the lady of the lake-第14节

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mmed　its　shine。　I　will　not　tell　thee　when　't　was　shred；　Nor　from　what　guiltless　victim's　head；　My　brain　would　turn！but　it　shall　wave　Like　plumage　on　thy　helmet　brave；　Till　sun　and　wind　shall　bleach　the　stain；　And　thou　wilt　bring　it　me　again。　I　waver　still。　O　God！　more　bright　Let　reason　beam　her　parting　light！　　O。　by　thy　knighthood's　honored　sign；　And　for　thy　life　preserved　by　mine；　When　thou　shalt　see　a　darksome　man；　Who　boasts　him　Chief　of　Alpine's　Clan；　With　tartars　broad　and　shadowy　plume；　And　hand　of　blood；　and　brow　of　gloom　Be　thy　heart　bold；　thy　weapon　strong；　And　wreak　poor　Blanche　of　Devan's　wrong！　They　watch　for　thee　by　pass　and　fell　。　。　。　Avoid　the　path　。　。　。　O　God！　。　。　。　farewell。'


XXVIII。

A　kindly　heart　had　brave　Fitz…James；　Fast　poured　his　eyes　at　pity's　claims；　And　now；　with　mingled　grief　and　ire；　He　saw　the　murdered　maid　expire。　'God；　in　my　need；　be　my　relief；　As　I　wreak　this　on　yonder　Chief！'　A　lock　from　Blanche's　tresses　fair　He　blended　with　her　bridegroom's　hair；　The　mingled　braid　in　blood　he　dyed；　And　placed　it　on　his　bonnet…side：　'By　Him　whose　word　is　truth；　I　swear；　No　other　favour　will　I　wear；　Till　this　sad　token　I　imbrue　In　the　best　blood　of　Roderick　Dhu！　But　hark！　what　means　yon　faint　halloo？　The　chase　is　up；but　they　shall　know；　The　stag　at　bay　's　a　dangerous　foe。'　Barred　from　the　known　but　guarded　way；　Through　copse　and　cliffs　Fitz…James　must　stray；　　And　oft　must　change　his　desperate　track；　By　stream　and　precipice　turned　back。　Heartless；　fatigued；　and　faint；　at　length；　From　lack　of　food　and　loss　of　strength　He　couched　him　in　a　thicket　hoar　And　thought　his　toils　and　perils　o'er：　'Of　all　my　rash　adventures　past；　This　frantic　feat　must　prove　the　last！　Who　e'er　so　mad　but　might　have　guessed　That　all　this　Highland　hornet's　nest　Would　muster　up　in　swarms　so　soon　As　e'er　they　heard　of　bands　at　Doune？　Like　bloodhounds　now　they　search　me　out；　Hark；　to　the　whistle　and　the　shout！　If　farther　through　the　wilds　I　go；　I　only　fall　upon　the　foe：　I'll　couch　me　here　till　evening　gray；　Then　darkling　try　my　dangerous　way。'


XXIX。

The　shades　of　eve　come　slowly　down；　The　woods　are　wrapt　in　deeper　brown；　The　owl　awakens　from　her　dell；　The　fox　is　heard　upon　the　fell；　Enough　remains　of　glimmering　light　To　guide　the　wanderer's　steps　aright；　Yet　not　enough　from　far　to　show　His　figure　to　the　watchful　foe。　With　cautious　step　and　ear　awake；　He　climbs　the　crag　and　threads　the　brake；　And　not　the　summer　solstice　there　Tempered　the　midnight　mountain　air；　But　every　breeze　that　swept　the　wold　Benumbed　his　drenched　limbs　with　cold。　In　dread；　in　danger；　and　alone；　Famished　and　chilled；　through　ways　unknown；　Tangled　and　steep；　he　journeyed　on；　Till；　as　a　rock's　huge　point　he　turned；　A　watch…fire　close　before　him　burned。


XXX。

Beside　its　embers　red　and　clear　Basked　in　his　plaid　a　mountaineer；　And　up　he　sprung　with　sword　in　hand；　'Thy　name　and　purpose！　Saxon；　stand！'　'A　stranger。'　'What　cost　thou　require？'　'Rest　and　a　guide；　and　food　and　fire　My　life's　beset；　my　path　is　lost；　The　gale　has　chilled　my　limbs　with　frost。'　'Art　thou　a　friend　to　Roderick？'　'No。'　'Thou　dar'st　not　call　thyself　a　foe？'　'I　dare！　to　him　and　all　the　band　He　brings　to　aid　his　murderous　hand。'　'Bold　words！but；　though　the　beast　of　game　The　privilege　of　chase　may　claim；　Though　space　and　law　the　stag　we　lend　Ere　hound　we　slip　or　bow　we　bend　Who　ever　recked；　where；　how；　or　when；　The　prowling　fox　was　trapped　or　slain？　Thus　treacherous　scouts；yet　sure　they　lie　Who　say　thou　cam'st　a　secret　spy！'　'They　do；　by　heaven！come　Roderick　Dhu　And　of　his　clan　the　boldest　two　And　let　me　but　till　morning　rest；　I　write　the　falsehood　on　their　crest。'　If　by　the　blaze　I　mark　aright　Thou　bear'st　the　belt　and　spur　of　Knight。'　'Then　by　these　tokens　mayst　thou　know　Each　proud　oppressor's　mortal　foe。'　'Enough；　enough；　sit　down　and　share　A　soldier's　couch。　a　soldier　's　fare。'


XXXI。。

He　gave　him　of　his　Highland　cheer；　The　hardened　flesh　of　mountain　deer；　Dry　fuel　on　the　fire　he　laid；　And　bade　the　Saxon　share　his　plaid。　He　tended　him　like　welcome　guest；　Then　thus　his　further　speech　addressed：　'Stranger；　I　am　to　Roderick　Dhu　A　clansman　born；　a　kinsman　true；　Each　word　against　his　honour　spoke　Demands　of　me　avenging　stroke；　Yet　more；upon　thy　fate；　'tis　said；　A　mighty　augury　is　laid。　It　rests　with　me　to　wind　my　horn；　Thou　art　with　numbers　overborne；　It　rests　with　me；　here；　brand　to　brand；　Worn　as　thou　art；　to　bid　thee　stand：　But；　not　for　clan；　nor　kindred's　cause；　Will　I　depart　from　honour's　laws；　To　assail　a　wearied　man　were　shame；　And　stranger　is　a　holy　name；　Guidance　and　rest；　and　food　and　fire；　In　vain　he　never　must　require。　Then　rest　thee　here　till　dawn　of　day；　Myself　will　guide　thee　on　the　way；　O'er　stock　and　stone；　through　watch　and　ward；　Till　past　Clan…　Alpine's　outmost　guard；　As　far　as　Coilantogle's　ford；　From　thence　thy　warrant　is　thy　sword。'　'I　take　thy　courtesy；　by　heaven；　　As　freely　as　'tis　nobly　given！　'　Well；　rest　thee；　for　the　bittern's　cry　Sings　us　the　lake's　wild　lullaby。'　With　that　he　shook　the　gathered　heath；　And　spread　his　plaid　upon　the　wreath；　And　the　brave　foemen；　side　by　side；　Lay　peaceful　down　like　brothers　tried；　And　slept　until　the　dawning　beam　Purpled　the　mountain　and　the　stream。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CANTO　FIFTH。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Combat。



I。

Fair　as　the　earliest　beam　of　eastern　light；　　　　　　When　first；　by　the　bewildered　pilgrim　spied；　It　smiles　upon　the　dreary　brow　of　night　　　　　　And　silvers　o'er　the　torrent's　foaming　tide　And　lights　the　fearful　path　on　mountain…side；　　　　　　Fair　as　that　beam；　although　the　fairest　far；　Giving　to　horror　grace；　to　danger　pride；　　　　　　Shine　martial　Faith；　and　Courtesy's　bright　star　Through　all　the　wreckful　storms　that　cloud　the　brow　of　War。


II。

That　early　beam；　so　fair　and　sheen；　Was　twinkling　through　the　hazel　screen　When；　rousing　at　its　glimmer　red；　The　warriors　left　their　lowly　bed；　Looked　out　upon　the　dappled　sky；　Muttered　their　soldier　matins　try；　And　then　awaked　their　fire；　to　steal；　As　short　and　rude；　their　soldier　meal。　That　o'er；　the　Gael　around　him　threw　His　graceful　plaid　of　varied　hue；　And；　true　to　promise；　led　the　way；　By　thicket　green　and　mountain　gray。　A　wildering　path！they　winded　now　Along　the　precipice's　brow；　Commanding　the　rich　scenes　beneath；　The　windings　of　the　Forth　and　Teith；　And　all　the　vales　between　that　lie。　Till　Stirling's　turrets　melt　in　sky；　Then；　sunk　in　copse；　their　farthest　glance　Gained　not　the　length　of　horseman's　lance。　'Twas　oft　so　steep；　the　foot　was　as　fain　Assistance　from　the　hand　to　gain；　So　tangled　oft　that；　bursting　through；　Each　hawthorn　shed　her　showers　of　dew；　That　diamond　dew；　so　pure　and　clear；　It　rivals　all　but　Beauty's　tear！


III。

At　length　they　came　where；　stern　and　steep；　The　hill　sinks　down　upon　the　deep。　Here　Vennachar　in　silver　flows；　There；　ridge　on　ridge；　Benledi　rose；　Ever　the　hollow　path　twined　on；　Beneath　steep　hank　and　threatening　stone；　A　hundred　men　might　hold　the　post　With　hardihood　against　a　host。　The　rugged　mountain's　scanty　cloak　　Was　dwarfish　shrubs　of　birch　and　oak　　With　shingles　bare；　and　cliffs　between　And　patches　bright　of　bracken　green；　And　heather　black；　that　waved　so　high；　It　held　the　copse　in　rivalry。　But　where　the　lake　slept　deep　and　still　Dank　osiers　fringed　the　swamp　and　hill；　And　oft　both　path　and　hill　were　torn　Where　wintry　torrent　down　had　borne　And　heaped　upon　the　cumbered　land　Its　wreck　of　gravel；　rocks；　and　sand。　So　toilsome　was　the　road　to　trace　The　guide；　abating　of　his　pace；　Led　slowly　through　the　pass's　jaws　And　asked　Fitz…James　by　what　strange　cause　He　sought　these　wilds；　traversed　by　few　Without　a　pass　from　Roderick　Dhu。


IV。

'Brave　Gael；　my　pass；　in　danger　tried　　Hangs　in　my　belt　and　by　my　side　　Yet；　sooth　to　tell；'　the　Saxon　said；　'I　dreamt　not　now　to　claim　its　aid。　When　here；　but　three　days　since；　I　came　Bewildered　in　pursuit　of　game；　All　seemed　as　peaceful　and　as　still　As　the　mist　slumbering　on　yon　hill；　Thy　dangerous　Chief　was　then　afar；　Nor　soon　expected　back　from　war。　Thus　said；　at　least；　my　mountain…guide；　Though　deep　perchance　the　villain　lied。'　'Yet　why　a　second　venture　try？'　'A　warrior　thou；　and　ask　me　why！　Moves　our　free　course　by　such　fixed　cause　As　gives　the　poor　mechanic　laws？　Enough；　I　sought　to　drive　away　The　lazy　hours　of　peaceful　day；　Slight　cause　will　then　suffice　to　guide　A　Knight's　free　footsteps　far　and　wide；　A　falcon　flown；　a　greyhound　strayed；　The　merry　glance　of　mountain　maid；　Or；　if　a　path　be　dangerous　known；　The　danger's　self　is　lure　alone。'


V。

'Thy　secret　keep；　I　urge　thee　not；　　Yet；　ere　again　ye　sought　this　spot；　Say；　heard　ye　naught　of　Lowland　war；　Against　Clan…Alpine；　raised　by　Mar？'　'No；　by　my　word；of　bands　prepared　To　guard　King　James's　sports　I　heard；　Nor　doubt　I　aught；　but；　when　they　hear　This　muster　of　the　mountaineer；　Their　pennons　will　abroad　be　flung；　Which　else　in　Doune　had　peaceful　hung。'　'Free　be　they　flung！　for　we　were　loath　Their　silken　folds　should　feast　the　moth。　Free　be　they　flung！as　free　shall　wave　Clan…Alpine's　pine　in　banner　brave。　But；　stranger；　peaceful　since　you　came；　Bewildered　in　the　mountain…game；　Whence　the　bold　boast　by　which　you　show　Vich…Alpine's　vowed　and　mortal　foe？　'　'Warrior；　but　yester…morn　I　knew　Naught　of　thy　Chief