Like that which frowns round dark Loch-skene.1 O'er the black waves incessant driven, and yell. Loch-skene is a mountain lake, of considerable size, at the head of the Moffat-water. The character of the scenery is uncommonly savage; and the earn, or Scottish eagle, has, for many ages, built its nest yearly upon an islet in the lake. Lochskene discharges itself into a brook, which, after a short and precipitate course, falls from a cataract of immense height, and gloomy grandeur, called, from its appearance, the "Grey Mare's Tail." The "Giant's Grave," afterwards mentioned, is a sort of trench, which bears that name, a little way from the foot of the It has the appearance of a battery, designed to command cataract. the pass. Where, deep deep down, and far within, Marriott, thy harp, on Isis strung, To many a Border theme has rung:1 Then list to me, and thou shalt know Of this mysterious Man of Woe. 1 [See various ballads by Mr Marriott, in the 4th vol. of the Border Minstrelsy, and of the present edition.] MARMION. CANTO SECOND. The Canbent. I. THE breeze, which swept away the smoke, With lightning-flash, and thunder-stroke, It curl'd not Tweed alone, that breeze, It freshly blew, and strong, Where, from high Whitby's cloister❜d pile,1 1 The Abbey of Whitby, in the Archdeaconry of Cleaveland, on the coast of Yorkshire, was founded A. D. 657, in consequence of a vow of Oswy, King of Northumberland. It contained both monks and nuns of the Benedictine order; but, contrary to what was usual in such establishments, the abbess was superior to the abbot. The monastery was afterwards ruined by the Danes, and |