Gently he raised her,—and, the while,
Checked with a glance the circle's smile;

Graceful, but grave, her brow he kissed,

And bade her terrors be dismissed :

"Yes, Fair; the wandering poor Fitz-James The fealty of Scotland claims.

To him thy woes, thy wishes, bring;

He will redeem his signet ring.

Ask nought for Douglas ;-yester even,

His prince and he have much forgiven :

Wrong hath he had from slanderous tongue, I, from his rebel kinsmen, wrong.

We would not to the vulgar crowd

Yield what they craved with clamour loud;
Calmly we heard and judged his cause,
Our council aided, and our laws.

I stanched thy father's death-feud stern,
With stout De Vaux and grey Glencairn ;
And Bothwell's Lord henceforth we own
The friend and bulwark of our Throne.-

?

But, lovely infidel, how now

What clouds thy misbelieving brow ?

Lord James of Douglas, lend thine aid;

Thou must confirm this doubting maid,”—

XXVIII.

Then forth the noble Douglas sprung,

And on his neck his daughter hung.
The Monarch drank, that happy hour,
The sweetest, holiest draught of Power,-

When it can say, with godlike voice,
Arise, sad Virtue, and rejoice!

Yet would not James the general eye

On nature's raptures long should pry;

He stepp'd between-" Nay, Douglas, nay,

Steal not my proselyte away

!

The riddle 'tis my right to read,

That brought this happy chance to speed.

Yes, Ellen, when disguised I stray

In life's more low but happier way,

'Tis under name which veils my power,
Nor falsely veils-for Stirling's tower
Of yore the name of Snowdoun claims,
And Normans call me James Fitz-James.
Thus watch I o'er insulted laws,

Thus learn to right the injured cause.”—
Then, in a tone apart and low,

"Ah, little trait'ress! none must know

What idle dream, what lighter thought,

What vanity full dearly bought,

Joined to thine eye's dark witchcraft, drew My spell-bound steps to Benvenué,

In dangerous hour, and all but gave

Thy Monarch's life to mountain glaive!”— Aloud he spoke-" Thou still dost hold

That little talisman of gold,

Pledge of my faith, Fitz-James's ring—

What seeks fair Ellen of the King ?"

XXIX.

Full well the conscious maiden guessed,

He probed the weakness of her breast

;

But, with that consciousness, there came
A lightning of her fears for Græme,
And more she deemed the monarch's ire
Kindled 'gainst him, who, for her sire,
Rebellious broad-sword boldly drew;

And, to her generous feeling true,

She craved the grace of Roderick Dhu."Forbear thy suit :-the King of Kings Alone can stay life's parting wings.

I know his heart, I know his hand,

Have shared his cheer, and proved his brand;

My fairest earldom would I give

To bid Clan-Alpine's Chieftain live!

Hast thou no other boon to crave?

No other captive friend to save ?"—

Blushing, she turned her from the King,

And to the Douglas gave the ring,

As if she wished her sire to speak

The suit that stained her glowing cheek.-
"Nay, then, my pledge has lost its force,
And stubborn justice holds her course.
Malcolm, come forth !"-And, at the word,
Down kneel'd the Græme to Scotland's Lord.
"For thee, rash youth, no suppliant sues,
From thee may Vengeance claim her dues,
Who, nurtured underneath our smile,
Hast paid our care by treacherous wile,
And sought, amid thy faithful clan,
A refuge for an outlawed man,
Dishonouring thus thy loyal name.-
Fetters and warder for the Græme !"
His chain of gold the King unstrung,
The links o'er Malcolm's neck he flung,
Then gently drew the glittering band,
And laid the clasp on Ellen's hand.