A wild and warlike group they stand, That well became such mountain-strand.
Their Chief, with step reluctant, still Was lingering on the craggy hill, Hard by where turn'd apart the road To Douglas's obscure abode.
It was but with that dawning morn, That Roderick Dhu had proudly sworn To drown his love in war's wild roar,' Nor think of Ellen Douglas more; But he who stems a stream with sand, And fetters flame with flaxen band, Has yet a harder task to prove— By firm resolve to conquer love! Eve finds the Chief, like restless ghost, Still hovering near his treasure lost; For though his haughty heart deny A parting meeting to his eye, Still fondly strains his anxious ear, The accents of her voice to hear, And inly did he curse the breeze That waked to sound the rustling trees. But hark! what mingles in the strain ? It is the harp of Allan-bane,
That wakes its measure slow and high,
[MS. "To drown his grief in war's wild roar, Nor think of love and Ellen more."]
Attuned to sacred minstrelsy.
What melting voice attends the strings? 'Tis Ellen, or an angel, sings.
Ave Maria! maiden mild!
Listen to a maiden's prayer! Thou canst hear though from the wild, Thou canst save amid despair. Safe may we sleep beneath thy care, Though banish'd, outcast, and reviled- Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer;
Mother, hear a suppliant child!
Ave Maria! undefiled!
The flinty couch we now must share1 Shall seem with down of eider piled,
If thy protection hover there.
The murky cavern's heavy air2
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled; Then, Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer, Mother, list a suppliant child!
[MS.-"The flinty couch my sire must share." ] 2 [MS." The murky grotto's noxious air."]
Ave Maria! Stainless styled!
Foul demons of the earth and air, From this their wonted haunt exiled, Shall flee before thy presence fair. We bow us to our lot of care,
Beneath thy guidance reconciled: Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer, And for a father hear a child!
Died on the harp the closing hymn— Unmoved in attitude and limb, As list'ning still, Clan-Alpine's lord Stood leaning on his heavy sword, Until the page, with humble sign, Twice pointed to the sun's decline. Then while his plaid he round him cast, "It is the last time-'tis the last,' He mutter'd thrice," the last time e'er That angel-voice shall Roderick hear!" It was a goading thought-his stride Hied hastier down the mountain-side; Sullen he flung him in the boat, And instant 'cross the lake it, shot. They landed in that silvery bay, And eastward held their hasty way, Till, with the latest beams of light, The band arrived on Lanrick height,
Where muster'd, in the vale below,' Clan-Alpine's men in martial show.
A various scene the clansmen made,
Some sate, some stood, some slowly stray'd; But most, with mantles folded round, Were couch'd to rest upon the ground, Scarce to be known by curious eye, From the deep heather where they lie, So well was match'd the tartan screen With heath-bell dark and brackens green; Unless where, here and there, a blade, Or lance's point, a glimmer made,
Like glow-worm twinkling through the shade. But when, advancing through the gloom, They saw the Chieftain's eagle plume, Their shout of welcome, shrill and wide, Shook the steep mountain's steady side. Thrice it arose, and lake and fell Three times return'd the martial yell; It died upon Bochastle's plain,
And Silence claim'd her evening reign.
[MS.-"Where broad extending far below,
Muster'd Clan-Alpine's martial show."]
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