Where muster'd, in the vale below,

Clan-Alpine's men in martial show.

XXXI.

A various scene the clansmen made,

Some sate, some stood, some slowly stray'd;

But most, with mantles folded round,
Were couch'd to rest upon the ground,
Scarce to be known by curious eye,
From the deep heather where they lie,
So well was match'd the tartan screen

With heath-bell dark and brackens green;
Unless where, here and there, a blade,

Or lance's point, a glimmer made,

Like glow-worm twinkling through the shade. But when, advancing through the gloom, They saw the Chieftain's eagle plume,

Their shout of welcome, shrill and wide,

Shook the steep mountain's steady side.

VOL. V.

Thrice it arose, and lake and fell

Three times return'd the martial yell; It died upon Bochastle's plain,

And Silence claim'd her evening reign.

END OF CANTO THIRD.

THE

LADY OF THE LAKE.

CANTO FOURTH.

The Prophecy.

THE

LADY OF THE LAKE.

CANTO FOURTH.

The Prophecy.

I.

"THE rose is fairest when 'tis budding new,

And hope is brightest when it dawns from fears; The rose is sweetest wash'd with morning dew, And love is loveliest when embalm'd in tears. O wilding rose, whom fancy thus endears,

I bid your blossoms in my bonnet wave, Emblem of hope and love through future years

Thus spoke young Norman, heir of Armandave, What time the sun arose on Vennachar's broad wave.