The Lady Of The Lake - Canto Fourth Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBDDE EE FFGGHHFFIII IIJK LMIN JJOPIIDDQQRRL SSIITTTU E III LLAAOP D IVVWWVVXIVVI A I VVDDYYZZGGA2A2B2C2DD VVD2D2 D AGVVE2E2I E VVEEF2F2DDVVG2G2IIH2 H2VVI2I2J2J2K2K2E E GGVVIIIIL2L2VVIII E EEG DDI IIIVVIIVVGGEEGGDDGIY DDDGG D IIIGGVVGGM2M2VVN2N2V VIIVVG D I VVEEEEO2P2D2Q2EEA2A2 VVVVVVDDI IIIIII D GGIIJ2J2VVR2R2IIGGVV II I V VV D V V VS2ES2 VVVV VVVV H2EVE T2GG VDVD GIGI VVV D V VS2VS2 S2F2H2F2 D2IGIGI IIEI VEV E V VS2DS2 EDEE VGV VVV VIVI EGE E V VS2VS2 VIA2I A2U2A2U2 GGGGG VIV DEIE VVVV VS2GS2 E VVIIDDA2A2G DDVVI VVV2 IIGGIIG E DDW2W2DDVVGGVVG VVGGNNIIT2X2J2J2IIVV Y2Y2DDD E IIIEEVVEDZ2Z2EDVVVVI VVVII D VVVEEJ2J2VVVVVVIIGGD IIVVIIGG D F2F2E G GGE2E2D VV D YYM2M2GGEEEZ2Z2S2S2V VVVGGFFA3A3F2F2 D B3 GFGFDDGG VGVGR2R2A2A2 D GGGS2 VVVVVVYYIIG VVGGZ2Z2DDVVD E F2IIS2S2 GGGG E2 IIE2EII E VE2VE2 IE2IE2 IE2E2E2 VE2V E VVVVGGE E2E2VVVVVVEEGGE2E2E2 VVIIEEGG E E2E2VVGGVVGGGGEEIIGG IIVVEEIIVVIIIIZ2Z2S2 S2E2 E DDGGE GGVVGGGGE2E2 GGS2S2C3C3GGVVVVIIVV E2E2G D IIE2E2VVE2E2S2S2GGVV IIIVV D GGV GV V J2J2VVIIE2 GE2V V E2 G D GGVVVVGE2S2S2VVIIVVD DJ2J2GGVVVVV I E2 D3D3VVA2A2The Prophecy | A |
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I | - |
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The rose is fairest when 't is budding new | B |
And hope is brightest when it dawns from fears | C |
The rose is sweetest washed with morning dew | B |
And love is loveliest when embalmed in tears | D |
O wilding rose whom fancy thus endears | D |
I bid your blossoms in my bonnet wave | E |
Emblem of hope and love through future years ' | - |
Thus spoke young Norman heir of Armandave | E |
What time the sun arose on Vennachar's broad wave | E |
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II | - |
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Such fond conceit half said half sung | F |
Love prompted to the bridegroom's tongue | F |
All while he stripped the wild rose spray | G |
His axe and bow beside him lay | G |
For on a pass 'twixt lake and wood | H |
A wakeful sentinel he stood | H |
Hark on the rock a footstep rung | F |
And instant to his arms he sprung | F |
'Stand or thou diest What Malise soon | I |
Art thou returned from Braes of Doune | I |
By thy keen step and glance I know | I |
Thou bring'st us tidings of the foe ' | - |
For while the Fiery Cross tried on | I |
On distant scout had Malise gone | I |
'Where sleeps the Chief ' the henchman said | J |
'Apart in yonder misty glade | K |
To his lone couch I'll be your guide ' | - |
Then called a slumberer by his side | L |
And stirred him with his slackened bow | M |
'Up up Glentarkin rouse thee ho | I |
We seek the Chieftain on the track | N |
Keep eagle watch till I come back ' | - |
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III | - |
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Together up the pass they sped | J |
'What of the foeman ' Norman said | J |
'Varying reports from near and far | O |
This certain that a band of war | P |
Has for two days been ready boune | I |
At prompt command to march from Doune | I |
King James the while with princely powers | D |
Holds revelry in Stirling towers | D |
Soon will this dark and gathering cloud | Q |
Speak on our glens in thunder loud | Q |
Inured to bide such bitter bout | R |
The warrior's plaid may bear it out | R |
But Norman how wilt thou provide | L |
A shelter for thy bonny bride '' | - |
'What know ye not that Roderick's care | S |
To the lone isle hath caused repair | S |
Each maid and matron of the clan | I |
And every child and aged man | I |
Unfit for arms and given his charge | T |
Nor skiff nor shallop boat nor barge | T |
Upon these lakes shall float at large | T |
But all beside the islet moor | U |
That such dear pledge may rest secure ' | - |
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IV | E |
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''T is well advised the Chieftain's plan | I |
Bespeaks the father of his clan | I |
But wherefore sleeps Sir Roderick Dhu | I |
Apart from all his followers true ' | - |
'It is because last evening tide | L |
Brian an augury hath tried | L |
Of that dread kind which must not be | A |
Unless in dread extremity | A |
The Taghairm called by which afar | O |
Our sires foresaw the events of war | P |
Duncraggan's milk white bull they slew ' | - |
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Malise | D |
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'Ah well the gallant brute I knew | I |
The choicest of the prey we had | V |
When swept our merrymen Gallangad | V |
His hide was snow his horns were dark | W |
His red eye glowed like fiery spark | W |
So fierce so tameless and so fleet | V |
Sore did he cumber our retreat | V |
And kept our stoutest kerns in awe | X |
Even at the pass of Beal 'maha | I |
But steep and flinty was the road | V |
And sharp the hurrying pikeman's goad | V |
And when we came to Dennan's Row | I |
A child might scathless stroke his brow ' | - |
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V | A |
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Norman | I |
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'That bull was slain his reeking hide | V |
They stretched the cataract beside | V |
Whose waters their wild tumult toss | D |
Adown the black and craggy boss | D |
Of that huge cliff whose ample verge | Y |
Tradition calls the Hero's Targe | Y |
Couched on a shelf beneath its brink | Z |
Close where the thundering torrents sink | Z |
Rocking beneath their headlong sway | G |
And drizzled by the ceaseless spray | G |
Midst groan of rock and roar of stream | A2 |
The wizard waits prophetic dream | A2 |
Nor distant rests the Chief but hush | B2 |
See gliding slow through mist and bush | C2 |
The hermit gains yon rock and stands | D |
To gaze upon our slumbering bands | D |
Seems he not Malise dike a ghost | V |
That hovers o'er a slaughtered host | V |
Or raven on the blasted oak | D2 |
That watching while the deer is broke | D2 |
His morsel claims with sullen croak ' | - |
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Malise | D |
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'Peace peace to other than to me | A |
Thy words were evil augury | G |
But still I hold Sir Roderick's blade | V |
Clan Alpine's omen and her aid | V |
Not aught that gleaned from heaven or hell | E2 |
Yon fiend begotten Monk can tell | E2 |
The Chieftain joins him see and now | I |
Together they descend the brow ' | - |
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VI | E |
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And as they came with Alpine's Lord | V |
The Hermit Monk held solemn word | V |
'Roderick it is a fearful strife | E |
For man endowed with mortal life | E |
Whose shroud of sentient clay can still | F2 |
Feel feverish pang and fainting chill | F2 |
Whose eye can stare in stony trance | D |
Whose hair can rouse like warrior's lance | D |
'Tis hard for such to view unfurled | V |
The curtain of the future world | V |
Yet witness every quaking limb | G2 |
My sunken pulse mine eyeballs dim | G2 |
My soul with harrowing anguish torn | I |
This for my Chieftain have I borne | I |
The shapes that sought my fearful couch | H2 |
A human tongue may ne'er avouch | H2 |
No mortal man save he who bred | V |
Between the living and the dead | V |
Is gifted beyond nature's law | I2 |
Had e'er survived to say he saw | I2 |
At length the fateful answer came | J2 |
In characters of living flame | J2 |
Not spoke in word nor blazed in scroll | K2 |
But borne and branded on my soul | K2 |
WHICH SPILLS THE FOREMOST FOEMAN'S LIFE | E |
THAT PARTY CONQUERS IN THE STRIFE ' | - |
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VII | E |
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'Thanks Brian for thy zeal and care | G |
Good is thine augury and fair | G |
Clan Alpine ne'er in battle stood | V |
But first our broadswords tasted blood | V |
A surer victim still I know | I |
Self offered to the auspicious blow | I |
A spy has sought my land this morn | I |
No eve shall witness his return | I |
My followers guard each pass's mouth | L2 |
To east to westward and to south | L2 |
Red Murdoch bribed to be his guide | V |
Has charge to lead his steps aside | V |
Till in deep path or dingle brown | I |
He light on those shall bring him clown | I |
But see who comes his news to show | I |
Malise what tidings of the foe ' | - |
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VIII | E |
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'At Doune o'er many a spear and glaive | E |
Two Barons proud their banners wave | E |
I saw the Moray's silver star | G |
And marked the sable pale of Mar ' | - |
'By Alpine's soul high tidings those | D |
I love to hear of worthy foes | D |
When move they on ' 'To morrow's noon | I |
Will see them here for battle boune ' | - |
'Then shall it see a meeting stern | I |
But for the place say couldst thou learn | I |
Nought of the friendly clans of Earn | I |
Strengthened by them we well might bide | V |
The battle on Benledi's side | V |
Thou couldst not well Clan Alpine's men | I |
Shall man the Trosachs' shaggy glen | I |
Within Loch Katrine's gorge we'll fight | V |
All in our maids' and matrons' sight | V |
Each for his hearth and household fire | G |
Father for child and son for sire Lover | G |
for maid beloved But why | E |
Is it the breeze affects mine eye | E |
Or dost thou come ill omened tear | G |
A messenger of doubt or fear | G |
No sooner may the Saxon lance | D |
Unfix Benledi from his stance | D |
Than doubt or terror can pierce through | G |
The unyielding heart of Roderick Dhu | I |
'tis stubborn as his trusty targe | Y |
Each to his post all know their charge ' | - |
The pibroch sounds the bands advance | D |
The broadswords gleam the banners dance' | D |
Obedient to the Chieftain's glance | D |
I turn me from the martial roar | G |
And seek Coir Uriskin once more | G |
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IX | D |
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Where is the Douglas he is gone | I |
And Ellen sits on the gray stone | I |
Fast by the cave and makes her moan | I |
While vainly Allan's words of cheer | G |
Are poured on her unheeding ear | G |
'He will return dear lady trust | V |
With joy return he will he must | V |
Well was it time to seek afar | G |
Some refuge from impending war | G |
When e'en Clan Alpine's rugged swarm | M2 |
Are cowed by the approaching storm | M2 |
I saw their boats with many a light | V |
Floating the livelong yesternight | V |
Shifting like flashes darted forth | N2 |
By the red streamers of the north | N2 |
I marked at morn how close they ride | V |
Thick moored by the lone islet's side | V |
Like wild ducks couching in the fen | I |
When stoops the hawk upon the glen | I |
Since this rude race dare not abide | V |
The peril on the mainland side | V |
Shall not thy noble father's care | G |
Some safe retreat for thee prepare ' | - |
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X | D |
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Ellen | I |
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'No Allan no' Pretext so kind | V |
My wakeful terrors could not blind | V |
When in such tender tone yet grave | E |
Douglas a parting blessing gave | E |
The tear that glistened in his eye | E |
Drowned not his purpose fixed and high | E |
My soul though feminine and weak | O2 |
Can image his e'en as the lake | P2 |
Itself disturbed by slightest stroke | D2 |
Reflects the invulnerable rock | Q2 |
He hears report of battle rife | E |
He deems himself the cause of strife | E |
I saw him redden when the theme | A2 |
Turned Allan on thine idle dream | A2 |
Of Malcolm Graeme in fetters bound | V |
Which I thou saidst about him wound | V |
Think'st thou he bowed thine omen aught | V |
O no' 't was apprehensive thought | V |
For the kind youth for Roderick too | V |
Let me be just that friend so true | V |
In danger both and in our cause | D |
Minstrel the Douglas dare not pause | D |
Why else that solemn warning given | I |
'If not on earth we meet in heaven ' | - |
Why else to Cambus kenneth's fane | I |
If eve return him not again | I |
Am I to hie and make me known | I |
Alas he goes to Scotland's throne | I |
Buys his friends' safety with his own | I |
He goes to do what I had done | I |
Had Douglas' daughter been his son ' | - |
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XI | D |
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'Nay lovely Ellen dearest nay | G |
If aught should his return delay | G |
He only named yon holy fane | I |
As fitting place to meet again | I |
Be sure he's safe and for the Graeme | J2 |
Heaven's blessing on his gallant name | J2 |
My visioned sight may yet prove true | V |
Nor bode of ill to him or you | V |
When did my gifted dream beguile | R2 |
Think of the stranger at the isle | R2 |
And think upon the harpings slow | I |
That presaged this approaching woe | I |
Sooth was my prophecy of fear | G |
Believe it when it augurs cheer | G |
Would we had left this dismal spot | V |
Ill luck still haunts a fairy spot | V |
Of such a wondrous tale I know | I |
Dear lady change that look of woe | I |
My harp was wont thy grief to cheer ' | - |
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Ellen | I |
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'Well be it as thou wilt | V |
I hear But cannot stop the bursting tear ' | - |
The Minstrel tried his simple art | V |
Rut distant far was Ellen's heart | V |
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XII | D |
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Ballad | V |
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Alice Brand | V |
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Merry it is in the good greenwood | V |
When the mavis and merle are singing | S2 |
When the deer sweeps by and the hounds are in cry | E |
And the hunter's horn is ringing | S2 |
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'O Alice Brand my native land | V |
Is lost for love of you | V |
And we must hold by wood and word | V |
As outlaws wont to do | V |
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'O Alice 't was all for thy locks so bright | V |
And 't was all for thine eyes so blue | V |
That on the night of our luckless flight | V |
Thy brother bold I slew | V |
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'Now must I teach to hew the beech | H2 |
The hand that held the glaive | E |
For leaves to spread our lowly bed | V |
And stakes to fence our cave | E |
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'And for vest of pall thy fingers small | T2 |
That wont on harp to stray | G |
A cloak must shear from the slaughtered deer | G |
To keep the cold away ' | - |
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'O Richard if my brother died | V |
'T was but a fatal chance | D |
For darkling was the battle tried | V |
And fortune sped the lance | D |
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'If pall and vair no more I wear | G |
Nor thou the crimson sheen | I |
As warm we'll say is the russet gray | G |
As gay the forest green | I |
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'And Richard if our lot be hard | V |
And lost thy native land | V |
Still Alice has her own Richard | V |
And he his Alice Brand ' | - |
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XIII | D |
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Ballad Continued | V |
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'tis merry 'tis merry in good greenwood | V |
So blithe Lady Alice is singing | S2 |
On the beech's pride and oak's brown side | V |
Lord Richard's axe is ringing | S2 |
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Up spoke the moody Elfin King | S2 |
Who woned within the hill | F2 |
Like wind in the porch of a ruined church | H2 |
His voice was ghostly shrill | F2 |
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'Why sounds yon stroke on beech and oak | D2 |
Our moonlight circle's screen | I |
Or who comes here to chase the deer | G |
Beloved of our Elfin Queen | I |
Or who may dare on wold to wear | G |
The fairies' fatal green | I |
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'Up Urgan up to yon mortal hie | I |
For thou wert christened man | I |
For cross or sign thou wilt not fly | E |
For muttered word or ban | I |
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'Lay on him the curse of the withered heart | V |
The curse of the sleepless eye | E |
Till he wish and pray that his life would part | V |
Nor yet find leave to die ' | - |
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XIV | E |
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Ballad Continued | V |
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'Tis merry 'tis merry in good greenwood | V |
Though the birds have stilled their singing | S2 |
The evening blaze cloth Alice raise | D |
And Richard is fagots bringing | S2 |
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Up Urgan starts that hideous dwarf | E |
Before Lord Richard stands | D |
And as he crossed and blessed himself | E |
'I fear not sign ' quoth the grisly elf | E |
'That is made with bloody hands ' | - |
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But out then spoke she Alice Brand | V |
That woman void of fear | G |
'And if there 's blood upon his hand | V |
'Tis but the blood of deer ' | - |
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'Now loud thou liest thou bold of mood | V |
It cleaves unto his hand | V |
The stain of thine own kindly blood | V |
The blood of Ethert Brand ' | - |
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Then forward stepped she Alice Brand | V |
And made the holy sign | I |
'And if there's blood on Richard's hand | V |
A spotless hand is mine | I |
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'And I conjure thee demon elf | E |
By Him whom demons fear | G |
To show us whence thou art thyself | E |
And what thine errand here ' | - |
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XV | E |
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Ballad Continued | V |
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Tis merry 'tis merry in Fairy land | V |
When fairy birds are singing | S2 |
When the court cloth ride by their monarch's side | V |
With bit and bridle ringing | S2 |
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'And gayly shines the Fairy land | V |
But all is glistening show | I |
Like the idle gleam that December's beam | A2 |
Can dart on ice and snow | I |
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'And fading like that varied gleam | A2 |
Is our inconstant shape | U2 |
Who now like knight and lady seem | A2 |
And now like dwarf and ape | U2 |
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'It was between the night and day | G |
When the Fairy King has power | G |
That I sunk down in a sinful fray | G |
And 'twixt life and death was snatched away | G |
To the joyless Elfin bower | G |
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'But wist I of a woman bold | V |
Who thrice my brow durst sign | I |
I might regain my mortal mould | V |
As fair a form as thine ' | - |
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She crossed him once she crossed him twice | D |
That lady was so brave | E |
The fouler grew his goblin hue | I |
The darker grew the cave | E |
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She crossed him thrice that lady bold | V |
He rose beneath her hand | V |
The fairest knight on Scottish mould | V |
Her brother Ethert Brand | V |
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Merry it is in good greenwood | V |
When the mavis and merle are singing | S2 |
But merrier were they in Dunfermline gray | G |
When all the bells were ringing | S2 |
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XVI | E |
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Just as the minstrel sounds were stayed | V |
A stranger climbed the steepy glade | V |
His martial step his stately mien | I |
His hunting suit of Lincoln green | I |
His eagle glance remembrance claims | D |
'Tis Snowdoun's Knight 'tis James Fitz James | D |
Ellen beheld as in a dream | A2 |
Then starting scarce suppressed a scream | A2 |
'O stranger in such hour of fear | G |
What evil hap has brought thee here ' | - |
'An evil hap how can it be | D |
That bids me look again on thee | D |
By promise bound my former guide | V |
Met me betimes this morning tide | V |
And marshalled over bank and bourne | I |
The happy path of my return ' | - |
'The happy path what said he naught | V |
Of war of battle to be fought | V |
Of guarded pass ' 'No by my faith | V2 |
Nor saw I aught could augur scathe ' | - |
'O haste thee Allan to the kern | I |
Yonder his tartars I discern | I |
Learn thou his purpose and conjure | G |
That he will guide the stranger sure | G |
What prompted thee unhappy man | I |
The meanest serf in Roderick's clan | I |
Had not been bribed by love or fear | G |
Unknown to him to guide thee here ' | - |
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XVII | E |
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'Sweet Ellen dear my life must be | D |
Since it is worthy care from thee | D |
et life I hold but idle breath | W2 |
When love or honor's weighed with death | W2 |
Then let me profit by my chance | D |
And speak my purpose bold at once | D |
I come to bear thee from a wild | V |
Where ne'er before such blossom smiled | V |
By this soft hand to lead thee far | G |
From frantic scenes of feud and war | G |
Near Bochastle my horses wait | V |
They bear us soon to Stirling gate | V |
I'll place thee in a lovely bower | G |
I'll guard thee like a tender flower ' | - |
'O hush Sir Knight 't were female art | V |
To say I do not read thy heart | V |
Too much before my selfish ear | G |
Was idly soothed my praise to hear | G |
That fatal bait hath lured thee back | N |
In deathful hour o'er dangerous track | N |
And how O how can I atone | I |
The wreck my vanity brought on | I |
One way remains I'll tell him all | T2 |
Yes struggling bosom forth it shall | X2 |
Thou whose light folly bears the blame | J2 |
Buy thine own pardon with thy shame | J2 |
But first my father is a man | I |
Outlawed and exiled under ban | I |
The price of blood is on his head | V |
With me 't were infamy to wed | V |
Still wouldst thou speak then hear the truth | Y2 |
Fitz James there is a noble youth | Y2 |
If yet he is exposed for me | D |
And mine to dread extremity | D |
Thou hast the secret of my bears | D |
Forgive be generous and depart ' | - |
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XVIII | E |
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Fitz James knew every wily train | I |
A lady's fickle heart to gain | I |
But here he knew and felt them vain | I |
There shot no glance from Ellen's eye | E |
To give her steadfast speech the lie | E |
In maiden confidence she stood | V |
Though mantled in her cheek the blood | V |
And told her love with such a sigh | E |
Of deep and hopeless agony | D |
As death had sealed her Malcolm's doom | Z2 |
And she sat sorrowing on his tomb | Z2 |
Hope vanished from Fitz James's eye | E |
But not with hope fled sympathy | D |
He proffered to attend her side | V |
As brother would a sister guide | V |
'O little know'st thou Roderick's heart | V |
Safer for both we go apart | V |
O haste thee and from Allan learn | I |
If thou mayst trust yon wily kern ' | - |
With hand upon his forehead laid | V |
The conflict of his mind to shade | V |
A parting step or two he made | V |
Then as some thought had crossed his brain | I |
He paused and turned and came again | I |
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XIX | D |
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'Hear lady yet a parting word | V |
It chanced in fight that my poor sword | V |
Preserved the life of Scotland's lord | V |
This ring the grateful Monarch gave | E |
And bade when I had boon to crave | E |
To bring it back and boldly claim | J2 |
The recompense that I would name | J2 |
Ellen I am no courtly lord | V |
But one who lives by lance and sword | V |
Whose castle is his helm and shield | V |
His lordship the embattled field | V |
What from a prince can I demand | V |
Who neither reck of state nor land | V |
Ellen thy hand the ring is thine | I |
Each guard and usher knows the sign | I |
Seek thou the King without delay | G |
This signet shall secure thy way | G |
And claim thy suit whate'er it be | D |
As ransom of his pledge to me ' | - |
He placed the golden circlet on | I |
Paused kissed her hand and then was gone | I |
The aged Minstrel stood aghast | V |
So hastily Fitz James shot past | V |
He joined his guide and wending down | I |
The ridges of the mountain brown | I |
Across the stream they took their way | G |
That joins Loch Katrine to Achray | G |
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XX | D |
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All in the Trosachs' glen was still | F2 |
Noontide was sleeping on the hill | F2 |
Sudden his guide whooped loud and high | E |
'Murdoch was that a signal cry ' | - |
He stammered forth 'I shout to scare | G |
Yon raven from his dainty fare ' | - |
He looked he knew the raven's prey | G |
His own brave steed 'Ah gallant gray | G |
For thee for me perchance 't were well | E2 |
We ne'er had seen the Trosachs' dell | E2 |
Murdoch move first but silently | D |
Whistle or whoop and thou shalt die ' | - |
Jealous and sullen on they fared | V |
Each silent each upon his guard | V |
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XXI | D |
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Now wound the path its dizzy ledge | Y |
Around a precipice's edge | Y |
When lo a wasted female form | M2 |
Blighted by wrath of sun and storm | M2 |
In tattered weeds and wild array | G |
Stood on a cliff beside the way | G |
And glancing round her restless eye | E |
Upon the wood the rock the sky | E |
Seemed naught to mark yet all to spy | E |
Her brow was wreathed with gaudy broom | Z2 |
With gesture wild she waved a plume | Z2 |
Of feathers which the eagles fling | S2 |
To crag and cliff from dusky wing | S2 |
Such spoils her desperate step had sought | V |
Where scarce was footing for the goat | V |
The tartan plaid she first descried | V |
And shrieked till all the rocks replied | V |
As loud she laughed when near they drew | G |
For then the Lowland garb she knew | G |
And then her hands she wildly wrung | F |
And then she wept and then she sung | F |
She sung the voice in better time | A3 |
Perchance to harp or lute might chime | A3 |
And now though strained and roughened still | F2 |
Rung wildly sweet to dale and hill | F2 |
- | |
- | |
XXII | D |
- | |
Song | B3 |
- | |
They bid me sleep they bid me pray | G |
They say my brain is warped and wrung | F |
I cannot sleep on Highland brae | G |
I cannot pray in Highland tongue | F |
But were I now where Allan glides | D |
Or heard my native Devan's tides | D |
So sweetly would I rest and pray | G |
That Heaven would close my wintry day | G |
- | |
'Twas thus my hair they bade me braid | V |
They made me to the church repair | G |
It was my bridal morn they said | V |
And my true love would meet me there | G |
But woe betide the cruel guile | R2 |
That drowned in blood the morning smile | R2 |
And woe betide the fairy dream | A2 |
I only waked to sob and scream | A2 |
- | |
- | |
XXIII | D |
- | |
'Who is this maid what means her lay | G |
She hovers o'er the hollow way | G |
And flutters wide her mantle gray | G |
As the lone heron spreads his wing | S2 |
By twilight o'er a haunted spring ' | - |
''Tis Blanche of Devan ' Murdoch said | V |
'A crazed and captive Lowland maid | V |
Ta'en on the morn she was a bride | V |
When Roderick forayed Devan side | V |
The gay bridegroom resistance made | V |
And felt our Chief's unconquered blade | V |
I marvel she is now at large | Y |
But oft she 'scapes from Maudlin's charge | Y |
Hence brain sick fool ' He raised his bow | I |
'Now if thou strik'st her but one blow | I |
I'll pitch thee from the cliff as far | G |
As ever peasant pitched a bar ' | - |
'Thanks champion thanks' the Maniac cried | V |
And pressed her to Fitz James's side | V |
'See the gray pennons I prepare | G |
To seek my true love through the air | G |
I will not lend that savage groom | Z2 |
To break his fall one downy plume | Z2 |
No deep amid disjointed stones | D |
The wolves shall batten on his bones | D |
And then shall his detested plaid | V |
By bush and brier in mid air stayed | V |
Wave forth a banner fail and free | D |
Meet signal for their revelry ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXIV | E |
- | |
'Hush thee poor maiden and be still ' | - |
'O thou look'st kindly and I will | F2 |
Mine eye has dried and wasted been | I |
But still it loves the Lincoln green | I |
And though mine ear is all unstrung | S2 |
Still still it loves the Lowland tongue | S2 |
- | |
'For O my sweet William was forester true | G |
He stole poor Blanche's heart away | G |
His coat it was all of the greenwood hue | G |
And so blithely he trilled the Lowland lay | G |
- | |
'It was not that I meant to tell | E2 |
But thou art wise and guessest well ' | - |
Then in a low and broken tone | I |
And hurried note the song went on | I |
Still on the Clansman fearfully | E2 |
She fixed her apprehensive eye | E |
Then turned it on the Knight and then | I |
Her look glanced wildly o'er the glen | I |
- | |
- | |
XXV | E |
- | |
'The toils are pitched and the stakes are set | V |
Ever sing merrily merrily | E2 |
The bows they bend and the knives they whet | V |
Hunters live so cheerily | E2 |
- | |
It was a stag a stag of ten | I |
Bearing its branches sturdily | E2 |
He came stately down the glen | I |
Ever sing hardily hardily | E2 |
- | |
'It was there he met with a wounded doe | I |
She was bleeding deathfully | E2 |
She warned him of the toils below | E2 |
O so faithfully faithfully | E2 |
- | |
'He had an eye and he could heed | V |
Ever sing warily warily | E2 |
He had a foot and he could speed | V |
Hunters watch so narrowly ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXVI | E |
- | |
Fitz James's mind was passion tossed | V |
When Ellen's hints and fears were lost | V |
But Murdoch's shout suspicion wrought | V |
And Blanche's song conviction brought | V |
Not like a stag that spies the snare | G |
But lion of the hunt aware | G |
He waved at once his blade on high | E |
'Disclose thy treachery or die ' | - |
Forth at hell speed the Clansman flew | E2 |
But in his race his bow he drew | E2 |
The shaft just grazed Fitz James's crest | V |
And thrilled in Blanche's faded breast | V |
Murdoch of Alpine prove thy speed | V |
For ne'er had Alpine's son such need | V |
With heart of fire and foot of wind | V |
The fierce avenger is behind | V |
Fate judges of the rapid strife | E |
The forfeit death the prize is life | E |
Thy kindred ambush lies before | G |
Close couched upon the heathery moor | G |
Them couldst thou reach it may not be | E2 |
Thine ambushed kin thou ne'er shalt see | E2 |
The fiery Saxon gains on thee | E2 |
Resistless speeds the deadly thrust | V |
As lightning strikes the pine to dust | V |
With foot and hand Fitz James must strain | I |
Ere he can win his blade again | I |
Bent o'er the fallen with falcon eye | E |
He grimly smiled to see him die | E |
Then slower wended back his way | G |
Where the poor maiden bleeding lay | G |
- | |
- | |
XXVII | E |
- | |
She sat beneath the birchen tree | E2 |
Her elbow resting on her knee | E2 |
She had withdrawn the fatal shaft | V |
And gazed on it and feebly laughed | V |
Her wreath of broom and feathers gray | G |
Daggled with blood beside her lay | G |
The Knight to stanch the life stream tried | V |
'Stranger it is in vain ' she cried | V |
'This hour of death has given me more | G |
Of reason's power than years before | G |
For as these ebbing veins decay | G |
My frenzied visions fade away | G |
A helpless injured wretch I die | E |
And something tells me in thine eye | E |
That thou wert mine avenger born | I |
Seest thou this tress O still I 've worn | I |
This little tress of yellow hair | G |
Through danger frenzy and despair | G |
It once was bright and clear as thine | I |
But blood and tears have dimmed its shine | I |
I will not tell thee when 't was shred | V |
Nor from what guiltless victim's head | V |
My brain would turn but it shall wave | E |
Like plumage on thy helmet brave | E |
Till sun and wind shall bleach the stain | I |
And thou wilt bring it me again | I |
I waver still O God more bright | V |
Let reason beam her parting light | V |
O by thy knighthood's honored sign | I |
And for thy life preserved by mine | I |
When thou shalt see a darksome man | I |
Who boasts him Chief of Alpine's Clan | I |
With tartars broad and shadowy plume | Z2 |
And hand of blood and brow of gloom | Z2 |
Be thy heart bold thy weapon strong | S2 |
And wreak poor Blanche of Devan's wrong | S2 |
They watch for thee by pass and fell | E2 |
Avoid the path O God farewell ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXVIII | E |
- | |
A kindly heart had brave Fitz James | D |
Fast poured his eyes at pity's claims | D |
And now with mingled grief and ire | G |
He saw the murdered maid expire | G |
'God in my need be my relief | E |
As I wreak this on yonder Chief ' | - |
A lock from Blanche's tresses fair | G |
He blended with her bridegroom's hair | G |
The mingled braid in blood he dyed | V |
And placed it on his bonnet side | V |
'By Him whose word is truth I swear | G |
No other favour will I wear | G |
Till this sad token I imbrue | G |
In the best blood of Roderick Dhu | G |
But hark what means yon faint halloo | E2 |
The chase is up but they shall know | E2 |
The stag at bay 's a dangerous foe ' | - |
Barred from the known but guarded way | G |
Through copse and cliffs Fitz James must stray | G |
And oft must change his desperate track | S2 |
By stream and precipice turned back | S2 |
Heartless fatigued and faint at length | C3 |
From lack of food and loss of strength | C3 |
He couched him in a thicket hoar | G |
And thought his toils and perils o'er | G |
'Of all my rash adventures past | V |
This frantic feat must prove the last | V |
Who e'er so mad but might have guessed | V |
That all this Highland hornet's nest | V |
Would muster up in swarms so soon | I |
As e'er they heard of bands at Doune | I |
Like bloodhounds now they search me out | V |
Hark to the whistle and the shout | V |
If farther through the wilds I go | E2 |
I only fall upon the foe | E2 |
I'll couch me here till evening gray | G |
Then darkling try my dangerous way ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXIX | D |
- | |
The shades of eve come slowly down | I |
The woods are wrapt in deeper brown | I |
The owl awakens from her dell | E2 |
The fox is heard upon the fell | E2 |
Enough remains of glimmering light | V |
To guide the wanderer's steps aright | V |
Yet not enough from far to show | E2 |
His figure to the watchful foe | E2 |
With cautious step and ear awake | S2 |
He climbs the crag and threads the brake | S2 |
And not the summer solstice there | G |
Tempered the midnight mountain air | G |
But every breeze that swept the wold | V |
Benumbed his drenched limbs with cold | V |
In dread in danger and alone | I |
Famished and chilled through ways unknown | I |
Tangled and steep he journeyed on | I |
Till as a rock's huge point he turned | V |
A watch fire close before him burned | V |
- | |
- | |
XXX | D |
- | |
Beside its embers red and clear | G |
Basked in his plaid a mountaineer | G |
And up he sprung with sword in hand | V |
'Thy name and purpose Saxon stand ' | - |
'A stranger ' 'What cost thou require ' | - |
'Rest and a guide and food and fire | G |
My life's beset my path is lost | V |
The gale has chilled my limbs with frost ' | - |
'Art thou a friend to Roderick ' 'No ' | - |
'Thou dar'st not call thyself a foe ' | - |
'I dare to him and all the band | V |
He brings to aid his murderous hand ' | - |
'Bold words but though the beast of game | J2 |
The privilege of chase may claim | J2 |
Though space and law the stag we lend | V |
Ere hound we slip or bow we bend | V |
Who ever recked where how or when | I |
The prowling fox was trapped or slain | I |
Thus treacherous scouts yet sure they lie | E2 |
Who say thou cam'st a secret spy ' | - |
'They do by heaven come Roderick Dhu | G |
And of his clan the boldest two | E2 |
And let me but till morning rest | V |
I write the falsehood on their crest ' | - |
If by the blaze I mark aright | V |
Thou bear'st the belt and spur of Knight ' | - |
'Then by these tokens mayst thou know | E2 |
Each proud oppressor's mortal foe ' | - |
'Enough enough sit down and share | G |
A soldier's couch a soldier's fare ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXXI | D |
- | |
He gave him of his Highland cheer | G |
The hardened flesh of mountain deer | G |
Dry fuel on the fire he laid | V |
And bade the Saxon share his plaid | V |
He tended him like welcome guest | V |
Then thus his further speech addressed | V |
'Stranger I am to Roderick Dhu | G |
A clansman born a kinsman true | E2 |
Each word against his honour spoke | S2 |
Demands of me avenging stroke | S2 |
Yet more upon thy fate 'tis said | V |
A mighty augury is laid | V |
It rests with me to wind my horn | I |
Thou art with numbers overborne | I |
It rests with me here brand to brand | V |
Worn as thou art to bid thee stand | V |
But not for clan nor kindred's cause | D |
Will I depart from honour's laws | D |
To assail a wearied man were shame | J2 |
And stranger is a holy name | J2 |
Guidance and rest and food and fire | G |
In vain he never must require | G |
Then rest thee here till dawn of day | V |
Myself will guide thee on the way | V |
O'er stock and stone through watch and ward | V |
Till past Clan Alpine's outmost guard | V |
As far as Coilantogle's ford | V |
From thence thy warrant is thy sword ' | - |
'I take thy courtesy by heaven | I |
As freely as 'tis nobly given ' | - |
Well rest thee for the bittern's cry | E2 |
Sings us the lake's wild lullaby ' | - |
With that he shook the gathered heath | D3 |
And spread his plaid upon the wreath | D3 |
And the brave foemen side by side | V |
Lay peaceful down like brothers tried | V |
And slept until the dawning beam | A2 |
Purpled the mountain and the stream | A2 |
Walter Scott (sir)
(1)
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