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the lady of the lake-第18节

小说: the lady of the lake 字数: 每页4000字

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not ride。'


XXXII。

'Thou warn'st me I have done amiss; I should have earlier looked to this; I lost it in this bustling day。 Retrace with speed thy former way; Spare not for spoiling of thy steed; The best of mine shall be thy meed。 Say to our faithful Lord of Mar; We do forbid the intended war; Roderick this morn in single fight Was made our prisoner by a knight; And Douglas hath himself and cause Submitted to our kingdom's laws。 The tidings of their leaders lost Will soon dissolve the mountain host; Nor would we that the vulgar feel; For their Chief's crimes; avenging steel。 Bear Mar our message; Braco; fly!' He turned his steed;'My liege; I hie; Yet ere I cross this lily lawn I fear the broadswords will be drawn。' The turf the flying courser spurned; And to his towers the King returned。


XXXIII。

Ill with King James's mood that day Suited gay feast and minstrel lay; Soon were dismissed the courtly throng; And soon cut short the festal song。 Nor less upon the saddened town The evening sunk in sorrow down。 The burghers spoke of civil jar; Of rumoured feuds and mountain war; Of Moray; Mar; and Roderick Dhu; All up in arms;the Douglas too; They mourned him pent within the hold; 'Where stout Earl William was of old。' And there his word the speaker stayed; And finger on his lip he laid; Or pointed to his dagger blade。 But jaded horsemen from the west At evening to the Castle pressed; And busy talkers said they bore Tidings of fight on Katrine's shore; At noon the deadly fray begun; And lasted till the set of sun。 Thus giddy rumor shook the town; Till closed the Night her pennons brown。





                          CANTO SIXTH。

                        The Guard…room。



I。

The sun; awakening; through the smoky air     Of the dark city casts a sullen glance; Rousing each caitiff to his task of care;     Of sinful man the sad inheritance; Summoning revellers from the lagging dance;     Scaring the prowling robber to his den; Gilding on battled tower the warder's lance;     And warning student pale to leave his pen; And yield his drowsy eyes to the kind nurse of men。

What various scenes; and O; what scenes of woe;     Are witnessed by that red and struggling beam! The fevered patient; from his pallet low;     Through crowded hospital beholds it stream; The ruined maiden trembles at its gleam;     The debtor wakes to thought of gyve and jail; 'The love…lore wretch starts from tormenting dream:     The wakeful mother; by the glimmering pale; Trims her sick infant's couch; and soothes his feeble wail


II。

At dawn the towers of Stirling rang With soldier…step and weapon…clang; While drums with rolling note foretell Relief to weary sentinel。 Through narrow loop and casement barred; The sunbeams sought the Court of Guard; And; struggling with the smoky air; Deadened the torches' yellow glare。 In comfortless alliance shone The lights through arch of blackened stone; And showed wild shapes in garb of war; Faces deformed with beard and scar; All haggard from the midnight watch; And fevered with the stern debauch; For the oak table's massive board; Flooded with wine; with fragments stored; And beakers drained; and cups o'erthrown; Showed in what sport the night had flown。 Some; weary; snored on floor and bench; Some labored still their thirst to quench; Some; chilled with watching; spread their hands O'er the huge chimney's dying brands; While round them; or beside them flung; At every step their harness rung。


III。

These drew not for their fields the sword; Like tenants of a feudal lord; Nor owned the patriarchal claim Of Chieftain in their leader's name; Adventurers they; from far who roved; To live by battle which they loved。 There the Italian's clouded face; The swarthy Spaniard's there you trace; The mountain…loving Switzer there More freely breathed in mountain…air; The Fleming there despised the soil That paid so ill the labourer's toil; Their rolls showed French and German name; And merry England's exiles came; To share; with ill…concealed disdain; Of Scotland's pay the scanty gain。 All brave in arms; well trained to wield The heavy halberd; brand; and shield; In camps licentious; wild; and bold; In pillage fierce and uncontrolled; And now; by holytide and feast; From rules of discipline released。


IV。

'They held debate of bloody fray; Fought 'twixt Loch Katrine and Achray。 Fierce was their speech; and mid their words 'Their hands oft grappled to their swords; Nor sunk their tone to spare the ear Of wounded comrades groaning near; Whose mangled limbs and bodies gored Bore token of the mountain sword; Though; neighbouring to the Court of Guard; Their prayers and feverish wails were heard; Sad burden to the ruffian joke; And savage oath by fury spoke! At length up started John of Brent; A yeoman from the banks of Trent; A stranger to respect or fear; In peace a chaser of the deer; In host a hardy mutineer; But still the boldest of the crew When deed of danger was to do。 He grieved that day their games cut short; And marred the dicer's brawling sport; And shouted loud; 'Renew the bowl! And; while a merry catch I troll; Let each the buxom chorus bear; Like brethren of the brand and spear。'


V。

Soldier's Song。

Our vicar still preaches that Peter and Poule Laid a swinging long curse on the bonny brown bowl; That there ''s wrath and despair in the jolly black…jack; And the seven deadly sins in a flagon of sack; Yet whoop; Barnaby! off with thy liquor; Drink upsees out; and a fig for the vicar!

Our vicar he calls it damnation to sip The ripe ruddy dew of a woman's dear lip; Says that Beelzebub lurks in her kerchief so sly; And Apollyon shoots darts from her merry black eye; Yet whoop; Jack! kiss Gillian the quicker; Till she bloom like a rose; and a fig for the vicar!

Our vicar thus preaches;and why should he not? For the dues of his cure are the placket and pot; And 'tis right of his office poor laymen to lurch Who infringe the domains of our good Mother Church。 Yet whoop; bully…boys! off with your liquor; Sweet Marjorie 's the word and a fig for the vicar!


VI。

The warder's challenge; heard without; Stayed in mid…roar the merry shout。 A soldier to the portal went; 'Here is old Bertram; sirs; of Ghent; Andbeat for jubilee the drum! A maid and minstrel with him come。' Bertram; a Fleming; gray and scarred; Was entering now the Court of Guard; A harper with him; and; in plaid All muffled close; a mountain maid; Who backward shrunk to 'scape the view Of the loose scene and boisterous crew。 'What news? ' they roared:' I only know; From noon till eve we fought with foe; As wild and as untamable As the rude mountains where they dwell; On both sides store of blood is lost; Nor much success can either boast。'  'But whence thy captives; friend? such spoil As theirs must needs reward thy toil。 Old cost thou wax; and wars grow sharp; Thou now hast glee…maiden and harp! Get thee an ape; and trudge the land; The leader of a juggler band。'


VII。

'No; comrade;no such fortune mine。 After the fight these sought our line; That aged harper and the girl; And; having audience of the Earl; Mar bade I should purvey them steed; And bring them hitherward with speed。 Forbear your mirth and rude alarm; For none shall do them shame or harm。 'Hear ye his boast? ' cried John of Brent; Ever to strife and jangling bent; 'Shall he strike doe beside our lodge; And yet the jealous niggard grudge To pay the forester his fee? I'll have my share howe'er it be; Despite of Moray; Mar; or thee。' Bertram his forward step withstood; And; burning in his vengeful mood; Old Allan; though unfit for strife; Laid hand upon his dagger…knife; But Ellen boldly stepped between; And dropped at once the tartan screen: So; from his morning cloud; appears The sun of May through summer tears。 The savage soldiery; amazed; As on descended angel gazed; Even hardy Brent; abashed and tamed; Stood half admiring; half ashamed。


VIII。

Boldly she spoke: 'Soldiers; attend! My father was the soldier's friend; Cheered him in camps; in marches led; And with him in the battle bled。 Not from the valiant or the strong Should exile's daughter suffer wrong。' Answered De Brent; most forward still In every feat or good or ill: 'I shame me of the part I played; And thou an outlaw's child; poor maid! An outlaw I by forest laws; And merry Needwood knows the cause。 Poor Rose;if Rose be living now;' He wiped his iron eye and brow; 'Must bear such age; I think; as thou。 Hear ye; my mates! I go to call The Captain of our watch to hall: There lies my halberd on the floor; And he that steps my halberd o'er; To do the maid injurious part; My shaft shall quiver in his heart! Beware loose speech; or jesting rough; Ye all know John de Brent。 Enough。'


IX。

Their Captain came; a gallant young; Of Tullibardine's house he sprung; Nor wore he yet the spurs of knight; Gay was his mien; his humor light And; though by courtesy controlled; Forward his speech; his bearing bold。 The high…born maiden ill could brook The scanning of his curious look And dauntless eye:and yet; in sooth Young Lewis was a generous youth; But Ellen's lovely face and mien Ill suited to the garb and scene; Might lightly bear construction strange; And give loose fancy scope to range。

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