Her faltering steps half led, half staid, XXVI. Within 'twas brilliant all and light, The centre of the glittering ring, And Snowdoun's Knight is Scotland's King! 55 XXVII. As wreath of snow, on mountain-breast, - she clasp'd her hands. O! not a moment could he brook, The generous Prince, that suppliant look! Gently he raised her; and, the while, Check'd with a glance the circle's smile; Graceful, but grave, her brow he kiss'd, "Yes, Fair; the wandering poor Fitz-James The fealty of Scotland claims. To him thy woes, thy wishes, bring; Ask nought for Douglas; yester even, I stanch'd thy father's death-feud stern XXVIII. Then forth the noble Douglas sprung, "Nay, Douglas, nay, Steal not my proselyte away! The riddle 'tis my right to read, That brought this happy chance to speed. 53 Thus watch I o'er insulted laws, "Ah, little traitress! none must know Join'd to thine eye's dark witchcraft, drew That little talisman of gold, Pledge of my faith, Fitz-James' ring - XXIX. Full well the conscious maiden guess'd He probed the weakness of her breast; But, with that consciousness, there came A lightening of her fears for Græme, And more she deem'd the monarch's ire Kindled 'gainst him, who for her sire, Rebellious broadsword boldly drew; And, to her generous feeling true, She craved the grace of Roderick Dhu. "Forbear thy suit: the King of kings Alone can stay life's parting wings: I know his heart, I know his hand, Have shared his cheer, and proved his brand My fairest earldom would I give To bid Clan Alpine's Chieftain live! Hast thou no other boon to crave? No other captive friend to save?" Blushing, she turn'd her from the King, And to the Douglas gave the ring, As if she wish'd her sire to speak The suit that stain'd her glowing cheek. "Nay, then, my pledge has lost its force, And stubborn justice holds her course. Malcolm, come forth!" and, at the word, Down kneel'd the Græme to Scotland's Lord. "For thee, rash youth, no suppliant sues, HARP of the North, farewell! The hills grow dark, And herd-boy's evening pipe, and hum of housing bee. May idly cavil at an idle lay. Much have I owed thy strains on life's long way, A wandering witch-note of the distant spellAnd now, 'tis silent all!- Enchantress, fare thee well! LADY NOTES TO THE LADY OF THE LAKE. NOTE 1, page 321. the heights of Uam-Var, And roused the cavern, where, 'tis told, UA-VAR, as the name is pronounced, or more properly Uaighmor, is a mountain to the north-east of the village of Callander in Menteith, deriving its name, which signifies the great den, or cavern, from a sort of retreat among the rocks on the south side, said, by tradition, to have been the abode of a giant. In latter times, it was the refuge of robbers and banditti, who have been only extirpated within these forty or fifty years. Strictly speaking, this stronghold is not a cave, as the name would imply, but a sort of small inclosure, or recess, surrounded with large rocks, and open above head. NOTE 2, page 322. Two dogs of black Saint Hubert's breed, "The hounds which we call Saint Hubert's hounds, are commonly all blacke, yet neuertheless, the race is so mingled at these days, that we find them of all colours. These are the hounds which the abbots of St Hubert haue always kept some of their race or kind, in honour or remembrance of the saint, which was a hunter with S. Eustace. Whereupon we may conceiue that (by the grace of God) all good huntsmen shall follow them into paradise." The noble Art of Venerie or Hunting, translated and collected for the Use of all Noblemen and Gentlemen. Lond. 1611. 4to, p. 15. NOTE 3, page 322. For the death-wound and death-halloo, When the stag turned to bay, the ancient hunter had the perilous task of going in upon, and killing or disabling the desperate animal. At certain times of the year this was held particularly dangerous, a wound received from a stag's horn being then deemed poisonous, and more dangerous than one from the tusks of a boar, as the old rhyme testifies "If thou be hurt with hart, it brings thee to thy bier, At all times, however, the task was dangerous, and to be adventured upon wisely and warily, either by getting behind the stag while he was gazing on the hounds, or by watching an opportunity to gallop roundly in upon him, and kill him with the sword. Scott, Poetical Works. I. 29 |