The prompt retainers speed before,

To launch the shallop from the shore,
For cross Loch-Katrine lies his way

To view the passes of Achray,
And place his clansmen in array.
Yet lags the Chief in musing mind,
Unwonted sight, his men behind.

A single page, to bear his sword,

Alone attended on his lord;

The rest their way through thickets break,

And soon await him by the lake.

It was a fair and gallant sight,

To view them from the neighbouring height,

By the low-levelled sun-beam's light;

For strength and stature, from the clan

Each warrior was a chosen man,

As even afar might well be seen,

By their proud step and martial mien.

Their feathers dance, their tartans float,
Their targets gleam, as by the boat

A wild and warlike group they stand,

That well became such mountain strand.

XXVIII.

Their Chief, with step reluctant, still

Was lingering on the craggy hill,

Hard by where turned apart the road
To Douglas's obscure abode.

It was but with that dawning morn
That Roderick Dhu had proudly sworn,

To drown his love in war's wild roar,
Nor think of Ellen Douglas more;

But he who stems a stream with sand,
And fetters flame with flaxen band,

Has yet a harder task to prove―

By firm resolve to conquer love!
Eve finds the Chief, like restless ghost,

Still hovering near his treasure lost

For though his haughty heart deny

A parting meeting to his eye,

Still fondly strains his anxious ear,

The accents of her voice to hear,

And inly did he curse the breeze
That waked to sound the rustling trees.

But, hark! what mingles in the strain?
It is the harp of Allan-bane,

That wakes its measures slow and high,
Attuned to sacred minstrelsy.

What melting voice attends the strings!

'Tis Ellen, or an angel, sings.

XXIX.

Hpmn to the Wirgin.

Ave Maria! maiden mild!

Listen to a maiden's prayer;

Thou canst hear though from the wild,

Thou canst save amid despair.

Safe may we sleep beneath thy care,

Though banished, outcast, and reviled

Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer;

Mother, hear a suppliant child!

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! undefiled!

The flinty couch we now must share,

Shall seem with down of eider piled,

If thy protection hover there.

The murky cavern's heavy air

Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled;

Then, Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer,

Mother, list a suppliant child !

Ave Maria!

Ave Maria! Stainless styled !

Foul dæmons of the earth and air,

From this their wonted haunt exiled,
Shall flee before thy presence fair.

We bow us to our lot of care,

Beneath thy guidance reconciled; Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer,

And for a father hear a child!

Ave Maria!

XXX.

Died on the harp the closing hymn

Unmoved in attitude and limb,

As list'ning still, Clan-Alpine's lord

Stood leaning on his heavy sword,

Until the page, with humble sign,

Twice pointed to the sun's decline.

Then, while his plaid he round him cast, "It is the last time-'tis the last,"

He muttered thrice," the last time e'er
That angel-voice shall Roderick hear !"-
It was a goading thought-his stride
Hied hastier down the mountain side;
Sullen he flung him in the boat,
And instant cross the lake it shot.
They landed in that silvery bay,
And eastward held their hasty way,
Till, with the latest beams of light,
The band arrived on Lanrick height,