The Lord Of The Isles: Canto I Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBCCDCDD EFGHHIFII CJCJJIJII KLKLLMLMM NJJJJOJOO LLPPQQRRJJJJJJSSJJJJ TTUU LPPOOLOJJVVJJIIWW LXXOOOOOOJJYYZZJJDD QLA2LA2JQJQ JJJJDQDQ QPB2C2D2E2E2F2F2JJJJ JJJJC2C2JJJJJJ LJJJJJJJJG2G2JJSS JJJJJUUJJH2H2JJOOJJJ JJJJJJJ JJJJJJJJJJF2F2JJI2I2 JJPPTTJJJJJJPPOOJJJJ JJ OLLJJOOJJI2I2OOJJI2J J OJJJJJJJJTTJ2J2JJOOT TJJQQ QJJJJJJDDI2I2JJ QJJJJJJQQQQRRJJJJJJJ J QVVJ2J2QQI2I2QQJJK2K 2JJ JJJJJJJJJJQJQQJJJJJJ JQQLJJQQQJJJJJJJJQJJ QJJJDDJ JJJLJJLQQJJJJJI2I2LL A2A2JJ LLLJJJJJJJJLJ2LLJ2 LJJWJJJJWJJJJJJJ QL2L2E2JJJE2H2H2M2DD JJJJQQJJJJJJ QLI2QI2J2JI2JJJUJJJU N2N2U QJJJO2O2JJP2LQQLJJLQ QQQL QRRRPQQPJDJJD QJJJJLLQJLQJQ2Q2JP2P 2JI2I2J LQQJJRJJJRJJJI2I2I2J JJJQQJ LJJQQJJJR2JG2G2G2JTT JQQQJ LI2I2QQTJJJTG2G2QJJJ Q LI2I2JJUUJJI2I2QULLQ QJJ LJJJJJM2JJJE2JJJS2S2 J QQQUJJJUJJQT2T2Q QJJJJI2S2S2I2UUJJJJJ JJJQUUQ QLJLJJJJJUUUJJJJJJ QQI2I2Introduction | A |
- | |
Autumn departs but still his mantle's fold | B |
Rests on the groves of noble Somerville | C |
Beneath a shroud of russet dropp'd with gold | B |
Tweed and his tributaries mingle still | C |
Hoarser the wind and deeper sounds the rill | C |
Yet lingering notes of silvan music swell | D |
The deep toned cushat and the redbreast shrill | C |
And yet some tints of summer splendour tell | D |
When the broad sun sinks down on Ettrick's western fell | D |
- | |
Autumn departs from Gala's fields no more | E |
Come rural sounds our kindred banks to cheer | F |
Blent with the stream and gale that wafts it o'er | G |
No more the distant reaper's mirth we hear | H |
The last blithe shout hath died upon our ear | H |
And harvest home hath hush'd the changing wain | I |
On the waste hill no forms of life appear | F |
Save where sad laggard of the autumnal train | I |
Some age struck wanderer gleans few ears of scatter'd grain | I |
- | |
Deem'st thou these sadden'd scenes have pleasure still | C |
Lovest thou through Autumn's fading realms to stray | J |
To see the heath flower wither'd on the hill | C |
To listen to the wood's expiring lay | J |
To note the red leaf shivering on the spray | J |
To mark the last bright tints the mountain stain | I |
On the waste fields to trace the gleaner's way | J |
And moralise on mortal joy and pain | I |
O if such scenes thou lovest scorn not the minstrel strain | I |
- | |
No do not scorn although its hoarser note | K |
Scarce with the cushat's homely song can vie | L |
Though faint its beauties as the tints remote | K |
That gleam through mist in autumn's evening sky | L |
And few as leaves that tremble sear and dry | L |
When wild November hath his bugle wound | M |
Nor mock my toil a lonely gleaner I | L |
Through fields time wasted on and inquest bound | M |
Where happier bards of yore have richer harvest found | M |
- | |
So shalt thou list and haply not unmoved | N |
To a wild tale of Albyn's warrior day | J |
In distant lands by the rough West reproved | J |
Still live some relics of the ancient lay | J |
For when on Coolin's hills the lights decay | J |
With such the Seer of Skye the eve beguiles | O |
'Tis known amid the pathless wastes of Reay | J |
In Harries known and in Iona's piles | O |
Where rest from mortal coil the Mighty of the Isles | O |
- | |
Canto I | L |
I | L |
Wake Maid of Lorn the Minstrels sung | P |
Thy rugged halls Artornish rung | P |
And the dark seas thy towers that lave | Q |
Heaved on the beach a softer wave | Q |
As 'mid the tuneful choir to keep | R |
The diapason of the Deep | R |
Lull'd were the winds of Inninmore | J |
And green Loch Alline's woodland shore | J |
As if wild woods and waves had pleasure | J |
In listing to the lovely measure | J |
And ne'er to symphony more sweet | J |
Gave mountain echoes answer meet | J |
Since met from mainland and from isle | S |
Ross Arran Hay and Argyle | S |
Each minstrel's tributary lay | J |
Paid homage to the festal day | J |
Dull and dishonour'd were the bard | J |
Worthless of guerdon and regard | J |
Deaf to the hope of minstrel fame | T |
Or lady's smiles his noblest aim | T |
Who on that morn's resistless call | U |
Where silent in Artornish hall | U |
- | |
II | L |
Wake Maid of Lorn 'twas thus they sung | P |
And yet more proud the descant rung | P |
Wake Maid of Lorn high right is ours | O |
To charm dull sleep from Beauty's bowers | O |
Earth Ocean Air have nought so shy | L |
But owns the power of minstrelsy | O |
In Lettermore the timid deer | J |
Will pause the harp's wild chime to hear | J |
Rude Heiskar's seal through surges dark | V |
Will long pursue the minstrel's bark | V |
To list his notes the eagle proud | J |
Will poise him on Ben Cailliach's cloud | J |
Then let not Maiden's ear disdain | I |
The summons of the minstrel train | I |
But while our harps wild music make | W |
Edith of Lorn awake awake | W |
- | |
III | L |
O wake while Dawn with dewy shine | X |
Wakes Nature's charms to vie with thine | X |
She bids the mottled thrush rejoice | O |
To mate thy melody of voice | O |
The dew that on the violet lies | O |
Mocks the dark lustre of thine eyes | O |
But Edith wake and all we see | O |
Of sweet and fair shall yield to thee | O |
She comes not yet grey Ferrand cried | J |
Brethren let softer spell be tried | J |
Those notes prolong'd that soothing theme | Y |
Which best may mix with Beauty's dream | Y |
And whisper with their silvery tone | Z |
The hope she loves yet fears to own | Z |
He spoke and on the harp strings died | J |
The strains of flattery and of pride | J |
More soft more low more tender fell | D |
The lay of love he bade them tell | D |
- | |
IV | Q |
Wake Maid of Lorn the moments fly | L |
Which yet that maiden name allow | A2 |
Wake Maiden wake the hour is nigh | L |
When love shall claim a plighted vow | A2 |
By Fear thy bosom's fluttering guest | J |
By Hope that soon shall fears remove | Q |
We bid thee break the bonds of rest | J |
And wake thee at the call of Love | Q |
- | |
Wake Edith wake in yonder bay | J |
Lies many a galley gaily mann'd | J |
We hear the merry pibrochs play | J |
We see the streamer's silken band | J |
What Chieftain's praise these pibrochs swell | D |
What crest is on these banners wove | Q |
The harp the minstrel dare not tell | D |
The riddle must be read by Love | Q |
- | |
V | Q |
Retired her maiden train among | P |
Edith of Lorn received the song | B2 |
But tamed the minstrel's pride had been | C2 |
That had her cold demeanour seen | D2 |
For not upon her cheek awoke | E2 |
The glow of pride when Flattery spoke | E2 |
Nor could their tenderest numbers bring | F2 |
One sigh responsive to the string | F2 |
As vainly had her maidens vied | J |
In skill to deck the princely bride | J |
Her locks in dark brown length array'd | J |
Cathleen of Ulne 'twas thine to braid | J |
Young Eva with meet reverence drew | J |
On the light foot with silken shoe | J |
While on the ankle's slender round | J |
Those strings of pearl fair Bertha wound | J |
That bleach'd Lochryan's depths within | C2 |
Seem'd dusky still on Edith's skin | C2 |
But Einion of experience old | J |
Had weightiest task the mantle's fold | J |
In many an artful plait she tied | J |
To show the form it seem'd to hide | J |
Till on the floor descending roll'd | J |
Its waves of crimson blent with gold | J |
- | |
VI | L |
O lives there now so cold a maid | J |
Who thus in beauty's pomp array'd | J |
In beauty's proudest pitch of power | J |
And conquest won the bridal hour | J |
With every charm that wins the heart | J |
By Nature given enhanced by Art | J |
Could yet the fair reflection view | J |
In the bright mirror pictured true | J |
And not one dimple on her cheek | G2 |
A tell tale consciousness bespeak | G2 |
Lives still such a maid Fair damsels say | J |
For further vouches not my lay | J |
Save that such lived in Britain's isle | S |
When Lorn's bright Edith scorn'd to smile | S |
- | |
VII | J |
But Morag to whose fostering care | J |
Proud Lorn had given his daughter fair | J |
Morag who saw a mother's aid | J |
By all a daughter's love repaid | J |
Strict was that bond most kind of all | U |
Inviolate in Highland hall | U |
Grey Morag sate a space apart | J |
In Edith's eyes to read her heart | J |
In vain the attendant's fond appeal | H2 |
To Morag's skill to Morag's zeal | H2 |
She mark'd her child receive their care | J |
Cold as the image sculptured fair | J |
Form of some sainted patroness | O |
Which cloister'd maids combine to dress | O |
She mark'd and knew her nursling's heart | J |
In the vain pomp took little part | J |
Wistful a while she gazed then press'd | J |
The maiden to her anxious breast | J |
In finish'd loveliness and led | J |
To where a turret's airy head | J |
Slender and steep and battled round | J |
O'erlook'd dark Mull thy mighty Sound | J |
Where thwarting tides with mingled roar | J |
Part thy swarth hills from Morven's shore | J |
- | |
VIII | J |
Daughter she said these seas behold | J |
Round twice a hundred islands roll'd | J |
From Hirt that hears their northern roar | J |
Or mainland turn where many a tower | J |
Owns thy bold brother's feudal power | J |
Each on its own dark cape reclined | J |
And listening to its own wild wind | J |
From where Mingarry sternly placed | J |
O'erawes the woodland and the waste | J |
To where Dunstaffnage hears the raging | F2 |
Of Connal with his rocks engaging | F2 |
Think'st thou amid this ample round | J |
A single brow but thine has frown'd | J |
To sadden this auspicious morn | I2 |
That bids the daughter of high Lorn | I2 |
Impledge her spousal faith to wed | J |
The heir of mighty Somerled | J |
Ronald from many a hero sprung | P |
The fair the valiant and the young | P |
Lord of the Isles whose lofty name | T |
A thousand bards have given to fame | T |
The mate of monarchs and allied | J |
On equal terms with England's pride | J |
From Chieftain's tower to bondsman's cot | J |
Who hears the tale and triumphs not | J |
The damsel dons her best attire | J |
The shepherd lights his beltane fire | J |
Joy joy each warder's horn hath sung | P |
Joy joy each matin bell hath rung | P |
The holy priest says grateful mass | O |
Loud shouts each hardy galla glass | O |
No mountain den holds outcast boor | J |
Of heart so dull of soul so poor | J |
But he hath flung his task aside | J |
And claim'd this morn for holy tide | J |
Yet empress of this joyful day | J |
Edith is sad while all are gay | J |
- | |
IX | O |
Proud Edith's soul came to her eye | L |
Resentment check'd the struggling sigh | L |
Her hurrying hand indignant dried | J |
The burning tears of injured pride | J |
Morag forbear or lend thy praise | O |
To swell yon hireling harpers' lays | O |
Make to yon maids thy boast of power | J |
That they may waste a wondering hour | J |
Telling of banners proudly borne | I2 |
Of pealing bell and bugle horn | I2 |
Or theme more dear of robes of price | O |
Crownlets and gauds of rare device | O |
But thou experienced as thou art | J |
Think'st thou with these to cheat the heart | J |
That bound in strong affection's chain | I2 |
No sum thine Edith's wretched lot | J |
In these brief words He loves her not | J |
- | |
X | O |
Debate it not too long I strove | J |
To call his cold observance love | J |
All blinded by the league that styled | J |
Edith of Lorn while yet a child | J |
She tripp'd the heath by Morag's side | J |
The brave Lord Ronald's destined bride | J |
Ere yet I saw him while afar | J |
His broadsword blazed in Scotland's war | J |
Train'd to believe our fates the same | T |
My bosom throbb'd when Ronald's name | T |
Came gracing fame's heroic tale | J2 |
Like perfume on the summer gale | J2 |
What pilgrim sought our halls nor told | J |
Of Ronald's deeds in battle bold | J |
Who touch'd the harp to heroes' praise | O |
But his achievements swell'd the lays | O |
Even Morag not a tale of fame | T |
Was hers but closed with Ronald's name | T |
He came and all that had been told | J |
Of his high worth seem'd poor and cold | J |
Tame lifeless void of energy | Q |
Unjust to Ronald and to me | Q |
- | |
XI | Q |
Since then what thought had Edith's heart | J |
And gave not plighted love its part | J |
And what requital cold delay | J |
Excuse that shunn'd the spousal day | J |
It dawns and Ronald is not here | J |
Hunts he Bentella's nimble deer | J |
Or loiters he in secret dell | D |
To bid some lighter love farewell | D |
And swear that though he may not scorn | I2 |
A daughter of the House of Lorn | I2 |
Yet when these formal rites are o'er | J |
Again they meet to part no more | J |
- | |
XII | Q |
Hush daughter hush thy doubts remove | J |
More nobly think of Ronald's love | J |
Look where beneath the castle grey | J |
His fleet unmoor from Aros bay | J |
See'st not each galley's topmast bend | J |
As on the yards the sails ascend | J |
Hiding the dark blue land they rise | Q |
Like the white clouds on April skies | Q |
The shouting vassals man the oars | Q |
Behind them sink Mull's mountain shores | Q |
Onward their merry course they keep | R |
Through whistling breeze and foaming deep | R |
And mark the headmost seaward cast | J |
Stoop to the freshening gale her mast | J |
As if she veil'd its banner'd pride | J |
To greet afar her Prince's bride | J |
Thy Ronald comes and while in speed | J |
His galley mates the flying steed | J |
He chides her sloth Fair Edith sigh'd | J |
Blush'd sadly smiled and thus replied | J |
- | |
XIII | Q |
Sweet thought but vain No Morag mark | V |
Type of his course yon lonely bark | V |
That oft hath shifted helm and sail | J2 |
To win its way against the gale | J2 |
Since peep of morn my vacant eyes | Q |
Have view'd by fits the course she tries | Q |
Now though the darkening scud comes on | I2 |
And dawn's fair promises be gone | I2 |
And though the weary crew may see | Q |
Our sheltering haven on their lea | Q |
Still closer to the rising wind | J |
They strive her shivering sail to bind | J |
Still nearer to the shelves' dread verge | K2 |
At every tack her course they urge | K2 |
As if they fear'd Artornish more | J |
Than adverse winds and breakers' roar | J |
- | |
XIV | J |
Sooth spoke the Maid Amid the tide | J |
The skiff she mark'd lay tossing sore | J |
And shifted oft her stooping side | J |
In weary tack from shore to shore | J |
Yet on her destined course no more | J |
She gain'd or forward way | J |
Than what a minstrel may compare | J |
To the poor meed which peasants share | J |
Who toil the livelong day | J |
And such the risk her pilot braves | Q |
That oft before she wore | J |
Her boltsprit kiss'd the broken waves | Q |
Where in white foam the ocean raves | Q |
Upon the shelving shore | J |
Yet to their destined purpose true | J |
Undaunted toil'd her hardy crew | J |
Nor look'd where shelter lay | J |
Nor for Artornish Castle drew | J |
Nor steer'd for Aros bay | J |
- | |
XV | J |
Thus while they strove with wind and seas | Q |
Borne onward by the willing breeze | Q |
Lord Ronald's fleet swept by | L |
Stream'd with silk and trick'd with gold | J |
Mann'd with the noble and the bold | J |
Of island chivalry | Q |
Around their prows the ocean roars | Q |
And chafes beneath their thousand oars | Q |
Yet bears them on their way | J |
So chafes the war horse in his might | J |
That fieldward bears some valiant knight | J |
Champs till both bit and boss are white | J |
But foaming must obey | J |
On each gay deck they might behold | J |
Lances of steel and crests of gold | J |
And hauberks with their burnish'd fold | J |
That shimmer'd fair and free | Q |
And each proud galley as she pass'd | J |
To the wild cadence of the blast | J |
Gave wilder minstrelsy | Q |
Full many a shrill triumphant note | J |
Saline and Scallastle bade float | J |
Their misty shores around | J |
And Morven's echoes answer'd well | D |
And Duart heard the distant swell | D |
Come down the darksome Sound | J |
- | |
XVI | J |
So bore they on with mirth and pride | J |
And if that labouring bark they spied | J |
'Twas with such idle eye | L |
As nobles cast on lowly boor | J |
When toiling in his task obscure | J |
They pass him careless by | L |
Let them sweep on with heedless eyes | Q |
But had they known what mighty prize | Q |
In that frail vessel lay | J |
The famish'd wolf that prowls the wold | J |
Had scatheless pass'd the unguarded fold | J |
Ere drifting by these galleyes bold | J |
Unchallenged were her way | J |
And thou Lord Ronald sweep thou on | I2 |
With mirth and pride and minstrel tone | I2 |
But hadst thou known who sail'd so nigh | L |
Far other glance were in thine eye | L |
Far other flush were on thy brow | A2 |
That shaded by the bonnet now | A2 |
Assumes but ill the blithesome cheer | J |
Of bridegroom when the bride is near | J |
- | |
XVII | L |
Yes sweep they on We will not leave | L |
For them that triumph those who grieve | L |
With that armada gay | J |
Be laughter loud and jocund shout | J |
And bards to cheer the wassail rout | J |
With tale and romance and lay | J |
And of wild mirth each clamorous art | J |
Which if it cannot cheer the heart | J |
May stupefy and stun its smart | J |
For one loud busy day | J |
Yes sweep they on But with that skiff | L |
Abides the minstrel tale | J2 |
Where there was dread of surge and cliff | L |
Labour that strain'd each sinew stiff | L |
And one sad Maiden's wail | J2 |
- | |
XVIII | L |
All day with fruitless strife they toil'd | J |
With eve the ebbing currents boil'd | J |
More fierce from straight and lake | W |
And midway through the channel met | J |
Conflicting tides that foam and fret | J |
And high their mingled billows jet | J |
As spears that in the battle set | J |
Spring upward as they break | W |
Then too the lights of eve were past | J |
And louder sung the western blast | J |
On rocks of Inninmore | J |
Rent was the sail and strain'd the mast | J |
And many a leak was gaping fast | J |
And the pale steersman stood aghast | J |
And gave the conflict o'er | J |
- | |
XIX | Q |
'Twas then that One whose lofty look | L2 |
Nor labour dull'd nor terror shook | L2 |
Thus to the Leader spoke | E2 |
Brother how hopest thou to abide | J |
The fury of this wilder'd tide | J |
Or how avoid the rock's rude side | J |
Until the day has broke | E2 |
Didst thou not mark the vessel reel | H2 |
With quivering planks and groaning keel | H2 |
At the last billow's shock | M2 |
Yet how of better counsel tell | D |
Though here thou see'st poor Isabel | D |
Half dead with want and fear | J |
For look on sea or look on land | J |
Or yon dark sky on every hand | J |
Despair and death are near | J |
For her alone I grieve on me | Q |
Danger sits light by land and sea | Q |
I follow where thou wilt | J |
Either to bide the tempest's lour | J |
Or went to yon unfriendly tower | J |
Or rush amid their naval power | J |
With war cry wake their wassail hour | J |
And die with hand on hilt | J |
- | |
XX | Q |
That elder Leader's calm reply | L |
In steady voice was given | I2 |
In man's most dark extremity | Q |
Oft succour dawns from Heaven | I2 |
Edward trim thou the shatter'd sail | J2 |
The helm be mine and down the gate | J |
Let our free course be driven | I2 |
So shall we 'scape the western bay | J |
The hostile fleet the unequal fray | J |
So safely hold our vessel's way | J |
Beneath the Castle wall | U |
For if a hope of safety rest | J |
'Tis on the sacred name of guest | J |
Who seeks for shelter storm distress'd | J |
Within a chieftain's hall | U |
If not it best beseems our worth | N2 |
Our name our right our lofty birth | N2 |
By noble hands to fall | U |
- | |
XXI | Q |
The helm to his strong arm consign'd | J |
Gave the reef'd sail to meet the wind | J |
And on her alter'd way | J |
Fierce bonding forward sprung the ship | O2 |
Like greyhound starting from the slip | O2 |
To seize his flying prey | J |
Awaked before the rushing prow | J |
The mimic fires of ocean glow | P2 |
Those lightnings of the wave | L |
Wild sparkles crest the broken tides | Q |
And flashing round the vessel's sides | Q |
With elvish lustre lave | L |
While far behind their livid light | J |
To the dark billows of the night | J |
A gloomy splendour gave | L |
It seems as if old Ocean shakes | Q |
From his dark brow the lucid flakes | Q |
In envious pageantry | Q |
To match the meteor light that streaks | Q |
Grim Hecla's midnight sky | L |
- | |
XXII | Q |
Nor lack'd they steadier light to keep | R |
Their course upon the darken'd deep | R |
Artornish on her frowning steep | R |
'Twixt cloud and ocean hung | P |
Glanced with a thousand lights of glee | Q |
And landward far and far to sea | Q |
Her festal radiance flung | P |
By that blithe beacon light they steer'd | J |
Whose lustre mingled well | D |
With the pale beam that now appear'd | J |
As the cold moon her head uprear'd | J |
Above the eastern fell | D |
- | |
XXIII | Q |
Thus guided on their course they bore | J |
Until they near'd the mainland shore | J |
When frequent on the hollow blast | J |
Wild shouts of merriment were cast | J |
And wind and wave and sea birds' cry | L |
With wassail sounds in concert vie | L |
Like funeral shrieks with revelry | Q |
Or like the battle shout | J |
By peasants heard from cliffs on high | L |
When Triumph Rage and Agony | Q |
Madden the fight and rout | J |
Now nearer yet through mist and storm | Q2 |
Dimly arose the Castle's form | Q2 |
And deepen'd shadow made | J |
Far lengthen'd on the main below | P2 |
Where dancing in reflected glow | P2 |
A hundred torches play'd | J |
Spangling the wave with lights as vain | I2 |
As pleasures in this vale of pain | I2 |
That dazzle as they fade | J |
- | |
XXIV | L |
Beneath the Castle's sheltering lee | Q |
They staid their course in quiet sea | Q |
Hewn in the rock a passage there | J |
Sought the dark fortress by a stair | J |
So strait so high so steep | R |
With peasant's staff on valiant hand | J |
Might well the dizzy path have mann'd | J |
'Gainst hundreds arm'd with spear and brand | J |
And plunged them in the deep | R |
His bugle then the helmsman wound | J |
Loud answered every echo round | J |
From turret rock and bay | J |
The postern's hinges crash and groan | I2 |
And soon the Warder's cresset shone | I2 |
On those rude steps of slippery stone | I2 |
To light the upward way | J |
Thrice welcome holy Sire he said | J |
Full long the spousal train have staid | J |
And vex'd at thy delay | J |
Fear'd lest amidst these wildering seas | Q |
The darksome night and freshening breeze | Q |
Had driven thy bark astray | J |
- | |
XXV | L |
Warder the younger stranger said | J |
Thine erring guess some mirth had made | J |
In mirthful hour but nights like these | Q |
When the rough winds wake western seas | Q |
Brook not of glee We crave some aid | J |
And needful shelter for this maid | J |
Until the break of day | J |
For to ourselves the deck's rude plank | R2 |
That's breath'd upon by May | J |
And for our storm toss'd skiff we seek | G2 |
Short shelter in this leeward creek | G2 |
Prompt when the dawn the east shall streak | G2 |
Again to bear away | J |
Answered the Warder In what name | T |
Assert ye hospitable claim | T |
Whence come or whither bound | J |
Hath Erin seen your parting sails | Q |
Or come ye on Norweyan gales | Q |
And seek ye England's fertile vales | Q |
Or Scotland's mountain ground | J |
- | |
XXVI | L |
Warriors for other title none | I2 |
For some brief space we list to own | I2 |
Bound by a vow warriors are we | Q |
In strife by land and storm by sea | Q |
We have been known to fame | T |
And these brief words have import dear | J |
When sounded in a noble ear | J |
To harbour safe and friendly cheer | J |
That gives us rightful claim | T |
Grant us the trivial boon we seek | G2 |
And we in other realms will speak | G2 |
Fair of your courtesy | Q |
Deny and be your niggard Hold | J |
Scorn'd by the noble and the bold | J |
Shunn'd by the pilgrim on the wold | J |
And wanderer on the lea | Q |
- | |
XXVII | L |
Bold stranger no 'gainst claim like thine | I2 |
No bolt revolves by hand of mine | I2 |
Though urged in tone that more express'd | J |
A monarch than a suppliant guest | J |
Be what ye will Artornish Hall | U |
On this glad eve is free to all | U |
Though ye had drawn a hostile sword | J |
'Gainst our ally great England's Lord | J |
Or mail upon your shoulders borne | I2 |
To battle with the Lord of Lorn | I2 |
Or outlaw'd dwelt by greenwood tree | Q |
With the fierce Knight of Ellerslie | U |
Or aided even the murderous strife | L |
When Comyn fell beneath the knife | L |
Of that fell homicide The Bruce | Q |
This night had been a term of truce | Q |
Ho vassals give these guests your care | J |
And show the narrow postern stair | J |
- | |
XXVIII | L |
To land these two bold brethren leapt | J |
The weary crew their vessel kept | J |
And lighted by the torches' flare | J |
That seaward flung their smoky glare | J |
The younger knight that maiden bare | J |
Half lifeless up the rock | M2 |
On his strong shoulder lean'd her head | J |
And down her long dark tresses shed | J |
As the wild vine in tendrils spread | J |
Droops from the mountain oak | E2 |
Him follow'd close that elder Lord | J |
And in his hand a sheathed sword | J |
Such as few arms could wield | J |
But when he boun'd him to such task | S2 |
Well could it cleave the strongest casque | S2 |
And rend the surest shield | J |
- | |
XXIX | Q |
The raised portcullis' arch they pass | Q |
The wicket with its bars of brass | Q |
The entrance long and low | U |
Flank'd at each turn by loop holes strait | J |
Where bowmen might in ambush wait | J |
If force or fraud should burst the gate | J |
To gall an entering foe | U |
But every jealous post of ward | J |
Was now defenceless and unbarr'd | J |
And all the passage free | Q |
To one low brow'd and vaulted room | T2 |
Where squire and yeoman page and groom | T2 |
Plied their loud revelry | Q |
- | |
XXX | Q |
And Rest ye here the Warder bade | J |
Till to our Lord your suit is said | J |
And comrades gaze not on the maid | J |
And on these men who ask our aid | J |
As if ye ne'er had seen | I2 |
A damsel tired of midnight bark | S2 |
Or wanderers of a moulding stark | S2 |
And bearing martial mien | I2 |
But not for Eachin's reproof | U |
Would page or vassal stand aloof | U |
But crowded on to stare | J |
As men of courtesy untaught | J |
Till fiery Edward roughly caught | J |
From one the foremost there | J |
His chequer'd plaid and in its shroud | J |
Involved his sister fair | J |
His brother as the clansman bent | J |
His sullen brow in discontent | J |
Made brief and stern excuse | Q |
Vassal were thine the cloak of pall | U |
That decks thy lord in bridal hall | U |
'Twere honour'd by her use | Q |
- | |
XXXI | Q |
Proud was his tone but calm his eye | L |
Had that compelling dignity | J |
His mien that bearing haught and high | L |
Which common spirits fear | J |
Need nor word nor signal more | J |
Nod wink and laughter all were o'er | J |
Upon each other back they bore | J |
And gazed like startled deer | J |
But now appear'd the Seneschal | U |
Commission'd by his lord to call | U |
The strangers to the Baron's hall | U |
Where feasted fair and free | J |
That Island Prince is nuptial tide | J |
With Edith there his lovely bride | J |
And her bold brother by her side | J |
And many a chief the flower and pride | J |
Of Western land and sea | J |
- | |
Here pause we gentles for a space | Q |
And if our tale hath won your grace | Q |
Grant us brief patience and again | I2 |
We will renew the minstrel strain | I2 |
Walter Scott (sir)
(1)
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