the lady of the lake-第13节

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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！　't　were　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！　　One　way　remainsI'll　tell　him　all　　Yes！　struggling　bosom；　forth　it　shall！　Thou；　whose　light　folly　bears　the　blame；　Buy　shine　own　pardon　with　thy　shame！　But　firstmy　father　is　a　man　Outlawed　and　exiled；　under　ban；　The　price　of　blood　is　on　his　head；　　With　me　't　were　infamy　to　wed。　Still　wouldst　thou　speak？then　hear　the　truth！　Fitz…　James；　there　is　a　noble　youth　If　yet　he　is！exposed　for　me　And　mine　to　dread　extremity　　Thou　hast　the　secret　of　my　bears；　Forgive；　be　generous；　and　depart！'


XVIII。

Fitz…James　knew　every　wily　train　A　lady's　fickle　heart　to　gain；　But　here　he　knew　and　felt　them　vain。　There　shot　no　glance　from　Ellen's　eye；　To　give　her　steadfast　speech　the　lie；　In　maiden　confidence　she　stood；　Though　mantled　in　her　cheek　the　blood　And　told　her　love　with　such　a　sigh　Of　deep　and　hopeless　agony；　As　death　had　sealed　her　Malcolm's　doom　And　she　sat　sorrowing　on　his　tomb。　Hope　vanished　from　Fitz…James's　eye；　But　not　with　hope　fled　sympathy。　He　proffered　to　attend　her　side；　As　brother　would　a　sister　guide。　'O　little　know'st　thou　Roderick's　heart！　Safer　for　both　we　go　apart。　O　haste　thee；　and　from　Allan　learn　If　thou　mayst　trust　yon　wily　kern。'　With　hand　upon　his　forehead　laid；　The　conflict　of　his　mind　to　shade；　　A　parting　step　or　two　he　made；　Then；　as　some　thought　had　crossed　his　brain　He　paused；　and　turned。　and　came　again。


XIX。

'Hear；　lady；　yet　a　parting　word！　　It　chanced　in　fight　that　my　poor　sword　Preserved　the　life　of　Scotland's　lord。　This　ring　the　grateful　Monarch　gave；　And　bade；　when　I　had　boon　to　crave；　　To　bring　it　back；　and　boldly　claim　The　recompense　that　I　would　name。　Ellen；　I　am　no　courtly　lord；　But　one　who　lives　by　lance　and　sword；　Whose　castle　is　his　helm　and　shield；　His　lordship　the　embattled　field。　What　from　a　prince　can　I　demand；　Who　neither　reck　of　state　nor　land？　Ellen；　thy　handthe　ring　is　shine；　Each　guard　and　usher　knows　the　sign。　Seek　thou　the　King　without　delay；　This　signet　shall　secure　thy　way：　And　claim　thy　suit；　whate'er　it　be；　As　ransom　of　his　pledge　to　me。'　He　placed　the　golden　circlet　on；　Pausedkissed　her　handand　then　was　gone。　The　aged　Minstrel　stood　aghast；　So　hastily　Fitz…James　shot　past。　He　joined　his　guide；　and　wending　down　The　ridges　of　the　mountain　brown；　Across　the　stream　they　took　their　way　That　joins　Loch　Katrine　to　Achray。


XX

All　in　the　Trosachs'　glen　was　still；　Noontide　was　sleeping　on　the　hill：　Sudden　his　guide　whooped　loud　and　high　　'Murdoch！　was　that　a　signal　cry？　'　　He　stammered　forth；　'I　shout　to　scare　Yon　raven　from　his　dainty　fare。'　He　lookedhe　knew　the　raven's　prey；　His　own　brave　steed：　'Ah！　gallant　gray！　For　theefor　me；　perchance't　were　well　We　ne'er　had　seen　the　Trosachs'　dell。　　Murdoch；　move　first…but　silently；　Whistle　or　whoop；　and　thou　shalt　die！'　Jealous　and　sullen　on　they　fared；　Each　silent；　each　upon　his　guard。


XXI。

Now　wound　the　path　its　dizzy　ledge　Around　a　precipice's　edge；　When　lo！　a　wasted　female　form；　Blighted　by　wrath　of　sun　and　storm；　In　tattered　weeds　and　wild　array；　　Stood　on　a　cliff　beside　the　way；　And　glancing　round　her　restless　eye；　Upon　the　wood；　the　rock；　the　sky；　Seemed　naught　to　mark；　yet　all　to　spy。　Her　brow　was　wreathed　with　gaudy　broom；　With　gesture　wild　she　waved　a　plume　Of　feathers；　which　the　eagles　fling　To　crag　and　cliff　from　dusky　wing；　Such　spoils　her　desperate　step　had　sought；　Where　scarce　was　footing　for　the　goat。　The　tartan　plaid　she　first　descried；　And　shrieked　till　all　the　rocks　replied；　As　loud　she　laughed　when　near　they　drew；　For　then　the　Lowland　garb　she　knew；　And　then　her　hands　she　wildly　wrung；　And　then　she　wept；　and　then　she　sung　　She　sung！the　voice；　in　better　time；　Perchance　to　harp　or　lute　might　chime；　And　now；　though　strained　and　roughened；　still　Rung　wildly　sweet　to　dale　and　hill。


XXII。

Song。

They　bid　me　sleep；　they　bid　me　pray；　　　　　　They　say　my　brain　is　warped　and　wrung　　I　cannot　sleep　on　Highland　brae；　　　　　　I　cannot　pray　in　Highland　tongue。　But　were　I　now　where　Allan　glides；　Or　heard　my　native　Devan's　tides；　So　sweetly　would　I　rest；　and　pray　That　Heaven　would　close　my　wintry　day！

'Twas　thus　my　hair　they　bade　me　braid；　　　　　　They　made　me　to　the　church　repair；　It　was　my　bridal　morn　they　said；　　　　　　And　my　true　love　would　meet　me　there。　But　woe　betide　the　cruel　guile　That　drowned　in　blood　the　morning　smile！　And　woe　betide　the　fairy　dream！　I　only　waked　to　sob　and　scream。


XXIII。

'Who　is　this　maid？　what　means　her　lay？　She　hovers　o'er　the　hollow　way；　And　flutters　wide　her　mantle　gray；　As　the　lone　heron　spreads　his　wing；　By　twilight；　o'er　a　haunted　spring。'　〃Tis　Blanche　of　Devan；'　Murdoch　said；　'A　crazed　and　captive　Lowland　maid；　Ta'en　on　the　morn　she　was　a　bride；　When　Roderick　forayed　Devan…side。　The　gay　bridegroom　resistance　made；　And　felt　our　Chief's　unconquered　blade。　I　marvel　she　is　now　at　large；　But　oft　she　'scapes　from　Maudlin's　charge。　　Hence；　brain…sick　fool！　'He　raised　his　bow：　'Now；　if　thou　strik'st　her　but　one　blow；　I'll　pitch　thee　from　the　cliff　as　far　As　ever　peasant　pitched　a　bar！'　'Thanks；　champion；　thanks　〃　the　Maniac　cried；　And　pressed　her　to　Fitz…James's　side。　'See　the　gray　pennons　I　prepare；　To　seek　my　true　love　through　the　air！　I　will　not　lend　that　savage　groom；　To　break　his　fall；　one　downy　plume！　No！deep　amid　disjointed　stones；　The　wolves　shall　batten　on　his　bones；　And　then　shall　his　detested　plaid；　By　bush　and　brier　in　mid…air　stayed；　Wave　forth　a　banner　fail　and　free；　Meet　signal　for　their　revelry。'


XXIV

'Hush　thee；　poor　maiden；　and　be　still！'　'O！　thou　look'st　kindly；　and　I　will。　Mine　eye　has　dried　and　wasted　been；　But　still　it　loves　the　Lincoln　green；　And；　though　mine　ear　is　all　unstrung；　Still；　still　it　loves　the　Lowland　tongue。

'For　O　my　sweet　William　was　forester　true；　　　　　　He　stole　poor　Blanche's　heart　away！　His　coat　it　was　all　of　the　greenwood　hue；　　　　　　And　so　blithely　he　trilled　the　Lowland　lay！

'It　was　not　that　I　meant　to　tell　。　。　。　But　thou　art　wise　and　guessest　well。'　Then；　in　a　low　and　broken　tone；　And　hurried　note；　the　song　went　on。　Still　on　the　Clansman　fearfully　She　fixed　her　apprehensive　eye；　Then　turned　it　on　the　Knight；　and　then　Her　look　glanced　wildly　o'er　the　glen。


XXV。

'The　toils　are　pitched；　and　the　stakes　are　set；　　　　　　Ever　sing　merrily；　merrily；　The　bows　they　bend；　and　the　knives　they　whet；　　　　　　Hunters　live　so　cheerily。

It　was　a　stag；　a　stag　of　ten；　　　　　　Bearing　its　branches　sturdily；　He　came　stately　down　the　glen；　　　　　　Ever　sing　hardily；　hardily。

'It　was　there　he　met　with　a　wounded　doe；　　　　　　She　was　bleeding　deathfully；　She　warned　him　of　the　toils　below；　　　　　　O。　so　faithfully；　faithfully！

'He　had　an　eye；　and　he　could　heed；　　　　　　Ever　sing　warily；　warily；　He　had　a　foot；　anti　he　could　speed；　　　　　　Hunters　watch　so　narrowly。'


XXVI。

Fitz…James's　mind　was　passion…tossed；　When　Ellen's　hints　and　fears　were　lost；　But　Murdoch's　shout　suspicion　wrought；　And　Blanche's　song　conviction　brought。　Not　like　a　stag　that　spies　the　snare；　But　lion　of　the　hunt　aware；　　He　waved　at　once　his　blade　on　high；　'Disclose　thy　treachery；　or　die！'　Forth　at　hell　speed　the　Clansman　flew；　But　in　his　race　his　bow　he　drew。　The　shaft　just　grazed　Fitz…James's　crest；　And　thrilled　in　Blanche's　faded　breast。　　Murdoch　of　Alpine！　prove　thy　speed；　For　ne'er　had　Alpine's　son　such　need；　With　heart　of　fire；　and　foot　of　wind；　The　fierce　avenger　is　behind！　Fate　judges　of　the　rapid　strife　　The　forfeit　deaththe　prize　is　life；　Thy　kindred　ambush　lies　before；　Close　couched　upon　the　heathery　moor；　Them　couldst　thou　reach！it　may　not　be　Thine　ambushed　kin　thou　ne'er　shalt　see；　The　fiery　Saxon　gains　on　thee！　Resistless　speeds　the　deadly　thrust；　As　lightning　strikes　the　pine　to　dust；　With　foot　and　hand　Fitz…James　must　strain　Ere　he　can　win　his　blade　again。　Bent　o'er　the　fallen　with　falcon　eye；　He　grimly　smiled　to　see　him　die；　Then　slower　wended　back　his　way；　Where　the　poor　maiden　bleeding　lay。


XXVII。

She　sat　beneath　the　birchen　tree；　Her　elbow　resting　on　her　knee；　She　had　withdrawn　the　fatal　shaft；　And　gazed　on　it；　and　feebly　laughed；　Her　wreath　of　broom　and　feathers　gray；　Daggled　with　blood；　beside　her　lay。　The　Knight　to　stanch　the　life…stream　tried；　　'Stranger；　it　is　in　vain！'　she　cried。　'This　hour　of　death　has　given　me　more　Of　reason's　power　than　years　before；　For；　as　these　ebbing　veins　decay；　My　frenzied　visions　fade　away。　A　helpless　injured　wretch　I　die；　And　something　tells　me　in　shine　eye　That　thou　wert　mine　avenger　born。　Seest　thou　this　tress？O。　still　I　've　worn　This　little　tress　of　yellow　hair；　　Through　danger；　frenzy；　and　despair！　It　once　was　bright　and　clear　as　shine；　But　blood　and　tears　have　dimmed　its　shine。　I　will　not　tell　thee　when　't　was　shred；　Nor　from　what　guiltless　victim's　head；　My　br