ARGUMENT.

THE scene of the following Poem is laid chiefly in the vicinity of Loch Katrine, in the Western Highlands of Perthshire. The time of Action includes Six Days, and the transactions of each Day occupy a Canto.

This poem was first published in 1810.

OUTLINE OF CANTO FIRST.

IN "The Lady of the Lake" the poet describes Highland charac ter and life as they existed towards the close of the middle ages, by means of a narrative of one of James V.'s adventures. In the first canto, which is entitled "The Chase," he begins with a long account of a stag hunt in the Highlands of Perthshire. As the chase lengthens, the sportsmen one by one drop off, till at last, the king, who is the foremost horseman, is found alone, and his horse, worn out with fatigue, stumbles and falls dead. The lone huntsman pursues his way through a rocky ravine, till, ascending a craggy height, he sees, by the light of the setting sun, Loch Katrine stretched beneath him in all its beauty. After gazing in admiration upon the beautiful scene, he winds his horn in the hope of being heard by some of his companions, and to his surprise a little skiff guided by a young lady shoots out from the shadow of a tree, and approaches the shore. The lady, thinking it was her father's horn she heard, draws back in fear at the sight of a stranger, but, after receiving his explanation, they row across the lake to her island home. There, her father being absent, young Ellen, as the lady is named, and the mistress of the mansion entertain the huntsman with true highland hospitality. He discloses his name and rank as "The Knight of Snowdoun, James Fitz-James," and tries in every way, but in vain, to learn the names of his hosts. At length he retires to rest; but his sleep is disturbed by dreams so strange and fearful that he rises from his couch, and walks out into the moonlight to shake off the dread visions of the night. After quieting his disturbed mind, he returns to his bed, says a prayer, and sleeps till awakened in the morning by the crowing of the heath-cock. With this the first canto ends. - STEVENS & MORRIS

THE

LADY OF THE LAKE.

Canto First.

THE CHASE.

HARP of the North! that mouldering long hast hung
On the witch-elm that shades Saint Fillan's spring,

And down the fitful breeze thy numbers flung,
Till envious ivy did around thee cling,
Muffling with verdant ringlet every string, —
O Minstrel Harp, still must thine accents sleep?
'Mid rustling leaves and fountains murmuring,

Still must thy sweeter sounds their silence keep, Nor bid a warrior smile, nor teach a maid to weep?

Not thus, in ancient days of Caledon,

Was thy voice mute amid the festal crowd,

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When lay of hopeless love, or glory won,
Aroused the fearful or subdued the proud.
At each according pause was heard aloud

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Thine ardent symphony sublime and high! Fair dames and crested chiefs attention bowed; For still the burden of thy minstrelsy Was Knighthood's dauntless deed, and Beauty's matchless eye.

O, wake once more! how rude soe'er the hand

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That ventures o'er thy magic maze to stray; O, wake once more! though scarce my skill command Some feeble echoing of thine earlier lay : Though harsh and faint, and soon to die away, And all unworthy of thy nobler strain, 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!

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I.

The stag at eve had drunk his fill,

Where danced the moon on Monan's rill,