
Yet this alone might from his part | N2 |
Sever each true and loyal heart ' | - |
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VI | - |
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Wrathful at such arraignment foul | O2 |
Dark lowered the clansman's sable scowl | O2 |
A space he paused then sternly said | G |
'And heardst thou why he drew his blade | D2 |
Heardst thou that shameful word and blow | L2 |
Brought Roderick's vengeance on his foe | L2 |
What recked the Chieftain if he stood | P2 |
On Highland heath or Holy Rood | Q2 |
He rights such wrong where it is given | R2 |
If it were in the court of heaven ' | - |
'Still was it outrage yet 'tis true | I |
Not then claimed sovereignty his due | I |
While Albany with feeble hand | Z |
Held borrowed truncheon of command | Z |
The young King mewed in Stirling tower | S2 |
Was stranger to respect and power | S2 |
But then thy Chieftain's robber life | I |
Winning mean prey by causeless strife | I |
Wrenching from ruined Lowland swain | N |
His herds and harvest reared in vain | N |
Methinks a soul like thine should scorn | Y |
The spoils from such foul foray borne ' | - |
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VII | I |
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The Gael beheld him grim the while | T2 |
And answered with disdainful smile | T2 |
'Saxon from yonder mountain high | I |
I marked thee send delighted eye | I |
Far to the south and east where lay | J |
Extended in succession gay | J |
Deep waving fields and pastures green | F |
With gentle slopes and groves between | F |
These fertile plains that softened vale | U2 |
Were once the birthright of the Gael | U2 |
The stranger came with iron hand | Z |
And from our fathers reft the land | Z |
Where dwell we now See rudely swell | V2 |
Crag over crag and fell o'er fell | V2 |
Ask we this savage hill we tread | G |
For fattened steer or household bread | G |
Ask we for flocks these shingles dry | I |
And well the mountain might reply | I |
To you as to your sires of yore | E |
Belong the target and claymore | E |
I give you shelter in my breast | W2 |
Your own good blades must win the rest | W2 |
Pent in this fortress of the North | L |
Think'st thou we will not sally forth | L |
To spoil the spoiler as we may | J |
And from the robber rend the prey | J |
Ay by my soul While on yon plain | N |
The Saxon rears one shock of grain | N |
While of ten thousand herds there strays | X2 |
But one along yon river's maze | X2 |
The Gael of plain and river heir | P |
Shall with strong hand redeem his share | P |
Where live the mountain Chiefs who hold | Y2 |
That plundering Lowland field and fold | Y2 |
Is aught but retribution true | I |
Seek other cause 'gainst Roderick Dhu ' | - |
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VIII | I |
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Answered Fitz James 'And if I sought | Z2 |
Think'st thou no other could be brought | Z2 |
What deem ye of my path waylaid | D2 |
My life given o'er to ambuscade ' | - |
'As of a meed to rashness due | I |
Hadst thou sent warning fair and true | I |
I seek my hound or falcon strayed | D2 |
I seek good faith a Highland maid | D2 |
Free hadst thou been to come and go | L2 |
But secret path marks secret foe | L2 |
Nor yet for this even as a spy | I |
Hadst thou unheard been doomed to die | I |
Save to fulfil an augury ' | - |
'Well let it pass nor will I now | K |
Fresh cause of enmity avow | K |
To chafe thy mood and cloud thy brow | K |
Enough I am by promise tied | C |
To match me with this man of pride | C |
Twice have I sought Clan Alpine's glen | A3 |
In peace but when I come again | A3 |
I come with banner brand and bow | K |
As leader seeks his mortal foe | L2 |
For love lore swain in lady's bower | S2 |
Ne'er panted for the appointed hour | S2 |
As I until before me stand | Z |
This rebel Chieftain and his band ' | - |
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IX | X2 |
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'Have then thy wish ' He whistled shrill | X |
And he was answered from the hill | X |
Wild as the scream of the curlew | X |
From crag to crag the signal flew | X |
Instant through copse and heath arose | X2 |
Bonnets and spears and bended bows | X2 |
On right on left above below | X |
Sprung up at once the lurking foe | X |
From shingles gray their lances start | N2 |
The bracken bush sends forth the dart | N2 |
The rushes and the willow wand | B3 |
Are bristling into axe and brand | Z |
And every tuft of broom gives life | I |
'To plaided warrior armed for strife | I |
That whistle garrisoned the glen | A3 |
At once with full five hundred men | A3 |
As if the yawning hill to heaven | R2 |
A subterranean host had given | R2 |
Watching their leader's beck and will | X |
All silent there they stood and still | X |
Like the loose crags whose threatening mass | X2 |
Lay tottering o'er the hollow pass | X2 |
As if an infant's touch could urge | C3 |
Their headlong passage down the verge | C3 |
With step and weapon forward flung | K2 |
Upon the mountain side they hung | K2 |
The Mountaineer cast glance of pride | C |
Along Benledi's living side | C |
Then fixed his eye and sable brow | K |
Full on Fitz James 'How say'st thou now | K |
These are Clan Alpine's warriors true | X |
And Saxon I am Roderick Dhu ' | - |
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X | X2 |
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Fitz James was brave though to his heart | N2 |
The life blood thrilled with sudden start | N2 |
He manned himself with dauntless air | P |
Returned the Chief his haughty stare | P |
His back against a rock he bore | E |
And firmly placed his foot before | E |
'Come one come all this rock shall fly | X |
From its firm base as soon as I ' | - |
Sir Roderick marked and in his eyes | X2 |
Respect was mingled with surprise | X2 |
And the stern joy which warriors feel | X |
In foeman worthy of their steel | X |
Short space he stood then waved his hand | Z |
Down sunk the disappearing band | Z |
Each warrior vanished where he stood | P2 |
In broom or bracken heath or wood | P2 |
Sunk brand and spear and bended bow | K |
In osiers pale and copses low | X |
It seemed as if their mother Earth | L |
Had swallowed up her warlike birth | L |
The wind's last breath had tossed in air | P |
Pennon and plaid and plumage fair | P |
The next but swept a lone hill side | C |
Where heath and fern were waving wide | C |
The sun's last glance was glinted back | D3 |
From spear and glaive from targe and jack | D3 |
The next all unreflected shone | T |
On bracken green and cold gray stone | T |
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XI | X2 |
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Fitz James looked round yet scarce believed | E3 |
The witness that his sight received | E3 |
Such apparition well might seem | F3 |
Delusion of a dreadful dream | F3 |
Sir Roderick in suspense he eyed | C |
And to his look the Chief replied | C |
'Fear naught nay that I need not say | X2 |
But doubt not aught from mine array | X2 |
Thou art my guest I pledged my word | I2 |
As far as Coilantogle ford | G3 |
Nor would I call a clansman's brand | Z |
For aid against one valiant hand | Z |
Though on our strife lay every vale | X |
Rent by the Saxon from the Gael | X |
So move we on I only meant | H3 |
To show the reed on which you leant | I3 |
Deeming this path you might pursue | X |
Without a pass from Roderick Dhu ' | - |
They moved I said Fitz James was brave | I |
As ever knight that belted glaive | I |
Yet dare not say that now his blood | J3 |
Kept on its wont and tempered flood | J3 |
As following Roderick's stride he drew | X |
That seeming lonesome pathway through | X |
Which yet by fearful proof was rife | I |
With lances that to take his life | I |
Waited but signal from a guide | C |
So late dishonored and defied | C |
Ever by stealth his eye sought round | K3 |
The vanished guardians of the ground | K3 |
And stir'd from copse and heather deep | Q |
Fancy saw spear and broadsword peep | Q |
And in the plover's shrilly strain | N |
The signal whistle heard again | A3 |
Nor breathed he free till far behind | L3 |
The pass was left for then they wind | L3 |
Along a wide and level green | F |
Where neither tree nor tuft was seen | F |
Nor rush nor bush of broom was near | O |
To hide a bonnet or a spear | O |
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XII | X |
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The Chief in silence strode before | E |
And reached that torrent's sounding shore | E |
Which daughter of three mighty lakes | X |
From Vennachar in silver breaks | X |
Sweeps through the plain and ceaseless mines | X |
On Bochastle the mouldering lines | X |
Where Rome the Empress of the world | M3 |
Of yore her eagle wings unfurled | M3 |
And here his course the Chieftain stayed | D2 |
Threw down his target and his plaid | N3 |
And to the Lowland warrior said | G |
'Bold Saxon to his promise just | O3 |
Vich Alpine has discharged his trust | O3 |
This murderous Chief this ruthless man | M2 |
This head of a rebellious clan | M2 |
Hath led thee safe through watch and ward | G3 |
Far past Clan Alpine's outmost guard | P3 |
Now man to man and steel to steel | X |
A Chieftain's vengeance thou shalt feel | X |
See here all vantageless I stand | Z |
Armed like thyself with single brand | Z |
For this is Coilantogle ford | G3 |
And thou must keep thee with thy sword ' | - |
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XIII | X |
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The Saxon paused 'I ne'er delayed | D2 |
When foeman bade me draw my blade | D2 |
Nay more brave Chief I vowed thy death | L |
Yet sure thy fair and generous faith | L |
And my deep debt for life preserved | Q3 |
A better meed have well deserved | Q3 |
Can naught but blood our feud atone | T |
Are there no means ' ' No stranger none | R2 |
And hear to fire thy flagging zeal | X |
The Saxon cause rests on thy steel | X |
For thus spoke Fate by prophet bred | G |
Between the living and the dead | G |
Who spills the foremost foeman's life | I |
His party conquers in the strife ' | - |
'Then by my word ' the Saxon said | G |
The riddle is already read | G |
Seek yonder brake beneath the cliff | I |
There lies Red Murdoch stark and stiff | I |
Thus Fate hath solved her prophecy | X |
Then yield to Fate and not to me | X |
To James at Stirling let us go | X |
When if thou wilt be still his foe | X |
Or if the King shall not agree | X |
To grant thee grace and favor free | X |
I plight mine honor oath and word | I2 |
That to thy native strengths restored | G3 |
With each advantage shalt thou stand | Z |
That aids thee now to guard thy land ' | - |
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XIV | X |
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Dark lightning flashed from Roderick's eye | X |
'Soars thy presumption then so high | X |
Because a wretched kern ye slew | X |
Homage to name to Roderick Dhu | I |
He yields not he to man nor Fate | R3 |
Thou add'st but fuel to my hate | R3 |
My clansman's blood demands revenge | S3 |
Not yet prepared By heaven I change | T3 |
My thought and hold thy valor light | B |
As that of some vain carpet knight | B |
Who ill deserved my courteous care | P |
And whose best boast is but to wear | P |
A braid of his fair lady's hair ' 'I thank thee | X |
Roderick for the word | I2 |
It nerves my heart it steels my sword | G3 |
For I have sworn this braid to stain | N |
In the best blood that warms thy vein | N |
Now truce farewell and rush begone | N |
Yet think not that by thee alone | N |
Proud Chief can courtesy be shown | N |
Though not from copse or heath or cairn | N |
Start at my whistle clansmen stern | N |
Of this small horn one feeble blast | U3 |
Would fearful odds against thee cast | U3 |
But fear not doubt not which thou wilt | V3 |
We try this quarrel hilt to hilt ' | - |
Then each at once his falchion drew | X |
Each on the ground his scabbard threw | X |
Each looked to sun and stream and plain | N |
As what they ne'er might see again | N |
Then foot and point and eye opposed | W3 |
In dubious strife they darkly closed | W3 |
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XV | X |
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Ill fared it then with Roderick Dhu | I |
That on the field his targe he threw | X |
Whose brazen studs and tough bull hide | C |
Had death so often dashed aside | C |
For trained abroad his arms to wield | X3 |
Fitz James's blade was sword and shield | X3 |
He practised every pass and ward | G3 |
To thrust to strike to feint to guard | P3 |
While less expert though stronger far | D |
The Gael maintained unequal war | E |
Three times in closing strife they stood | P2 |
And thrice the Saxon blade drank blood | J3 |
No stinted draught no scanty tide | C |
The gushing flood the tartars dyed | C |
Fierce Roderick felt the fatal drain | N |
And showered his blows like wintry rain | N |
And as firm rock or castle roof | X |
Against the winter shower is proof | X |
The foe invulnerable still | X |
Foiled his wild rage by steady skill | X |
Till at advantage ta'en his brand | Z |
Forced Roderick's weapon from his hand | Z |
And backward borne upon the lea | X |
Brought the proud Chieftain to his knee | X |
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XVI | X |
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Now yield thee or by Him who made | D2 |
The world thy heart's blood dyes my blade | D2 |
'Thy threats thy mercy I defy | X |
Let recreant yield who fears to die ' | - |
Like adder darting from his coil | X |
Like wolf that dashes through the toil | X |
Like mountain cat who guards her young | K2 |
Full at Fitz James's throat he sprung | K2 |
Received but recked not of a wound | K3 |
And locked his arms his foeman round | K3 |
Now gallant Saxon hold thine own | N |
No maiden's hand is round thee thrown | N |
That desperate grasp thy frame might feel | X |
Through bars of brass and triple steel | X |
They tug they strain down down they go | X |
The Gael above Fitz James below | X |
The Chieftain's gripe his throat compressed | W2 |
His knee was planted on his breast | W2 |
His clotted locks he backward threw | X |
Across his brow his hand he drew | X |
From blood and mist to clear his sight | B |
Then gleamed aloft his dagger bright | B |
But hate and fury ill supplied | C |
The stream of life's exhausted tide | C |
And all too late the advantage came | F2 |
To turn the odds of deadly game | F2 |
For while the dagger gleamed on high | X |
Reeled soul and sense reeled brain and eye | X |
Down came the blow but in the heath | L |
The erring blade found bloodless sheath | L |
The struggling foe may now unclasp | Q |
The fainting Chief's relaxing grasp | Q |
Unwounded from the dreadful close | X |
But breathless all Fitz James arose | X |
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XVII | X |
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He faltered thanks to Heaven for life | X |
Redeemed unhoped from desperate strife | X |
Next on his foe his look he cast | U3 |
Whose every gasp appeared his last | U3 |
In Roderick's gore he dipped the braid | D2 |
'Poor Blanche thy wrongs are dearly paid | D2 |
Yet with thy foe must die or live | X |
The praise that faith and valor give ' | - |
With that he blew a bugle note | Y3 |
Undid the collar from his throat | Y3 |
Unbonneted and by the wave | X |
Sat down his brow and hands to rave | X |
Then faint afar are heard the feet | Z3 |
Of rushing steeds in gallop fleet | Z3 |
The sounds increase and now are seen | N |
Four mounted squires in Lincoln green | N |
Two who bear lance and two who lead | G |
By loosened rein a saddled steed | A4 |
Each onward held his headlong course | X |
And by Fitz James reined up his horse | X |
With wonder viewed the bloody spot | G2 |
'Exclaim not gallants' question not | G2 |
You Herbert and Luffness alight | B |
And bind the wounds of yonder knight | B |
Let the gray palfrey bear his weight | R3 |
We destined for a fairer freight | R3 |
And bring him on to Stirling straight | R3 |
I will before at better speed | A4 |
To seek fresh horse and fitting weed | A4 |
The sun rides high I must be boune | N |
To see the archer game at noon | N |
But lightly Bayard clears the lea | X |
De Vaux and Herries follow me | X |
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XVIII | X |
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'Stand Bayard stand ' the steed obeyed | D2 |
With arching neck and bended head | G |
And glancing eye and quivering ear | J2 |
As if he loved his lord to hear | J2 |
No foot Fitz James in stirrup stayed | D2 |
No grasp upon the saddle laid | D2 |
But wreathed his left hand in the mane | N |
And lightly bounded from the plain | N |
Turned on the horse his armed heel | X |
And stirred his courage with the steel | X |
Bounded the fiery steed in air | P |
The rider sat erect and fair | P |
Then like a bolt from steel crossbow | X |
Forth launched along the plain they go | X |
They dashed that rapid torrent through | X |
And up Carhonie's hill they flew | X |
Still at the gallop pricked the Knight | B |
His merrymen followed as they might | B |
Along thy banks swift Teith they ride | C |
And in the race they mock thy tide | C |
Torry and Lendrick now are past | U3 |
And Deanstown lies behind them cast | U3 |
They rise the bannered towers of Doune | N |
They sink in distant woodland soon | N |
Blair Drummond sees the hoofs strike fire | S2 |
They sweep like breeze through Ochtertyre | S2 |
They mark just glance and disappear | S2 |
The lofty brow of ancient Kier | S2 |
They bathe their coursers' sweltering sides | X |
Dark Forth amid thy sluggish tides | X |
And on the opposing shore take ground | K3 |
With plash with scramble and with bound | K3 |
Right hand they leave thy cliffs Craig Forth | L |
And soon the bulwark of the North | L |
Gray Stirling with her towers and town | N |
Upon their fleet career looked clown | N |
- | |
- | |
XIX | X |
- | |
As up the flinty path they strained | B4 |
Sudden his steed the leader reined | B4 |
A signal to his squire he flung | K2 |
Who instant to his stirrup sprung | K2 |
'Seest thou De Vaux yon woodsman gray | S2 |
Who townward holds the rocky way | S2 |
Of stature tall and poor array | S2 |
Mark'st thou the firm yet active stride | C |
With which he scales the mountain side | C |
Know'st thou from whence he comes or whom ' | - |
'No by my word a burly groom | C4 |
He seems who in the field or chase | X |
A baron's train would nobly grace ' | - |
'Out out De Vaux can fear supply | X |
And jealousy no sharper eye | X |
Afar ere to the hill he drew | S2 |
That stately form and step I knew | S2 |
Like form in Scotland is not seen | N |
Treads not such step on Scottish green | N |
'Tis James of Douglas by Saint Serle | X |
The uncle of the banished Earl | X |
Away away to court to show | X |
The near approach of dreaded foe | X |
The King must stand upon his guard | P3 |
Douglas and he must meet prepared ' | - |
Then right hand wheeled their steeds and straight | R3 |
They won the Castle's postern gate | R3 |
- | |
- | |
XX | X |
- | |
The Douglas who had bent his way | S2 |
From Cambus kenneth's abbey gray | S2 |
Now as he climbed the rocky shelf | X |
Held sad communion with himself | X |
'Yes all is true my fears could frame | F2 |
A prisoner lies the noble Graeme | F2 |
And fiery Roderick soon will feel | X |
The vengeance of the royal steel | X |
I only I can ward their fate | R3 |
God grant the ransom come not late | R3 |
The Abbess hath her promise given | N |
My child shall be the bride of Heaven | N |
Be pardoned one repining tear | S2 |
For He who gave her knows how dear | S2 |
How excellent but that is by | X |
And now my business is to die | X |
Ye towers within whose circuit dread | G |
A Douglas by his sovereign bled | G |
And thou O sad and fatal mound | K3 |
That oft hast heard the death axe sound | K3 |
As on the noblest of the land | Z |
Fell the stern headsmen's bloody hand | Z |
The dungeon block and nameless tomb | C4 |
Prepare for Douglas seeks his doom | C4 |
But hark what blithe and jolly peal | X |
Makes the Franciscan steeple reel | X |
And see upon the crowded street | Z3 |
In motley groups what masquers meet | Z3 |
Banner and pageant pipe and drum | D4 |
And merry morrice dancers come | D4 |
I guess by all this quaint array | S2 |
The burghers hold their sports to day | S2 |
James will be there he loves such show | X |
Where the good yeoman bends his bow | K |
And the tough wrestler foils his foe | X |
As well as where in proud career | S2 |
The high born filter shivers spear | S2 |
I'll follow to the Castle park | E4 |
And play my prize King James shall mark | E4 |
If age has tamed these sinews stark | E4 |
Whose force so oft in happier days | X |
His boyish wonder loved to praise ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXI | X |
- | |
The Castle gates were open flung | K2 |
The quivering drawbridge rocked and rung | K2 |
And echoed loud the flinty street | Z3 |
Beneath the coursers' clattering feet | Z3 |
As slowly down the steep descent | H3 |
Fair Scotland's King and nobles went | H3 |
While all along the crowded way | S2 |
Was jubilee and loud huzza | X |
And ever James was bending low | X |
To his white jennet's saddle bow | K |
Doffing his cap to city dame | F2 |
Who smiled and blushed for pride and shame | F2 |
And well the simperer might be vain | N |
He chose the fairest of the train | N |
Gravely he greets each city sire | S2 |
Commends each pageant's quaint attire | S2 |
Gives to the dancers thanks aloud | F4 |
And smiles and nods upon the crowd | F4 |
Who rend the heavens with their acclaims | X |
'Long live the Commons' King King James ' | - |
Behind the King thronged peer and knight | B |
And noble dame and damsel bright | B |
Whose fiery steeds ill brooked the stay | S2 |
Of the steep street and crowded way | S2 |
But in the train you might discern | N |
Dark lowering brow and visage stern | N |
There nobles mourned their pride restrained | B4 |
And the mean burgher's joys disdained | B4 |
And chiefs who hostage for their clan | N |
Were each from home a banished man | N |
There thought upon their own gray tower | S2 |
Their waving woods their feudal power | S2 |
And deemed themselves a shameful part | N2 |
Of pageant which they cursed in heart | N2 |
- | |
- | |
XXII | X |
- | |
Now in the Castle park drew out | G4 |
Their checkered bands the joyous rout | G4 |
There morricers with bell at heel | X |
And blade in hand their mazes wheel | X |
But chief beside the butts there stand | Z |
Bold Robin Hood and all his band | Z |
Friar Tuck with quarterstaff and cowl | X |
Old Scathelocke with his surly scowl | X |
Maid Marian fair as ivory bone | N |
Scarlet and Mutch and Little John | N |
Their bugles challenge all that will | X |
In archery to prove their skill | X |
The Douglas bent a bow of might | B |
His first shaft centred in the white | B |
And when in turn he shot again | N |
His second split the first in twain | N |
From the King's hand must Douglas take | H4 |
A silver dart the archers' stake | H4 |
Fondly he watched with watery eye | X |
Some answering glance of sympathy | X |
No kind emotion made reply | X |
Indifferent as to archer wight | B |
The monarch gave the arrow bright | B |
- | |
- | |
XXIII | X |
- | |
Now clear the ring for hand to hand | Z |
The manly wrestlers take their stand | Z |
Two o'er the rest superior rose | X |
And proud demanded mightier foes | X |
Nor called in vain for Douglas came | F2 |
For life is Hugh of Larbert lame | F2 |
Scarce better John of Alloa's fare | S2 |
Whom senseless home his comrades bare | S2 |
Prize of the wrestling match the King | I4 |
To Douglas gave a golden ring | I4 |
While coldly glanced his eye of blue | S2 |
As frozen drop of wintry dew | S2 |
Douglas would speak but in his breast | W2 |
His struggling soul his words suppressed | W2 |
Indignant then he turned him where | S2 |
Their arms the brawny yeomen bare | S2 |
To hurl the massive bar in air | S2 |
When each his utmost strength had shown | N |
The Douglas rent an earth fast stone | N |
From its deep bed then heaved it high | X |
And sent the fragment through the sky | X |
A rood beyond the farthest mark | E4 |
And still in Stirling's royal park | E4 |
The gray haired sires who know the past | U3 |
To strangers point the Douglas cast | U3 |
And moralize on the decay | S2 |
Of Scottish strength in modern day | S2 |
- | |
- | |
XXIV | X |
- | |
The vale with loud applauses rang | J4 |
The Ladies' Rock sent back the clang | J4 |
The King with look unmoved bestowed | K4 |
A purse well filled with pieces broad | L4 |
Indignant smiled the Douglas proud | F4 |
And threw the gold among the crowd | F4 |
Who now with anxious wonder scan | N |
And sharper glance the dark gray man | N |
Till whispers rose among the throng | M4 |
That heart so free and hand so strong | M4 |
Must to the Douglas blood belong | M4 |
The old men marked and shook the head | G |
To see his hair with silver spread | G |
And winked aside and told each son | N |
Of feats upon the English done | N |
Ere Douglas of the stalwart hand | Z |
Was exiled from his native land | Z |
The women praised his stately form | N4 |
Though wrecked by many a winter's storm | N4 |
The youth with awe and wonder saw | X |
His strength surpassing Nature's law | X |
Thus judged as is their wont the crowd | F4 |
Till murmurs rose to clamours loud | F4 |
But not a glance from that proud ring | I4 |
Of peers who circled round the King | I4 |
With Douglas held communion kind | L3 |
Or called the banished man to mind | L3 |
No not from those who at the chase | X |
Once held his side the honoured place | X |
Begirt his board and in the field | X3 |
Found safety underneath his shield | X3 |
For he whom royal eyes disown | N |
When was his form to courtiers known | N |
- | |
- | |
XXV | X |
- | |
The Monarch saw the gambols flag | O4 |
And bade let loose a gallant stag | O4 |
Whose pride the holiday to crown | N |
Two favorite greyhounds should pull down | N |
That venison free and Bourdeaux wine | N |
Might serve the archery to dine | N |
But Lufra whom from Douglas' side | C |
Nor bribe nor threat could e'er divide | C |
The fleetest hound in all the North | L |
Brave Lufra saw and darted forth | L |
She left the royal hounds midway | S2 |
And dashing on the antlered prey | S2 |
Sunk her sharp muzzle in his flank | P4 |
And deep the flowing life blood drank | P4 |
The King's stout huntsman saw the sport | Q4 |
By strange intruder broken short | Q4 |
Came up and with his leash unbound | K3 |
In anger struck the noble hound | K3 |
The Douglas had endured that morn | N |
The King's cold look the nobles' scorn | N |
And last and worst to spirit proud | F4 |
Had borne the pity of the crowd | F4 |
But Lufra had been fondly bred | G |
To share his board to watch his bed | G |
And oft would Ellen Lufra's neck | R4 |
In maiden glee with garlands deck | R4 |
They were such playmates that with name | F2 |
Of Lufra Ellen's image came | F2 |
His stifled wrath is brimming high | X |
In darkened brow and flashing eye | X |
As waves before the bark divide | C |
The crowd gave way before his stride | C |
Needs but a buffet and no more | S2 |
The groom lies senseless in his gore | S2 |
Such blow no other hand could deal | X |
Though gauntleted in glove of steel | X |
- | |
- | |
XXVI | X |
- | |
Then clamored loud the royal train | N |
And brandished swords and staves amain | N |
But stern the Baron's warning | I4 |
'Back Back on your lives ye menial pack | D3 |
Beware the Douglas Yes behold | Y2 |
King James The Douglas doomed of old | Y2 |
And vainly sought for near and far | S2 |
A victim to atone the war | S2 |
A willing victim now attends | X |
Nor craves thy grace but for his friends ' | - |
'Thus is my clemency repaid | D2 |
Presumptuous Lord ' the Monarch said | G |
'Of thy misproud ambitious clan | N |
Thou James of Bothwell wert the man | N |
The only man in whom a foe | X |
My woman mercy would not know | X |
But shall a Monarch's presence brook | S4 |
Injurious blow and haughty look | S4 |
What ho the Captain of our Guard | P3 |
Give the offender fitting ward | G3 |
Break off the sports ' for tumult rose | X |
And yeomen 'gan to bend their bows | X |
'Break off the sports ' he said and frowned | K3 |
'And bid our horsemen clear the ground ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXVII | X |
- | |
Then uproar wild and misarray | S2 |
Marred the fair form of festal day | S2 |
The horsemen pricked among the crowd | F4 |
Repelled by threats and insult loud | F4 |
To earth are borne the old and weak | T4 |
The timorous fly the women shriek | T4 |
With flint with shaft with staff with bar | S2 |
The hardier urge tumultuous war | S2 |
At once round Douglas darkly sweep | Q |
The royal spears in circle deep | Q |
And slowly scale the pathway steep | Q |
While on the rear in thunder pour | S2 |
The rabble with disordered roar | S2 |
With grief the noble Douglas saw | X |
The Commons rise against the law | X |
And to the leading soldier said | G |
'Sir John of Hyndford 'twas my blade | D2 |
That knighthood on thy shoulder laid | D2 |
For that good deed permit me then | N |
A word with these misguided men | N |
- | |
- | |
XXVIII | X |
- | |
'Hear gentle friends ere yet for me | X |
Ye break the bands of fealty | X |
My life my honour and my cause | X |
I tender free to Scotland's laws | X |
Are these so weak as must require | S2 |
'Fine aid of your misguided ire | S2 |
Or if I suffer causeless wrong | M4 |
Is then my selfish rage so strong | M4 |
My sense of public weal so low | X |
That for mean vengeance on a foe | X |
Those cords of love I should unbind | X |
Which knit my country and my kind | X |
O no Believe in yonder tower | S2 |
It will not soothe my captive hour | S2 |
To know those spears our foes should dread | X |
For me in kindred gore are red | X |
'To know in fruitless brawl begun | N |
For me that mother wails her son | N |
For me that widow's mate expires | X |
For me that orphans weep their sires | X |
That patriots mourn insulted laws | X |
And curse the Douglas for the cause | X |
O let your patience ward such ill | X |
And keep your right to love me still I' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXIX | X |
- | |
The crowd's wild fury sunk again | N |
In tears as tempests melt in rain | N |
With lifted hands and eyes they prayed | X |
For blessings on his generous head | X |
Who for his country felt alone | N |
And prized her blood beyond his own | N |
Old men upon the verge of life | X |
Blessed him who stayed the civil strife | X |
And mothers held their babes on high | X |
The self devoted Chief to spy | X |
Triumphant over wrongs and ire | S2 |
To whom the prattlers owed a sire | S2 |
Even the rough soldier's heart was moved | X |
As if behind some bier beloved | X |
With trailing arms and drooping head | X |
The Douglas up the hill he led | X |
And at the Castle's battled verge | C3 |
With sighs resigned his honoured charge | U4 |
- | |
- | |
XXX | X |
- | |
The offended Monarch rode apart | X |
With bitter thought and swelling heart | X |
And would not now vouchsafe again | N |
Through Stirling streets to lead his train | N |
'O Lennox who would wish to rule | X |
This changeling crowd this common fool | X |
Hear'st thou ' he said 'the loud acclaim | F2 |
With which they shout the Douglas name | F2 |
With like acclaim the vulgar throat | X |
Strained for King James their morning note | X |
With like acclaim they hailed the day | X |
When first I broke the Douglas sway | X |
And like acclaim would Douglas greet | X |
If he could hurl me from my seat | X |
Who o'er the herd would wish to reign | N |
Fantastic fickle fierce and vain | N |
Vain as the leaf upon the stream | F3 |
And fickle as a changeful dream | F3 |
Fantastic as a woman's mood | X |
And fierce as Frenzy's fevered blood | X |
Thou many headed monster thing | I4 |
O who would wish to be thy king | I4 |
- | |
- | |
XXXI | X |
- | |
'But soft what messenger of speed | X |
Spurs hitherward his panting steed | X |
I guess his cognizance afar | S2 |
What from our cousin John of Mar ' | - |
'He prays my liege your sports keep bound | X |
Within the safe and guarded ground | X |
For some foul purpose yet unknown | N |
Most sure for evil to the throne | N |
The outlawed Chieftain Roderick Dhu | I |
Has summoned his rebellious crew | S2 |
'Tis said in James of Bothwell's aid | X |
These loose banditti stand arrayed | X |
The Earl of Mar this morn from Doune | N |
To break their muster marched and soon | N |
Your Grace will hear of battle fought | X |
But earnestly the Earl besought | X |
Till for such danger he provide | X |
With scanty train you will not ride ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXXII | X |
- | |
'Thou warn'st me I have done amiss | X |
I should have earlier looked to this | X |
I lost it in this bustling day | X |
Retrace with speed thy former way | X |
Spare not for spoiling of thy steed | X |
The best of mine shall be thy meed | X |
Say to our faithful Lord of Mar | S2 |
We do forbid the intended war | S2 |
Roderick this morn in single fight | X |
Was made our prisoner by a knight | X |
And Douglas hath himself and cause | X |
Submitted to our kingdom's laws | X |
The tidings of their leaders lost | X |
Will soon dissolve the mountain host | X |
Nor would we that the vulgar feel | X |
For their Chief's crimes avenging steel | X |
Bear Mar our message Braco fly ' | - |
He turned his steed 'My liege I hie | I |
Yet ere I cross this lily lawn | N |
I fear the broadswords will be drawn ' | - |
The turf the flying courser spurned | X |
And to his towers the King returned | X |
- | |
- | |
XXXIII | X |
- | |
Ill with King James's mood that day | X |
Suited gay feast and minstrel lay | X |
Soon were dismissed the courtly throng | M4 |
And soon cut short the festal song | M4 |
Nor less upon the saddened town | N |
The evening sunk in sorrow down | N |
The burghers spoke of civil jar | S2 |
Of rumoured feuds and mountain war | S2 |
Of Moray Mar and Roderick Dhu | I |
All up in arms the Douglas too | X |
They mourned him pent within the hold | X |
'Where stout Earl William was of old ' | - |
And there his word the speaker stayed | X |
And finger on his lip he laid | X |
Or pointed to his dagger blade | X |
But jaded horsemen from the west | X |
At evening to the Castle pressed | X |
And busy talkers said they bore | S2 |
Tidings of fight on Katrine's shore | S2 |
At noon the deadly fray begun | N |
And lasted till the set of sun | N |
Thus giddy rumor shook the town | N |
Till closed the Night her pennons brown | N |
Walter Scott (sir)
(1)
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