Met me betimes this morning tide,
And marshall'd, over bank and bourne,
The happy path of my return."-

"The happy path !—what! said he nought Of war, of battle to be fought,

Of guarded pass ?"-" No, by my faith!
Nor saw I aught could augur scathe.”-
"Oh haste thee, Allan, to the kern,
-Yonder his tartans I discern;
Learn thou his purpose, and conjure
That he will guide the stranger sure!—
What prompted thee, unhappy man?
The meanest serf in Roderick's clan
Had not been bribed by love or fear,
Unknown to him, to guide thee here."-

XVII.

"Sweet Ellen, dear my life must be, Since it is worthy care from thee: Yet life I hold but idle breath,

When love or honour's weigh'd with death.

Then let me profit by my chance,

And speak my purpose bold at once.

I come to bear thee from a wild,

Where ne'er before such blossom smiled;
By this soft hand to lead thee far
From frantic scenes of feud and war.
Near Bochastle my horses wait;
They bear us soon to Stirling gate.
I'll place thee in a lovely bower,
I'll guard thee like a tender flower
"O! hush, Sir Knight! 'twere female art,
To say I do not read thy heart;
Too much, before, my selfish ear
Was idly soothed my praise to hear.
That fatal bait hath lured thee back,
In deathful hour, o'er dangerous track,
And how, O how, can I atone

The wreck my vanity brought on!—

mennest", in Roderick's clan

Te I got been led by love or fear

navn to, to u thee here."

We, love or honour's weig 4 with day?

let me prout by my chance,

And speak ay purpose bold at încă,

come to bear thee from wi! 1,

Pr me or lefe,e sach blossom smile;

3. he of broad to Iad tee lar