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With many a word of kindly cheer,—

In pity half, and half sincere,—

Marvelled the Duchess how so well

His legendary song could tell

Of ancient deeds, so long forgot;

Of feuds, whose memory was not;

Of forests, now laid waste and bare;

Of towers, which harbour now the hare;
Of manners, long since changed and gone;
Of chiefs, who under their gray stone

So long had slept, that fickle Fame

Had blotted from her rolls their name,

And twined round some new minion's head

The fading wreath for which they bled;

In sooth, 'twas strange, this old man's verse

Could call them from their marble hearse.

The Harper smiled, well-pleased; for ne'er

Was flattery lost on poet's ear:

A simple race! they waste their toil

For the vain tribute of a smile;

E'en when in age their flame expires,

Her dulcet breath can fan its fires:

Their drooping fancy wakes at praise,

And strives to trim the short-lived blaze.

Smiled then, well pleased, the Aged Man, And thus his tale continued ran.

THE

LAY

OF

THE LAST MINSTREL.

CANTO FIFTH.

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