While unprotected lives mine heir Without a father's name and care?"

XXIV

I heard-obeyed — and homeward drew;
The fiercest of our desperate crew
I brought, at time of need to aid

My purposed vengeance long delayed. 590
But humble be my thanks to Heaven
That better hopes and thoughts has given,
And by our Lord's dear prayer has taught
Mercy by mercy must be bought!
Let me in misery rejoice

I've seen his face - I've heard his voice

I claimed of him my only child-
As he disowned the theft, he smiled!
That very calm and callous look,
That fiendish sueer his visage took,
As when he said, in scornful mood,
"There is a gallant in the wood!"
I did not slay him as he stood -
All praise be to my Maker given!
Long suffrance is one path to heaven.'

600

he durst not cross his steel 610

A moment's space with brave O'Neale
For all the treasured gold that rests
In Mortham's iron-banded chests.
Redmond resumed his seat; he said
rustling in the shade.

Some roe was

Bertram laughed grimly when he saw
His timorous comrade backward draw;
A trusty mate art thou, to fear
A single arm, and aid so near!
Yet have I seen thee mark a deer.
Give me thy carabine-
I'll show

An art that thou wilt gladly know,
How thou mayst safely quell a foe.'

XXVI

620

On hands and knees fierce Bertram drew The spreading birch and hazels through, Till he had Redmond full in view; The gun he levelled Mark like this Was Bertram never known to miss, When fair opposed to aim their sate An object of his mortal hate. That day young Redmond's death had seen, But twice Matilda came between

630

The carabine and Redmond's breast
Just ere the spring his finger pressed.
A deadly oath the ruffian swore,
But yet his fell design forbore:
'It ne'er,' he muttered, 'shall be said
That thus I scathed thee, haughty maid!'
Then moved to seek more open aim,
When to his side Guy Denzil came:
'Bertram, forbear! we are undone
For ever, if thou fire the gun.
By all the fiends, an armed force
Descends the dell of foot and horse !
We perish if they hear a shot
Madman! we have a safer plot -

640

Nay, friend, be ruled, and bear thee back!

Behold, down yonder hollow track
The warlike leader of the band

Comes with his broadsword in his hand.' 650
Bertram looked up; he saw, he knew
That Denzil's fears had counselled true,
Then cursed his fortune and withdrew,
Threaded the woodlands undescried,
And gained the cave on Greta side.

--

These solemn words his story close:
'Heaven witness for me that I chose
My part in this sad civil fight
Moved by no cause but England's right.
My country's groans have bid me draw
My sword for gospel and for law; -
These righted, I fling arms aside
And seek my son through Europe wide.
My wealth, on which a kinsman nigh
Already casts a grasping eye,
With thee may unsuspected lie.
When of my death Matilda hears,
Let her retain her trust three years;
If none from me the treasure claim,
Perished is Mortham's race and name.
Then let it leave her generous hand,
And flow in bounty o'er the land,
Soften the wounded prisoner's lot,
Rebuild the peasant's ruined cot;
So spoils, acquired by fight afar,
Shall mitigate domestic war.'

XXIX

690

700

The generous youths, who well had known
Of Mortham's mind the powerful tone, 710
To that high mind by sorrow swerved
Gave sympathy his woes deserved;
But Wilfrid chief, who saw revealed
Why Mortham wished his life concealed,
In secret, doubtless, to pursue
The schemes his wildered fancy drew.
Thoughtful he heard Matilda tell
That she would share her father's cell,
His partner of captivity,

Where'er his prison-house should be;
Yet grieved to think that Rokeby-hall,
Dismantled and forsook by all,
Open to rapine and to stealth,
Had now no safeguard for the wealth
Intrusted by her kinsman kind
And for such noble use designed.
Was Barnard Castle then her choice,'
Wilfrid inquired with hasty voice,
'Since there the victor's laws ordain
Her father must a space remain ?'
A fluttered hope his accent shook,
A fluttered joy was in his look.

720

730

Matilda hastened to reply,

For anger flashed in Redmond's eye;—
'Duty, she said, with gentle grace,
'Kind Wilfrid, has no choice of place;
Else had I for my sire assigned
Prison less galling to his mind

Than that his wild-wood haunts which sees
And hears the murmur of the Tees,
Recalling thus with every glance
What captive's sorrow can enhance;
But where those woes are highest, there
Needs Rokeby most his daughter's care.'

XXX

750

He felt the kindly check she gave,
And stood abashed - then answered grave:
'I sought thy purpose, noble maid,
Thy doubts to clear, thy schemes to aid.
I have beneath mine own command,
So wills my sire, a gallant band,
And well could send some horsemen wight
To bear the treasure forth by night,
And so bestow it as you deem
In these ill days may safest seem.'
'Thanks, gentle Wilfrid, thanks,' she said:
'O, be it not one day delayed!
And, more thy sister-friend to aid,
Be thou thyself content to hold
In thine own keeping Mortham's gold, 199
Safest with thee.' While thus she spoke,
Armed soldiers on their converse broke,
The same of whose approach afraid
The ruffians left their ambuscade.
Their chief to Wilfrid bended low,
Then looked around as for a foe.
What mean'st thou, friend,' young Wy
cliffe said,

Why thus in arms beset the glade ?' —
'That would I gladly learn from you;
For up my squadron as I drew
To exercise our martial game
Upon the moor of Barninghame,
A stranger told you were waylaid,
Surrounded, and to death betrayed.
He had a leader's voice, I ween,
A falcon glance, a warrior's mien.
He bade me bring you instant aid;
I doubted not and Ï obeyed.'

XXXI

779

Wilfrid changed color, and amazed Turned short and on the speaker gazed, While Redmond every thicket round 780 Tracked earnest as a questing hound,

50

Now, through the wood's dark mazes past,
The opening lawn he reached at last
Where, silvered by the moonlight ray,
The ancient Hall before him lay.
Those martial terrors long were fled
That frowned of old around its head:
The battlements, the turrets gray,
Seemed half abandoned to decay;
On barbican and keep of stone
Stern Time the foeman's work had done.
Where banners the invader braved,
The harebell now and wallflower waved;
In the rude guard-room where of yore
Their weary hours the warders wore,
Now, while the cheerful fagots blaze,
On the paved floor the spindle plays;
The flanking guns dismounted lie,
The moat is ruinous and dry,
The grim portcullis gone
The fortress turned to peaceful Hall.

IV

and all

60

100

Matilda soon to greet him came,
And bade them light the evening flame;
Said all for parting was prepared,
And tarried but for Wilfrid's guard.
But then, reluctant to unfold
His father's avarice of gold,
He hinted that lest jealous eye
Should on their precious burden pry,
He judged it best the castle gate
To enter when the night wore late;
And therefore he had left command
With those he trusted of his band
That they should be at Rokeby met
What time the midnight-watch was set.
Now Redmond came, whose anxious care
Till then was busied to prepare
All needful, meetly to arrange
The mansion for its mournful change.
With Wilfrid's care and kindness pleased,
His cold unready hand he seized,
And pressed it till his kindly strain
The gentle youth returned again.
Seemed as between them this was said,
'Awhile let jealousy be dead,
And let our contest be whose care
Shall best assist this helpless fair.'

VI

There was no speech the truce to bind; It was a compact of the mind,

A generous thought at once impressed On either rival's generous breast. Matilda well the secret took

From sudden change of mien and look,

120

130

Aud for not small had been her fear
Of jealous ire and danger near—
Felt even in her dejected state
A joy beyond the reach of fate.
They closed beside the chimney's blaze,
And talked, and hoped for happier days,
And lent their spirits' rising glow
Awhile to gild impending woe-
High privilege of youthful time,
Worth all the pleasures of our prime!
The bickering fagot sparkled bright
And gave the scene of love to sight,
Bade Wilfrid's cheek more lively glow,
Played on Matilda's neck of snow,
Her nut-brown curls and forehead high,
And laughed in Redmond's azure eye.
Two lovers by the maiden sate
Without a glance of jealous hate;

146

150

The maid her lovers sat between
With open brow and equal mien;
It is a sight but rarely spied,
Thanks to man's wrath and woman's pride.

The porter, all unmoved, replied, 'Depart in peace, with Heaven to guide;

longer by the

rust me, thou shalt not part so well.' gate thou dwell,

180

190

200

210

220

'Hark! Harpool parleys - there is hope,' Said Redmond,' that the gate will ope.'

6

For all thy brag and boast, I trow, Nought knowest thou of the Felon Sow,' Quoth Harpool, nor how Greta-side She roamed and Rokeby forest wide; Nor how Ralph Rokeby gave the beast To Richmond's friars to make a feast. Of Gilbert Griffinson the tale Goes, and of gallant Peter Dale That well could strike with sword amain, And of the valiant son of Spain, Friar Middleton, and blithe Sir Ralph; There were a jest to make us laugh! If thou canst tell it, in yon shed, Thou 'st won thy supper and thy bed.'

X

Matilda smiled; 'Cold hope,' said she,
'From Harpool's love of minstrelsy!
But for this harper may we dare,
Redmond, to mend his couch and fare?'.
'O, ask me not! At minstrel-string
My heart from infancy would spring;
Nor can I hear its simplest strain
But it brings Erin's dream again,
When placed by Owen Lysagh's knee-
The Filea of O'Neale was he,

23C

24

A blind and bearded man whose eld
Was sacred as a prophet's held
I've seen a ring of rugged kerne,
With aspects shaggy, wild, and stern,
Enchanted by the master's lay,
Linger around the livelong day,
Shift from wild rage to wilder glee,
To love, to grief, to ecstasy,
And feel each varied change of soul
Obedient to the bard's control.
Ah! Clandeboy! thy friendly floor
Slieve-Donard's oak shall light no more;
Nor Owen's harp beside the blaze
Tell maiden's love or hero's praise!
The mantling brambles hide thy hearth,
Centre of hospitable mirth;
All undistinguished in the glade,
My sires' glad home is prostrate laid,
Their vassals wander wide and far,
Serve foreign lords in distant war,
And now the stranger's sons enjoy
The lovely woods of Clandeboy!
He spoke, and proudly turned aside
The starting tear to dry and hide.

XI

Matilda's dark and softened eye
Was glistening ere O'Neale's was dry.

250

260

270