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161

THE

LADY OF THE LAKE.

CANTO FOURTH.

The Prophecy.

I.

"THE rose is fairest when 'tis budding new,

And hope is brightest when it dawns from fears; The rose is sweetest wash'd with morning dew, And love is loveliest when embalm'd in tears. O wilding rose, whom fancy thus endears,

I bid your blossoms in my bonnet wave, Emblem of hope and love through future years!" Thus spoke young Norman, heir of Armandave, What time the sun arose on Vennachar's broad wave.

II.

Such fond conceit, half said, half sung,

Love prompted to the bridegroom's tongue.

1 [MS." And rapture dearest when obscured by fears."]

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And while he stripp'd the wild-rose spray,
His axe and bow beside him lay,

For on a pass 'twixt lake and wood,

A wakeful sentinel he stood.

Hark! on the rock a footstep rung,

And instant to his arms he sprung.

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Stand, or thou diest!-What, Malise ?--soon

Art thou return'd from Braes of Doune.

By thy keen step and glance I know,
Thou bring'st us tidings of the foe."-

(For while the Fiery Cross hied on,
On distant scout had Malise gone.)

"Where sleeps the Chief?" the henchman said."Apart in yonder misty glade;

To his lone couch I'll be your guide."

Then call'd a slumberer by his side,

And stirr'd him with his slacken'd bow-
"Up, up, Glentarkin! rouse thee, ho!
We seek the Chieftain; on the track,
Keep eagle watch till I come back."

III.

Together up the pass they sped:
"What of the foemen ?" Norman said.-
"Varying reports from near and far;
This certain, that a band of war
Has for two days been ready boune,

At prompt command, to march from Doune;

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