And, as they came, with Alpine's Lord The Hermit Monk held solemn word: 'Roderick! it is a fearful strife, For man endowed with mortal life, Whose shroud of sentient clay can still Feel feverish pang and fainting chill, Whose eye can stare in stony trance, Whose hair can rouse like warrior's lance— 'Tis hard for such to view, unfurled, The curtain of the future world. Yet, witness every quaking limb, My sunken pulse, my eyeballs dim, My soul with harrowing anguish torn— This for my Chieftain have I borne! The shapes that sought my fearful couch, A human tongue may ne'er avouch; No mortal man—save he, who, bred Between the living and the dead, Is gifted beyond nature's law— Had e'er survived to say he saw. At length the fatal answer came, In characters of living flame! Not spoke in word, nor blazed in scroll, But borne and branded on my soul: Which spills the foremost foeman's life, That party conquers in the strife.'
VII
'Thanks, Brian, for thy zeal and care! Good is thine augury, and fair. Clan-Alpine ne'er in battle stood, But first our broadswords tasted blood. A surer victim still I know, Self-offered to the auspicious blow: A spy has sought my land this morn— No eve shall witness his return! My followers guard each pass's mouth, To east, to westward, and to south; Red Murdoch, bribed to be his guide, Has charge to lead his steps aside, Till in deep path or dingle brown, He light on those shall bring him down. —But see, who comes his news to show! Malise! what tidings of the foe?'
VIII
'At Doune, o'er many a spear and glaive Two Barons proud their banners wave. I saw the Moray's silver star, And marked the sable pale of Mar.' 'By Alpine's soul, high tidings those! I love to hear of worthy foes. When move they on?' 'Tomorrow's noon Will see them here for battle boune.' 'Then shall it see a meeting stern! But, for the place—say, couldst thou learn Nought of the friendly clans of Earn? Strengthened by them, we well might bide The battle on Benledi's side.
