The Lady Of The Lake - Canto Sixth Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBDCECEE FGFGGHGHH IIJKLLBBMMNOPPQQMMPP RRSS QQTTQQUUBBVVTTMMQQQQ QQ W XXYZXXQQQQA2A2QQXXXX XQQB2B2X W C2 B2B2D2D2XX E2E2B2B2XX QQPPXX B2 QQQQF2 QQQQXXMMB2B2Q B2B2G2G2Q M MMB2B2QQH2H2QQI2J2MM QQMMMMK2L2QQQQ M QQQQC2 B2B2QQM2N2 XXB2B2XXQQM N2 SSQQQQO2O2XXMMP2P2QQ XXX QQMMQ2Q2N2 N2 O2O2MMQQN2N2XXXX N2N2QQO2O2QQQQ XXX QQ N2 QQN2N2AAN2N2MMXXN2N2 R2R2N2N2Q QQQQQQXXXN2 N2 O2O2QQMMQQS2S2TTPPQQ AAQQXXQQMMB2 XXQQXT2QQ N2 XXQQT2XN2N2QQN2N2MMB 2B2X XXMM Q MB2B2QQQ M MMN2N2QQXXMN2QQQQN2N 2MMQ QQQQQC2C2QQGG M M MMQN2QQMU2MU2QB2QQB2 QQQQN2N2N2N2N2N2N2N2 MQMQ M N2QN2QN2QIF2IF2U2QU2 QQ2MQ2MMMMMMN2N2MM M B2B2B2B2MMN2MMMMN2N2 QN2N2QMMMMMQQN2TN2T M N2N2V2F2QQMQ2Q2MPPII W2W2N2U2U2N2QA QAMMMMN2QN2QR2MR2MN2 N2MM N2 MMQQMMQQQMMMMMX2Y2QQ MMMMMMQXXQN2N2QQMMQQ N2 N2N2N2MQQQMN2N2N2MMS SMMMMN2N2N2MMQQMMMMM XTTTQQMMN2N2QQ N2 QQZ2Z2QQSSQQN2N2Q QQMN2A3A3SSN2N2QQMN2 MT2QQQQ N2 Q QQQN2N2N2MMM MMMMMMMMM Z2Z2Z2MMMMM N2 QQN2N2MMMMN2N2N2N2MN 2QQQQTTQQMMQQN2N2N2N 2 M M QQMMMMN2N2 A3A3MMN2N2N2N2 N2N2MMQQN2 M QQN2N2N2MMQQN2N2MMQQ QQA3 N2N2N2N2QQQQ M QQQMMN2N2QQQQQQQQQQA AQQMMN2N2 M QQN2N2N2N2N2N2MMQQN2 N2N2N2MMN2N2QQN2N2MM MMMMQ M N2N2N2N2N2N2MMMMQQMM N2N2N2N2N2 N2N2QQMN2M QQN2 N2 QQTTN2N2MMT2N2N2QQMM M N2N2N2N2N2N2QQN2N2MM N2N2T N2N2QQ N2N2N2N2N2N2N2N2N2 G2MG2MMN2MN2N2 N2N2N2N2N2MN2MMThe Guard room | A |
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I | - |
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The sun awakening through the smoky air | B |
Of the dark city casts a sullen glance | C |
Rousing each caitiff to his task of care | B |
Of sinful man the sad inheritance | D |
Summoning revellers from the lagging dance | C |
Scaring the prowling robber to his den | E |
Gilding on battled tower the warder's lance | C |
And warning student pale to leave his pen | E |
And yield his drowsy eyes to the kind nurse of men | E |
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What various scenes and O what scenes of woe | F |
Are witnessed by that red and struggling beam | G |
The fevered patient from his pallet low | F |
Through crowded hospital beholds it stream | G |
The ruined maiden trembles at its gleam | G |
The debtor wakes to thought of gyve and jail | H |
'The love lore wretch starts from tormenting dream | G |
The wakeful mother by the glimmering pale | H |
Trims her sick infant's couch and soothes his feeble wail | H |
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II | - |
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At dawn the towers of Stirling rang | I |
With soldier step and weapon clang | I |
While drums with rolling note foretell | J |
Relief to weary sentinel | K |
Through narrow loop and casement barred | L |
The sunbeams sought the Court of Guard | L |
And struggling with the smoky air | B |
Deadened the torches' yellow glare | B |
In comfortless alliance shone | M |
The lights through arch of blackened stone | M |
And showed wild shapes in garb of war | N |
Faces deformed with beard and scar | O |
All haggard from the midnight watch | P |
And fevered with the stern debauch | P |
For the oak table's massive board | Q |
Flooded with wine with fragments stored | Q |
And beakers drained and cups o'erthrown | M |
Showed in what sport the night had flown | M |
Some weary snored on floor and bench | P |
Some labored still their thirst to quench | P |
Some chilled with watching spread their hands | R |
O'er the huge chimney's dying brands | R |
While round them or beside them flung | S |
At every step their harness rung | S |
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III | - |
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These drew not for their fields the sword | Q |
Like tenants of a feudal lord | Q |
Nor owned the patriarchal claim | T |
Of Chieftain in their leader's name | T |
Adventurers they from far who roved | Q |
To live by battle which they loved | Q |
There the Italian's clouded face | U |
The swarthy Spaniard's there you trace | U |
The mountain loving Switzer there | B |
More freely breathed in mountain air | B |
The Fleming there despised the soil | V |
That paid so ill the labourer's toil | V |
Their rolls showed French and German name | T |
And merry England's exiles came | T |
To share with ill concealed disdain | M |
Of Scotland's pay the scanty gain | M |
All brave in arms well trained to wield | Q |
The heavy halberd brand and shield | Q |
In camps licentious wild and bold | Q |
In pillage fierce and uncontrolled | Q |
And now by holytide and feast | Q |
From rules of discipline released | Q |
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IV | W |
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'They held debate of bloody fray | X |
Fought 'twixt Loch Katrine and Achray | X |
Fierce was their speech and mid their words | Y |
'Their hands oft grappled to their swords | Z |
Nor sunk their tone to spare the ear | X |
Of wounded comrades groaning near | X |
Whose mangled limbs and bodies gored | Q |
Bore token of the mountain sword | Q |
Though neighbouring to the Court of Guard | Q |
Their prayers and feverish wails were heard | Q |
Sad burden to the ruffian joke | A2 |
And savage oath by fury spoke | A2 |
At length up started John of Brent | Q |
A yeoman from the banks of Trent | Q |
A stranger to respect or fear | X |
In peace a chaser of the deer | X |
In host a hardy mutineer | X |
But still the boldest of the crew | X |
When deed of danger was to do | X |
He grieved that day their games cut short | Q |
And marred the dicer's brawling sport | Q |
And shouted loud 'Renew the bowl | B2 |
And while a merry catch I troll | B2 |
Let each the buxom chorus bear | X |
Like brethren of the brand and spear ' | - |
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V | W |
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Soldier's Song | C2 |
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Our vicar still preaches that Peter and Poule | B2 |
Laid a swinging long curse on the bonny brown bowl | B2 |
That there 's wrath and despair in the jolly black jack | D2 |
And the seven deadly sins in a flagon of sack | D2 |
Yet whoop Barnaby off with thy liquor | X |
Drink upsees out and a fig for the vicar | X |
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Our vicar he calls it damnation to sip | E2 |
The ripe ruddy dew of a woman's dear lip | E2 |
Says that Beelzebub lurks in her kerchief so sly | B2 |
And Apollyon shoots darts from her merry black eye | B2 |
Yet whoop Jack kiss Gillian the quicker | X |
Till she bloom like a rose and a fig for the vicar | X |
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Our vicar thus preaches and why should he not | Q |
For the dues of his cure are the placket and pot | Q |
And 'tis right of his office poor laymen to lurch | P |
Who infringe the domains of our good Mother Church | P |
Yet whoop bully boys off with your liquor | X |
Sweet Marjorie 's the word and a fig for the vicar | X |
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VI | B2 |
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The warder's challenge heard without | Q |
Stayed in mid roar the merry shout | Q |
A soldier to the portal went | Q |
'Here is old Bertram sirs of Ghent | Q |
And beat for jubilee the drum | F2 |
A maid and minstrel with him come ' | - |
Bertram a Fleming gray and scarred | Q |
Was entering now the Court of Guard | Q |
A harper with him and in plaid | Q |
All muffled close a mountain maid | Q |
Who backward shrunk to 'scape the view | X |
Of the loose scene and boisterous crew | X |
'What news ' they roared ' I only know | M |
From noon till eve we fought with foe | M |
As wild and as untamable | B2 |
As the rude mountains where they dwell | B2 |
On both sides store of blood is lost | Q |
Nor much success can either boast ' | - |
'But whence thy captives friend such spoil | B2 |
As theirs must needs reward thy toil | B2 |
Old cost thou wax and wars grow sharp | G2 |
Thou now hast glee maiden and harp | G2 |
Get thee an ape and trudge the land | Q |
The leader of a juggler band ' | - |
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VII | M |
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'No comrade no such fortune mine | M |
After the fight these sought our line | M |
That aged harper and the girl | B2 |
And having audience of the Earl | B2 |
Mar bade I should purvey them steed | Q |
And bring them hitherward with speed | Q |
Forbear your mirth and rude alarm | H2 |
For none shall do them shame or harm | H2 |
'Hear ye his boast ' cried John of Brent | Q |
Ever to strife and jangling bent | Q |
'Shall he strike doe beside our lodge | I2 |
And yet the jealous niggard grudge | J2 |
To pay the forester his fee | M |
I'll have my share howe'er it be | M |
Despite of Moray Mar or thee ' | - |
Bertram his forward step withstood | Q |
And burning in his vengeful mood | Q |
Old Allan though unfit for strife | M |
Laid hand upon his dagger knife | M |
But Ellen boldly stepped between | M |
And dropped at once the tartan screen | M |
So from his morning cloud appears | K2 |
The sun of May through summer tears | L2 |
The savage soldiery amazed | Q |
As on descended angel gazed | Q |
Even hardy Brent abashed and tamed | Q |
Stood half admiring half ashamed | Q |
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VIII | M |
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Boldly she spoke 'Soldiers attend | Q |
My father was the soldier's friend | Q |
Cheered him in camps in marches led | Q |
And with him in the battle bled | Q |
Not from the valiant or the strong | C2 |
Should exile's daughter suffer wrong ' | - |
Answered De Brent most forward still | B2 |
In every feat or good or ill | B2 |
'I shame me of the part I played | Q |
And thou an outlaw's child poor maid | Q |
An outlaw I by forest laws | M2 |
And merry Needwood knows the cause | N2 |
Poor Rose if Rose be living now ' | - |
He wiped his iron eye and brow | X |
'Must bear such age I think as thou | X |
Hear ye my mates I go to call | B2 |
The Captain of our watch to hall | B2 |
There lies my halberd on the floor | X |
And he that steps my halberd o'er | X |
To do the maid injurious part | Q |
My shaft shall quiver in his heart | Q |
Beware loose speech or jesting rough | M |
Ye all know John de Brent Enough ' | - |
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IX | N2 |
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Their Captain came a gallant young | S |
Of Tullibardine's house he sprung | S |
Nor wore he yet the spurs of knight | Q |
Gay was his mien his humor light | Q |
And though by courtesy controlled | Q |
Forward his speech his bearing bold | Q |
The high born maiden ill could brook | O2 |
The scanning of his curious look | O2 |
And dauntless eye and yet in sooth | X |
Young Lewis was a generous youth | X |
But Ellen's lovely face and mien | M |
Ill suited to the garb and scene | M |
Might lightly bear construction strange | P2 |
And give loose fancy scope to range | P2 |
'Welcome to Stirling towers fair maid | Q |
Come ye to seek a champion's aid | Q |
On palfrey white with harper hoar | X |
Like errant damosel of yore | X |
Does thy high quest a knight require | X |
Or may the venture suit a squire ' | - |
Her dark eye flashed she paused and sighed | Q |
'O what have I to do with pride | Q |
Through scenes of sorrow shame and strife | M |
A suppliant for a father's life | M |
I crave an audience of the King | Q2 |
Behold to back my suit a ring | Q2 |
The royal pledge of grateful claims | N2 |
Given by the Monarch to Fitz James ' | - |
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X | N2 |
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The signet ring young Lewis took | O2 |
With deep respect and altered look | O2 |
And said 'This ring our duties own | M |
And pardon if to worth unknown | M |
In semblance mean obscurely veiled | Q |
Lady in aught my folly failed | Q |
Soon as the day flings wide his gates | N2 |
The King shall know what suitor waits | N2 |
Please you meanwhile in fitting bower | X |
Repose you till his waking hour | X |
Female attendance shall obey | X |
Your hest for service or array | X |
Permit I marshal you the way ' | - |
But ere she followed with the grace | N2 |
And open bounty of her race | N2 |
She bade her slender purse be shared | Q |
Among the soldiers of the guard | Q |
The rest with thanks their guerdon took | O2 |
But Brent with shy and awkward look | O2 |
On the reluctant maiden's hold | Q |
Forced bluntly back the proffered gold | Q |
'Forgive a haughty English heart | Q |
And O forget its ruder part | Q |
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The vacant purse shall be my share | X |
Which in my barrel cap I'll bear | X |
Perchance in jeopardy of war | X |
Where gayer crests may keep afar ' | - |
With thanks 'twas all she could the maid | Q |
His rugged courtesy repaid | Q |
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XI | N2 |
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When Ellen forth with Lewis went | Q |
Allan made suit to John of Brent | Q |
'My lady safe O let your grace | N2 |
Give me to see my master's face | N2 |
His minstrel I to share his doom | A |
Bound from the cradle to the tomb | A |
Tenth in descent since first my sires | N2 |
Waked for his noble house their Iyres | N2 |
Nor one of all the race was known | M |
But prized its weal above their own | M |
With the Chief's birth begins our care | X |
Our harp must soothe the infant heir | X |
Teach the youth tales of fight and grace | N2 |
His earliest feat of field or chase | N2 |
In peace in war our rank we keep | R2 |
We cheer his board we soothe his sleep | R2 |
Nor leave him till we pour our verse | N2 |
A doleful tribute o'er his hearse | N2 |
Then let me share his captive lot | Q |
It is my right deny it not ' | - |
'Little we reck ' said John of Brent | Q |
'We Southern men of long descent | Q |
Nor wot we how a name a word | Q |
Makes clansmen vassals to a lord | Q |
Yet kind my noble landlord's part | Q |
God bless the house of Beaudesert | Q |
And but I loved to drive the deer | X |
More than to guide the labouring steer | X |
I had not dwelt an outcast here | X |
Come good old Minstrel follow me | N2 |
Thy Lord and Chieftain shalt thou see ' | - |
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XII | N2 |
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Then from a rusted iron hook | O2 |
A bunch of ponderous keys he took | O2 |
Lighted a torch and Allan led | Q |
Through grated arch and passage dread | Q |
Portals they passed where deep within | M |
Spoke prisoner's moan and fetters' din | M |
Through rugged vaults where loosely stored | Q |
Lay wheel and axe and headsmen's sword | Q |
And many a hideous engine grim | S2 |
For wrenching joint and crushing limb | S2 |
By artists formed who deemed it shame | T |
And sin to give their work a name | T |
They halted at a Iow browed porch | P |
And Brent to Allan gave the torch | P |
While bolt and chain he backward rolled | Q |
And made the bar unhasp its hold | Q |
They entered 'twas a prison room | A |
Of stern security and gloom | A |
Yet not a dungeon for the day | Q |
Through lofty gratings found its way | Q |
And rude and antique garniture | X |
Decked the sad walls and oaken floor | X |
Such as the rugged days of old | Q |
Deemed fit for captive noble's hold | Q |
'Here ' said De Brent 'thou mayst remain | M |
Till the Leech visit him again | M |
Strict is his charge the warders tell | B2 |
To tend the noble prisoner well ' | - |
Retiring then the bolt he drew | X |
And the lock's murmurs growled anew | X |
Roused at the sound from lowly bed | Q |
A captive feebly raised his head | Q |
The wondering Minstrel looked and knew | X |
Not his dear lord but Roderick Dhu | T2 |
For come from where Clan Alpine fought | Q |
They erring deemed the Chief he sought | Q |
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XIII | N2 |
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As the tall ship whose lofty prore | X |
Shall never stem the billows more | X |
Deserted by her gallant band | Q |
Amid the breakers lies astrand | Q |
So on his couch lay Roderick Dhu | T2 |
And oft his fevered limbs he threw | X |
In toss abrupt as when her sides | N2 |
Lie rocking in the advancing tides | N2 |
That shake her frame with ceaseless beat | Q |
Yet cannot heave her from her seat | Q |
O how unlike her course at sea | N2 |
Or his free step on hill and lea | N2 |
Soon as the Minstrel he could scan | M |
'What of thy lady of my clan | M |
My mother Douglas tell me all | B2 |
Have they been ruined in my fall | B2 |
Ah yes or wherefore art thou here | X |
Yet speak speak boldly do not fear ' | - |
For Allan who his mood well knew | X |
Was choked with grief and terror too | X |
'Who fought who fled Old man be brief | M |
Some might for they had lost their Chief | M |
Who basely live who bravely died ' | - |
'O calm thee Chief ' the Minstrel cried | Q |
'Ellen is safe ' 'For that thank Heaven ' | - |
'And hopes are for the Douglas given | M |
The Lady Margaret too is well | B2 |
And for thy clan on field or fell | B2 |
Has never harp of minstrel told | Q |
Of combat fought so true and bold | Q |
Thy stately Pine is yet unbent | Q |
Though many a goodly bough is rent ' | - |
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XIV | M |
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The Chieftain reared his form on high | M |
And fever's fire was in his eye | M |
But ghastly pale and livid streaks | N2 |
Checkered his swarthy brow and cheeks | N2 |
'Hark Minstrel I have heard thee play | Q |
With measure bold on festal day | Q |
In yon lone isle again where ne'er | X |
Shall harper play or warrior hear | X |
That stirring air that peals on high | M |
O'er Dermid's race our victory | N2 |
Strike it and then for well thou canst | Q |
Free from thy minstrel spirit glanced | Q |
Fling me the picture of the fight | Q |
When met my clan the Saxon might | Q |
I'll listen till my fancy hears | N2 |
The clang of swords' the crash of spears | N2 |
These grates these walls shall vanish then | M |
For the fair field of fighting men | M |
And my free spirit burst away | Q |
As if it soared from battle fray ' | - |
The trembling Bard with awe obeyed | Q |
Slow on the harp his hand he laid | Q |
But soon remembrance of the sight | Q |
He witnessed from the mountain's height | Q |
With what old Bertram told at night | Q |
Awakened the full power of song | C2 |
And bore him in career along | C2 |
As shallop launched on river's tide | Q |
'That slow and fearful leaves the side | Q |
But when it feels the middle stream | G |
Drives downward swift as lightning's beam | G |
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XV | M |
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Battle of Beal' An Duine | M |
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'The Minstrel came once more to view | M |
The eastern ridge of Benvenue | M |
For ere he parted he would say | Q |
Farewell to lovely loch Achray | N2 |
Where shall he find in foreign land | Q |
So lone a lake so sweet a strand | Q |
There is no breeze upon the fern | M |
No ripple on the lake | U2 |
Upon her eyry nods the erne | M |
The deer has sought the brake | U2 |
The small birds will not sing aloud | Q |
The springing trout lies still | B2 |
So darkly glooms yon thunder cloud | Q |
That swathes as with a purple shroud | Q |
Benledi's distant hill | B2 |
Is it the thunder's solemn sound | Q |
That mutters deep and dread | Q |
Or echoes from the groaning ground | Q |
The warrior's measured tread | Q |
Is it the lightning's quivering glance | N2 |
That on the thicket streams | N2 |
Or do they flash on spear and lance | N2 |
The sun's retiring beams | N2 |
I see the dagger crest of Mar | N2 |
I see the Moray's silver star | N2 |
Wave o'er the cloud of Saxon war | N2 |
That up the lake comes winding far | N2 |
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To hero boune for battle strife | M |
Or bard of martial lay | Q |
'Twere worth ten years of peaceful life | M |
One glance at their array | Q |
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XVI | M |
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'Their light armed archers far and near | N2 |
Surveyed the tangled ground | Q |
Their centre ranks with pike and spear | N2 |
A twilight forest frowned | Q |
Their barded horsemen in the rear | N2 |
The stern battalia crowned | Q |
No cymbal clashed no clarion rang | I |
Still were the pipe and drum | F2 |
Save heavy tread and armor's clang | I |
The sullen march was dumb | F2 |
There breathed no wind their crests to shake | U2 |
Or wave their flags abroad | Q |
Scarce the frail aspen seemed to quake | U2 |
That shadowed o'er their road | Q |
Their vaward scouts no tidings bring | Q2 |
Can rouse no lurking foe | M |
Nor spy a trace of living thing | Q2 |
Save when they stirred the roe | M |
The host moves like a deep sea wave | M |
Where rise no rocks its pride to brave | M |
High swelling dark and slow | M |
The lake is passed and now they gain | M |
A narrow and a broken plain | M |
Before the Trosachs' rugged jaws | N2 |
And here the horse and spearmen pause | N2 |
While to explore the dangerous glen | M |
Dive through the pass the archer men | M |
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XVII | M |
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'At once there rose so wild a yell | B2 |
Within that dark and narrow dell | B2 |
As all the fiends from heaven that fell | B2 |
Had pealed the banner cry of hell | B2 |
Forth from the pass in tumult driven | M |
Like chaff before the wind of heaven | M |
The archery appear | N2 |
For life for life their flight they ply | M |
And shriek and shout and battle cry | M |
And plaids and bonnets waving high | M |
And broadswords flashing to the sky | M |
Are maddening in the rear | N2 |
Onward they drive in dreadful race | N2 |
Pursuers and pursued | Q |
Before that tide of flight and chase | N2 |
How shall it keep its rooted place | N2 |
The spearmen's twilight wood | Q |
Down down cried Mar your lances down' | M |
Bear back both friend and foe | M |
Like reeds before the tempest's frown | M |
That serried grove of lances brown | M |
At once lay levelled low | M |
And closely shouldering side to side | Q |
The bristling ranks the onset bide | Q |
We'll quell the savage mountaineer | N2 |
As their Tinchel cows the game | T |
They come as fleet as forest deer | N2 |
We'll drive them back as tame | T |
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XVIII | M |
- | |
'Bearing before them in their course | N2 |
The relics of the archer force | N2 |
Like wave with crest of sparkling foam | V2 |
Right onward did Clan Alpine come | F2 |
Above the tide each broadsword bright | Q |
Was brandishing like beam of light | Q |
Each targe was dark below | M |
And with the ocean's mighty swing | Q2 |
When heaving to the tempest's wing | Q2 |
They hurled them on the foe | M |
I heard the lance's shivering crash | P |
As when the whirlwind rends the ash | P |
I heard the broadsword's deadly clang | I |
As if a hundred anvils rang | I |
But Moray wheeled his rearward rank | W2 |
Of horsemen on Clan Alpine's flank | W2 |
My banner man advance | N2 |
I see he cried their column shake | U2 |
Now gallants for your ladies' sake | U2 |
Upon them with the lance | N2 |
The horsemen dashed among the rout | Q |
As deer break through the broom | A |
- | |
Their steeds are stout their swords are out | Q |
They soon make lightsome room | A |
Clan Alpine's best are backward borne | M |
Where where was Roderick then | M |
One blast upon his bugle horn | M |
Were worth a thousand men | M |
And refluent through the pass of fear | N2 |
The battle's tide was poured | Q |
Vanished the Saxon's struggling spear | N2 |
Vanished the mountain sword | Q |
As Bracklinn's chasm so black and steep | R2 |
Receives her roaring linn | M |
As the dark caverns of the deep | R2 |
Suck the wild whirlpool in | M |
So did the deep and darksome pass | N2 |
Devour the battle's mingled mass | N2 |
None linger now upon the plain | M |
Save those who ne'er shall fight again | M |
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- | |
XIX | N2 |
- | |
'Now westward rolls the battle's din | M |
That deep and doubling pass within | M |
Minstrel away the work of fate | Q |
Is bearing on its issue wait | Q |
Where the rude Trosachs' dread defile | M |
Opens on Katrine's lake and isle | M |
Gray Benvenue I soon repassed | Q |
Loch Katrine lay beneath me cast | Q |
The sun is set the clouds are met | Q |
The lowering scowl of heaven | M |
An inky hue of livid blue | M |
To the deep lake has given | M |
Strange gusts of wind from mountain glen | M |
Swept o'er the lake then sunk again | M |
I heeded not the eddying surge | X2 |
Mine eye but saw the Trosachs' gorge | Y2 |
Mine ear but heard that sullen sound | Q |
Which like an earthquake shook the ground | Q |
And spoke the stern and desperate strife | M |
That parts not but with parting life | M |
Seeming to minstrel ear to toll | M |
The dirge of many a passing soul | M |
Nearer it comes the dim wood glen | M |
The martial flood disgorged again | M |
But not in mingled tide | Q |
The plaided warriors of the North | X |
High on the mountain thunder forth | X |
And overhang its side | Q |
While by the lake below appears | N2 |
The darkening cloud of Saxon spears | N2 |
At weary bay each shattered band | Q |
Eying their foemen sternly stand | Q |
Their banners stream like tattered sail | M |
That flings its fragments to the gale | M |
And broken arms and disarray | Q |
Marked the fell havoc of the day | Q |
- | |
- | |
XX | N2 |
- | |
'Viewing the mountain's ridge askance | N2 |
The Saxons stood in sullen trance | N2 |
Till Moray pointed with his lance | N2 |
And cried Behold yon isle | M |
See none are left to guard its strand | Q |
But women weak that wring the hand | Q |
'Tis there of yore the robber band | Q |
Their booty wont to pile | M |
My purse with bonnet pieces store | N2 |
To him will swim a bow shot o'er | N2 |
And loose a shallop from the shore | N2 |
Lightly we'll tame the war wolf then | M |
Lords of his mate and brood and den | M |
Forth from the ranks a spearman sprung | S |
On earth his casque and corselet rung | S |
He plunged him in the wave | M |
All saw the deed the purpose knew | M |
And to their clamors Benvenue | M |
A mingled echo gave | M |
The Saxons shout their mate to cheer | N2 |
The helpless females scream for fear | N2 |
And yells for rage the mountaineer | N2 |
'T was then as by the outcry riven | M |
Poured down at once the lowering heaven | M |
A whirlwind swept Loch Katrine's breast | Q |
Her billows reared their snowy crest | Q |
Well for the swimmer swelled they high | M |
To mar the Highland marksman's eye | M |
For round him showered mid rain and hail | M |
The vengeful arrows of the Gael | M |
In vain He nears the isle and lo | M |
His hand is on a shallop's bow | X |
Just then a flash of lightning came | T |
It tinged the waves and strand with flame | T |
I marked Duncraggan's widowed dame | T |
Behind an oak I saw her stand | Q |
A naked dirk gleamed in her hand | Q |
It darkened but amid the moan | M |
Of waves I heard a dying groan | M |
Another flash the spearman floats | N2 |
A weltering corse beside the boats | N2 |
And the stern matron o'er him stood | Q |
Her hand and dagger streaming blood | Q |
- | |
- | |
XXI | N2 |
- | |
'Revenge revenge the Saxons cried | Q |
The Gaels' exulting shout replied | Q |
Despite the elemental rage | Z2 |
Again they hurried to engage | Z2 |
But ere they closed in desperate fight | Q |
Bloody with spurring came a knight | Q |
Sprung from his horse and from a crag | S |
Waved 'twixt the hosts a milk white flag | S |
Clarion and trumpet by his side | Q |
Rung forth a truce note high and wide | Q |
While in the Monarch's name afar | N2 |
A herald's voice forbade the war | N2 |
For Bothwell's lord and Roderick bold | Q |
Were both he said in captive hold ' | - |
But here the lay made sudden stand | Q |
The harp escaped the Minstrel's hand | Q |
Oft had he stolen a glance to spy | M |
How Roderick brooked his minstrelsy | N2 |
At first the Chieftain to the chime | A3 |
With lifted hand kept feeble time | A3 |
That motion ceased yet feeling strong | S |
Varied his look as changed the song | S |
At length no more his deafened ear | N2 |
The minstrel melody can hear | N2 |
His face grows sharp his hands are clenched' | Q |
As if some pang his heart strings wrenched | Q |
Set are his teeth his fading eye | M |
Is sternly fixed on vacancy | N2 |
Thus motionless and moanless drew | M |
His parting breath stout Roderick Dhu | T2 |
Old Allan bane looked on aghast | Q |
While grim and still his spirit passed | Q |
But when he saw that life was fled | Q |
He poured his wailing o'er the dead | Q |
- | |
- | |
XXII | N2 |
- | |
Lament | Q |
- | |
'And art thou cold and lowly laid | Q |
Thy foeman's dread thy people's aid | Q |
Breadalbane's boast Clan Alpine's shade | Q |
For thee shall none a requiem say | N2 |
For thee who loved the minstrel's lay | N2 |
For thee of Bothwell's house the stay | N2 |
The shelter of her exiled line | M |
E'en in this prison house of thine | M |
I'll wail for Alpine's honored Pine | M |
- | |
'What groans shall yonder valleys fill | M |
What shrieks of grief shall rend yon hill | M |
What tears of burning rage shall thrill | M |
When mourns thy tribe thy battles done | M |
Thy fall before the race was won | M |
Thy sword ungirt ere set of sun | M |
There breathes not clansman of thy line | M |
But would have given his life for thine | M |
O woe for Alpine's honoured Pine | M |
- | |
'Sad was thy lot on mortal stage | Z2 |
The captive thrush may brook the cage | Z2 |
The prisoned eagle dies for rage | Z2 |
Brave spirit do Dot scorn my strain | M |
And when its notes awake again | M |
Even she so long beloved in vain | M |
Shall with my harp her voice combine | M |
And mix her woe and tears with mine | M |
To wail Clan Alpine's honoured Pine ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXIII | N2 |
- | |
Ellen the while with bursting heart | Q |
Remained in lordly bower apart | Q |
Where played with many coloured gleams | N2 |
Through storied pane the rising beams | N2 |
In vain on gilded roof they fall | M |
And lightened up a tapestried wall | M |
And for her use a menial train | M |
A rich collation spread in vain | M |
The banquet proud the chamber gay | N2 |
Scarce drew one curious glance astray | N2 |
Or if she looked 't was but to say | N2 |
With better omen dawned the day | N2 |
In that lone isle where waved on high | M |
The dun deer's hide for canopy | N2 |
Where oft her noble father shared | Q |
The simple meal her care prepared | Q |
While Lufra crouching by her side | Q |
Her station claimed with jealous pride | Q |
And Douglas bent on woodland game | T |
Spoke of the chase to Malcolm Graeme | T |
Whose answer oft at random made | Q |
The wandering of his thoughts betrayed | Q |
Those who such simple joys have known | M |
Are taught to prize them when they 're gone | M |
But sudden see she lifts her head | Q |
The window seeks with cautious tread | Q |
What distant music has the power | N2 |
To win her in this woful hour | N2 |
'T was from a turret that o'erhung | N2 |
Her latticed bower the strain was sung | N2 |
- | |
- | |
XXIV | M |
- | |
Lay of the Imprisoned Huntsman | M |
- | |
'My hawk is tired of perch and hood | Q |
My idle greyhound loathes his food | Q |
My horse is weary of his stall | M |
And I am sick of captive thrall | M |
I wish I were as I have been | M |
Hunting the hart in forest green | M |
With bended bow and bloodhound free | N2 |
For that's the life is meet for me | N2 |
- | |
I hate to learn the ebb of time | A3 |
From yon dull steeple's drowsy chime | A3 |
Or mark it as the sunbeams crawl | M |
Inch after inch along the wall | M |
The lark was wont my matins ring | N2 |
The sable rook my vespers sing | N2 |
These towers although a king's they be | N2 |
Have not a hall of joy for me | N2 |
- | |
No more at dawning morn I rise | N2 |
And sun myself in Ellen's eyes | N2 |
Drive the fleet deer the forest through | M |
And homeward wend with evening dew | M |
A blithesome welcome blithely meet | Q |
And lay my trophies at her feet | Q |
While fled the eve on wing of glee | N2 |
That life is lost to love and me ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXV | M |
- | |
The heart sick lay was hardly said | Q |
The listener had not turned her head | Q |
It trickled still the starting tear | N2 |
When light a footstep struck her ear | N2 |
And Snowdoun's graceful Knight was near | N2 |
She turned the hastier lest again | M |
The prisoner should renew his strain | M |
'O welcome brave Fitz James ' she said | Q |
'How may an almost orphan maid | Q |
Pay the deep debt ' 'O say not so | N2 |
To me no gratitude you owe | N2 |
Not mine alas the boon to give | M |
And bid thy noble father live | M |
I can but be thy guide sweet maid | Q |
With Scotland's King thy suit to aid | Q |
No tyrant he though ire and pride | Q |
May lay his better mood aside | Q |
Come Ellen come 'tis more than time | A3 |
He holds his court at morning prime ' | - |
With heating heart and bosom wrung | N2 |
As to a brother's arm she clung | N2 |
Gently he dried the falling tear | N2 |
And gently whispered hope and cheer | N2 |
Her faltering steps half led half stayed | Q |
Through gallery fair and high arcade | Q |
Till at his touch its wings of pride | Q |
A portal arch unfolded wide | Q |
- | |
- | |
XXVI | M |
- | |
Within 't was brilliant all and light | Q |
A thronging scene of figures bright | Q |
It glowed on Ellen's dazzled sight | Q |
As when the setting sun has given | M |
Ten thousand hues to summer even | M |
And from their tissue fancy frames | N2 |
Aerial knights and fairy dames | N2 |
Still by Fitz James her footing staid | Q |
A few faint steps she forward made | Q |
Then slow her drooping head she raised | Q |
And fearful round the presence gazed | Q |
For him she sought who owned this state | Q |
The dreaded Prince whose will was fate | Q |
She gazed on many a princely port | Q |
Might well have ruled a royal court | Q |
On many a splendid garb she gazed | Q |
Then turned bewildered and amazed | Q |
For all stood bare and in the room | A |
Fitz James alone wore cap and plume | A |
To him each lady's look was lent | Q |
On him each courtier's eye was bent | Q |
Midst furs and silks and jewels sheen | M |
He stood in simple Lincoln green | M |
The centre of the glittering ring | N2 |
And Snowdoun's Knight is Scotland's King | N2 |
- | |
- | |
XXVII | M |
- | |
As wreath of snow on mountain breast | Q |
Slides from the rock that gave it rest | Q |
Poor Ellen glided from her stay | N2 |
And at the Monarch's feet she lay | N2 |
No word her choking voice commands | N2 |
She showed the ring she clasped her hands | N2 |
O not a moment could he brook | N2 |
The generous Prince that suppliant look | N2 |
Gently he raised her and the while | M |
Checked with a glance the circle's smile | M |
Graceful but grave her brow he kissed | Q |
And bade her terrors be dismissed | Q |
'Yes fair the wandering poor | N2 |
Fitz James The fealty of Scotland claims | N2 |
To him thy woes thy wishes bring | N2 |
He will redeem his signet ring | N2 |
Ask naught for Douglas yester even | M |
His Prince and he have much forgiven | M |
Wrong hath he had from slanderous tongue | N2 |
I from his rebel kinsmen wrong | N2 |
We would not to the vulgar crowd | Q |
Yield what they craved with clamor loud | Q |
Calmly we heard and judged his cause | N2 |
Our council aided and our laws | N2 |
I stanched thy father's death feud stern | M |
With stout De Vaux and gray Glencairn | M |
And Bothwell's Lord henceforth we own | M |
The friend and bulwark of our throne | M |
But lovely infidel how now | M |
What clouds thy misbelieving brow | M |
Lord James of Douglas lend thine aid | Q |
Thou must confirm this doubting maid ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXVIII | M |
- | |
Then forth the noble Douglas sprung | N2 |
And on his neck his daughter hung | N2 |
The Monarch drank that happy hour | N2 |
The sweetest holiest draught of Power | N2 |
When it can say with godlike voice | N2 |
Arise sad Virtue and rejoice | N2 |
Yet would not James the general eye | M |
On nature's raptures long should pry | M |
He stepped between ' Nay Douglas nay | M |
Steal not my proselyte away | M |
The riddle 'tis my right to read | Q |
That brought this happy chance to speed | Q |
Yes Ellen when disguised I stray | M |
In life's more low but happier way | M |
'Tis under name which veils my power | N2 |
Nor falsely veils for Stirling's tower | N2 |
Of yore the name of Snowdoun claims | N2 |
And Normans call me James Fitz James | N2 |
Thus watch I o'er insulted laws | N2 |
Thus learn to right the injured cause ' | - |
Then in a tone apart and low | N2 |
'Ah little traitress none must know | N2 |
What idle dream what lighter thought | Q |
What vanity full dearly bought | Q |
Joined to thine eye's dark witchcraft drew | M |
My spell bound steps to Benvenue | N2 |
In dangerous hour and all but gave | M |
Thy Monarch's life to mountain glaive ' | - |
Aloud he spoke 'Thou still cost hold | Q |
That little talisman of gold | Q |
Pledge of my faith Fitz James's ring | N2 |
What seeks fair Ellen of the King ' | - |
- | |
- | |
XXIX | N2 |
- | |
Full well the conscious maiden guessed | Q |
He probed the weakness of her breast | Q |
But with that consciousness there came | T |
A lightening of her fears for Graeme | T |
And more she deemed the Monarch's ire | N2 |
Kindled 'gainst him who for her sire | N2 |
Rebellious broadsword boldly drew | M |
And to her generous feeling true | M |
She craved the grace of Roderick Dhu | T2 |
'Forbear thy suit the King of kings | N2 |
Alone can stay life's parting wings | N2 |
I know his heart I know his hand | Q |
Have shared his cheer and proved his brand | Q |
My fairest earldom would I give | M |
To bid Clan Alpine's Chieftain live | M |
Hast thou no other boon to crave | M |
No other captive friend to save ' | - |
Blushing she turned her from the King | N2 |
And to the Douglas gave the ring | N2 |
As if she wished her sire to speak | N2 |
The suit that stained her glowing cheek | N2 |
'Nay then my pledge has lost its force | N2 |
And stubborn justice holds her course | N2 |
Malcolm come forth ' and at the word | Q |
Down kneeled the Graeme to Scotland's Lord | Q |
'For thee rash youth no suppliant sues | N2 |
From thee may Vengeance claim her dues | N2 |
Who nurtured underneath our smile | M |
Hast paid our care by treacherous wile | M |
And sought amid thy faithful clan | N2 |
A refuge for an outlawed man | N2 |
Dishonoring thus thy loyal name | T |
Fetters and warder for the Graeme ' | - |
His chain of gold the King unstrung | N2 |
The links o'er Malcolm's neck he flung | N2 |
Then gently drew the glittering band | Q |
And laid the clasp on Ellen's hand | Q |
- | |
Harp of the North farewell The hills grow dark | N2 |
On purple peaks a deeper shade descending | N2 |
In twilight copse the glow worm lights her spark | N2 |
The deer half seen are to the covert wending | N2 |
Resume thy wizard elm the fountain lending | N2 |
And the wild breeze thy wilder minstrelsy | N2 |
Thy numbers sweet with nature's vespers blending | N2 |
With distant echo from the fold and lea | N2 |
And herd boy's evening pipe and hum of housing bee | N2 |
- | |
Yet once again farewell thou Minstrel Harp | G2 |
Yet once again forgive my feeble sway | M |
And little reck I of the censure sharp | G2 |
May idly cavil at an idle lay | M |
Much have I owed thy strains on life's long way | M |
Through secret woes the world has never known | N2 |
When on the weary night dawned wearier day | M |
And bitterer was the grief devoured alone | N2 |
That I o'erlive such woes Enchantress is thine own | N2 |
- | |
Hark as my lingering footsteps slow retire | N2 |
Some Spirit of the Air has waked thy string | N2 |
'Tis now a seraph bold with touch of fire | N2 |
'Tis now the brush of Fairy's frolic wing | N2 |
Receding now the dying numbers ring | N2 |
Fainter and fainter down the rugged dell | M |
And now the mountain breezes scarcely bring | N2 |
A wandering witch note of the distant spell | M |
And now 'tis silent all Enchantress fare thee well | M |
Walter Scott (sir)
(1)
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