the lady of the lake-第15节

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　you　show　Vich…Alpine's　vowed　and　mortal　foe？　'　'Warrior；　but　yester…morn　I　knew　Naught　of　thy　Chieftain；　Roderick　Dhu；　Save　as　an　outlawed　desperate　man；　The　chief　of　a　rebellious　clan；　Who；　in　the　Regent's　court　and　sight；　With　ruffian　dagger　stabbed　a　knight；　Yet　this　alone　might　from　his　part　Sever　each　true　and　loyal　heart。'


VI。

Wrathful　at　such　arraignment　foul；　Dark　lowered　the　clansman's　sable　scowl。　A　space　he　paused；　then　sternly　said；　'And　heardst　thou　why　he　drew　his　blade？　Heardst　thou　that　shameful　word　and　blow　Brought　Roderick's　vengeance　on　his　foe？　What　recked　the　Chieftain　if　he　stood　On　Highland　heath　or　Holy…Rood？　He　rights　such　wrong　where　it　is　given；　If　it　were　in　the　court　of　heaven。'　'Still　was　it　outrage；yet；　'tis　true；　Not　then　claimed　sovereignty　his　due；　While　Albany　with　feeble　hand　Held　borrowed　truncheon　of　command；　The　young　King；　mewed　in　Stirling　tower；　Was　stranger　to　respect　and　power。　But　then；　thy　Chieftain's　robber　life！　Winning　mean　prey　by　causeless　strife；　Wrenching　from　ruined　Lowland　swain　His　herds　and　harvest　reared　in　vain；　　Methinks　a　soul　like　shine　should　scorn　The　spoils　from　such　foul　foray　borne。'


VII。

The　Gael　beheld　him　grim　the　while；　And　answered　with　disdainful　smile：　'Saxon；　from　yonder　mountain　high；　I　marked　thee　send　delighted　eye　Far　to　the　south　and　east；　where　lay；　Extended　in　succession　gay；　Deep　waving　fields　and　pastures　green；　With　gentle　slopes　and　groves　between：　These　fertile　plains；　that　softened　vale；　Were　once　the　birthright　of　the　Gael；　The　stranger　came　with　iron　hand；　And　from　our　fathers　reft　the　land。　Where　dwell　we　now？　　See；　rudely　swell　Crag　over　crag；　and　fell　o'er　fell。　Ask　we　this　savage　hill　we　tread　For　fattened　steer　or　household　bread；　Ask　we　for　flocks　these　shingles　dry；　And　well　the　mountain　might　reply；　〃To　you；　as　to　your　sires　of　yore；　Belong　the　target　and　claymore！　I　give　you　shelter　in　my　breast；　Your　own　good　blades　must　win　the　rest。〃　Pent　in　this　fortress　of　the　North；　Think'st　thou　we　will　not　sally　forth；　To　spoil　the　spoiler　as　we　may；　And　from　the　robber　rend　the　prey？　Ay；　by　my　soul！While　on　yon　plain　The　Saxon　rears　one　shock　of　grain；　While　of　ten　thousand　herds　there　strays　But　one　along　yon　river's　maze；　The　Gael；　of　plain　and　river　heir；　Shall　with　strong　hand　redeem　his　share。　Where　live　the　mountain　Chiefs　who　hold　That　plundering　Lowland　field　and　fold　Is　aught　but　retribution　true？　Seek　other　cause　'gainst　Roderick　Dhu。'


VIII。

Answered　Fitz…James：　'And；　if　I　sought；　Think'st　thou　no　other　could　be　brought？　What　deem　ye　of　my　path　waylaid？　My　life　given　o'er　to　ambuscade？'　'As　of　a　meed　to　rashness　due：　Hadst　thou　sent　warning　fair　and　true；　I　seek　my　hound　or　falcon　strayed；　I　seek；　good　faith；　a　Highland　maid；　Free　hadst　thou　been　to　come　and　go；　But　secret　path　marks　secret　foe。　Nor　yet　for　this；　even　as　a　spy；　Hadst　thou；　unheard；　been　doomed　to　die；　Save　to　fulfil　an　augury。'　'Well；　let　it　pass；　nor　will　I　now　Fresh　cause　of　enmity　avow　To　chafe　thy　mood　and　cloud　thy　brow。　Enough；　I　am　by　promise　tied　To　match　me　with　this　man　of　pride：　Twice　have　I　sought　Clan…Alpine's　glen　In　peace；　but　when　I　come　again；　I　come　with　banner；　brand；　and　bow；　As　leader　seeks　his　mortal　foe。　For　love…lore　swain　in　lady's　bower　Ne'er　panted　for　the　appointed　hour　As　I；　until　before　me　stand　This　rebel　Chieftain　and　his　band！'


IX。

'Have　then　thy　wish！'He　whistled　shrill　And　he　was　answered　from　the　hill；　Wild　as　the　scream　of　the　curlew；　From　crag　to　crag　the　signal　flew。　Instant；　through　copse　and　heath；　arose　Bonnets　and　spears　and　bended　bows　On　right；　on　left；；　above；　below；　Sprung　up　at　once　the　lurking　foe；　From　shingles　gray　their　lances　start；　The　bracken　bush　sends　forth　the　dart；　The　rushes　and　the　willow…wand　Are　bristling　into　axe　and　brand；　And　every　tuft　of　broom　gives　life　'To　plaided　warrior　armed　for　strife。　That　whistle　garrisoned　the　glen　At　once　with　full　five　hundred　men；　As　if　the　yawning　hill　to　heaven　A　subterranean　host　had　given。　Watching　their　leader's　beck　and　will；　All　silent　there　they　stood　and　still。　Like　the　loose　crags　whose　threatening　mass　Lay　tottering　o'er　the　hollow　pass；　As　if　an　infant's　touch　could　urge　Their　headlong　passage　down　the　verge；　With　step　and　weapon　forward　flung；　Upon　the　mountain…side　they　hung。　The　Mountaineer　cast　glance　of　pride　Along　Benledi's　living　side；　Then　fixed　his　eye　and　sable　brow　Full　on　Fitz…James：　'How　say'st　thou　now？　These　are　Clan…Alpine's　warriors　true；　And；　Saxon；I　am　Roderick　Dhu！'


X。

Fitz…James　was　brave：though　to　his　heart　The　life…blood　thrilled　with　sudden　start；　He　manned　himself　with　dauntless　air；　Returned　the　Chief　his　haughty　stare；　His　back　against　a　rock　he　bore；　And　firmly　placed　his　foot　before：　'Come　one；　come　all！　this　rock　shall　fly　From　its　firm　base　as　soon　as　I。'　Sir　Roderick　marked；and　in　his　eyes　Respect　was　mingled　with　surprise；　And　the　stern　joy　which　warriors　feel　In　foeman　worthy　of　their　steel。　Short　space　he　stoodthen　waved　his　hand：　Down　sunk　the　disappearing　band；　Each　warrior　vanished　where　he　stood；　In　broom　or　bracken；　heath　or　wood；　Sunk　brand　and　spear　and　bended　bow；　In　osiers　pale　and　copses　low；　It　seemed　as　if　their　mother　Earth　　Had　swallowed　up　her　warlike　birth。　The　wind's　last　breath　had　tossed　in　air　Pennon　and　plaid　and　plumage　fair；　The　next　but　swept　a　lone　hill…side　Where　heath　and　fern　were　waving　wide：　The　sun's　last　glance　was　glinted　back　From　spear　and　glaive；　from　targe　and　jack；　The　next；　all　unreflected；　shone　On　bracken　green　and　cold　gray　stone。


XI。

Fitz…James　looked　rolmd；yet　scarce　believed　The　witness　that　his　sight　received；　Such　apparition　well　might　seem　Delusion　of　a　dreadful　dream。　Sir　Roderick　in　suspense　he　eyed；　And　to　his　look　the　Chief　replied：　'Fear　naughtnay；　that　I　need　not　say　　Butdoubt　not　aught　from　mine　array。　Thou　art　my　guest；I　pledged　my　word　As　far　as　Coilantogle　ford：　Nor　would　I　call　a　clansman's　brand　For　aid　against　one　valiant　hand；　Though　on　our　strife　lay　every　vale　Rent　by　the　Saxon　from　the　Gael。　So　move　we　on；I　only　meant　To　show　the　reed　on　which　you　leant；　Deeming　this　path　you　might　pursue　Without　a　pass　from　Roderick　Dhu。'　They　moved；I　said　Fitz…James　was　brave　As　ever　knight　that　belted　glaive；　Yet　dare　not　say　that　now　his　blood　Kept　on　its　wont　and　tempered　flood；　As；　following　Roderick's　stride；　he　drew　That　seeming　lonesome　pathway　through；　Which　yet　by　fearful　proof　was　rife　With　lances；　that；　to　take　his　life；　Waited　but　signal　from　a　guide；　So　late　dishonored　and　defied。　Ever；　by　stealth；　his　eye　sought　round　The　vanished　guardians　of　the　ground；　And　stir＇　from　copse　and　heather　deep　Fancy　saw　spear　and　broadsword　peep；　And　in　the　plover's　shrilly　strain　The　signal　whistle　heard　again。　Nor　breathed　he　free　till　far　behind　The　pass　was　left；　for　then　they　wind　Along　a　wide　and　level　green；　Where　neither　tree　nor　tuft　was　seen；　Nor　rush　nor　bush　of　broom　was　near；　To　hide　a　bonnet　or　a　spear。


XII。

The　Chief　in　silence　strode　before；　And　reached　that　torrent's　sounding　shore；　Which；　daughter　of　three　mighty　lakes；　From　Vennachar　in　silver　breaks；　Sweeps　through　the　plain；　and　ceaseless　mines　On　Bochastle　the　mouldering　lines；　Where　Rome；　the　Empress　of　the　world；　Of　yore　her　eagle　wings　unfurled。　And　here　his　course　the　Chieftain　stayed；　Threw　down　his　target　and　his　plaid；　And　to　the　Lowland　warrior　said：　'Bold　Saxon！　to　his　promise　just；　Vich…Alpine　has　discharged　his　trust。　This　murderous　Chief；　this　ruthless　man；　This　head　of　a　rebellious　clan；　Hath　led　thee　safe；　through　watch　and　ward；　Far　past　Clan…Alpine's　outmost　guard。　Now；　man　to　man；　and　steel　to　steel；　　A　Chieftain's　vengeance　thou　shalt　feel。　See；　here　all　vantageless　I　stand；　Armed　like　thyself　with　single　brand；　　For　this　is　Coilantogle　ford；　And　thou　must　keep　thee　with　thy　sword。'


XIII。

The　Saxon　paused：　'I　ne'er　delayed；　When　foeman　bade　me　draw　my　blade；　Nay　more；　brave　Chief；　I　vowed　thy　death；　Yet　sure　thy　fair　and　generous　faith；　And　my　deep　debt　for　life　preserved；　A　better　meed　have　well　deserved：　Can　naught　but　blood　our　feud　atone？　Are　there　no　means？''　No；　stranger；　none！　And　hear；to　fire　thy　flagging　zeal；　The　Saxon　cause　rests　on　thy　steel；　For　thus　spoke　Fate　by　prophet　bred　Between　the　living　and　the　dead：〃　Who　spills　the　foremost　foeman's　life；　His　party　conquers　in　the　strife。〃'　'Then；　by　my　word；'　the　Saxon　said；　〃The　riddle　is　already　read。　Seek　yonder　brake　beneath　the　cliff；　There　lies　Red　Murdoch；　stark　and　stiff。　Thus　Fate　hath　solved　her　prophecy；　Then　yield　to　Fate；　and　not　to　me。　To　James　at　Stirling　let　us　go；　When；　if　thou　wilt　be　still　his　foe；　Or　if　the　King　shall　not　agree　To　grant　thee　grace　and　favor　free；　I　plight　mine　honor；　oath；　and　word　That；　to　thy　native　strengths　restored；　With　each　advantage　shalt　thou　stand　That　aids　thee　now　to　guard　thy　land。'


XIV。

Dark　lightning　flashed　from　Roderick's　eye：　'Soars　thy　presumption；　then；　so　high；　Because　a　wretched　kern　ye　slew；　Homage　to　name　to　Roderick　Dhu？　He　yields　not；　he；　to　man　nor　Fate！　Thou　add'st　but　fuel　to　my　hate；　My　clansman's　blood　demands　revenge。　Not　yet　prepared？By　heaven；　I　change　My　thought；　and　hold　thy　valor　light　As　that　o