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ITe stoop'd his head against the mast,
And bitter sobs came thick and fast,
A grief that would not be repress'd,
But seem'd to burst his youthful breast.
His hands, against his forehead held,
As if by force his tears repell'd,
But through his fingers, long and slight,
Fast trill'd the drops of crystal bright.
Edward, who walk'd the deck apart,
First spied this conflict of the heart.
Thoughtless as brave, with bluntness kind
He sought to cheer the sorrower's mind;
By force the slender hand he drew

From those poor eyes that stream'd with dew.
As in his hold the stripling strove,-
('Twas a rough grasp, though meant in love,)
Away his tears the warrior swept,

And bade shame on him that he wept.1
"I would to heaven, thy helpless tongue
Could tell me who hath wrought thee wrong!
For, were he of our crew the best,
The insult went not unredress'd.
Come, cheer thee; thou art now of age
To be a warrior's gallant page;
Thou shalt be mine!-a palfrey fair
O'er hill and holt my boy shall bear,
To hold my bow in hunting grove,
Or speed on errand to my love;
For well I wot thou wilt not tell
The temple where my wishes dwell."

XVII.

Bruce interposed,-" Gay Edward, no,
This is no youth to hold thy bow,
To fill thy goblet, or to bear
Thy message light to lighter fair.
Thou art a patron all too wild
And thoughtless, for this orphan child.
See'st thou not how apart he steals,
Keeps lonely couch, and lonely meals?
Fitter by far in yon calm cell
To tend our sister Isabel,
With father Augustin to share

The peaceful change of convent prayer,
Than wander wild adventures through,
With such a reckless guide as you."-
"Thanks, brother!" Edward answer'd gay,
"For the high laud thy words convey!
But we may learn some future day,
If thou or I can this poor boy
Protect the best, or best employ.
Meanwhile, our vessel nears the strand;
Launch we the boat, and seek the land."

XVIII.

To land King Robert lightly sprung, And thrice aloud his bugle rung

1 MS.-" And as away the tears he swept, He bade shame on him that he wept."

With note prolong'd and varied strain,
Till bold Ben-Ghoil replied again.
Good Douglas then, and De la Haye,
Had in a glen a hart at bay,

And Lennox cheer'd the laggard hounds,
When waked that horn the greenwood bounda
"It is the foe!" cried Boyd, who came
In breathless haste with eye of flame,-
"It is the foe!-Each valiant lord
Fling by his bow, and grasp his sword!"-
"Not so," replied the good Lord James,
"That blast no English bugle claims.
Oft have I heard it fire the fight,
Cheer the pursuit, or stop the flight.
Dead were my heart, and deaf mine ear,
If Bruce should call, nor Douglas hear!
Each to Loch Ranza's margin spring;
That blast was winded by the King!"2

XIX.

Fast to their mates the tidings spread,
And fast to shore the warriors sped.
Bursting from glen and greenwood tree,
High waked their loyal jubilee !
Around the royal Bruce they crowd,
And clasp'd his hands, and wept aloud.
Veterans of early fields were there,
Whose helmets press'd their hoary hair,
Whose swords and axes bore a stain

From life-blood of the red-hair'd Dane; 3

And boys, whose hands scarce brook'd to wield

The heavy sword or bossy shield.

Men too were there, that bore the scars

Impress'd in Albyn's woful wars,

At Falkirk's fierce and fatal fight,
Teyndrum's dread rout, and Methven's flight;
The might of Douglas there was seen,
There Lennox with his graceful mien ;
Kirkpatrick, Closeburn's dreaded Knight;
The Lindsay, fiery, fierce, and light;
The Heir of murder'd De la Haye,
And Boyd the grave, and Seton gay.
Around their King regain'd they press'd,
Wept, shouted, clasp'd him to their breast,
And young and old, and serf and lord,
And he who ne'er unsheathed a sword,
And he in many a peril tried,
Alike resolved the brunt to bide,
And live or die by Bruce's side!

XX.

Oh, War! thou hast thy fierce delight,
Thy gleams of joy, intensely bright!
Such gleams, as from thy polish'd shield
Fly dazzling o'er the battle-field!
Such transports wake, severe and high,
Amid the pealing conquest-cry;

2 See Appendix, Note 2 T.

3 MS.-"Impress'd by life-blood of the Dane."

Scarce less, when, after battle lost,
Muster the remnants of a host,

And as each comrade's name they tell,
Who in the well-fought conflict fell,
Knitting stern brow o'er flashing eye,
Vow to avenge them or to die!—
Warriors!-and where are warriors found,
If not on martial Britain's ground? 1
And who, when waked with note of fire,
Love more than they the British lyre?—-
Know ye not,-hearts to honour dear!
That joy, deep-thrilling, stern, severe,
At which the heartstrings vibrate high,
And wake the fountains of the eye??
And blame ye, then, the Bruce, if trace
Of tear is on his manly face,
When, scanty relics of the train
That hail'd at Scone his early reign,
This patriot band around him hung,
And to his knees and bosom clung?-
Blame ye the Bruce?-his brother blamed,
But shared the weakness, while ashamed,
With haughty laugh his head he turn'd,
And dash'd away the tear he scorn'd.3

XXI.

"Tis morning, and the Convent bell
Long time had ceased its matin knell,
Within thy walls, Saint Bride!

An aged Sister sought the cell
Assign'd to Lady Isabel,

And hurriedly she cried, "Haste, gentle Lady, haste-there waits A noble stranger at the gates;

Saint Bride's poor vot'ress ne'er has seen A Knight of such a princely mien ;

His errand, as he bade me tell,

Is with the Lady Isabel."

The princess rose,-for on her knee

Low bent she told her rosary,—

"Let him by thee his purpose teach:

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XXII.

"No, Lady! in old eyes like mine,
Gauds have no glitter, gems no shine;
Nor grace his rank attendants vain,
One youthful page is all his train.
It is the form, the eye, the word,
The bearing of that stranger Lord;
His stature, manly, bold, and tall,
Built like a castle's battled wall,
Yet moulded in such just degrees,
His giant-strength seems lightsome ease.
Close as the tendrils of the vine
His locks upon his forehead twine,
Jet-black, save where some touch of grey
Has ta'en the youthful hue away.
Weather and war their rougher trace
Have left on that majestic face;-

But 'tis his dignity of eye!

There, if a suppliant, would I fly,

Secure, 'mid danger, wrongs, and grief,

Of sympathy, redress, relief

That glance, if guilty, would I dread
More than the doom that spoke me dead!".
"Enough, enough," the princess cried,
""Tis Scotland's hope, her joy, her pride!
To meaner front was ne'er assign'd
Such mastery o'er the common mind-
Bestow'd thy high designs to aid,
How long, O Heaven! how long delay'd:--
Haste, Mona, haste, to introduce
My darling brother, royal Bruce!"

XXIII.

They met like friends who part in pain.
And meet in doubtful hope again.
But when subdued that fitful swell,
The Bruce survey'd the humble cell ;-
"And this is thine, poor Isabel!--
That pallet-couch, and naked wall,
For room of state, and bed of pall;
For costly robes and jewels rare,
A string of beads and zone of hair;
And for the trumpet's sprightly call
To sport or banquet, grove or hall,
The bell's grim voice divides thy care,
"Twixt hours of penitence and prayer!-
O ill for thee, my royal claim
From the First David's sainted name!
O woe for thee, that while he sought
His right, thy brother feebly fought!"—

4" Mr. Scott, we have said, contradicts himself. How will he explain the following facts to his reader's satisfaction? The third canto informs us that Isabel accompanies Edward to Ireland, there to remain till the termination of the war; and in the fourth canto, the second day after her departure, we discover the princess counting her beads and reading homilies in the cloister of St. Bride, in the Island of Arran! We humbly beseech the Mighty Minstrel' to clear up this mat ter."-Critical Review.

5 MS. But when subsides," &c.

XXIV.

"Now lay these vain regrets aside,

And be the unshaken Bruce!" she cried.
"For more I glory to have shared
The woes thy venturous spirit dared,
When raising first thy valiant band
In rescue of thy native land,

Than had fair Fortune set me down
The partner of an empire's crown.

And grieve not that on Pleasure's stream

No more I drive in giddy dream,
For Heaven the erring pilot knew,
And from the gulf the vessel drew,
Tried me with judgments stern and great,
My house's ruin, thy defeat,

Poor Nigel's death, till, tamed, I own,
My hopes are fix'd on Heaven alone;
Nor e'er shall earthly prospects win
My heart to this vain world of sin."-

XXV.

"Nay, Isabel, for such stern choice,
First wilt thou wait thy brother's voice;
Then ponder if in convent scene
No softer thoughts might intervene-
Say they were of that unknown Knight,
Victor in Woodstock's tourney-fight-
Nay, if his name such blush you owe,
Victorious o'er a fairer foe!"
Truly his penetrating eye

Hath caught that blush's passing dye,-
Like the last beam of evening thrown
On a white cloud,-just seen and gone.1
Soon with calm cheek and steady eye,
The princess made composed reply:-
"I guess my brother's meaning well;
For not so silent is the cell,

But we have heard the islesmen all
Arm in thy cause at Ronald's call,

And mine eye proves that Knight unknown?
And the brave Island Lord are one.-
Had then his suit been earlier made,

In his own name, with thee to aid,

(But that his plighted faith forbade,) a I know not...... But thy page so near?— This is no tale for menial's ear."

1 "We would bow with veneration to the powerful and rugged genius of Scott. We would style him above all others, Homer and Shakspeare excepted, the Poet of Nature-of Nature in all her varied beauties, in all her wildest haunts. No appearance, however minute, in the scenes around him, escapes his penetrating eye; they are all marked with the nicest discrimation; are introduced with the happiest effect. Hence, in his similes, both the genius and the judgment of the poet are peculiarly conspicuous; his accurate observation of the appearances of nature, which others have neglected, imparts an originality to those allusions, of which the reader immediately recognises the aptness and propriety; and only wonders that what must have been so often witnessed should have been so uniformly passed unregarded by. Such is the simile applied to the transient blush observed by Bruce on

XXVI.

Still stood that page, as far apart

As the small cell would space afford; With dizzy eye and bursting heart,

He leant his weight on Bruce's sword, The monarch's mantle too he bore, And drew the fold his visage o'er. "Fear not for him-in murderous strife," Said Bruce," his warning saved my life;" Full seldom parts he from my side, And in his silence I confide, Since he can tell no tale again.

He is a boy of gentle strain,

And I have purposed he shall dwell

In Augustin the chaplain's cell,

And wait on thee, my Isabel.

Mind not his tears; I've seen them flow,

As in the thaw dissolves the snow.
"Tis a kind youth, but fanciful,
Unfit against the tide to pull,

And those that with the Bruce would sail,
Must learn to strive with stream and gale.-
But forward, gentle Isabel-
My answer for Lord Ronald tell."-

XXVII.

"This answer be to Ronald given-
The heart he asks is fix'd on heaven."
My love was like a summer flower,
That wither'd in the wintry hour,
Born but of vanity and pride,
And with these sunny visions died.
If further press his suit-then say,
He should his plighted troth obey,
Troth plighted both with ring and
word,

And sworn on crucifix and sword.-
Oh, shame thee, Robert! I have seen
Thou hast a woman's guardian been!
Even in extremity's dread hour,

When press'd on thee the Southern power,

And safety, to all human sight,

Was only found in rapid flight,

Thou heard'st a wretched female plain
agony
of travail-pain,

In

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And thou didst bid thy little band
Upon the instant turn and stand,
And dare the worst the foe might do,
Rather than, like a knight untrue,
Leave to pursuers merciless
A woman in her last distress.1
And wilt thou now deny thine aid
To an oppress'd and injured maid,
Even plead for Ronald's perfidy,
And press his fickle faith on me?—
So witness Heaven, as true I vow,
Had I those earthly feelings now,
Which could my former bosom move
Ere taught to set its hopes above,
I'd spurn each proffer he could bring,
Till at my feet he laid the ring,
The ring and spousal contract both,
And fair acquittal of his oath,

By her who brooks his perjured scorn,
The ill-requited Maid of Lorn!"

XXVIII.

With sudden impulse forward sprung
The page, and on her neck he hung;
Then, recollected instantly,

His head he stoop'd, and bent his knee,
Kiss'd twice the hand of Isabel,
Arose, and sudden left the cell.-
The princess, loosen'd from his hold,
Blush'd angry at his bearing bold;

But good King Robert cried,
"Chafe not-by signs he speaks his mind,
He heard the plan my care design'd,
Nor could his transports hide.-
But, sister, now bethink thee well;
No easy choice the convent cell;
Trust, I shall play no tyrant part,
Either to force thy hand or heart,
Or suffer that Lord Ronald scorn,
Or wrong for thee, the Maid of Lorn.
But think, not long the time has
been,

That thou wert wont to sigh unseen,
And wouldst the ditties best approve,
That told some lay of hapless love.
Now are thy wishes in thy power,
And thou art bent on cloister bower!
O! if our Edward knew the change,
How would his busy satire range,
With many a sarcasm varied still
On woman's wish, and woman's will!”—

XXIX.

"Brother, I well believe," she said,
"Even so would Edward's part be play'd.
Kindly in heart, in word severe,

A foe to thought, and grief, and fear,
He holds his humour uncontroll'd;
But thou art of another mould.
Say then to Ronald, as I say,
Unless before my feet he lay

The ring which bound the faith he swore,
By Edith freely yielded o'er,

He moves his suit to me no more.
Nor do I promise, even if now
He stood absolved of spousal vow,
That I would change my purpose made,
To shelter me in holy shade.-
Brother, for little space, farewell!
To other duties warns the bell.”—

XXX.

"Lost to the world," King Robert said,
When he had left the royal maid,
"Lost to the world by lot severe,
O what a gem lies buried here,
Nipp'd by misfortune's cruel frost,
The buds of fair affection lost!-2
But what have I with love to do?
Far sterner cares my lot pursue.
-Pent in this isle we may not lie,
Nor would it long our wants supply.
Right opposite, the mainland towers
Of my own Turnberry court our powers-
-Might not my father's beadsman hoar,
Cuthbert, who dwells upon the shore,
Kindle a signal-flame, to show
The time propitious for the blow?
It shall be so-some friend shall bear
Our mandate with despatch and care;
-Edward shall find the messenger.
That fortress ours, the island fleet
May on the coast of Carrick meet.-
O Scotland! shall it e'er be mine
To wreak thy wrongs in battle-line,
To raise my victor-head, and see
Thy hills, thy dales, thy people free,--
That glance of bliss is all I crave,
Betwixt my labours and my grave!"
Then down the hill he slowly went,
Oft pausing on the steep descent,
And reach'd the spot where his bold train
Held rustic camp upon the plain.

1 See Appendix, Note 2 V.

2 The MS here adds:

She yields one shade of empty hope.

But well I guess her wily scope

Is to elude Lord Ronald's plea,
And still my importunity."

3 This and the twelve succeeding lines are interpolated on the blank page of the MS.

4"The fourth canto cannot be very greatly praised. It Contains, indeed, many pleasing passages; but the merit which they possess is too much detached from the general interest of the poem. The only business is Bruce's arrival at the isle of Arran. The voyage is certainly described with spirit; but the remainder of the canto is rather tedious, and might, without any considerable inconvenience, have been left a good deal to the reader's imagination. Mr. Scott ought to reserve

The Lord of the Esles.

CANTO FIFTH.

I.

ON fair Loch-Ranza stream'd the early day, Thin wreaths of cottage-smoke are upward curl'd From the lone hamlet, which her inland bay And circling mountains sever from the world. And there the fisherman his sail unfurl'd, The goat-herd drove his kids to steep Ben-Ghoil, Before the hut the dame her spindle twirl'd, Courting the sunbeam as she plied her toil,For, wake where'er he may, Man wakes to care and toil.

But other duties call'd each convent maid,
Roused by the summons of the moss-grown bell;
Sung were the matins, and the mass was said,
And every sister sought her separate cell,
Such was the rule, her rosary to tell.
And Isabel has knelt in lonely prayer;
The sunbeam, through the narrow lattice, fell
Upon the snowy neck and long dark hair,

As stoop'd her gentle head in meek devotion there.

II.

She raised her eyes, that duty done,
When glanced upon the pavement-stone,
Gemm'd and enchased, a golden ring,
Bound to a scroll with silken string,1
With few brief words inscribed to tell,
"This for the Lady Isabel."

Within, the writing farther bore,-
""Twas with this ring his plight he swore,
With this his promise I restore;
To her who can the heart command,
Well may I yield the plighted hand.
And O! for better fortune born,
Grudge not a passing sigh to mourn
Her who was Edith once of Lorn!"
One single flash of glad surprise
Just glanced from Isabel's dark eyes,
But vanish'd in the blush of shame,
That, as its penance, instant came.
"O thought unworthy of my race!
Selfish, ungenerous, mean, and base,
A moment's throb of joy to own,2
That rose upon her hopes o'erthrown !—

Thou pledge of vows too well believed,
Of man ingrate and maid deceived,
Think not thy lustre here shall gain
Another heart to hope in vain !
For thou shalt rest, thou tempting gaud,
Where worldly thoughts are overawed,
And worldly splendours sink debased."
Then by the cross the ring she placed.

III.

Next rose the thought,-its owner far,
How came it here through bolt and bar?-
But the dim lattice is ajar.-

She looks abroad, the morning dew
A light short step had brush'd anew,
And there were foot-prints seen
On the carved buttress rising still,
Till on the mossy window-sill

Their track effaced the green.
The ivy twigs were torn and fray'd,
As if some climber's steps to aid.-
But who the hardy messenger,

Whose venturous path these signs infer?-
"Strange doubts are mine !-Mona, draw nigh;
-Nought 'scapes old Mona's curious eye-
What strangers, gentle mother, say,

Have sought these holy walls to-day?"-
"None, Lady, none of note or name;
Only your brother's foot-page came,
At

peep of dawn-I pray'd him pass To chapel where they said the mass; But like an arrow he shot by,

And tears seem'd bursting from his eye."

IV.

The truth at once on Isabel,

As darted by a sunbeam, fell.

""Tis Edith's self! 3-her speechless woe,
Her form, her looks, the secret show!
-Instant, good Mona, to the bay,
And to my royal brother say,

I do conjure him seek my cell,
With that mute page he loves so well."-
"What! know'st thou not his warlike host
At break of day has left our coast ?4
My old eyes saw them from the tower.
At eve they couch'd in greenwood bower,

At dawn a bugle signal, made

By their bold Lord, their ranks array'd;
Up sprung the spears through bush and tree,

No time for benedicite !

as much as possible, the interlocutory part of his narrative, for occasions which admit of high and animated sentiment, or the display of powerful emotions, because this is almost the only poetical beauty of which speeches are susceptible. But to fill up three-fourths of a canto with a lover's asking a brother in a quiet and friendly manner for permission to address his sister in marriage, and a brother's asking his sister whether she has any objections, is, we think, somewhat injudicious."-Quarterly Review

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