THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. Walter Scott

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ stranger round him gazed,

       And next the fallen weapon raised:—

       Few were the arms whose sinewy strength

       Sufficed to stretch it forth at length.

       And as the brand he poised and swayed,

       ‘I never knew but one,’ he said,

       ‘Whose stalwart arm might brook to wield

       A blade like this in battlefield.’

       She sighed, then smiled and took the word:

       ‘You see the guardian champion’s sword;

       As light it trembles in his hand

       As in my grasp a hazel wand:

       My sire’s tall form might grace the part

       Of Ferragus or Ascabart,

       But in the absent giant’s hold

       Are women now, and menials old.’

       XXIX

      The mistress of the mansion came,

       Mature of age, a graceful dame,

       Whose easy step and stately port

       Had well become a princely court,

       To whom, though more than kindred knew,

       Young Ellen gave a mother’s due.

       Meet welcome to her guest she made,

       And every courteous rite was paid

       That hospitality could claim,

       Though all unasked his birth and name.

       Such then the reverence to a guest,

       That fellest foe might join the feast,

       And from his deadliest foeman’s door

       Unquestioned turn the banquet o’er

       At length his rank the stranger names,

       ‘The Knight of Snowdoun, James FitzJames;

       Lord of a barren heritage,

       Which his brave sires, from age to age,

       By their good swords had held with toil;

       His sire had fallen in such turmoil,

       And he, God wot, was forced to stand

       Oft for his right with blade in hand.

       This morning with Lord Moray’s train

       He chased a stalwart stag in vain,

       Outstripped his comrades, missed the deer,

       Lost his good steed, and wandered here.’

       XXX

      Fain would the Knight in turn require

       The name and state of Ellen’s sire.

       Well showed the elder lady’s mien

       That courts and cities she had seen;

       Ellen, though more her looks displayed

       The simple grace of sylvan maid,

       In speech and gesture, form and face,

       Showed she was come of gentle race.

       ‘T were strange in ruder rank to find

       Such looks, such manners, and such mind.

       Each hint the Knight of Snowdoun gave,

       Dame Margaret heard with silence grave;

       Or Ellen, innocently gay,

       Turned all inquiry light away:—

       ‘Weird women we! by dale and down

       We dwell, afar from tower and town.

       We stem the flood, we ride the blast,

       On wandering knights our spells we cast;

       While viewless minstrels touch the string,

       ‘Tis thus our charmed rhymes we sing.’

       She sung, and still a harp unseen

       Filled up the symphony between.

       XXXI

       Song.

      Soldier, rest! thy warfare o’er,

       Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking;

       Dream of battled fields no more,

       Days of danger, nights of waking.

       In our isle’s enchanted hall,

       Hands unseen thy couch are strewing,

       Fairy strains of music fall,

       Every sense in slumber dewing.

       Soldier, rest! thy warfare o’er,

       Dream of fighting fields no more;

       Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,

       Morn of toil, nor night of waking.

      ‘No rude sound shall reach thine ear,

       Armor’s clang or war-steed champing

       Trump nor pibroch summon here

       Mustering clan or squadron tramping.

       Yet the lark’s shrill fife may come

       At the daybreak from the fallow,

       And the bittern sound his drum

       Booming from the sedgy shallow.

       Ruder sounds shall none be near,

       Guards nor warders challenge here,

       Here’s no war-steed’s neigh and champing,

       Shouting clans or squadrons stamping.’

       XXXII

      She paused,—then, blushing, led the lay,

       To grace the stranger of the day.

       Her mellow notes awhile prolong

       The cadence СКАЧАТЬ