He spoke, and on the harp-strings died

The strains of flattery and of pride ; More soft, more low, more tender fell The lay of love he bade them tell.

IV.

" Wake, Maid of Lorn! the moments fly,..

Which yet that maiden-name allow; Wake, Maiden, wake ! the hour is nigh,

When Love shall claim a plighted vow. By Fear, thy bosom’s fluttering guest,

By Hope, that soon shall fears remove, We bid thee break the bonds of rest,,,

And wake thee at the call of Love!'.

“Wake, Edith, wake ! in yonder bay' :,

Lies many a galley gaily mann'd, ..) We hear the merry pibrochs play, : ;

We see the streamers' silken bando

What Chieftain's praise these pibrochs swell,

What crest is on these banners wove, ii' The harp, the minstrely dare not tell.):

The riddle must be read by Love." vris;

1

. . .. V. .. ... Retired her maiden train among, intial. I Edith of Lorn received the song, , ** ;T But tamed the minstrel's pride had been That had her cold demeanour seen;. For not upon her cheek awoke The glow of pride when Flatterý spoke, Nor could their tenderest numbers bring One sigh responsive to the string.. ." As vainly had her maidens vied In skill to deck the princely bride. se Her locks, in dark-brown length array'd, Cathleen of Ulne, 'twas thine to braid; ?. Young Eva with meet reverence drew . ]

On the light foot the silken shoe,

While on the ancle's slender round ;
Those strings of pearl fair Bertha wound,
That, bleach'd Lochryan's depths within,
Seem'd dusky still on Edith's skin.'
But Einion, of experience old,
Had weightiest task-the mantle's fold
In many an artful plait she tied,
To shew the form it seem'd to hide,
Till on the floor descending rolld
Its waves of crimson blent with gold.

VI.

0! lives there now so cold a maid,
Who thus in beauty's pomp array'd,
In beauty's proudest pitch of power,
And conquest won—the bridal hour-
With every charm that wins the heart,
By Nature given, enhanced by Art,
Could yet the fair reflection view,
In the bright mirror pictured true,

c

And not one dimple on her cheek ;.:,.
A tell-tale consciousness bespeak ? .
Lives, still such maid ?-Fair dahisels, say,.
For further vouches not my lay, West's
Save that such lived in Britain's isley prece
When Lorn's bright Edith scorn'd to smiles

. VII.

But Morag, to whose fostering care
Proud Lorn had given his daughter fair, 1
Morag, who saw a mother's aid
By all a daughter's love repaid,
(Strict was that bond-most kind of all-. '
Inviolate in Highland hall---). .
Grey Morag sate a space apart, .:::...
In Edith's eyes to read her heart... Fid
In vain the attendants' fond appeal s. .
To Morag's skill, to Morag's zeal; b..
She mark'd her child receive their care, ...)
Cold as the image sculptured fair, '..

(Form of some sainted patroness)
Which cloister'd maids combine to dress;
She mark'd—and knew her nursling's heart.
In the vain pomp took little part.
Wistful a while she gazed-then pressid
The maiden to her anxious breast
In finish'd loveliness and led
To where a turret's airy head,
Slender and steep, and battled round,
O’erlook'd, dark Mull! thy mighty Sound,
Where thwarting tides, with mingled roar,
Part thy swarth hills from Morven's shore. .

5. VIII. BP., s..! " Daughter," she said, " these seas behold, Round twice an hundred islands rolPd, From Hirt, that hears their northern roar; . To the green Ilay's fertile shore ; Or mainland turn, where many a tower Owns thy bold brother's feudal power,