THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. Walter Scott

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СКАЧАТЬ Outstripped in speed the mountaineer:

       Right up Ben Lomond could he press,

       And not a sob his toil confess.

       His form accorded with a mind

       Lively and ardent, frank and kind;

       A blither heart, till Ellen came

       Did never love nor sorrow tame;

       It danced as lightsome in his breast

       As played the feather on his crest.

       Yet friends, who nearest knew the youth

       His scorn of wrong, his zeal for truth

       And bards, who saw his features bold

       When kindled by the tales of old

       Said, were that youth to manhood grown,

       Not long should Roderick Dhu’s renown

       Be foremost voiced by mountain fame,

       But quail to that of Malcolm Graeme.

       XXVI

      Now back they wend their watery way,

       And, ‘O my sire!’ did Ellen say,

       ‘Why urge thy chase so far astray?

       And why so late returned? And why ‘—

       The rest was in her speaking eye.

       ‘My child, the chase I follow far,

       ‘Tis mimicry of noble war;

       And with that gallant pastime reft

       Were all of Douglas I have left.

       I met young Malcolm as I strayed

       Far eastward, in Glenfinlas’ shade

       Nor strayed I safe, for all around

       Hunters and horsemen scoured the ground.

       This youth, though still a royal ward,

       Risked life and land to be my guard,

       And through the passes of the wood

       Guided my steps, not unpursued;

       And Roderick shall his welcome make,

       Despite old spleen, for Douglas’ sake.

       Then must he seek Strath-Endrick glen

       Nor peril aught for me again.’

       XXVII

      Sir Roderick, who to meet them came,

       Reddened at sight of Malcolm Graeme,

       Yet, not in action, word, or eye,

       Failed aught in hospitality.

       In talk and sport they whiled away

       The morning of that summer day;

       But at high noon a courier light

       Held secret parley with the knight,

       Whose moody aspect soon declared

       That evil were the news he heard.

       Deep thought seemed toiling in his head;

       Yet was the evening banquet made

       Ere he assembled round the flame

       His mother, Douglas, and the Graeme,

       And Ellen too; then cast around

       His eyes, then fixed them on the ground,

       As studying phrase that might avail

       Best to convey unpleasant tale.

       Long with his dagger’s hilt he played,

       Then raised his haughty brow, and said:—

       XXVIII

      ‘Short be my speech; — nor time affords,

       Nor my plain temper, glozing words.

       Kinsman and father,—if such name

       Douglas vouchsafe to Roderick’s claim;

       Mine honored mother;—Ellen,—why,

       My cousin, turn away thine eye?—

       And Graeme, in whom I hope to know

       Full soon a noble friend or foe,

       When age shall give thee thy command,

       And leading in thy native land,—

       List all!—The King’s vindictive pride

       Boasts to have tamed the Border-side,

       Where chiefs, with hound and trawl; who came

       To share their monarch’s sylvan game,

       Themselves in bloody toils were snared,

       And when the banquet they prepared,

       And wide their loyal portals flung,

       O’er their own gateway struggling hung.

       Loud cries their blood from Meggat’s mead,

       From Yarrow braes and banks of Tweed,

       Where the lone streams of Ettrick glide,

       And from the silver Teviot’s side;

       The dales, where martial clans did ride,

       Are now one sheepwalk, waste and wide.

       This tyrant of the Scottish throne,

       So faithless and so ruthless known,

       Now hither comes; his end the same,

       The same pretext of sylvan game.

       What grace for Highland Chiefs, judge ye

       By fate of Border chivalry.

       Yet more; amid Glenfinlas’ green,

       Douglas, thy stately form was seen.

       This by espial sure I know:

       Your counsel in the streight I show.’

       XXIX

      Ellen СКАЧАТЬ