A garland for the hero's crest, And twined by her he loves the best; What can I wish but faithful knight? To thee, dear school-boy, whom my lay And pleasing dreams, and slumbers light! ΤΟ THE MOST NOBLE JOHN JAMES, MARQUIS OF ABERCORN, &c. &c. &c. THIS POEM IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1810. Argument. The Scene of the following Poem is laid chiefly in the vicinity of Loch Katrine, in the West Highlands of Perthshire. The time of action includes six days, and the transactions of each day occupy a Canto. THE LADY OF THE LAKE. CANTO FIRST. THE CHASE. HARP of the North! that mouldering long hast hung Still must thy sweeter sounds their silence keep, Not thus, in ancient days of Caledon, Was thy voice mute amid the festal crowd, When lay of hopeless love, or glory won, Aroused the fearful or subdued the proud. At each according pause was heard aloud Thine ardent symphony sublime and high! Fair dames and crested chiefs attention bowed; For still the burthen of thy minstrelsy Was Knighthood's dauntless deed, and Beauty's match less eye. O wake once more! how rude soe'er the hand That ventures o'er thy magic maze to stray; O wake once more! though scarce my skill command Yet if one heart throb higher at its sway, The wizard note has not been touched in vain. Then silent be no more! Enchantress, wake again! I THE stag at eve had drunk his fill, Where danced the moon on Monan's rill, In lone Glenartney's hazel shade; But, when the sun his beacon red The deep-mouthed bloodhound's heavy bay And faint, from farther distance borne, II As chief who hears his warder call, The dew-drops from his flanks he shook; That thickened as the chase drew nigh; With one brave bound the copse he cleared, III Yelled on the view the opening pack, IV Less loud the sounds of sylvan war a One of the Grampians. b Ua-var, as the name is pronounced, or more properly Uaigh-mor, is a mountain to the north-east of the village of Callander, in Menteith, |