XXV.

Then sudden, through the darkened air

A flash of lightning came;

So broad, so bright, so red the glare,

The castle seemed on flame.

Glanced every rafter of the hall,

Glanced every shield upon the wall;

Each trophied beam, each sculptured stone,

Were instant seen, and instant gone;

Full through the guests' bedazzled band
Resistless flashed the levin-brand,

And filled the hall with smouldering smoke,

As on the elvish Page it broke.

It broke, with thunder long and loud,
Dismayed the brave, appalled the proud,-
From sea to sea the larum rung;

On Berwick wall, and at Carlisle withal,

To arms the startled warders sprung. When ended was the dreadful roar,

The elvish Dwarf was seen no more!

XXVI.

Some heard a voice in Branksome Hall,

Some saw a sight, not seen by all;

That dreadful voice was heard by some,
Cry, with loud summons," GYLBIN, COME!"
And on the spot where burst the brand,

Just where the Page had flung him down,
and some a hand,

Some saw an arm,

And some the waving of a gown.

The guests in silence prayed and shook,

And terror dimmed each lofty look.

But none of all the astonished train

Was so dismayed as Deloraine;

His blood did freeze, his brain did burn,

'Twas feared his mind would ne'er return;

For he was speechless, ghastly, wan,

Like him, of whom the story ran,

Who spoke the spectre-hound in Man.*

At length, by fits, he darkly told,

With broken hint, and shuddering cold—

*The Isle of Man.- -See Note.

That he had seen, right certainly, A shape with amice wrapped around, With a wrought Spanish baldric bound,

Like pilgrim from beyond the sea; And knew-but how it mattered not

It was the wizard, Michael Scott.

XXVII.

The anxious crowd, with horror pale,
All trembling, heard the wondrous tale;
No sound was made, no word was spoke,

Till noble Angus silence broke ;

And he a solemn sacred plight

Did to St Bride of Douglas make,
That he a pilgrimage would take

To Melrose Abbey, for the sake

Of Michael's restless sprite.

Then each, to ease his troubled breast,

To some blessed saint his prayers addressed;

Some to St Modan made their vows,
Some to St Mary of the Lowes,
Some to the Holy Rood of Lisle,

Some to our Lady of the Isle ;

Each did his patron witness make,

That he such pilgrimage would take,

And Monks should sing, and bells should toll,

All for the weal of Michael's soul.

While vows were ta'en, and prayers were prayed,

'Tis said the noble Dame, dismayed,

Renounced, for aye, dark magic's aid.

XXVIII.

Nought of the bridal will I tell,

Which after in short space befel;

Nor how brave sons and daughters fair

Blessed Teviot's Flower, and Cranstoun's heir:

After such dreadful scene, 'twere vain

To wake the note of mirth again.

More meet it were to mark the day

Of penitence and prayer divine,
When pilgrim-chiefs, in sad array,
Sought Melrose' holy shrine.

XXIX.

With naked foot, and sackcloth vest,

And arms enfolded on his breast,

Did every pilgrim go;

The standers-by might hear uneath,

Footstep, or voice, or high-drawn breath,

Through all the lengthened row:

No lordly look, nor martial stride,

Gone was their glory, sunk their pride,

Forgotten their renown;

Silent and slow, like ghosts, they glide

To the high altar's hallowed side,

And there they kneeled them down: Above the suppliant chieftains wave The banners of departed brave;