XXXI. SONG. "Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er, Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking: Dream of battled fields no more, Days of danger, nights of waking. In our isle's enchanted hall, Hands unseen thy couch are strewing, Fairy strains of music fall, Every sense in slumber dewing. Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er, Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking, "No rude sound shall reach thine ear, Armor's clang or war-steed champing, Trump nor pibroch summon here Mustering clan or squadron tramping. Yet the lark's shrill fife may come At the daybreak from the fallow, And the bittern sound his drum, Booming from the sedgy shallow. Ruder sounds shall none be near, Guards nor warders challenge here, Here's no war-steed's neigh and champing, Shouting clans or squadrons stamping.' XXXII. She paused, then, blushing, led the lay, To grace the stranger of the day. The cadence of the flowing song, SONG CONTINUED. Huntsman, rest! thy chase is done; While our slumbrous spells assail ye, Dream not, with the rising sun, Bugles here shall sound reveillé. Sleep! the deer is in his den; Sleep! thy hounds are by thee lying; Sleep! nor dream in yonder glen How thy gallant steed lay dying. Huntsman, rest! thy chase is done; Think not of the rising sun, For at dawning to assail ye Here no bugles sound reveillé.” XXXIII. The hall was cleared, the stranger's bea Was there of mountain heather spread, But vainly did the heath-flower shed from my couch may heavenly might Chase that worst phantom of the night! Again returned the scenes of youth, Of confident, undoubting truth; Again his soul he interchanged With friends whose hearts were long estranged. They come, in dim procession led, The cold, the faithless, and the dead ; And doubts distract him at the view, - XXXIV. At length, with Ellen in a grove His suit was warm, his hopes were high. grasp : The phantom's sex was changed and gone, Slowly enlarged to giant size, With darkened cheek and threatening eyes, The grisly visage, stern and hoar, He rose and sought the moonshine pure. XXXV. The wild rose, eglantine, and broom |