- To waft me to yon mountain-side."- Canto Third. The Gathering. I. IME rolls his ceaseless course. The race of yore Who danced our infancy upon their knee, And told our marvelling boy-hood legend store, Of their strange ventures happ'd by land or sea, How are they blotted from the things that be! How few, all weak and wither'd of their force, Wait on the verge of dark eternity, Like stranded wrecks, the tide returning hoarse, To sweep them from our sight! Time rolls his ceaseless course. Yet live there still who can remember well, How, when a mountain chief his bugle blew, Both field and forest, dingle, cliff, and dell, And solitary heath, the signal knew ; And fast the faithful clan around him drew, What time the warning note was keenly wound, What time aloft their kindred banner flew, While clamorous war-pipes yell'd the gathering sound, And while the Fiery Cross glanced, like a meteor, round.† II. HE summer dawn's reflected hue To purple changed Loch-Katrine blue; Mildly and soft the western breeze Just kiss'd the lake, just stirr'd the trees, And the pleased lake, like maiden coy, Trembled but dimpled not for joy; The mountain shadows on her breast Were neither broken nor at rest; In bright uncertainty they lie, Like future joys to Fancy's eye. The water-lily to the light Her chalice rear'd of silver bright; The doe awoke, and to the lawn, The lark sent down her revelry; The blackbird and the speckled thrush III. O thought of peace, no thought of rest, With sheathed broadsword in his hand, With deep and deathful meaning fraught; For such Antiquity had taught Was preface meet, ere yet abroad The Cross of fire should take its road. IV, HEAP of wither'd boughs was piled, Of juniper and rowan wild, Mingled with shivers from the oak, Rent by the lightning's recent stroke. Brian, the Hermit, by it stood, Bare-footed, in his frock and hood. His grisled beard and matted hair Obscured a visage of despair; His naked arms and legs, seam'd o'er, The scars of frantic penance bore. G |