XVII.

But scarce again his horn he wound,
When lo! forth starting at the sound,
From underneath an aged oak
That slanted from the islet rock,
A damsel guider of its way,
A little skiff shot to the bay,
That round the promontory steep
Led its deep line in graceful sweep,
Eddying, in almost viewless wave,
The weeping willow twig to lave,

320

325

And kiss, with whispering sound and slow,
The beach of pebbles bright as snow.

330

The guardian Naiad of the strand.

319. wound = past of wind, winded

= blew.

323. A damsel guider of its way. An absolute phrase: damsel being guider of its way."

331. this silver strand. The beach of Loch Katrine in this

bay is now called "The Silver Strand."

342. Naiad, a water nymph.

XVIII.

And ne'er did Grecian chisel trace
A Nymph, a Naiad, or a Grace,
Of finer form or lovelier face!

What though the sun, with ardent frown,
Had slightly tinged her cheek with brown,-
The sportive toil, which, short and light,
Had dyed her glowing hue so bright,
Served too in hastier swell to show
Short glimpses of a breast of snow:
What though no rule of courtly grace

To measured mood had trained her pace,

A foot more light, a step more true,

345

350

Ne'er from the heath-flower dashed the dew; 355
E'en the slight harebell raised its head,
Elastic from her airy tread:

What though upon her speech there hung
The accents of the mountain tongue, -
Those silver sounds, so soft, so dear,
The listener held his breath to hear!

360

XIX.

A chieftain's daughter seemed the maid;
Her satin snood, her silken plaid,
Her golden brooch, such birth betrayed.
And seldom was a snood amid

Such wild luxuriant ringlets hid,

Whose glossy black to shame might bring

363. snood, a ribbon used to bind the hair.

365

The plumage of the raven's wing;
And seldom o'er a breast so fair
Mantled a plaid with modest care,

And never brooch the folds combined
Above a heart more good and kind.
Her kindness and her worth to spy,
You need but gaze on Ellen's eye;
Not Katrine in her mirror blue
Gives back the shaggy banks more true,
Than every free-born glance confessed
The guileless movements of her breast;
Whether joy danced in her dark eye,
Or woe or pity claimed a sigh,
Or filial love was glowing there,
Or meek devotion poured a prayer,
Or tale of injury called forth

370

375

380

Impatient of the silent horn,

Now on the gale her voice was borne:
'Father!' she cried; the rocks around
Loved to prolong the gentle sound.
Awhile she paused, no answer came;
'Malcolm, was thine the blast?' the name
Less resolutely uttered fell,

390

395

The echoes could not catch the swell.
'A stranger I,' the Huntsman said,
Advancing from the hazel shade.
The maid, alarmed, with hasty oar

Pushed her light shallop from the shore,
And when a space was gained between,
Closer she drew her bosom's screen;
So forth the startled swan would swing,
So turn to prune his ruffled wing.
Then safe, though fluttered and amazed,
She paused, and on the stranger gazed.
Not his the form, nor his the eye,
That youthful maidens wont to fly.

XXI.

400

405

On his bold visage middle age

Had slightly pressed its signet sage,
Yet had not quenched the open truth

410

And fiery vehemence of youth;

Forward and frolic glee was there,

The sparkling glance, soon blown to fire,

415

The will to do, the soul to dare,

Of hasty love or headlong ire.

His limbs were cast in manly mould

For hardy sports or contest bold;

And though in peaceful garb arrayed,

403. would swing. Conditional mood. The subjunctive is implied in the attribute startled :

"So the swan would swing forth, if it were startled."

408. wont, are accustomed.

And weaponless except his blade,
His stately mien as well implied

420

A high-born heart, a martial pride,
As if a baron's crest he wore,

And sheathed in armor trode the shore.
Slighting the petty need he showed,

425

He told of his benighted road;

His ready speech flowed fair and free,
In phrase of gentlest courtesy,

Yet seemed that tone and gesture bland

Less used to sue than to command.

430

XXII.

Awhile the maid the stranger eyed,
And, reassured, at length replied,
That Highland halls were open still
To wildered wanderers of the hill.
'Nor think you unexpected come
To yon lone isle, our desert home;
Before the heath had lost the dew,

This morn, a couch was pulled for you;
On yonder mountain's purple head

435

Have ptarmigan and heath-cock bled,

440

And our broad nets have swept the mere,

425. Slighting, making light of.

431. Awhile. The object of time. While is properly a noun. [A.-S. hwil, time.] Measure of time, space, or quantity is expressed by a noun in the objective, without a preposition.' 434. wildered. This is the passive participle, and shows that Scott used the verb transitively.

438. a couch was pulled. The materials for the couch, which consisted of heather and bracken, were pulled.