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But, all achieved as soon as planned,1
Both barks in secret armed and manned,
From out the haven bore;
On different voyage forth they ply,-
This for the coast of wingèd Skye,
And that for Erin's shore.

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[Bruce and Ronald, overtaken by a storm, land on the Isle of Skye. Accompanied only by Allan, Ronald's page, they go in search of deer, leaving their ship in charge of They soon reach the shores of Loch Coriskin.]

the crew.

"This lake," said Bruce," whose barriers drear 16
Are precipices sharp and sheer,
Yielding no track for goat or deer,

Save the black shelves we tread,—17

How term you its dark waves? and how
Yon northern mountain's pathless brow,

And yonder peak of dread,

That to the evening sun uplifts
The griesly gulphs and slaty rifts 18

Which seam its shivered head?"

"Coriskin call the dark lake's name 19
Coolin the ridge, as bards proclaim,
From old Cuchullin, chief of fame.
But bards, familiar in our isles

Rather with Nature's frowns than smiles,
Full oft their careless humours please

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By sportive names for scenes like these.

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I would old Torquil were to show 20

His Maidens with their breasts of snow; 21

Or that my noble liege were nigh

(The Maids-tall cliffs with breakers white,

To hear his Nurse sing lullaby!

The Nurse—a torrent's roaring might);
Or that your eye could see the mood
Of Corryvrekin's whirlpool rude,22
When dons the hag her whitened hood-
"Tis thus our islesmen's fancy frames,
For scenes so stern, fantastic names.'

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Answered the Bruce, "But late you said
No steps these desert regions tread?"-
"So said I-and believed in sooth,"
Ronald replied, "I spoke the truth.
Yet now I spy, by yonder stone,
Five men-they mark us, and come on;
And by their badge on bonnet borne,
I guess them of the land of Lorn,
Foes to my liege."-" So let it be;

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I've faced worse odds than five to three--

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Two shafts should make our numbers even."

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No, not to save my life!" he said;

Enough of blood rests on my head,

Too rashly spilled—we soon shall know
Whether they come as friend or foe."-
Nigh came the strangers; and more nigh,24
Still less they pleased the Monarch's eye.
Men were they all of evil mien,
Down-looked, unwilling to be seen;25
They moved with half-resolvèd pace,
And bent on earth each gloomy face.
The foremost two were fair arrayed,
With brogue and bonnet, trews and plaid,20
And bore the arms of mountaineers,
Daggers and broadswords, bows and spears.
The three, that lagged small space behind,
Seemed serfs of more degraded kind:
Goat-skins or deer-hides o'er them cast,
Made a rude fence against the blast;

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Their arms and feet and heads were bare,
Matted their beards, unshorn their hair;
For arms, the caitiffs bore in hand,27
A club, an axe, a rusty brand.

Onward, still mute, they kept the track;

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Tell who ye be, or else stand back,”

Said Bruce. "In deserts when they meet,
Men pass not as in peaceful street."-
Still, at his stern command, they stood,
And proffered greeting brief and rude;
But acted courtesy so ill,

As seemed of fear, and not of will.28
"Wanderers we are, as you may be;
Men hither driven by wind and sea,
Who, if you list to taste our cheer,29
Will share with you this fallow deer."-
"If from the sea, where lies your bark?"-30
"Ten fathom deep in ocean dark! 31

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Wrecked yesternight: but we are men
Who little sense of peril ken.

The shades come down-the day is shut-
Will you go with us to our hut?"—
"Our vessel waits us in the bay;

Thanks for your proffer-have good-day."-
"Was that your galley, then, which rode
Not far from shore when evening glowed?"-
“It was.”—“ Then spare your needless pain,
There will she now be sought in vain.
We saw her from the mountain head,
When, with St. George's blazon red,
A Southern vessel bore in sight,

And yours raised sail, and took to flight."-
Now, by the rood, unwelcome news!"

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Thus with Lord Ronald communed Bruce;
"Nor rests there light enough to show
If this their tale be true or no.
The men seem bred of churlish kind,32
Yet rugged brows have bosoms kind;
We will go with them-food and fire
And sheltering roof our wants require.
Sure guard 'gainst treachery will we keep,
And watch by turns our comrades' sleep.—
Good fellows, thanks; your guests we'll be,
And well will pay the courtesy.

Come, lead us where your lodging lies,-
Nay, soft! we mix not companies.—
Show us the path o'er crag and stone,
And we will follow you ;—lead on.”

They reached the dreary cabin, made
Of sails against a rock displayed,

And there, on entering, found
A slender boy, whose form and mien
Ill suited with such savage scene,
In cap and cloak of velvet green,
Low seated on the ground.

His garb was such as minstrels wear,
Dark was his hue, and dark his hair,
His youthful cheek was marred by care,

His eyes in sorrow drowned.

"Whence this poor boy?"-As Ronald spoke

The voice his trance of anguish broke:

As if awaked from ghastly dream,

He raised his head with start and scream,

And wildly gazed around;

Then to the wall his face he turned,
And his dark cheek with blushes burned.

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The

The Bruce insists on a separate board and separate fire." After supper, he arranges
that Ronald, himself, and Allan should keep watch during the night by turns.
first and second watches pass quietly; but while the page keeps his watch drowsily,
he is stabbed by one of the ruffians. Bruce and Ronald start up, and after a
desperate struggle, overpower and slay the whole gang. They prepare to leave the
hut with the mute captive.]

Yet, ere they left that charnel-cell,
The Island Lord bade sad farewell
To Allan." Who shall tell this tale,"
He said, "in halls of Donagaile!
Oh, who his widowed mother tell,
That, ere his bloom, her fairest fell!--
Rest thee, poor youth! and trust my care 37
For mass and knell and funeral prayer;
While o'er those caitiffs, where they lie,
The wolf shall snarl, the raven cry!"-
And now the eastern mountain's head
On the dark lake threw lustre red;
Bright gleams of gold and purple streak
Ravine and precipice and peak-
(So earthly power at distance shows;
Reveals his splendour, hides his woes.)

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O'er sheets of granite, dark and broad,
Rent and unequal, lay the road.
In sad discourse the warriors wind,
And the mute captive moves behind.

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CANTO FOURTH.

THE ARGUMENT.

In the morning they are met by Edward Bruce, who has come in search of them with the news that Douglas and Randolph, and other lords, are gathering forces in support of the Bruce; and that Lennox has mustered a force in Arran, and is ready to make a descent on the Carrick shore. Taking with them the mute, mysterious page, they set sail for Brodick-Bay. On their way, Ronald makes proposals to Bruce for the hand of his sister Isabel, declaring that the Maid of Lorn has forfeited her troth by her flight; and that her brother has now vowed to unite her to Lord Clifford, the English nobleman who has possession of Turnberry Castle. Bruce replies that the Church must decide the question, and that in the meantime Isabel has been placed for safety in the Convent of Saint Bride, in the Isle of Arran. The mute page weeps bitter but silent tears on overhearing this conversation. Arrived at Brodick, Bruce is joyously received by his followers. Accompanied by the page, he takes an early opportunity to visit his sister, and lay Ronald's proposals before her. But she declares that she cannot entertain them until Ronald can give her the ring with which he was betrothed to Edith.

THROUGH the wild scenes the champions passed,
When bold halloo and bugle-blast

Upon the breeze came loud and fast.

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There," said the Bruce, " blew Edward's horn!

What can have caused such brief return?1

And see, brave Ronald, see him dart

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He marks us, and his eager cry

Will tell his news ere he be nigh."

Loud Edward shouts, "What make ye here,
Warring upon the mountain-deer,

When Scotland wants her King?

A bark from Lennox crossed our track,
With her in speed I hurried back,
These joyful news to bring:-
The Stuart stirs in Teviotdale,
And Douglas wakes his native vale;
Thy storm-tossed fleet hath won its way
With little loss to Brodick-Bay;2
And Lennox, with a gallant band,
Waits but thy coming and command
To waft them o'er to Carrick strand.3

There are blithe news!-but mark the close!
Edward, the deadliest of our foes, 4

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