The Lady Of The Lake - Canto Second Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCCDCEE F GCGGCHIJJ KLKKLMMJJ N O OPPJJ EJEEJQQJ RRSSTTUUVVWWXXYYZZA2 A2 U B2B2C2C2TTD2D2UUE2E2 F2F2 G2G2H2H2CCZZJJRRJJI2 I2 I2J2J2 I2I2K2K2W I2I2XX L2L2I2I2 I2EEI2I2JJI2I2M2M2I2 I2J I2I2 N2N2JJVVJJZZBBJJ L2 O2O2M2M2DDL2L2FFMP2I 2I2I2I2 I2I2L2L2UUL2L2ZZ I2I2 L2 CCJJI2I2I2I2L2L2L2L2 I2 U I2I2UUCULL CCI2I2C C I2I2I2I2E2E2I2I2I2I2 CCMMP2B I2I2I2I2JJMMI2I2E C JJJI2I2F2XI2VI2I2JJC CI2I2 CC I2I2I2I2JJBBI2I2I2I2 I2I2I2I2K2K2 JJQ2Q2ZZWWXMI2 J JJR2R2CCTJP2MI2I2CCI 2I2WWI2I2CCC2C2I2I2R 2 J I2I2JJJJI2I2LLZZJJCC S2S2T2JUULL J I2I2WWCCP2P2I2I2LLI2 I2LLCCI2I2LLI2I2ZZJJ JJ J JJLLCCR2R2CCJ I2I2 C F CLCLJJJLL L I2LI2U2U2JLL C LI2LI2I2I2JLL CLCLV2V2JLL C I2I2JJWWI2I2I2I2T2 I2I2J2J2I2I2I2 I2I2I2I2CC C LLZMW2W2I2I2I2I2I2I2 J2J2JJWW C JJI2I2CCI2I2 CCI2I2LLWWWI2I2I2I2C CZMJJI2 J CCI2I2I2I2I2I2I2I2 I2I2I2I2JJJJ J WWCCJJ X2X2I2T2MMCCI2I2WWI2 I2X2X2I2I2LLWW J CCC Y2R2I2I2I2I2I2I2I2I2 I2I2C2C2L J WW I2CCI2I2I2I2I2I2WWI2 I2JJI2I2 J CCWW I2I2I2I2I2I2WWI2I2J2 J2I2I2I2I2I2I2LLWWI2 I2LLI2 C J LLWWI2I2I2I2R2XXXI2I 2I2I2I2I2I2I2JJZ2 C I2I2LLI2I2I2I2JLJJJJ TTCCCCCI2I2I2I2L C XXXR2K2K2JJI2I2JJJJJ TI2I2I2I2I2I2 C ZMJJI2I2CCI2I2MMXJZM I2I2A3A3CCI2 C I2I2I2I2I2I2CCI2I2J2 J2R2XUUI2I2JJSSWW J S2S2JJZZI2I2I2I2I2I2 WWI2 I2I2CCJJY2Y2J UUI2I2 J J2J2K2K2I2 XZJJLLJJW I2CCCCCCB3B3CCLL X J I2I2LLXZ2WWI2I2I2I2I 2I2CC J I2 I2I2I2I2I2I2WWJJZZI2 I2 I2R2R2 JJC3C3JJJJ

The IslandA
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I-
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At morn the black cock trims his jetty wingB
'T is morning prompts the linnet's blithest layC
All Nature's children feel the matin springB
Of life reviving with reviving dayC
And while yon little bark glides down the bayC
Wafting the stranger on his way againD
Morn's genial influence roused a minstrel grayC
And sweetly o'er the lake was heard thy strainE
Mixed with the sounding harp O white haired Allan baneE
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II-
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SongF
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'Not faster yonder rowers' mightG
Flings from their oars the sprayC
Not faster yonder rippling brightG
That tracks the shallop's course in lightG
Melts in the lake awayC
Than men from memory eraseH
The benefits of former daysI
Then stranger go good speed the whileJ
Nor think again of the lonely isleJ
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'High place to thee in royal courtK
High place in battled lineL
Good hawk and hound for sylvan sportK
Where beauty sees the brave resortK
The honored meed be thineL
True be thy sword thy friend sincereM
Thy lady constant kind and dearM
And lost in love's and friendship's smileJ
Be memory of the lonely isleJ
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III-
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Song ContinuedN
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'But if beneath yon southern sky-
A plaided stranger roamO
Whose drooping crest and stifled sigh-
And sunken cheek and heavy eye-
Pine for his Highland homeO
Then warrior then be thine to showP
The care that soothes a wanderer's woeP
Remember then thy hap erewhileJ
A stranger in the lonely isleJ
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'Or if on life's uncertain mainE
Mishap shall mar thy sailJ
If faithful wise and brave in vainE
Woe want and exile thou sustainE
Beneath the fickle galeJ
Waste not a sigh on fortune changedQ
On thankless courts or friends estrangedQ
But come where kindred worth shall smileJ
To greet thee in the lonely isle '-
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IV-
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As died the sounds upon the tideR
The shallop reached the mainland sideR
And ere his onward way he tookS
The stranger cast a lingering lookS
Where easily his eye might reachT
The Harper on the islet beachT
Reclined against a blighted treeU
As wasted gray and worn as heU
To minstrel meditation givenV
His reverend brow was raised to heavenV
As from the rising sun to claimW
A sparkle of inspiring flameW
His hand reclined upon the wireX
Seemed watching the awakening fireX
So still he sat as those who waitY
Till judgment speak the doom of fateY
So still as if no breeze might dareZ
To lift one lock of hoary hairZ
So still as life itself were fledA2
In the last sound his harp had spedA2
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VU
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Upon a rock with lichens wildB2
Beside him Ellen sat and smiledB2
Smiled she to see the stately drakeC2
Lead forth his fleet upon the lakeC2
While her vexed spaniel from the beachT
Bayed at the prize beyond his reachT
Yet tell me then the maid who knowsD2
Why deepened on her cheek the roseD2
Forgive forgive FidelityU
Perchance the maiden smiled to seeU
Yon parting lingerer wave adieuE2
And stop and turn to wave anewE2
And lovely ladies ere your ireF2
Condemn the heroine of my lyreF2
Show me the fair would scorn to spy-
And prize such conquest of her eve-
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VI-
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While yet he loitered on the spotG2
It seemed as Ellen marked him notG2
But when he turned him to the gladeH2
One courteous parting sign she madeH2
And after oft the knight would sayC
That not when prize of festal dayC
Was dealt him by the brightest fairZ
Who e'er wore jewel in her hairZ
So highly did his bosom swellJ
As at that simple mute farewellJ
Now with a trusty mountain guideR
And his dark stag hounds by his sideR
He parts the maid unconscious stillJ
Watched him wind slowly round the hillJ
But when his stately form was hidI2
The guardian in her bosom chidI2
'Thy Malcolm vain and selfish maid '-
'T was thus upbraiding conscience saidI2
'Not so had Malcolm idly hungJ2
On the smooth phrase of Southern tongueJ2
Not so had Malcolm strained his eye-
Another step than thine to spy '-
'Wake Allan bane ' aloud she criedI2
To the old minstrel by her sideI2
'Arouse thee from thy moody dreamK2
I 'll give thy harp heroic themeK2
And warm thee with a noble nameW
Pour forth the glory of the Graeme '-
Scarce from her lip the word had rushedI2
When deep the conscious maiden blushedI2
For of his clan in hall and bowerX
Young Malcolm Graeme was held the flowerX
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VII-
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The minstrel waked his harp three timesL2
Arose the well known martial chimesL2
And thrice their high heroic prideI2
In melancholy murmurs diedI2
'Vainly thou bidst O noble maid '-
Clasping his withered hands he saidI2
'Vainly thou bidst me wake the strainE
Though all unwont to bid in vainE
Alas than mine a mightier handI2
Has tuned my harp my strings has spannedI2
I touch the chords of joy but lowJ
And mournful answer notes of woeJ
And the proud march which victors treadI2
Sinks in the wailing for the deadI2
O well for me if mine aloneM2
That dirge's deep prophetic toneM2
If as my tuneful fathers saidI2
This harp which erst Saint Modan swayedI2
Can thus its master's fate foretellJ
Then welcome be the minstrel's knell '-
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VIII-
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'But ah dear lady thus it sighedI2
The eve thy sainted mother diedI2
And such the sounds which while I strove-
To wake a lay of war or love-
Came marring all the festal mirthN2
Appalling me who gave them birthN2
And disobedient to my callJ
Wailed loud through Bothwell's bannered hallJ
Ere Douglases to ruin drivenV
Were exiled from their native heavenV
O if yet worse mishap and woeJ
My master's house must undergoJ
Or aught but weal to Ellen fairZ
Brood in these accents of despairZ
No future bard sad Harp shall flingB
Triumph or rapture from thy stringB
One short one final strain shall flowJ
Fraught with unutterable woeJ
Then shivered shall thy fragments lie-
Thy master cast him down and die '-
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IXL2
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Soothing she answered him 'AssuageO2
Mine honored friend the fears of ageO2
All melodies to thee are knownM2
That harp has rung or pipe has blownM2
In Lowland vale or Highland glenD
From Tweed to Spey what marvel thenD
At times unbidden notes should riseL2
Confusedly bound in memory's tiesL2
Entangling as they rush alongF
The war march with the funeral songF
Small ground is now for boding fearM
Obscure but safe we rest us hereP2
My sire in native virtue greatI2
Resigning lordship lands and stateI2
Not then to fortune more resignedI2
Than yonder oak might give the windI2
The graceful foliage storms may reeve-
'Fine noble stem they cannot grieve-
For me' she stooped and looking roundI2
Plucked a blue harebell from the groundI2
'For me whose memory scarce conveysL2
An image of more splendid daysL2
This little flower that loves the leaU
May well my simple emblem beU
It drinks heaven's dew as blithe as roseL2
That in the King's own garden growsL2
And when I place it in my hairZ
Allan a bard is bound to swearZ
He ne'er saw coronet so fair '-
Then playfully the chaplet wildI2
She wreathed in her dark locks and smiledI2
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XL2
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Her smile her speech with winning swayC
Wiled the old Harper's mood awayC
With such a look as hermits throwJ
When angels stoop to soothe their woeJ
He gazed till fond regret and prideI2
Thrilled to a tear then thus repliedI2
'Loveliest and best thou little know'stI2
The rank the honors thou hast lostI2
O might I live to see thee graceL2
In Scotland's court thy birthright placeL2
To see my favorite's step advanceL2
The lightest in the courtly danceL2
The cause of every gallant's sigh-
And leading star of every eye-
And theme of every minstrel's artI2
The Lady of the Bleeding Heart '-
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XIU
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'Fair dreams are these ' the maiden criedI2
Light was her accent yet she sighedI2
'Yet is this mossy rock to meU
Worth splendid chair and canopyU
Nor would my footstep spring more gayC
In courtly dance than blithe strathspeyU
Nor half so pleased mine ear inclineL
To royal minstrel's lay as thineL
And then for suitors proud and high-
To bend before my conquering eye-
Thou flattering bard thyself wilt sayC
That grim Sir Roderick owns its swayC
The Saxon scourge Clan Alpine's prideI2
The terror of Loch Lomond's sideI2
Would at my suit thou know'st delayC
A Lennox foray for a day '-
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XIIC
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The ancient bard her glee repressedI2
'Ill hast thou chosen theme for jestI2
For who through all this western wildI2
Named Black Sir Roderick e'er and smiledI2
In Holy Rood a knight he slewE2
I saw when back the dirk he drewE2
Courtiers give place before the strideI2
Of the undaunted homicideI2
And since though outlawed hath his handI2
Full sternly kept his mountain landI2
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Who else dared give ah woe the dayC
That I such hated truth should sayC
The Douglas like a stricken deerM
Disowned by every noble peerM
Even the rude refuge we have hereP2
Alas this wild maraudingB
Chief Alone might hazard our relief-
And now thy maiden charms expandI2
Looks for his guerdon in thy handI2
Full soon may dispensation soughtI2
To back his suit from Rome be broughtI2
Then though an exile on the hillJ
Thy father as the Douglas stillJ
Be held in reverence and fearM
And though to Roderick thou'rt so dearM
That thou mightst guide with silken threadI2
Slave of thy will this chieftain dreadI2
Yet O loved maid thy mirth refrainE
Thy hand is on a lion's mane '-
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XIIIC
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Minstrel ' the maid replied and high-
Her father's soul glanced from her eye-
'My debts to Roderick's house I knowJ
All that a mother could bestowJ
To Lady Margaret's care I oweJ
Since first an orphan in the wildI2
She sorrowed o'er her sister's childI2
To her brave chieftain son from ireF2
Of Scotland's king who shrouds my sireX
A deeper holier debt is owedI2
And could I pay it with my blood AllanV
Sir Roderick should commandI2
My blood my life but not my handI2
Rather will Ellen Douglas dwellJ
A votaress in Maronnan's cellJ
Rather through realms beyond the seaC
Seeking the world's cold charityC
Where ne'er was spoke a Scottish wordI2
And ne'er the name of Douglas heardI2
An outcast pilgrim will she rove-
Than wed the man she cannot love-
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XIV-
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'Thou shak'st good friend thy tresses grayC
That pleading look what can it sayC
But what I own I grant him brave-
But wild as Bracklinn's thundering wave-
And generous save vindictive moodI2
Or jealous transport chafe his bloodI2
I grant him true to friendly bandI2
As his claymore is to his handI2
But O that very blade of steelJ
More mercy for a foe would feelJ
I grant him liberal to flingB
Among his clan the wealth they bringB
When back by lake and glen they windI2
And in the Lowland leave behindI2
Where once some pleasant hamlet stoodI2
A mass of ashes slaked with bloodI2
The hand that for my father foughtI2
I honor as his daughter oughtI2
But can I clasp it reeking redI2
From peasants slaughtered in their shedI2
No wildly while his virtues gleamK2
They make his passions darker seemK2
And flash along his spirit high-
Like lightning o'er the midnight sky-
While yet a child and children knowJ
Instinctive taught the friend and foeJ
I shuddered at his brow of gloomQ2
His shadowy plaid and sable plumeQ2
A maiden grown I ill could bearZ
His haughty mien and lordly airZ
But if thou join'st a suitor's claimW
In serious mood to Roderick's nameW
I thrill with anguish or if e'erX
A Douglas knew the word with fearM
To change such odious theme were bestI2
What think'st thou of our stranger guest '-
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XVJ
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'What think I of him woe the whileJ
That brought such wanderer to our isleJ
Thy father's battle brand of yoreR2
For Tine man forged by fairy loreR2
What time he leagued no longer foesC
His Border spears with Hotspur's bowsC
Did self unscabbarded foreshowT
The footstep of a secret foeJ
If courtly spy hath harbored hereP2
What may we for the Douglas fearM
What for this island deemed of oldI2
Clan Alpine's last and surest holdI2
If neither spy nor foe I prayC
What yet may jealous Roderick sayC
Nay wave not thy disdainful headI2
Bethink thee of the discord dreadI2
That kindled when at Beltane gameW
Thou least the dance with Malcolm GraemeW
Still though thy sire the peace renewedI2
Smoulders in Roderick's breast the feudI2
Beware But hark what sounds are theseC
My dull ears catch no faltering breezeC
No weeping birch nor aspens wakeC2
Nor breath is dimpling in the lakeC2
Still is the canna's hoary beardI2
Yet by my minstrel faith I heardI2
And hark again some pipe of warR2
Sends the hold pibroch from afar '-
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XVIJ
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Far up the lengthened lake were spiedI2
Four darkening specks upon the tideI2
That slow enlarging on the viewJ
Four manned and massed barges grewJ
And bearing downwards from GlengyleJ
Steered full upon the lonely isleJ
The point of Brianchoil they passedI2
And to the windward as they castI2
Against the sun they gave to shineL
The bold Sir Roderick's bannered PineL
Nearer and nearer as they bearZ
Spears pikes and axes flash in airZ
Now might you see the tartars braveJ
And plaids and plumage dance and waveJ
Now see the bonnets sink and riseC
As his tough oar the rower pliesC
See flashing at each sturdy strokeS2
The wave ascending into smokeS2
See the proud pipers on the bowT2
And mark the gaudy streamers flowJ
From their loud chanters down and sweepU
The furrowed bosom of the deepU
As rushing through the lake amainL
They plied the ancient Highland strainL
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XVIIJ
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Ever as on they bore more loudI2
And louder rung the pibroch proudI2
At first the sounds by distance tameW
Mellowed along the waters cameW
And lingering long by cape and bayC
Wailed every harsher note awayC
Then bursting bolder on the earP2
The clan's shrill Gathering they could hearP2
Those thrilling sounds that call the mightI2
Of old Clan Alpine to the fightI2
Thick beat the rapid notes as whenL
The mustering hundreds shake the glenL
And hurrying at the signal dreadI2
'Fine battered earth returns their treadI2
Then prelude light of livelier toneL
Expressed their merry marching onL
Ere peal of closing battle roseC
With mingled outcry shrieks and blowsC
And mimic din of stroke and wardI2
As broadsword upon target jarredI2
And groaning pause ere yet againL
Condensed the battle yelled amainL
The rapid charge the rallying shoutI2
Retreat borne headlong into routI2
And bursts of triumph to declareZ
Clan Alpine's congest all were thereZ
Nor ended thus the strain but slowJ
Sunk in a moan prolonged and lowJ
And changed the conquering clarion swellJ
For wild lament o'er those that fellJ
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XVIIIJ
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The war pipes ceased but lake and hillJ
Were busy with their echoes stillJ
And when they slept a vocal strainL
Bade their hoarse chorus wake againL
While loud a hundred clansmen raiseC
Their voices in their Chieftain's praiseC
Each boatman bending to his oarR2
With measured sweep the burden boreR2
In such wild cadence as the breezeC
Makes through December's leafless treesC
The chorus first could Allan knowJ
'Roderick Vich Alpine ho fro '-
And near and nearer as they rowedI2
Distinct the martial ditty flowedI2
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XIXC
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Boat SongF
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Hail to the Chief who in triumph advancesC
Honored and blessed be the ever green PineL
Long may the tree in his banner that glancesC
Flourish the shelter and grace of our lineL
Heaven send it happy dewJ
Earth lend it sap anewJ
Gayly to bourgeon and broadly to growJ
While every Highland glenL
Sends our shout back againL
'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu ho ieroe '-
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Ours is no sapling chance sown by the fountainL
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Blooming at Beltane in winter to fadeI2
When the whirlwind has stripped every leaf on the mountainL
The more shall Clan Alpine exult in her shadeI2
Moored in the rifted rockU2
Proof to the tempest's shockU2
Firmer he roots him the ruder it blowJ
Menteith and Breadalbane thenL
Echo his praise againL
'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu ho ieroe '-
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XXC
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Proudly our pibroch has thrilled in Glen FruinL
And Bannochar's groans to our slogan repliedI2
Glen Luss and Ross dhu they are smoking in ruinL
And the best of Loch Lomond lie dead on her sideI2
Widow and Saxon maidI2
Long shall lament our raidI2
Think of Clan Alpine with fear and with woeJ
Lennox and Leven glenL
Shake when they hear againL
'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu ho ieroe '-
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Row vassals row for the pride of the HighlandsC
Stretch to your oars for the ever green PineL
O that the rosebud that graces yon islandsC
Were wreathed in a garland around him to twineL
O that some seedling gemV2
Worthy such noble stemV2
Honored and blessed in their shadow might growJ
Loud should Clan Alpine thenL
Ring from her deepmost glenL
Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu ho ieroe '-
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XXIC
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With all her joyful female bandI2
Had Lady Margaret sought the strandI2
Loose on the breeze their tresses flewJ
And high their snowy arms they threwJ
As echoing back with shrill acclaimW
And chorus wild the Chieftain's nameW
While prompt to please with mother's artI2
The darling passion of his heartI2
The Dame called Ellen to the strandI2
To greet her kinsman ere he landI2
'Come loiterer come a Douglas thouT2
And shun to wreathe a victor's brow '-
Reluctantly and slow the maidI2
The unwelcome summoning obeyedI2
And when a distant bugle rungJ2
In the mid path aside she sprungJ2
'List Allan bane From mainland castI2
I hear my father's signal blastI2
Be ours ' she cried 'the skiff to guideI2
And waft him from the mountain side '-
Then like a sunbeam swift and brightI2
She darted to her shallop lightI2
And eagerly while Roderick scannedI2
For her dear form his mother's bandI2
The islet far behind her layC
And she had landed in the bayC
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XXIIC
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Some feelings are to mortals givenL
With less of earth in them than heavenL
And if there be a human tearZ
From passion's dross refined and clearM
A tear so limpid and so meekW2
It would not stain an angel's cheekW2
'Tis that which pious fathers shedI2
Upon a duteous daughter's headI2
And as the Douglas to his breastI2
His darling Ellen closely pressedI2
Such holy drops her tresses steepedI2
Though 't was an hero's eye that weepedI2
Nor while on Ellen's faltering tongueJ2
Her filial welcomes crowded hungJ2
Marked she that fear affection's proofJ
Still held a graceful youth aloofJ
No not till Douglas named his nameW
Although the youth was Malcolm GraemeW
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XXIIIC
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Allan with wistful look the whileJ
Marked Roderick landing on the isleJ
His master piteously he eyedI2
Then gazed upon the Chieftain's prideI2
Then dashed with hasty hand awayC
From his dimmed eye the gathering sprayC
And Douglas as his hand he laidI2
On Malcolm's shoulder kindly saidI2
'Canst thou young friend no meaning spy-
In my poor follower's glistening eye-
I 'll tell thee he recalls the dayC
When in my praise he led the layC
O'er the arched gate of Bothwell proudI2
While many a minstrel answered loudI2
When Percy's Norman pennon wonL
In bloody field before me shoneL
And twice ten knights the least a nameW
As mighty as yon Chief may claimW
Gracing my pomp behind me cameW
Yet trust me Malcolm not so proudI2
Was I of all that marshalled crowdI2
Though the waned crescent owned my mightI2
And in my train trooped lord and knightI2
Though Blantyre hymned her holiest laysC
And Bothwell's bards flung back my praiseC
As when this old man's silent tearZ
And this poor maid's affection dearM
A welcome give more kind and trueJ
Than aught my better fortunes knewJ
Forgive my friend a father's boastI2
O it out beggars all I lost '-
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XXIVJ
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Delightful praise like summer roseC
That brighter in the dew drop glowsC
The bashful maiden's cheek appearedI2
For Douglas spoke and Malcolm heardI2
The flush of shame faced joy to hideI2
The hounds the hawk her cares divideI2
The loved caresses of the maidI2
The dogs with crouch and whimper paidI2
And at her whistle on her handI2
The falcon took his favorite standI2
Closed his dark wing relaxed his eye-
Nor though unhooded sought to fly-
And trust while in such guise she stoodI2
Like fabled Goddess of the woodI2
That if a father's partial thoughtI2
O'erweighed her worth and beauty aughtI2
Well might the lover's judgment failJ
To balance with a juster scaleJ
For with each secret glance he stoleJ
The fond enthusiast sent his soulJ
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XXVJ
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Of stature fair and slender frameW
But firmly knit was Malcolm GraemeW
The belted plaid and tartan hoseC
Did ne'er more graceful limbs discloseC
His flaxen hair of sunny hueJ
Curled closely round his bonnet blueJ
Trained to the chase his eagle eye-
The ptarmigan in snow could spy-
Each pass by mountain lake and heathX2
He knew through Lennox and MenteithX2
Vain was the bound of dark brown doeI2
When Malcolm bent his sounding bowT2
And scarce that doe though winged with fearM
Outstripped in speed the mountaineerM
Right up Ben Lomond could he pressC
And not a sob his toil confessC
His form accorded with a mindI2
Lively and ardent frank and kindI2
A blither heart till Ellen cameW
Did never love nor sorrow tameW
It danced as lightsome in his breastI2
As played the feather on his crestI2
Yet friends who nearest knew the youthX2
His scorn of wrong his zeal for truthX2
And bards who saw his features boldI2
When kindled by the tales of oldI2
Said were that youth to manhood grownL
Not long should Roderick Dhu's renownL
Be foremost voiced by mountain fameW
But quail to that of Malcolm GraemeW
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XXVIJ
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Now back they wend their watery wayC
And 'O my sire ' did Ellen sayC
'Why urge thy chase so far astrayC
And why so late returned And why '-
The rest was in her speaking eye-
'My child the chase I follow farY2
'Tis mimicry of noble warR2
And with that gallant pastime reftI2
Were all of Douglas I have leftI2
I met young Malcolm as I strayedI2
Far eastward in Glenfinlas' shadeI2
Nor strayed I safe for all aroundI2
Hunters and horsemen scoured the groundI2
This youth though still a royal wardI2
Risked life and land to be my guardI2
And through the passes of the woodI2
Guided my steps not unpursuedI2
And Roderick shall his welcome makeC2
Despite old spleen for Douglas' sakeC2
Then must he seek Strath Endrick glenL
Nor peril aught for me again '-
-
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XXVIIJ
-
Sir Roderick who to meet them cameW
Reddened at sight of Malcolm GraemeW
Yet not in action word or eye-
Failed aught in hospitalityI2
In talk and sport they whiled awayC
The morning of that summer dayC
But at high noon a courier lightI2
Held secret parley with the knightI2
Whose moody aspect soon declaredI2
That evil were the news he heardI2
Deep thought seemed toiling in his headI2
Yet was the evening banquet madeI2
Ere he assembled round the flameW
His mother Douglas and the GraemeW
And Ellen too then cast aroundI2
His eyes then fixed them on the groundI2
As studying phrase that might availJ
Best to convey unpleasant taleJ
Long with his dagger's hilt he playedI2
Then raised his haughty brow and saidI2
-
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XXVIIIJ
-
'Short be my speech nor time affordsC
Nor my plain temper glozing wordsC
Kinsman and father if such nameW
Douglas vouchsafe to Roderick's claimW
Mine honored mother Ellen why-
My cousin turn away thine eye-
And Graeme in whom I hope to knowI2
Full soon a noble friend or foeI2
When age shall give thee thy commandI2
And leading in thy native landI2
List all The King's vindictive prideI2
Boasts to have tamed the Border sideI2
Where chiefs with hound and trawl who cameW
To share their monarch's sylvan gameW
Themselves in bloody toils were snaredI2
And when the banquet they preparedI2
And wide their loyal portals flungJ2
O'er their own gateway struggling hungJ2
Loud cries their blood from Meggat's meadI2
From Yarrow braes and banks of TweedI2
Where the lone streams of Ettrick glideI2
And from the silver Teviot's sideI2
The dales where martial clans did rideI2
Are now one sheep walk waste and wideI2
This tyrant of the Scottish throneL
So faithless and so ruthless knownL
Now hither comes his end the sameW
The same pretext of sylvan gameW
What grace for Highland Chiefs judge yeI2
By fate of Border chivalryI2
Yet more amid Glenfinlas' greenL
Douglas thy stately form was seenL
This by espial sure I knowI2
Your counsel in the streight I show '-
-
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XXIXC
-
Ellen and Margaret fearfullyJ
Sought comfort in each other's eye-
Then turned their ghastly look each oneL
This to her sire that to her sonL
The hasty color went and cameW
In the bold cheek of Malcohm GraemeW
But from his glance it well appearedI2
'T was but for Ellen that he fearedI2
While sorrowful but undismayedI2
The Douglas thus his counsel saidI2
'Brave Roderick though the tempest roarR2
It may but thunder and pass o'erX
Nor will I here remain an hourX
To draw the lightning on thy bowerX
For well thou know'st at this gray headI2
The royal bolt were fiercest spedI2
For thee who at thy King's commandI2
Canst aid him with a gallant bandI2
Submission homage humbled prideI2
Shall turn the Monarch's wrath asideI2
Poor remnants of the Bleeding HeartI2
Ellen and I will seek apartI2
The refuge of some forest cellJ
There like the hunted quarry dwellJ
Till on the mountain and the moorZ2
The stern pursuit be passed and o'er '-
-
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XXXC
-
'No by mine honor ' Roderick saidI2
'So help me Heaven and my good bladeI2
No never Blasted be yon PineL
My father's ancient crest and mineL
If from its shade in danger partI2
The lineage of the Bleeding HeartI2
Hear my blunt speech grant me this maidI2
To wife thy counsel to mine aidI2
To Douglas leagued with Roderick DhuJ
Will friends and allies flock enowL
Like cause of doubt distrust and griefJ
Will bind to us each Western ChiefJ
When the loud pipes my bridal tellJ
The Links of Forth shall hear the knellJ
The guards shall start in Stirling's porchT
And when I light the nuptial torchT
A thousand villages in flamesC
Shall scare the slumbers of King JamesC
Nay Ellen blench not thus awayC
And mother cease these signs I prayC
I meant not all my heat might sayC
Small need of inroad or of fightI2
When the sage Douglas may uniteI2
Each mountain clan in friendly bandI2
To guard the passes of their landI2
Till the foiled King from pathless glenL
Shall bootless turn him home again '-
-
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XXXIC
-
There are who have at midnight hourX
In slumber scaled a dizzy towerX
And on the verge that beetled o'erX
The ocean tide's incessant roarR2
Dreamed calmly out their dangerous dreamK2
Till wakened by the morning beamK2
When dazzled by the eastern glowJ
Such startler cast his glance belowJ
And saw unmeasured depth aroundI2
And heard unintermitted soundI2
And thought the battled fence so frailJ
It waved like cobweb in the galeJ
Amid his senses' giddy wheelJ
Did he not desperate impulse feelJ
Headlong to plunge himself belowJ
And meet the worst his fears foreshowT
Thus Ellen dizzy and astoundI2
As sudden ruin yawned aroundI2
By crossing terrors wildly tossedI2
Still for the Douglas fearing mostI2
Could scarce the desperate thought withstandI2
To buy his safety with her handI2
-
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XXXIIC
-
Such purpose dread could Malcolm spy-
In Ellen's quivering lip and eye-
And eager rose to speak but ereZ
His tongue could hurry forth his fearM
Had Douglas marked the hectic strifeJ
Where death seemed combating with lifeJ
For to her cheek in feverish floodI2
One instant rushed the throbbing bloodI2
Then ebbing back with sudden swayC
Left its domain as wan as clayC
'Roderick enough enough ' he criedI2
'My daughter cannot be thy brideI2
Not that the blush to wooer dearM
Nor paleness that of maiden fearM
It may not be forgive herX
Chief Nor hazard aught for our reliefJ
Against his sovereign Douglas ne'erZ
Will level a rebellious spearM
'T was I that taught his youthful handI2
To rein a steed and wield a brandI2
I see him yet the princely boyA3
Not Ellen more my pride and joyA3
I love him still despite my wrongsC
By hasty wrath and slanderous tonguesC
O seek the grace you well may findI2
Without a cause to mine combined '-
-
-
XXXIIIC
-
Twice through the hall the Chieftain strodeI2
The waving of his tartars broadI2
And darkened brow where wounded prideI2
With ire and disappointment viedI2
Seemed by the torch's gloomy lightI2
Like the ill Demon of the nightI2
Stooping his pinions' shadowy swayC
Upon the righted pilgrim's wayC
But unrequited Love thy dartI2
Plunged deepest its envenomed smartI2
And Roderick with thine anguish stungJ2
At length the hand of Douglas wrungJ2
While eyes that mocked at tears beforeR2
With bitter drops were running o'erX
The death pangs of long cherished hopeU
Scarce in that ample breast had scopeU
But struggling with his spirit proudI2
Convulsive heaved its checkered shroudI2
While every sob so mute were allJ
Was heard distinctly through the ballJ
The son's despair the mother's lookS
III might the gentle Ellen brookS
She rose and to her side there cameW
To aid her parting steps the GraemeW
-
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XXXIVJ
-
Then Roderick from the Douglas brokeS2
As flashes flame through sable smokeS2
Kindling its wreaths long dark and lowJ
To one broad blaze of ruddy glowJ
So the deep anguish of despairZ
Burst in fierce jealousy to airZ
With stalwart grasp his hand he laidI2
On Malcolm's breast and belted plaidI2
'Back beardless boy ' he sternly saidI2
'Back minion holdst thou thus at naughtI2
The lesson I so lately taughtI2
This roof the Douglas and that maidI2
Thank thou for punishment delayed '-
Eager as greyhound on his gameW
Fiercely with Roderick grappled GraemeW
'Perish my name if aught affordI2
Its Chieftain safety save his sword '-
Thus as they strove their desperate handI2
Griped to the dagger or the brandI2
And death had been but Douglas roseC
And thrust between the struggling foesC
His giant strength ' Chieftains foregoJ
I hold the first who strikes my foeJ
Madmen forbear your frantic jarY2
What is the Douglas fallen so farY2
His daughter's hand is deemed the spoilJ
Of such dishonorable broil '-
Sullen and slowly they unclaspU
As struck with shame their desperate graspU
And each upon his rival glaredI2
With foot advanced and blade half baredI2
-
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XXXVJ
-
Ere yet the brands aloft were flungJ2
Margaret on Roderick's mantle hungJ2
And Malcolm heard his Ellen's screamK2
As faltered through terrific dreamK2
Then Roderick plunged in sheath his swordI2
And veiled his wrath in scornful word '-
Rest safe till morning pity 't wereX
Such cheek should feel the midnight airZ
Then mayst thou to James Stuart tellJ
Roderick will keep the lake and fellJ
Nor lackey with his freeborn clanL
The pageant pomp of earthly manL
More would he of Clan Alpine knowJ
Thou canst our strength and passes showJ
Malise what ho ' his henchman cameW
'Give our safe conduct to the Graeme '-
Young Malcolm answered calm and bold '-
Fear nothing for thy favorite holdI2
The spot an angel deigned to graceC
Is blessed though robbers haunt the placeC
Thy churlish courtesy for thoseC
Reserve who fear to be thy foesC
As safe to me the mountain wayC
At midnight as in blaze of dayC
Though with his boldest at his backB3
Even Roderick Dhu beset the trackB3
Brave Douglas lovely Ellen nayC
Naught here of parting will I sayC
Earth does not hold a lonesome glenL
So secret but we meet againL
Chieftain we too shall find an hour '-
He said and left the sylvan bowerX
-
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XXXVIJ
-
Old Allan followed to the strandI2
Such was the Douglas's commandI2
And anxious told how on the mornL
The stern Sir Roderick deep had swornL
The Fiery Cross should circle o'erX
Dale glen and valley down and moorZ2
Much were the peril to the GraemeW
From those who to the signal cameW
Far up the lake 't were safest landI2
Himself would row him to the strandI2
He gave his counsel to the windI2
While Malcolm did unheeding bindI2
Round dirk and pouch and broadsword rolledI2
His ample plaid in tightened foldI2
And stripped his limbs to such arrayC
As best might suit the watery wayC
-
-
XXXVIIJ
-
Then spoke abrupt 'Farewell to theeI2
Pattern of old fidelity '-
The Minstrel's hand he kindly pressedI2
'O could I point a place of restI2
My sovereign holds in ward my landI2
My uncle leads my vassal bandI2
To tame his foes his friends to aidI2
Poor Malcolm has but heart and bladeI2
Yet if there be one faithful GraemeW
Who loves the chieftain of his nameW
Not long shall honored Douglas dwellJ
Like hunted stag in mountain cellJ
Nor ere yon pride swollen robber dareZ
I may not give the rest to airZ
Tell Roderick Dhu I owed him naughtI2
Not tile poor service of a boatI2
To waft me to yon mountain side '-
Then plunged he in the flashing tideI2
Bold o'er the flood his head he boreR2
And stoutly steered him from the shoreR2
And Allan strained his anxious eye-
Far mid the lake his form to spy-
Darkening across each puny waveJ
To which the moon her silver gaveJ
Fast as the cormorant could skimC3
The swimmer plied each active limbC3
Then landing in the moonlight dellJ
Loud shouted of his weal to tellJ
The Minstrel heard the far hallooJ
And joyful from the shore withdrewJ

Walter Scott (sir)



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