Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

"And gayly shines the Fairy-land, -
But all is glistening show,

Like the idle gleam that December's beam
Can dart on ice and snow.

“And fading, like that varied gleam,

Is our inconstant shape,

Who now like knight and lady seem,
And now like. dwarf and ape.

"It was between the night and day,
When the Fairy King has power,

That I sunk down in a sinful fray,
And 'twixt life and death was snatch'd away,
To the joyless Elfin bower.

"But wist I of a woman bold,

Who thrice my brow durst sign,

I might regain my mortal mold,

As fair a form as thine."

She cross'd him once - she cross'd him twice

That lady was so brave;

The fouler grew his goblin hue,

The darker grew the cave.

She cross'd him thrice, that lady bold:

He rose beneath her hand

The fairest knight on Scottish mould,

Her brother, Ethert Brand!

[graphic][subsumed][subsumed]

Merry it is in good greenwood,

When the mavis and merle are singing; But merrier were they in Dunfermline gray, When all the bells were ringing.

XVI.

Just as the minstrel sounds were stay'd,
A stranger climb'd the steepy glade;
His martial step, his stately mien,
His hunting-suit of Lincoln green,

His eagle glance, remembrance claims

'Tis Snowdoun's Knight, 't is James Fitz-James. Ellen beheld as in a dream,

Then, starting, scarce suppress'd a scream:

"O stranger! in such hour of fear What evil hap has brought thee here?".

"An evil hap how can it be

That bids me look again on thee?
By promise bound, my former guide
Met me betimes this morning-tide,
And marshall'd over bank and bourne
The happy path of my return."
“The happy path ! - what! said he naught
Of war, of battle to be fought,

Of guarded pass?”

[ocr errors]

-

"No, by my faith!

Nor saw I aught could augur scathe.".

"O haste thee, Allan, to the kern:
Yonder his tartans I discern;
Learn thou his purpose, and conjure
That he will guide the stranger sure!-
What prompted thee, unhappy man?
The meanest serf in Roderick's clan
Had not been bribed, by love or fear,
Unknown to him to guide thee here."

XVII.

"Sweet Ellen, dear my life must be, Since it is worthy care from thee; Yet life I hold but idle breath,

When love or honor's weigh'd with death.
Then let me profit by my chance,

And speak my purpose bold at once.
I come to bear thee from a wild

Where ne'er before such blossom smiled;
By this soft hand to lead thee far
From frantic scenes of feud and war.
Near Bochastle my horses wait;
They bear us soon to Stirling gate.
I'll place thee in a lovely bower,
I'll guard thee like a tender flower"
"O hush, Sir Knight! 't were female art
I do not read thy heart;

To say

Too much, before, my selfish ear

Was idly soothed my praise to hear.

« AnteriorContinuar »