Lady of the Lake

Now eve, with western shadows long, 
Floated on Katrine bright and strong,
When Roderick, with a chosen few,
Repassed the heights of Benvenue.

Above the Goblin-cave they go,
Through the wild pass of Beal-nam-bo:
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 neighboring height,
By the low-leveled sunbeam'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

HYMN TO THE VIRGIN

Ave Maria! maiden mild!
Listen to a maiden's prayer! 
Thou canst hear though from the wild,
Thou canst save amid despair.