Through grated arch and passage dread.
Portals they pass'd, where, deep within,
Spoke prisoner's moan, and fetter's din;
Through rugged vaults,1 where, loosely stored,
Lay wheel, and axe, and headsman's sword,
And many an hideous engine grim,
For wrenching joint, and crushing 2 limb,
By artist formed, who deem'd it shame
And sin to give their work a name.
They halted at a low-brow'd porch,
And Brent to Allan gave the torch,
While bolt and chain he backward roll'd,
And made the bar unhasp its hold.
They enter'd;--'twas a prison room
Of stern security and gloom,
Yet not a dungeon; for the day

Through lofty gratings found its way,

And rude and antique garniture

Deck'd the sad walls and oaken floor; 8

Such as the rugged days of old

Deem'd fit for captive noble's hold.

66

'Here," said De Brent, "thou mayest remain1

Till the Leech visit him again.

Strict is his charge, the warders tell,
To tend the noble prisoner well."
Retiring then, the bolt he drew,
And the lock's murmurs growl'd anew.
Roused at the sound, from lowly bed
A captive feebly raised his head;

The wondering Minstrel look'd, and knew-
Not his dear Lord, but Roderick Dhu!
For, come from where Clan-Alpine fought,
They, erring, deem'd the Chief he sought.

XIII.

As the tall ship, whose lofty prore
Shall never stem the billows more,
Deserted by her gallant band,
Amid the breakers lies astrand,-
So, on his couch, lay Roderick Dhu!
And oft his fever'd limbs he threw
In toss abrupt, as when her sides
Lie rocking in the advancing tides,
That shake her frame with ceaseless beat,
Yet cannot heave her from her seat;-
O! how unlike her course at sea!1

Or his free step on hill and lea!-
Soon as the Minstrel he could scan,
"What of thy lady?-of my clan?-
My mother?-Douglas?-tell me all?
Have they been ruin'd in my fall?

1 [MS." "O! how unlike her course on mair!
Or his free step on hill and plain!"]

Ah, yes! or wherefore art thou here! Yet speak,-speak boldly,-do not fear."(For Allan, who his mood well knew, Was choked with grief and terror too.) "Who fought who fled?-Old man, be brief;Some might for they had lost their Chief. Who basely live?-who bravely died?"

'O, calm thee, Chief!"—the Minstrel cried, "Ellen is safe;"-" “For that, thank Heaven!""And hopes are for the Douglas given :The Lady Margaret too is well, And, for thy clan,—on field or fell, Has never harp of Minstrel told,' Of combat fought so true and bold; Thy stately Pine is yet unbent, Though many a goodly bough is rent.”

XIV.

The Chieftain rear'd his form on high,
And fever's fire was in his eye;

But ghastly, pale, and livid streaks.
Chequer'd his swarthy brow and cheeks.

"Hark, Minstrel! I have heard thee play, With measure bold, on festal day,

Shall harper play, or warrior hear! ...
That stirring air that peals on high,
O'er Dermid's race our victory.—

1 [MS." Shall never harp of minstrel tell,
Of combat fought so fierce and well."]

Strike it! and then, (for well thou canst,)
Free from thy minstrel-spirit glanced,

1 There are several instances, at least in tradition, of persons so much attached to particular tunes, as to require to hear them on their deathbed. Such an ancedote is mentioned by the late Mr. Riddel of Glenriddel, in his collection of Border tunes, respecting an air called the "Dandling of the Bairns," for which a certain Gallovidian laird is said to have evinced this strong mark of partiality. It is popularly told of a famous freebooter, that he composed the tune known by the name of Macpherson's Rant, while under sentence of death, and played it at the gallows-tree. Some spirited words have been adapted to it by Burns. A similar story is recounted of a Welsh bard, who composed and played on his deathbed the air called Dafyddy Garregg Wen. But the most curious example is given by Brantome, of a maid of honour at the court of France, entitled, Mademoisélle de Limeuil. "Durant sa maladie, dont elle trespassa, jamais elle ne cessa, ains causa tousjours; car elle estoit fort grande parleuse, brocardeuse, et très-bien et fort à propos, et très-belle avec cela. Quand l'heure de sa fin fut venue, elle fit venir a soy son valet, (ainsi que le filles de la cour en ont chacune un,) qui s'appelloit Julien, et scavoit très-bien joüer du violon. 'Julien,' luy dit elle, 'prenez vostre violon, et sonnez moy tousjours jusques a ce que me voyez morte (car je m'y en vais) la défaite des Suisses, et le mieux que vous pourrez, et quand vous serez sur le mot, "Tout est perdu," sonnez le par quatre ou cing fois le plus piteusement que vous pourrez,' ce qui fit l'autre, et ellemesme luy adoit de la voix, et quand ce vint 'tout est perdu,' elle le réïtera par deux fois; et se tournant de l'autre costé du chevet, elle dit à ses compagnes: 'Tout est perdu à ce coup, et à bon escient;' et ainsi décéda. Voila une morte joyeuse et plaisante. Je tiens ce conte de deux de ses compagnes, dignes de foi, qui virent jouer ce mystère."-Oeuvres de Brantome, iii. 507. The tune to which this fair lady chose to make her final exit, was composed on the defeat of the Swiss at Marignano. The burden is quoted

Fling me the picture of the fight,

When met my clan the Saxon might.
I'll listen, till my fancy hears

The clang of swords, the crash of spears!

These grates, these walls, shall vanish then,
For the fair field of fighting men,
And my free spirit burst away,
As if it soar'd from battle-fray."

The trembling Bard with awe obey'd,-
Slow on the harp his hand he laid;
But soon remembrance of the sight
He witness'd from the mountain's height,
With what old Bertram told at night,'
Awaken'd the full power of song,
And bore him in career along ;—-
As shallop launch'd on river's tide,
That slow and fearful leaves the side,
But, when it feels the middle stream,
Drives downward swift as lightning's beam.

XV.

BATTLE OF BEAL' AN DUINE.2

"The Minstrel came once more to view

The eastern ridge of Benvenue,

by Panurge, in Rabelais, and consists of these words, imitating the jargon of the Swiss, which.is a mixture of French and German:

"Tout est ver lore

La Tintelore,

Tout est verlore, bi Got!"

1 [The MS. has not this line.]

2 A skirmish actually took place at a pass thus called in