Laurel · Walter Scott · The Lady of the Lake

Canto Second: The Island I

Walter Scott (1771–1832) · 1810

iambic tetrameter · octosyllabic couplets · 518 lines · from The Lady of the Lake

At morn the black-cock trims his jetty wing,'T is morning prompts the linnet's blithest lay,All Nature's children feel the matin springOf life reviving, with reviving day;And while yon little bark glides down the bay,Wafting the stranger on his way again,Morn's genial influence roused a minstrel gray,And sweetly o'er the lake was heard thy strain,Mixed with the sounding harp, O white-haired Allan-bane!

'Not faster yonder rowers' mightFlings from their oars the spray,Not faster yonder rippling bright,That tracks the shallop's course in light,Melts in the lake away,Than men from memory eraseThe benefits of former days;Then, stranger, go! good speed the while,Nor think again of the lonely isle.

'High place to thee in royal court,High place in battled line,Good hawk and hound for sylvan sport!Where beauty sees the brave resort,The honored meed be thine!True be thy sword, thy friend sincere,Thy lady constant, kind, and dear,And lost in love's and friendship's smileBe memory of the lonely isle!

'But if beneath yon southern skyA plaided stranger roam,Whose drooping crest and stifled sigh,And sunken cheek and heavy eye,Pine for his Highland home;Then, warrior, then be thine to showThe care that soothes a wanderer's woe;Remember then thy hap erewhile,A stranger in the lonely isle.

'Or if on life's uncertain mainMishap shall mar thy sail;If faithful, wise, and brave in vain,Woe, want, and exile thou sustainBeneath the fickle gale;Waste not a sigh on fortune changed,On thankless courts, or friends estranged,But come where kindred worth shall smile,To greet thee in the lonely isle.'

Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances!Honored and blessed be the ever-green Pine!Long may the tree, in his banner that glances,Flourish, the shelter and grace of our line!Heaven send it happy dew,Earth lend it sap anew,Gayly to bourgeon and broadly to grow,While every Highland glenSends our shout back again,'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'

Blooming at Beltane, in winter to fade;When the whirlwind has stripped every leaf on the mountain,The more shall Clan-Alpine exult in her shade.Moored in the rifted rock,Proof to the tempest's shock,Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow;Menteith and Breadalbane, then,Echo his praise again,'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'

Proudly our pibroch has thrilled in Glen Fruin,And Bannochar's groans to our slogan replied;Glen Luss and Ross-dhu, they are smoking in ruin,And the best of Loch Lomond lie dead on her side.Widow and Saxon maidLong shall lament our raid,Think of Clan-Alpine with fear and with woe;Lennox and Leven-glenShake when they hear again,'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'

Row, vassals, row, for the pride of the Highlands!Stretch to your oars for the ever-green Pine!O that the rosebud that graces yon islandsWere wreathed in a garland around him to twine!O that some seedling gem,Worthy such noble stem,Honored and blessed in their shadow might grow!Loud should Clan-Alpine thenRing from her deepmost glen,Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'

With all her joyful female bandHad Lady Margaret sought the strand.Loose on the breeze their tresses flew,And high their snowy arms they threw,As echoing back with shrill acclaim,And chorus wild, the Chieftain's name;While, prompt to please, with mother's artThe darling passion of his heart,The Dame called Ellen to the strand,To greet her kinsman ere he land:'Come, loiterer, come! a Douglas thou,And shun to wreathe a victor's brow?'Reluctantly and slow, the maidThe unwelcome summoning obeyed,And when a distant bugle rung,In the mid-path aside she sprung:--'List, Allan-bane! From mainland castI hear my father's signal blast.Be ours,' she cried, 'the skiff to guide,And waft him from the mountain-side.'Then, like a sunbeam, swift and bright,She darted to her shallop light,And, eagerly while Roderick scanned,For her dear form, his mother's band,The islet far behind her lay,And she had landed in the bay.

Some feelings are to mortals givenWith less of earth in them than heaven;And if there be a human tearFrom passion's dross refined and clear,A tear so limpid and so meekIt would not stain an angel's cheek,'Tis that which pious fathers shedUpon a duteous daughter's head!And as the Douglas to his breastHis darling Ellen closely pressed,Such holy drops her tresses steeped,Though 't was an hero's eye that weeped.Nor while on Ellen's faltering tongueHer filial welcomes crowded hung,Marked she that fear--affection's proof--Still held a graceful youth aloof;No! not till Douglas named his name,Although the youth was Malcolm Graeme.

Allan, with wistful look the while,Marked Roderick landing on the isle;His master piteously he eyed,Then gazed upon the Chieftain's pride,Then dashed with hasty hand awayFrom his dimmed eye the gathering spray;And Douglas, as his hand he laidOn Malcolm's shoulder, kindly said:'Canst thou, young friend, no meaning spyIn my poor follower's glistening eye?I 'll tell thee:--he recalls the dayWhen in my praise he led the layO'er the arched gate of Bothwell proud,While many a minstrel answered loud,When Percy's Norman pennon, wonIn bloody field, before me shone,And twice ten knights, the least a nameAs mighty as yon Chief may claim,Gracing my pomp, behind me came.Yet trust me, Malcolm, not so proudWas I of all that marshalled crowd,Though the waned crescent owned my might,And in my train trooped lord and knight,Though Blantyre hymned her holiest lays,And Bothwell's bards flung back my praise,As when this old man's silent tear,And this poor maid's affection dear,A welcome give more kind and trueThan aught my better fortunes knew.Forgive, my friend, a father's boast,--O, it out-beggars all I lost!'

Delightful praise!--like summer rose,That brighter in the dew-drop glows,The bashful maiden's cheek appeared,For Douglas spoke, and Malcolm heard.The flush of shame-faced joy to hide,The hounds, the hawk, her cares divide;The loved caresses of the maidThe dogs with crouch and whimper paid;And, at her whistle, on her handThe falcon took his favorite stand,Closed his dark wing, relaxed his eye,Nor, though unhooded, sought to fly.And, trust, while in such guise she stood,Like fabled Goddess of the wood,That if a father's partial thoughtO'erweighed her worth and beauty aught,Well might the lover's judgment failTo balance with a juster scale;For with each secret glance he stole,The fond enthusiast sent his soul.

Of stature fair, and slender frame,But firmly knit, was Malcolm Graeme.The belted plaid and tartan hoseDid ne'er more graceful limbs disclose;His flaxen hair, of sunny hue,Curled closely round his bonnet blue.Trained to the chase, his eagle eyeThe ptarmigan in snow could spy;Each pass, by mountain, lake, and heath,He knew, through Lennox and Menteith;Vain was the bound of dark-brown doeWhen Malcolm bent his sounding bow,And scarce that doe, though winged with fear,Outstripped in speed the mountaineer:Right up Ben Lomond could he press,And not a sob his toil confess.His form accorded with a mindLively and ardent, frank and kind;A blither heart, till Ellen cameDid never love nor sorrow tame;It danced as lightsome in his breastAs played the feather on his crest.Yet friends, who nearest knew the youthHis scorn of wrong, his zeal for truthAnd bards, who saw his features boldWhen kindled by the tales of oldSaid, were that youth to manhood grown,Not long should Roderick Dhu's renownBe foremost voiced by mountain fame,But quail to that of Malcolm Graeme.

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 reftWere all of Douglas I have left.I met young Malcolm as I strayedFar eastward, in Glenfinlas' shadeNor strayed I safe, for all aroundHunters 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 woodGuided my steps, not unpursued;And Roderick shall his welcome make,Despite old spleen, for Douglas' sake.Then must he seek Strath-Endrick glenNor peril aught for me again.'

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 awayThe morning of that summer day;But at high noon a courier lightHeld secret parley with the knight,Whose moody aspect soon declaredThat evil were the news he heard.Deep thought seemed toiling in his head;Yet was the evening banquet madeEre he assembled round the flameHis mother, Douglas, and the Graeme,And Ellen too; then cast aroundHis eyes, then fixed them on the ground,As studying phrase that might availBest to convey unpleasant tale.Long with his dagger's hilt he played,Then raised his haughty brow, and said:--

'Short be my speech;--nor time affords,Nor my plain temper, glozing words.Kinsman and father,--if such nameDouglas vouchsafe to Roderick's claim;Mine honored mother;--Ellen,--why,My cousin, turn away thine eye?--And Graeme, in whom I hope to knowFull 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 prideBoasts to have tamed the Border-side,Where chiefs, with hound and trawl; who cameTo 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 sheep-walk, 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 yeBy 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.'

Ellen and Margaret fearfullySought comfort in each other's eye,Then turned their ghastly look, each one,This to her sire, that to her son.The hasty color went and cameIn the bold cheek of Malcolm Graeme,But from his glance it well appeared'T was but for Ellen that he feared;While, sorrowful, but undismayed,The Douglas thus his counsel said:'Brave Roderick, though the tempest roar,It may but thunder and pass o'er;Nor will I here remain an hour,To draw the lightning on thy bower;For well thou know'st, at this gray headThe royal bolt were fiercest sped.For thee, who, at thy King's command,Canst aid him with a gallant band,Submission, homage, humbled pride,Shall turn the Monarch's wrath aside.Poor remnants of the Bleeding Heart,Ellen and I will seek apartThe refuge of some forest cell,There, like the hunted quarry, dwell,Till on the mountain and the moorThe stern pursuit be passed and o'er,'--

'No, by mine honor,' Roderick said,'So help me Heaven, and my good blade!No, never! Blasted be yon Pine,My father's ancient crest and mine,If from its shade in danger partThe lineage of the Bleeding Heart!Hear my blunt speech: grant me this maidTo wife, thy counsel to mine aid;To Douglas, leagued with Roderick Dhu,Will friends and allies flock enow;Like cause of doubt, distrust, and grief,Will bind to us each Western ChiefWhen the loud pipes my bridal tell,The Links of Forth shall hear the knell,The guards shall start in Stirling's porch;And when I light the nuptial torch,A thousand villages in flamesShall scare the slumbers of King James!--Nay, Ellen, blench not thus away,And, mother, cease these signs, I pray;I meant not all my heat might say.--Small need of inroad or of fight,When the sage Douglas may uniteEach mountain clan in friendly band,To guard the passes of their land,Till the foiled King from pathless glenShall bootless turn him home again.'

There are who have, at midnight hour,In slumber scaled a dizzy tower,And, on the verge that beetled o'erThe ocean tide's incessant roar,Dreamed calmly out their dangerous dream,Till wakened by the morning beam;When, dazzled by the eastern glow,Such startler cast his glance below,And saw unmeasured depth around,And heard unintermitted sound,And thought the battled fence so frail,It waved like cobweb in the gale;Amid his senses' giddy wheel,Did he not desperate impulse feel,Headlong to plunge himself below,And meet the worst his fears foreshow?--Thus Ellen, dizzy and astound,As sudden ruin yawned around,By crossing terrors wildly tossed,Still for the Douglas fearing most,Could scarce the desperate thought withstand,To buy his safety with her hand.

Such purpose dread could Malcolm spyIn Ellen's quivering lip and eye,And eager rose to speak,--but ereHis tongue could hurry forth his fear,Had Douglas marked the hectic strife,Where death seemed combating with life;For to her cheek, in feverish flood,One instant rushed the throbbing blood,Then ebbing back, with sudden sway,Left its domain as wan as clay.'Roderick, enough! enough!' he cried,'My daughter cannot be thy bride;Not that the blush to wooer dear,Nor paleness that of maiden fear.It may not be,--forgive her,Chief, Nor hazard aught for our relief.Against his sovereign, Douglas ne'erWill level a rebellious spear.'T was I that taught his youthful handTo rein a steed and wield a brand;I see him yet, the princely boy!Not Ellen more my pride and joy;I love him still, despite my wrongsBy hasty wrath and slanderous tongues.O. seek the grace you well may find,Without a cause to mine combined!'

Twice through the hall the Chieftain strode;The waving of his tartars broad,And darkened brow, where wounded prideWith ire and disappointment viedSeemed, by the torch's gloomy light,Like the ill Demon of the night,Stooping his pinions' shadowy swayUpon the righted pilgrim's way:But, unrequited Love! thy dartPlunged deepest its envenomed smart,And Roderick, with thine anguish stung,At length the hand of Douglas wrung,While eyes that mocked at tears beforeWith bitter drops were running o'er.The death-pangs of long-cherished hopeScarce in that ample breast had scopeBut, struggling with his spirit proud,Convulsive heaved its checkered shroud,While every sob--so mute were allWas heard distinctly through the ball.The son's despair, the mother's look,III might the gentle Ellen brook;She rose, and to her side there came,To aid her parting steps, the Graeme.

Then Roderick from the Douglas broke--As flashes flame through sable smoke,Kindling its wreaths, long, dark, and low,To one broad blaze of ruddy glow,So the deep anguish of despairBurst, in fierce jealousy, to air.With stalwart grasp his hand he laidOn Malcolm's breast and belted plaid:'Back, beardless boy!' he sternly said,'Back, minion! holdst thou thus at naughtThe lesson I so lately taught?This roof, the Douglas, and that maid,Thank thou for punishment delayed.'Eager as greyhound on his game,Fiercely with Roderick grappled Graeme.'Perish my name, if aught affordIts Chieftain safety save his sword!'Thus as they strove their desperate handGriped to the dagger or the brand,And death had been--but Douglas rose,And thrust between the struggling foesHis giant strength:--' Chieftains, forego!I hold the first who strikes my foe.--Madmen, forbear your frantic jar!What! is the Douglas fallen so far,His daughter's hand is deemed the spoilOf such dishonorable broil?'Sullen and slowly they unclasp,As struck with shame, their desperate grasp,And each upon his rival glared,With foot advanced and blade half bared.

Ere yet the brands aloft were flung,Margaret on Roderick's mantle hung,And Malcolm heard his Ellen's scream,As faltered through terrific dream.Then Roderick plunged in sheath his sword,And veiled his wrath in scornful word:'Rest safe till morning; pity 't wereSuch cheek should feel the midnight air!Then mayst thou to James Stuart tell,Roderick will keep the lake and fell,Nor lackey with his freeborn clanThe pageant pomp of earthly man.More would he of Clan-Alpine know,Thou canst our strength and passes show.--Malise, what ho!'--his henchman came:'Give our safe-conduct to the Graeme.'Young Malcolm answered, calm and bold:'Fear nothing for thy favorite hold;The spot an angel deigned to graceIs blessed, though robbers haunt the place.Thy churlish courtesy for thoseReserve, who fear to be thy foes.As safe to me the mountain wayAt midnight as in blaze of day,Though with his boldest at his backEven Roderick Dhu beset the track.--Brave Douglas,--lovely Ellen,--nay,Naught here of parting will I say.Earth does not hold a lonesome glenSo secret but we meet again.--Chieftain! we too shall find an hour,'--He said, and left the sylvan bower.

Old Allan followed to the strand--Such was the Douglas's command--And anxious told, how, on the morn,The stern Sir Roderick deep had sworn,The Fiery Cross should circle o'erDale, glen, and valley, down and moorMuch were the peril to the GraemeFrom those who to the signal came;Far up the lake 't were safest land,Himself would row him to the strand.He gave his counsel to the wind,While Malcolm did, unheeding, bind,Round dirk and pouch and broadsword rolled,His ample plaid in tightened fold,And stripped his limbs to such arrayAs best might suit the watery way,--

Then spoke abrupt: 'Farewell to thee,Pattern of old fidelity!'The Minstrel's hand he kindly pressed,--'O, could I point a place of rest!My sovereign holds in ward my land,My uncle leads my vassal band;To tame his foes, his friends to aid,Poor Malcolm has but heart and blade.Yet, if there be one faithful GraemeWho loves the chieftain of his name,Not long shall honored Douglas dwellLike hunted stag in mountain cell;Nor, ere yon pride-swollen robber dare,--I may not give the rest to air!Tell Roderick Dhu I owed him naught,Not tile poor service of a boat,To waft me to yon mountain-side.'Then plunged he in the flashing tide.Bold o'er the flood his head he bore,And stoutly steered him from the shore;And Allan strained his anxious eye,Far mid the lake his form to spy,Darkening across each puny wave,To which the moon her silver gave.Fast as the cormorant could skim.The swimmer plied each active limb;Then landing in the moonlight dell,Loud shouted of his weal to tell.The Minstrel heard the far halloo,And joyful from the shore withdrew.

Words in this poem 105

morn n.: The first part of the day; the morning; -- used chiefly in poetry. [OE. morwen, morgen, AS. morgen; akin to D. morgen, OS. morgan, G. morgen, Icel. morginn, morgunn, Sw. morgon, Dan. morgen, Goth. maúrgins. Cf. Morrow, Morning.]
jetty v. i.: To jut out; to project. Florio.
matin n.: A French mastiff. [F. matin.]
genial a.: Contributing to, or concerned in, propagation or production; generative; procreative; productive. [L. genialis: cf. OF. genial. See Genius.]
yonder adv.: At a distance, but within view. [OE. yonder, ýonder; cf. OD. ginder, Goth. jaindr there. Yond, adv.]
isle v. t.: To cause to become an island, or like an island; to surround or encompass; to island.
meed v. t.: To reward; to repay. Waytt.
plaided a.: Of the material of which plaids are made; tartan.
erewhile adv.: Some time ago; a little while before; heretofore.
mishap v. i.: To happen unluckily; -- used impersonally.
shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
thankless a.: Not acknowledging favors; not expressing thankfulness; unthankful; ungrateful.
gayly adv.: With mirth and frolic; merrily; blithely; gleefully.
bourgeon v. i.: To sprout; to put forth buds; to shoot forth, as a branch. [OE. burjoun a bud, burjounen to bud, F. bourgeon a bud, bourgeonner to bud; cf. OHG. burjan to raise.]
beltane n.: The first day of May (Old Style). [Gael. bealltainn, bealltuinn.]
slogan n.: The war cry, or gathering word, of a Highland clan in Scotland; hence, any rallying cry. [Gael. sluagh-ghairm, i.e., an army cry; sluagh army + gairm a call, calling.]
loch n.: A lake; a bay or arm of the sea. [Gael. & Olr. loch. See Lake of water.]
rosebud n.: The flower of a rose before it opens, or when but partially open.
seedling n.: A plant reared from the seed, as distinguished from one propagated by layers, buds, or the like.
snowy a.: White like snow.
acclaim v. i.: To shout applause.
dame n.: A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
kinsman n.: A man of the same race or family; one related by blood.
loiterer n.: One who loiters; an idler.
reluctantly adv.: In a reluctant manner.
rung n.: A floor timber in a ship. [OE. ronge, AS. hrung, a staff, rod, pole; akin to G. runge a short, thick piece of iron or wood, OD. ronghe a prop, support, Icel. röng a rib in a ship, Goth. H]
mainland n.: The continent; the principal land; -- opposed to island, or peninsula.
skiff n.: A small, light boat. [F. esquif, fr. OHG. skif, G. schiff. See Ship.]
waft v. t.: To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon. [Prob. originally imp. & p. p. of wave, v. t. See Wave to waver.]
sunbeam n.: A beam or ray of the sun. [AS. sunnebeam.]
islet n.: A little island. [OF. islette (cf. F. îlot), dim. of isle.]
duteous a.: Fulfilling duty; dutiful; having the sentiments due to a superior, or to one to whom respect or service is owed; obedient; as, a duteous son or daughter. [From Duty.]
faltering a.: Hesitating; trembling.
filial a.: Of or pertaining to a son or daughter; becoming to a child in relation to his parents; as, filial obedience. [L. filialis, fr. filius son, filia daughter; akin to e. female, feminine. Cf. Fitz.]
wistful a.: Longing; wishful; desirous. [For wishful; perhaps influenced by wistly, which is probably corrupted from OE. wisly certainly (from Icel. viss certain, akin to E. wit). See Wish.]
pennon n.: A wing; a pinion. [Cf. Pinion.]
aught n.: Property; possession. [AS. , fr. agan to own, p. p. ahte.]
bashful a.: Abashed; daunted; dismayed. [See Bash.]
spoke n.: The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
whimper v. i.: To cry with a low, whining, broken voice; to whine; to complain; as, a child whimpers. [Cf. Scot. whimmer, G. wimmern.]
stole n.: A long, loose garment reaching to the feet. [AS. stole, L. stola, Gr. stall. See Stall.]
tartan n.: Woolen cloth, checkered or crossbarred with narrow bands of various colors, much worn in the Highlands of Scotland; hence, any pattern of tartan; also, other material of a similar pattern. [F. tiretane linsey-woolsey, akin to Sp. tiritaña a sort of thin silk; cf. Sp. tiritar to shiver or shake with cold.]
flaxen a.: Made of flax; resembling flax or its fibers; of the color of flax; of a light soft straw color; fair and flowing, like flax or tow; as, flaxen thread; flaxen hair.
sunny a.: Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from, or resembling the sun; hence, shining; bright; brilliant; radiant.
ptarmigan n.: Any grouse of the genus Lagopus, of which numerous species are known. The feet are completely feathered. Most of the species are brown in summer, but turn white, or nearly white, in winter. [Gael. tarmachan; cf. Ir. tarmochan, tarmonach.]
scarce a.: Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
mountaineer n.: An inhabitant of a mountain; one who lives among mountains. [OF. montanier, LL. montanarius. See Mountain.]
lightsome a.: Having light; lighted; not dark or gloomy; bright.
voiced a.: Furnished with a voice; expressed by the voice.
wend n.: A large extent of ground; a perambulation; a circuit.
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
pastime n.: That which amuses, and serves to make time pass agreeably; sport; amusement; diversion. [Pass + time: cf. F. passetemps.]
reft n.: A chink; a rift. See Rift. Rom. of R.
strath n.: A valley of considerable size, through which a river runs; a valley bottom; -- often used in composition with the name of the river; as, Strath Spey, Strathdon, Strathmore. [Gael. srath.]
haughty a.: High; lofty; bold. [OE. hautein, F. hautain, fr. haut high, OF. also halt, fr. L. altus. See Altitude.]
vouchsafe v. t.: To condescend to grant; to concede; to bestow. [Vouch + safe, that is, to vouch or answer for safety.]
vindictive a.: Disposed to revenge; prompted or characterized by revenge; revengeful. [For vindicative, confused with L. vindicta revenge, punishment, fr. vindicare to vindicate. Cf. Vindicative.]
yarrow n.: An American and European composite plant (Achillea Millefolium) with very finely dissected leaves and small white corymbed flowers. [OE. yarowe, yarwe, ýarowe, AS. gearwe; akin to D. gerw, OHG. garwa, garawa, G. garbe, schafgarbe, and perhaps to E. yare.]
tweed n.: A soft and flexible fabric for men's wear, made wholly of wool except in some inferior kinds, the wool being dyed, usually in two colors, before weaving. [Probably a corruption of twills. See Twill.]
lone n.: A lane. See Loanin.
ruthless a.: Having no ruth; cruel; pitiless.
pretext n.: Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise. [F. prétexte, L. praetextum, fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text.]
amid prep.: In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among. [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a la]
espial n.: The act of espying; notice; discovery. [OE. & Norm. F. espiaille. See Espy.]
fearfully adv.: In a fearful manner.
went n.: Course; way; path; journey; direction.
dwell v. i.: To delay; to linger. [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger, AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel. dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dv]
blasted a.: Blighted; withered.
enow: A form of Enough.
scare v. t.: To frighten; to strike with sudden fear; to alarm. [OE. skerren, skeren, Icel. skirra to bar, prevent, skirrask to shun , shrink from; or fr. OE. skerre, adj., scared, Icel. skjarr; both perhaps akin to E. sheer ]
blench v. t.: To baffle; to disconcert; to turn away; -- also, to obstruct; to hinder.
pathless a.: Having no beaten path or way; untrodden; impenetrable; as, pathless woods.
bootless a.: Unavailing; unprofitable; useless; without advantage or success. [From Boot profit.]
scaled a.: Covered with scales, or scalelike structures; -- said of a fish, a reptile, a moth, etc.
cobweb n.: The network spread by a spider to catch its prey. [Cob a spider + web.]
desperate a.: Without hope; given to despair; hopeless. [L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See Despair, and cf. Desperado.]
astound a.: Stunned; astounded; astonished. [OE. astouned, astound, astoned, p. p. of astone. See Astone.]
hectic a.: Habitual; constitutional; pertaining especially to slow waste of animal tissue, as in consumption; as, a hectic type in disease; a hectic flush. [F. hectique, Gr. sah to overpower, endure; cf. AS. sige, sigor, victory, G. sieg, Goth. sigis. Cf. Scheme.]
strife n.: The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
rushed a.: Abounding or covered with rushes.
wooer n.: One who wooes; one who courts or solicits in love; a suitor. [AS. wogere. See Woo, v. t.]
rebellious a.: Engaged in rebellion; disposed to rebel of the nature of rebels or of rebellion; resisting government or lawful authority by force.
steed n.: A horse, especially a spirited horse for state of war; -- used chiefly in poetry or stately prose. [OE. stede, AS. steda a stud-horse, war horse, fr. stod a stud of breeding steeds; akin to G. stute a mare, Icel. stedda, sto, a stud. *163. See Stud of horses.]
wield v. t.: To govern; to rule; to keep, or have in charge; also, to possess. [OE. welden to govern, to have power over, to possess, AS. geweldan, gewyldan, from wealdan; akin to OS. waldan, OFries. walda, G. walten, OHG. waltan, Icel. val]
disappointment n.: The act of disappointing, or the state of being disappointed; defeat or failure of expectation or hope; miscarriage of design or plan; frustration. [Cf. F. désappointement.]
broke v. i.: To transact business for another. Brome. [See Broker, and cf. Brook.]
sable n.: A carnivorous animal of the Weasel family (Mustela zibellina) native of the northern latitudes of Europe, Asia, and America, -- noted for its fine, soft, and valuable fur. [OF. sable, F. zibeline sable (in sense 4), LL. sabellum; cf. D. sabel, Dan. sabel, zobel, Sw. sabel, sobel, G. zobel; all fr. Russ. sóbole.]
stalwart a.: Brave; bold; strong; redoubted; daring; vehement; violent. [OE. stalworth, AS. stælwyrth serviceable, probably originally, good at stealing, or worth stealing or taking, and afterwards extended to other causes of estimat]
beardless a.: Without a beard. Hence: Not having arrived at puberty or manhood; youthful.
sternly adv.: In a stern manner.
thank n.: A expression of gratitude; an acknowledgment expressive of a sense of favor or kindness received; obligation, claim, or desert, or gratitude; -- now generally used in the plural. [AS. Þanc, Þonc, thanks, favor, thought; akin to OS. thank favor, pleasure, thanks, D. & G. dank thanks, Icel. Þ\'94kk, Dan. tak, Sw. tack, Goth. Þagks thanks; -]
forego v. t.: To quit; to relinquish; to leave. [See Forgo.]
sullen a.: Lonely; solitary; desolate. Wyclif (Job iii. 14). [OE. solein, solain, lonely, sullen; through Old French fr. (assumed) LL. solanus solitary, fr. L. solus alone. See Sole, a.]
unclasp v. t.: To loose the clasp of; to open, as something that is fastened, or as with, a clasp; as, to unclasp a book; to unclasp one's heart. [1st pref. un- + clasp.]
veiled a.: Covered by, or as by, a veil; hidden.
lackey n.: An attending male servant; a footman; a servile follower. [F. laquais; cf. Sp. & Pg. lacayo; of uncertain origin; perh. of German origin, and akin to E.lick, v.]
freeborn a.: Born free; not born in vasssalage; inheriting freedom.
pageant n.: A theatrical exhibition; a spectacle. [OE. pagent, pagen, originally, a movable scaffold or stage, hence, what was exhibited on it, fr. LL. pagina, akin to pangere to fasten; cf. L. pagina page, leaf]
henchman n.: An attendant; a servant; a follower. Now chiefly used as a political cant term. [OE. hencheman, henxman; prob. fr. OE. & AS. hengest horse + E. man, and meaning, a groom. AS. hengest is akin to D. & G. hengst stallion, OHG. hengist horse, ge]
lonesome a.: Secluded from society; not frequented by human beings; solitary.
dirk n.: A kind of dagger or poniard; -- formerly much used by the Scottish Highlander. Dirk knife, a clasp knife having a large, dirklike blade. [Ir. duirc.]
broadsword n.: A sword with a broad blade and a cutting edge; a claymore.
stoutly adv.: In a stout manner; lustily; boldly; obstinately; as, he stoutly defended himself.
puny a.: Imperfectly developed in size or vigor; small and feeble; inferior; petty. [F. puîté younger, later born, OF. puisné; puis afterwards (L. post; see Post-) + né born, L. natus. See Natal, and cf. Puisne.]
dell n.: A small, retired valley; a ravine. [AS. del, akin to E. dale; cf. D. delle, del, low ground. See Dale.]

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Canto Second: The Island I is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Lady of the Lake, Project Gutenberg ebook #3011; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Walter Scott, Canto Second: The Island I, in The Lady of the Lake (1810), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #3011, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/scott-lady-of-the-lake/canto-second-the-island-i.html, id L06642.

Form and metre

Canto Second: The Island I is 518 lines in 26 verse paragraphs. It is in rhyming couplets, 70% of the lines: octosyllabic couplets. The metre is iambic tetrameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 88%). 95% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 8.1 syllables. 20 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 21% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.

See other poems in octosyllabic couplets, other poems in iambic tetrameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 ABABBCBCC wing^A · lay^B · spring^A · day^B · bay^B · again^C · gray^B · strain^C · bane^C
2 ABAAB--CC might^A · spray^B · bright^A · light^A · away^B · erase · days · while^C · isle^C
3 ABAABCCDD court^A · line^B · sport^A · resort^A · thine^B · sincere^C · dear^C · smile^D · isle^D
4 ABAABCCDD sky^A · roam^B · sigh^A · eye^A · home^B · show^C · woe^C · erewhile^D · isle^D
5 ABAABCCDD main^A · sail^B · vain^A · sustain^A · gale^B · changed^C · estranged^C · smile^D · isle^D
6 ABABCCDEED advances^A · pine^B · glances^A · line^B · dew^C · anew^C · grow^D · glen^E · again^E · ieroe^D
7 A-ABBCDDC fade^A · mountain · shade^A · rock^B · shock^B · blow^C · then^D · again^D · ieroe^C
8 ABABCCDEED fruin^A · replied^B · ruin^A · side^B · maid^C · raid^C · woe^D · glen^E · again^E · ieroe^D
9 ABABCCDEED highlands^A · pine^B · islands^A · twine^B · gem^C · stem^C · grow^D · then^E · glen^E · ieroe^D
10 AABBCCDDAAEEFFGGHHIIJJAAKK band^A · strand^A · flew^B · threw^B · acclaim^C · name^C · art^D · heart^D · strand^A · land^A · thou^E · brow^E · maid^F · obeyed^F · rung^G · sprung^G · cast^H · blast^H · guide^I · side^I · bright^J · light^J · scanned^A · band^A · lay^K · bay^K
11 --AABBCCDD--EEFFGG given · heaven · tear^A · clear^A · meek^B · cheek^B · shed^C · head^C · breast^D · pressed^D · steeped · weeped · tongue^E · hung^E · proof^F · aloof^F · name^G · graeme^G
12 AABBCC--DDEEFF--GGGHHIIJJKKLL-- while^A · isle^A · eyed^B · pride^B · away^C · spray^C · laid · said · spy^D · eye^D · day^E · lay^E · proud^F · loud^F · won · shone · name^G · claim^G · came^G · proud^H · crowd^H · might^I · knight^I · lays^J · praise^J · tear^K · dear^K · true^L · knew^L · boast · lost
13 AA--BBCCDDEEFFGGHHII rose^A · glows^A · appeared · heard · hide^B · divide^B · maid^C · paid^C · hand^D · stand^D · eye^E · fly^E · stood^F · wood^F · thought^G · aught^G · fail^H · scale^H · stole^I · soul^I
14 AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIAAJJKKLL--AA frame^A · graeme^A · hose^B · disclose^B · hue^C · blue^C · eye^D · spy^D · heath^E · menteith^E · doe^F · bow^F · fear^G · mountaineer^G · press^H · confess^H · mind^I · kind^I · came^A · tame^A · breast^J · crest^J · youth^K · truth^K · bold^L · old^L · grown · renown · fame^A · graeme^A
15 AAABB--CCDDEE----FFGG way^A · say^A · astray^A · why^B · eye^B · far · war · reft^C · left^C · strayed^D · shade^D · around^E · ground^E · ward · guard · wood · unpursued · make^F · sake^F · glen^G · again^G
16 AA--BBCC--DEAAFFGGED came^A · graeme^A · eye · hospitality · away^B · day^B · light^C · knight^C · declared · heard · head^D · made^E · flame^A · graeme^A · around^F · ground^F · avail^G · tale^G · played^E · said^D
17 --AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJJJKKLL--MMNN affords · words · name^A · claim^A · why^B · eye^B · know^C · foe^C · command^D · land^D · pride^E · side^E · came^F · game^F · snared^G · prepared^G · flung^H · hung^H · mead^I · tweed^I · glide^J · side^J · ride^J · wide^J · throne^K · known^K · same^L · game^L · ye · chivalry · green^M · seen^M · know^N · show^N
18 --AABBCC-D-EFFDDGGHHIIJJ-E fearfully · eye · one^A · son^A · came^B · graeme^B · appeared^C · feared^C · undismayed · said^D · roar · o'er^E · hour^F · bower^F · head^D · sped^D · command^G · band^G · pride^H · aside^H · heart^I · apart^I · cell^J · dwell^J · moor · o'er^E
19 -ABBCCAA--DDEEFFGGHHHIIJJKK said · blade^A · pine^B · mine^B · part^C · heart^C · maid^A · aid^A · dhu · enow · grief^D · chief^D · tell^E · knell^E · porch^F · torch^F · flames^G · james^G · away^H · pray^H · say^H · fight^I · unite^I · band^J · land^J · glen^K · again^K
20 AA--BBCCDDEEFFCCDD--GG hour^A · tower^A · o'er · roar · dream^B · beam^B · glow^C · below^C · around^D · sound^D · frail^E · gale^E · wheel^F · feel^F · below^C · foreshow^C · astound^D · around^D · tossed · most · withstand^G · hand^G
21 AABCDDEEFFGGCC--BCHHII--JJ spy^A · eye^A · ere^B · fear^C · strife^D · life^D · flood^E · blood^E · sway^F · clay^F · cried^G · bride^G · dear^C · fear^C · her · relief · ne'er^B · spear^C · hand^H · brand^H · boy^I · joy^I · wrongs · tongues · find^J · combined^J
22 --AABBCCDDEE--FFGGHHIIJJ strode · broad · pride^A · vied^A · light^B · night^B · sway^C · way^C · dart^D · smart^D · stung^E · wrung^E · before · o'er · hope^F · scope^F · proud^G · shroud^G · all^H · ball^H · look^I · brook^I · came^J · graeme^J
23 AABBCC---DDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKLLMMNN broke^A · smoke^A · low^B · glow^B · despair^C · air^C · laid · plaid · said · naught^D · taught^D · maid^E · delayed^E · game^F · graeme^F · afford^G · sword^G · hand^H · brand^H · rose^I · foes^I · forego^J · foe^J · jar^K · far^K · spoil^L · broil^L · unclasp^M · grasp^M · glared^N · bared^N
24 AABB----CCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJKKJJLLMM flung^A · hung^A · scream^B · dream^B · sword · word · were · air · tell^C · fell^C · clan^D · man^D · know^E · show^E · came^F · graeme^F · bold^G · hold^G · grace^H · place^H · those^I · foes^I · way^J · day^J · back^K · track^K · nay^J · say^J · glen^L · again^L · hour^M · bower^M
25 AABB--CCAADDEEFF strand^A · command^A · morn^B · sworn^B · o'er · moor · graeme^C · came^C · land^A · strand^A · wind^D · bind^D · rolled^E · fold^E · array^F · way^F
26 --AABBCCDDEEFF--GGHHIIJJKKEELL thee · fidelity · pressed^A · rest^A · land^B · band^B · aid^C · blade^C · graeme^D · name^D · dwell^E · cell^E · dare^F · air^F · naught · boat · side^G · tide^G · bore^H · shore^H · eye^I · spy^I · wave^J · gave^J · skim^K · limb^K · dell^E · tell^E · halloo^L · withdrew^L

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic tetrameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
At morn the black-cock trims his jetty wing,	10	·······/˘·
'T is morning prompts the linnet's blithest lay,	11	··/˘··/˘/˘·
All Nature's children feel the matin spring	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
Of life reviving, with reviving day;	10	··˘/˘·˘/˘·
And while yon little bark glides down the bay,	10	···/˘·····
Wafting the stranger on his way again,	10	/˘·/˘···˘/
Morn's genial influence roused a minstrel gray,	10	·/˘/˘··/˘·
And sweetly o'er the lake was heard thy strain,	10	·/˘·······
Mixed with the sounding harp, O white-haired Allan-bane!	12	···/˘····/˘·
'Not faster yonder rowers' might	8	·/˘/˘···
Flings from their oars the spray,	6	······
Not faster yonder rippling bright,	8	·/˘/˘/˘·
That tracks the shallop's course in light,	8	········
Melts in the lake away,	6	····˘/
Than men from memory erase	8	···/˘˘˘/
The benefits of former days;	8	·/˘˘·/˘·
Then, stranger, go! good speed the while,	8	·/˘·····
Nor think again of the lonely isle.	9	··˘/··/˘·
'High place to thee in royal court,	8	·····/˘·
High place in battled line,	7	···/˘˘·
Good hawk and hound for sylvan sport!	8	·····/˘·
Where beauty sees the brave resort,	8	·/˘···˘/
The honored meed be thine!	7	·/˘˘···
True be thy sword, thy friend sincere,	8	······˘/
Thy lady constant, kind, and dear,	8	·/˘/˘···
And lost in love's and friendship's smile	8	·····/˘·
Be memory of the lonely isle!	8	·/˘··/˘·
'But if beneath yon southern sky	8	·····/˘·
A plaided stranger roam,	6	·/˘/˘·
Whose drooping crest and stifled sigh,	8	·/˘··/˘·
And sunken cheek and heavy eye,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Pine for his Highland home;	6	···/˘·
Then, warrior, then be thine to show	8	·/˘·····
The care that soothes a wanderer's woe;	8	·····/˘·
Remember then thy hap erewhile,	10	˘/˘·······
A stranger in the lonely isle.	8	·/˘··/˘·
'Or if on life's uncertain main	8	····˘/˘·
Mishap shall mar thy sail;	6	/·····
If faithful, wise, and brave in vain,	8	·/˘·····
Woe, want, and exile thou sustain	8	···/··˘/
Beneath the fickle gale;	6	···/˘·
Waste not a sigh on fortune changed,	8	·····/˘·
On thankless courts, or friends estranged,	8	·/˘···˘/
But come where kindred worth shall smile,	8	···/˘···
To greet thee in the lonely isle.'	8	·····/˘·
Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances!	11	······/˘˘/˘
Honored and blessed be the ever-green Pine!	9	/˘····/··
Long may the tree, in his banner that glances,	11	······/˘·/˘
Flourish, the shelter and grace of our line!	10	/˘·/˘···/·
Heaven send it happy dew,	7	/˘··/˘·
Earth lend it sap anew,	6	····˘/
Gayly to bourgeon and broadly to grow,	10	/˘·/˘·/˘··
While every Highland glen	7	·/˘˘/˘·
Sends our shout back again,	7	·/˘··˘/
'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'	10	····/·····
Blooming at Beltane, in winter to fade;	10	/˘·/˘·/˘··
When the whirlwind has stripped every leaf on the mountain,	13	··/···/˘···/˘
The more shall Clan-Alpine exult in her shade.	11	····/·˘/···
Moored in the rifted rock,	7	·˘··/˘·
Proof to the tempest's shock,	6	···/˘·
Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow;	10	/˘····/˘··
Menteith and Breadalbane, then,	7	·······
Echo his praise again,	6	/˘··˘/
'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'	10	····/·····
Proudly our pibroch has thrilled in Glen Fruin,	11	/˘//˘····/˘
And Bannochar's groans to our slogan replied;	11	······//˘˘/
Glen Luss and Ross-dhu, they are smoking in ruin,	11	·······/˘·/
And the best of Loch Lomond lie dead on her side.	12	············
Widow and Saxon maid	6	/˘·/˘·
Long shall lament our raid,	7	··˘//˘·
Think of Clan-Alpine with fear and with woe;	10	···/······
Lennox and Leven-glen	6	/˘·/˘·
Shake when they hear again,	6	····˘/
'Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'	10	····/·····
Row, vassals, row, for the pride of the Highlands!	11	·/˘······/˘
Stretch to your oars for the ever-green Pine!	9	······/··
O that the rosebud that graces yon islands	11	···/˘·/˘·/˘
Were wreathed in a garland around him to twine!	11	····/˘·····
O that some seedling gem,	6	···/˘·
Worthy such noble stem,	6	/˘·/˘·
Honored and blessed in their shadow might grow!	10	/˘····/···
Loud should Clan-Alpine then	6	···/··
Ring from her deepmost glen,	6	······
Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!'	10	····/·····
With all her joyful female band	8	···/˘/··
Had Lady Margaret sought the strand.	8	·/˘/˘···
Loose on the breeze their tresses flew,	8	·····/˘·
And high their snowy arms they threw,	8	···/˘···
As echoing back with shrill acclaim,	8	·/˘···˘/
And chorus wild, the Chieftain's name;	8	·/˘··/˘·
While, prompt to please, with mother's art	8	·····/˘·
The darling passion of his heart,	8	·/˘/˘···
The Dame called Ellen to the strand,	8	···/˘···
To greet her kinsman ere he land:	8	···/····
'Come, loiterer, come! a Douglas thou,	9	·/˘˘··/˘·
And shun to wreathe a victor's brow?'	8	·····/˘·
Reluctantly and slow, the maid	8	˘/˘˘····
The unwelcome summoning obeyed,	8	·˘/˘/˘˘/
And when a distant bugle rung,	8	···/˘/˘·
In the mid-path aside she sprung:--	8	····˘/··
'List, Allan-bane! From mainland cast	8	·/˘··/··
I hear my father's signal blast.	8	···/˘/˘·
Be ours,' she cried, 'the skiff to guide,	8	·/······
And waft him from the mountain-side.'	8	·····/˘·
Then, like a sunbeam, swift and bright,	8	···/····
She darted to her shallop light,	8	·/˘··/˘·
And, eagerly while Roderick scanned,	8	·/˘˘·/˘·
For her dear form, his mother's band,	8	·····/˘·
The islet far behind her lay,	8	·/˘·····
And she had landed in the bay.	8	···/˘···
Some feelings are to mortals given	9	·/˘··/˘/˘
With less of earth in them than heaven;	9	·······/˘
And if there be a human tear	8	·····/˘·
From passion's dross refined and clear,	8	·/˘·˘/··
A tear so limpid and so meek	8	···/˘···
It would not stain an angel's cheek,	8	·····/˘·
'Tis that which pious fathers shed	8	···/˘/˘·
Upon a duteous daughter's head!	9	···/˘˘/˘·
And as the Douglas to his breast	8	···/˘···
His darling Ellen closely pressed,	8	·/˘/˘/˘·
Such holy drops her tresses steeped,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Though 't was an hero's eye that weeped.	9	····/˘···
Nor while on Ellen's faltering tongue	8	···/˘/˘·
Her filial welcomes crowded hung,	8	·/˘/˘/˘·
Marked she that fear--affection's proof--	8	····˘/˘·
Still held a graceful youth aloof;	8	···/˘·˘/
No! not till Douglas named his name,	8	···/˘···
Although the youth was Malcolm Graeme.	8	·····/˘·
Allan, with wistful look the while,	8	/˘·/˘···
Marked Roderick landing on the isle;	8	·/˘/˘···
His master piteously he eyed,	8	·/˘·····
Then gazed upon the Chieftain's pride,	8	·····/˘·
Then dashed with hasty hand away	8	···/˘·˘/
From his dimmed eye the gathering spray;	8	·····/˘·
And Douglas, as his hand he laid	8	·/˘·····
On Malcolm's shoulder, kindly said:	8	·/˘/˘/˘·
'Canst thou, young friend, no meaning spy	8	·····/˘·
In my poor follower's glistening eye?	8	···/˘/˘·
I 'll tell thee:--he recalls the day	9	·····/···
When in my praise he led the lay	8	········
O'er the arched gate of Bothwell proud,	8	·····/··
While many a minstrel answered loud,	8	·/·/˘/˘·
When Percy's Norman pennon, won	8	·/˘/˘/˘·
In bloody field, before me shone,	8	·/˘·····
And twice ten knights, the least a name	8	········
As mighty as yon Chief may claim,	8	·/˘·····
Gracing my pomp, behind me came.	8	/˘······
Yet trust me, Malcolm, not so proud	8	···/˘···
Was I of all that marshalled crowd,	8	·····/˘·
Though the waned crescent owned my might,	8	···/˘···
And in my train trooped lord and knight,	8	········
Though Blantyre hymned her holiest lays,	8	·····/˘·
And Bothwell's bards flung back my praise,	8	·/······
As when this old man's silent tear,	8	·····/˘·
And this poor maid's affection dear,	8	····˘/˘·
A welcome give more kind and true	8	·/˘·····
Than aught my better fortunes knew.	8	···/˘/˘·
Forgive, my friend, a father's boast,--	8	˘/···/˘·
O, it out-beggars all I lost!'	8	···/˘···
Delightful praise!--like summer rose,	8	˘/˘··/˘·
That brighter in the dew-drop glows,	8	·/˘·····
The bashful maiden's cheek appeared,	8	·/˘/˘·˘/
For Douglas spoke, and Malcolm heard.	8	·/˘··/˘·
The flush of shame-faced joy to hide,	8	········
The hounds, the hawk, her cares divide;	8	······˘/
The loved caresses of the maid	8	··˘/˘···
The dogs with crouch and whimper paid;	8	·····/˘·
And, at her whistle, on her hand	8	···/˘···
The falcon took his favorite stand,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Closed his dark wing, relaxed his eye,	8	····˘/··
Nor, though unhooded, sought to fly.	8	········
And, trust, while in such guise she stood,	8	········
Like fabled Goddess of the wood,	8	·/˘/˘···
That if a father's partial thought	8	···/˘/˘·
O'erweighed her worth and beauty aught,	8	·····/˘·
Well might the lover's judgment fail	8	···/˘/˘·
To balance with a juster scale;	8	·/˘··/˘·
For with each secret glance he stole,	8	···/˘···
The fond enthusiast sent his soul.	9	··˘/˘····
Of stature fair, and slender frame,	8	·/˘··/˘·
But firmly knit, was Malcolm Graeme.	8	·/˘··/˘·
The belted plaid and tartan hose	8	·/˘··/˘·
Did ne'er more graceful limbs disclose;	8	···/˘·˘/
His flaxen hair, of sunny hue,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Curled closely round his bonnet blue.	8	·/˘··/˘·
Trained to the chase, his eagle eye	8	·····/˘·
The ptarmigan in snow could spy;	8	·/˘˘····
Each pass, by mountain, lake, and heath,	8	···/˘···
He knew, through Lennox and Menteith;	8	···/˘···
Vain was the bound of dark-brown doe	8	········
When Malcolm bent his sounding bow,	8	·/˘··/˘·
And scarce that doe, though winged with fear,	8	········
Outstripped in speed the mountaineer:	8	˘/···/˘·
Right up Ben Lomond could he press,	8	········
And not a sob his toil confess.	8	······˘/
His form accorded with a mind	8	··˘/˘···
Lively and ardent, frank and kind;	8	/˘·/˘···
A blither heart, till Ellen came	8	·····/˘·
Did never love nor sorrow tame;	8	·/˘··/˘·
It danced as lightsome in his breast	8	···/˘···
As played the feather on his crest.	8	···/˘···
Yet friends, who nearest knew the youth	8	···/˘···
His scorn of wrong, his zeal for truth	8	········
And bards, who saw his features bold	8	·····/˘·
When kindled by the tales of old	8	·/˘·····
Said, were that youth to manhood grown,	8	·····/··
Not long should Roderick Dhu's renown	8	···/˘·˘/
Be foremost voiced by mountain fame,	8	·/···/˘·
But quail to that of Malcolm Graeme.	8	·····/˘·
Now back they wend their watery way,	8	·····/˘·
And, 'O my sire!' did Ellen say,	8	···/·/˘·
'Why urge thy chase so far astray?	8	······˘/
And why so late returned? And why '--	8	····˘/··
The rest was in her speaking eye.	8	·····/˘·
'My child, the chase I follow far,	8	·····/˘·
'Tis mimicry of noble war;	8	·/˘˘·/˘·
And with that gallant pastime reft	8	···/˘/··
Were all of Douglas I have left.	8	···/˘···
I met young Malcolm as I strayed	8	···/˘···
Far eastward, in Glenfinlas' shade	8	·/˘·····
Nor strayed I safe, for all around	8	········
Hunters and horsemen scoured the ground.	8	/˘·/˘/··
This youth, though still a royal ward,	8	·····/˘·
Risked life and land to be my guard,	8	········
And through the passes of the wood	8	···/˘···
Guided my steps, not unpursued;	8	/˘·····˘
And Roderick shall his welcome make,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Despite old spleen, for Douglas' sake.	8	˘/···/˘·
Then must he seek Strath-Endrick glen	8	········
Nor peril aught for me again.'	8	·/˘···˘/
Sir Roderick, who to meet them came,	8	·/˘·····
Reddened at sight of Malcolm Graeme,	8	/˘···/˘·
Yet, not in action, word, or eye,	8	···/˘···
Failed aught in hospitality.	8	····˘/˘˘
In talk and sport they whiled away	8	······˘/
The morning of that summer day;	8	·/˘··/˘·
But at high noon a courier light	8	·····/˘·
Held secret parley with the knight,	8	·/˘/˘···
Whose moody aspect soon declared	8	·/˘/··˘/
That evil were the news he heard.	8	·/˘·····
Deep thought seemed toiling in his head;	8	···/˘···
Yet was the evening banquet made	8	···/˘/˘·
Ere he assembled round the flame	8	··˘/˘···
His mother, Douglas, and the Graeme,	8	·/˘/˘···
And Ellen too; then cast around	8	·/˘·····
His eyes, then fixed them on the ground,	8	········
As studying phrase that might avail	8	·/˘···˘/
Best to convey unpleasant tale.	8	··˘/˘/˘·
Long with his dagger's hilt he played,	8	···/˘···
Then raised his haughty brow, and said:--	8	···/˘···
'Short be my speech;--nor time affords,	8	······˘/
Nor my plain temper, glozing words.	8	···/˘···
Kinsman and father,--if such name	8	/··/˘···
Douglas vouchsafe to Roderick's claim;	8	/˘˘/·/˘·
Mine honored mother;--Ellen,--why,	8	·/˘/˘/˘·
My cousin, turn away thine eye?--	8	·/˘·˘/··
And Graeme, in whom I hope to know	8	········
Full soon a noble friend or foe,	8	···/˘···
When age shall give thee thy command,	8	······˘/
And leading in thy native land,--	8	·/˘··/˘·
List all!--The King's vindictive pride	8	····˘/˘·
Boasts to have tamed the Border-side,	8	·····/˘·
Where chiefs, with hound and trawl; who came	8	········
To share their monarch's sylvan game,	8	···/·/˘·
Themselves in bloody toils were snared,	8	˘/·/˘···
And when the banquet they prepared,	8	···/˘·˘/
And wide their loyal portals flung,	8	···/˘/˘·
O'er their own gateway struggling hung.	8	···/·/˘·
Loud cries their blood from Meggat's mead,	8	········
From Yarrow braes and banks of Tweed,	8	·/˘·····
Where the lone streams of Ettrick glide,	8	········
And from the silver Teviot's side;	8	···/˘···
The dales, where martial clans did ride,	8	···/˘···
Are now one sheep-walk, waste and wide.	8	········
This tyrant of the Scottish throne,	8	·/˘··/˘·
So faithless and so ruthless known,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Now hither comes; his end the same,	8	·/˘·····
The same pretext of sylvan game.	8	··/··/˘·
What grace for Highland Chiefs, judge ye	8	···/˘···
By fate of Border chivalry.	8	···/˘/˘˘
Yet more; amid Glenfinlas' green,	8	··˘/····
Douglas, thy stately form was seen.	8	/˘·/˘···
This by espial sure I know:	8	··˘/˘···
Your counsel in the streight I show.'	8	·/˘·····
Ellen and Margaret fearfully	9	/˘·/˘˘/˘˘
Sought comfort in each other's eye,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Then turned their ghastly look, each one,	8	···/˘···
This to her sire, that to her son.	8	···/····
The hasty color went and came	8	·/˘/˘···
In the bold cheek of Malcolm Graeme,	8	·····/˘·
But from his glance it well appeared	8	······˘/
'T was but for Ellen that he feared;	9	····/˘···
While, sorrowful, but undismayed,	8	·/˘˘···˘
The Douglas thus his counsel said:	8	·/˘··/˘·
'Brave Roderick, though the tempest roar,	8	·/˘··/˘·
It may but thunder and pass o'er;	8	···/˘···
Nor will I here remain an hour,	9	····˘/·/˘
To draw the lightning on thy bower;	9	···/˘··/˘
For well thou know'st, at this gray head	8	········
The royal bolt were fiercest sped.	8	·/˘··/˘·
For thee, who, at thy King's command,	8	······˘/
Canst aid him with a gallant band,	8	·····/˘·
Submission, homage, humbled pride,	8	˘/˘/˘/˘·
Shall turn the Monarch's wrath aside.	8	···/··˘/
Poor remnants of the Bleeding Heart,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Ellen and I will seek apart	8	/˘····˘/
The refuge of some forest cell,	8	·/˘··/˘·
There, like the hunted quarry, dwell,	8	···/˘/˘·
Till on the mountain and the moor	8	···/˘···
The stern pursuit be passed and o'er,'--	8	··˘/····
'No, by mine honor,' Roderick said,	8	···/˘/˘·
'So help me Heaven, and my good blade!	8	···/····
No, never! Blasted be yon Pine,	8	·/˘/˘···
My father's ancient crest and mine,	8	·/˘/˘···
If from its shade in danger part	8	·····/˘·
The lineage of the Bleeding Heart!	8	·/˘··/˘·
Hear my blunt speech: grant me this maid	8	········
To wife, thy counsel to mine aid;	8	···/˘···
To Douglas, leagued with Roderick Dhu,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Will friends and allies flock enow;	8	···/˘·˘/
Like cause of doubt, distrust, and grief,	8	····˘/··
Will bind to us each Western Chief	8	·····/˘·
When the loud pipes my bridal tell,	8	·····/˘·
The Links of Forth shall hear the knell,	8	········
The guards shall start in Stirling's porch;	8	·····/˘·
And when I light the nuptial torch,	8	·····/˘·
A thousand villages in flames	8	·/˘/˘˘··
Shall scare the slumbers of King James!--	8	···/˘···
Nay, Ellen, blench not thus away,	8	·/˘···˘/
And, mother, cease these signs, I pray;	8	·/˘·····
I meant not all my heat might say.--	8	········
Small need of inroad or of fight,	8	···/····
When the sage Douglas may unite	8	···/˘·/·
Each mountain clan in friendly band,	8	·/˘··/˘·
To guard the passes of their land,	8	···/˘···
Till the foiled King from pathless glen	8	·····/˘·
Shall bootless turn him home again.'	8	·/˘···˘/
There are who have, at midnight hour,	9	·····/·/˘
In slumber scaled a dizzy tower,	9	·/˘··/˘/˘
And, on the verge that beetled o'er	8	·····/˘·
The ocean tide's incessant roar,	8	·/˘·˘/˘·
Dreamed calmly out their dangerous dream,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Till wakened by the morning beam;	8	·/˘··/˘·
When, dazzled by the eastern glow,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Such startler cast his glance below,	8	········
And saw unmeasured depth around,	8	········
And heard unintermitted sound,	8	········
And thought the battled fence so frail,	8	···/˘···
It waved like cobweb in the gale;	8	···/····
Amid his senses' giddy wheel,	8	˘/·/˘/˘·
Did he not desperate impulse feel,	8	···/˘/˘·
Headlong to plunge himself below,	8	/···˘/··
And meet the worst his fears foreshow?--	8	······˘/
Thus Ellen, dizzy and astound,	8	·/˘/˘·˘/
As sudden ruin yawned around,	8	·/˘/˘···
By crossing terrors wildly tossed,	8	·/˘/˘/˘·
Still for the Douglas fearing most,	8	···/˘/˘·
Could scarce the desperate thought withstand,	8	···/˘·˘/
To buy his safety with her hand.	8	···/˘···
Such purpose dread could Malcolm spy	8	·/˘··/˘·
In Ellen's quivering lip and eye,	8	·/˘/˘···
And eager rose to speak,--but ere	8	·/˘·····
His tongue could hurry forth his fear,	8	···/˘···
Had Douglas marked the hectic strife,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Where death seemed combating with life;	8	···˘/˘··
For to her cheek, in feverish flood,	8	·····/˘·
One instant rushed the throbbing blood,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Then ebbing back, with sudden sway,	8	·/˘··/˘·
Left its domain as wan as clay.	8	··˘/····
'Roderick, enough! enough!' he cried,	8	/˘˘/˘/··
'My daughter cannot be thy bride;	8	·/˘/˘···
Not that the blush to wooer dear,	8	·····/˘·
Nor paleness that of maiden fear.	8	·/˘··/˘·
It may not be,--forgive her,	7	····˘/·
Chief, Nor hazard aught for our relief.	9	··/˘··/˘/
Against his sovereign, Douglas ne'er	8	···/˘/˘·
Will level a rebellious spear.	8	·/˘·˘/˘·
'T was I that taught his youthful hand	9	······/˘·
To rein a steed and wield a brand;	8	········
I see him yet, the princely boy!	8	·····/˘·
Not Ellen more my pride and joy;	8	·/˘·····
I love him still, despite my wrongs	8	····˘/··
By hasty wrath and slanderous tongues.	8	·/˘··/˘·
O. seek the grace you well may find,	8	········
Without a cause to mine combined!'	8	······˘/
Twice through the hall the Chieftain strode;	8	·····/˘·
The waving of his tartars broad,	8	·/˘··/˘·
And darkened brow, where wounded pride	8	·/˘··/˘·
With ire and disappointment vied	8	····˘/˘·
Seemed, by the torch's gloomy light,	8	···/˘/˘·
Like the ill Demon of the night,	8	···/˘···
Stooping his pinions' shadowy sway	8	/˘···/˘·
Upon the righted pilgrim's way:	8	···/˘/˘·
But, unrequited Love! thy dart	8	··˘/˘···
Plunged deepest its envenomed smart,	8	·/˘·····
And Roderick, with thine anguish stung,	8	·/˘··/˘·
At length the hand of Douglas wrung,	8	·····/˘·
While eyes that mocked at tears before	8	········
With bitter drops were running o'er.	8	·/˘··/˘·
The death-pangs of long-cherished hope	8	·····/˘·

The first 400 of 518 lines; the reader marks them all.

Notes from the edition 83

Notes from The Lady of the Lake (Project Gutenberg #3011).

Stanza 1, line 7 A minstrel gray. "That Highland chieftains, to a late period, retained in their service the bard, as a family officer, admits of very easy proof. The author of the Letters from the North of Scotland, an officer of engineers, quartered at Inverness about 1720, who certainly cannot be deemed a favorable witness, gives the following account of the office, and of a bard, whom he heard exercise his talent of recitation:--'The bard is killed in the genealogy of all the Highland families, sometimes preceptor to the young laird, celebrates in Irish verse the original of the tribe, the famous warlike actions of the successive heads, and sings his own lyricks as an opiate to the chief, when indisposed for sleep; but poets are not equally esteemed and honored in all countries. I happened to be a witness of the dishonour done to the muse, at the house of one of the chiefs, where two of these bards were set at a good distance, at the lower end of a long table, with a parcel of Highlanders of no extraordinary appearance, over a cup of ale. Poor inspiration! They were not asked to drink a glass of wine at our table, though the whole company consisted only of the great man, one of his near relations, and myself. After some little time, the chief ordered one of them to sing me a Highland song. The bard readily obeyed, and with a hoarse voice, and in a tune of few various notes, began, as I was told, one of his own lyricks; and when he had proceeded to the fourth of fifth stanza, I perceived, by the names of several persons, glens, and mountains, which I had known or heard of before, that it was an account of some clan battle. But in his going on, the chief (who piques himself upon his school-learning) at some particular passage, bid him cease, and cryed out, "There's nothing like that in Virgil or Homer." I bowed, and told him I believed so. This you may believe was very edifying and delightful'" (Scott).
Stanza 2, line 6 Than men, etc. "It is evident that the old bard, with his second-sight, has a glimmering notion who the stranger is. He speaks below {311} of 'courtly spy,' and James's speech had betrayed a knowledge of the Douglas" (Taylor).
Stanza 3, line 2 Battled. The reading of the 1st ed. and that of 1821; "battle" in most others. Cf. i. 626 above.
Stanza 3, line 4 Where beauty, etc. The MS. has "At tourneys where the brave resort." The reference is to the tournaments, "Where," as Milton says (L'Allegro, 119), "throngs of knights and barons bold. In weeds of peace, high triumphs hold, With store of ladies, whose bright eyes Rain influence, and judge the prize Of wit or arms, while both contend To win her grace whom all commend." Cf. 87 below.
Stanza 3, line 8 Love's. The reading of the 1st ed. and that of 1821; most eds. have "love."
Stanza 4, line 2 Plaided. The plaid was properly the dress of a Highlander, though it was worn also in the Lowlands.
Stanza 6, line 6 The Harper on the islet beach. "This picture is touched with the hand of the true poet" (Jeffrey).
Stanza 7, line 1 As from. As if from. Cf. 64 and 83 below. This ellipsis was common in Elizabethan English. Cf. Shakespeare, Macb. ii. 2. 28: "One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other, As they had seen me with these hangman's hands."
Stanza 7, line 4 In the last sound. For the measure, see on i. 73 above.
Stanza 8, line 5 His fleet. That is, of ducks. Cf. i. 239 above.
Stanza 9, line 6 Would scorn. Who would scorn. See on i. 528 above.
Stanza 9, line 10 Turned him. See on i. 142 above, and cf. 106 below.
Stanza 10, line 2 After. Afterwards; as in Shakespeare, Temp. ii. 2. 10: "And after bite me," etc. The word is not now used adverbially of time, though we may say "he followed after," etc. The 1st ed. reads "that knight."
Stanza 10, line 10 Parts. Departs; as often in poetry and earlier English. Cf. Goldsmith, D. V. 171: "Beside the bed where parting life was laid;" Gray, Elegy, 1: "the knell of parting day," etc. On the other hand, depart was used in the sense of part. In the Marriage Service "till death us do part" is a corruption of "till death us depart." Wiclif's Bible, in Matt. xix. 6, has "therfor a man departe not that thing that God hath ioyned."
Stanza 10, line 19 Another step, etc. The MS. has "The loveliest Lowland fair to spy;" and the 1st ed. reads "The step of parting fair to spy."
Stanza 10, line 25 The Graeme. Scott has the following note here: "The ancient and powerful family of Graham (which, for metrical reasons, is here smelled after the Scottish pronunciation) held extensive possessions in the counties of Dumbarton and Stirling. Few families can boast of more historical renown, having claim to three of the most remarkable characters in the Scottish annals. Sir John the Graeme, the faithful and undaunted partaker of the labors and patriotic warfare of Wallace, fell in the unfortunate field of Falkirk, in 1298. The celebrated Marquis of Montrose, in whom De Retz saw realized his abstract idea of the heroes of antiquity, was the second of these worthies. And, not withstanding the severity of his temper, and the rigor with which he executed the oppressive mandates of the princes whom he served, I do not hesitate to name as the third, John Graeme, of Claverhouse, Viscount of Dundee, whose heroic death, in the arms of victory, may be allowed to cancel the memory of his cruelty to the non-conformists, during the reigns of Charles II. and James II."
Stanza 11, line 2 Bower. The word meant a chamber (see on i. 217 above), and was often used of the ladies' apartments in a house. In hall and bower = among men and women. The words are often thus associated. Cf. Spenser, Astrophel, 28: "Merily masking both in bowre and hall," etc.
Stanza 11, line 5 Arose. The 1st ed. misprints "Across;" not noted in the Errata.
Stanza 11, line 16 And the proud march. See on i. 73 above.
Stanza 12, line 3 Saint Modan. A Scotch abbot of the 7th century. Scott says here: "I am not prepared to show that Saint Modan was a performer on the harp. It was, however, no unsaintly accomplishment; for Saint Dunstan certainly did play upon that instrument, which retaining, as was natural, a portion of the sanctity attached to its master's character, announced future events by its spontaneous sound. 'But labouring once in these mechanic arts for a devout matrone that had sett him on work, his violl, that hung by him on the wall, of its own accord, without anie man's helpe, distinctly sounded this anthime: Gaudent in coelis animae sanctorum qui Christi vestigia sunt secuti; et quia pro eius amore sanguinem suum fuderunt, ideo cum Christo gaudent aeternum. Whereat all the companie being much astonished, turned their eyes from beholding him working, to looke on that strange accident.... Not long after, manie of the court that hitherunto had born a kind of fayned friendship towards him, began now greatly to envie at his progresse and rising in goodness, using manie crooked, backbiting meanes to diffame his vertues with the black markes of hypocrisie. And the better to authorise their calumnie, they brought in this that happened in the violl, affirming it to have been done by art magick. What more? this wicked rumour encreased, dayly, till the king and others of the nobilitie taking hould thereof, Dunstan grew odious in their sight. Therefore he resolued to leaue the court, and goe to Elphegus, surnamed the Bauld, then bishop of Winchester, who was his cozen. Which his enemies understanding, they layd wayte for him in the way, and hauing throwne him off his horse, beate him, and dragged him in the durt in the most miserable manner, meaning to have slaine him, had not a companie of mastiue dogges, that came unlookt uppon them, defended and redeemed him from their crueltie. When with sorrow he was ashamed to see dogges more humane than they. And giuing thankes to Almightie God, he sensibly againe perceaued that the tunes of his violl had giuen him a warning of future accidents' (Flower of the Lives of the most renowned Sainets of England, Scotland, and Ireland, by the R. Father Hierome Porter. Doway, 1632 4to. tome i. p. 438). "The same supernatural circumstance is alluded to by the anonymous author of Grim, the Collier of Croydon: '-----[Dunstant's harp sounds on the wall.] 'Forrest. Hark, hark, my lord, the holy abbot's harp Sounds by itself so hanging on the wall! 'Dunstan. …
Stanza 12, line 13 Bothwell's bannered hall. The picturesque ruins of Bothwell Castle stand on the banks of the Clyde, about nine miles above Glasgow. Some parts of the walls are 14 feet thick, and 60 feet in height. They are covered with ivy, wild roses, and wall-flowers. "The tufted grass lines Bothwell's ancient hall, The fox peeps cautious from the creviced wall, Where once proud Murray, Clydesdale's ancient lord, A mimic sovereign, held the festal board."
Stanza 12, line 14 Ere Douglases, to ruin driven. Scott says: "The downfall of the Douglases of the house of Angus, during the reign of James V., is the event alluded to in the text. The Earl of Angus, it will be remembered, had married the queen dowager, and availed himself of the right which he thus acquired, as well as of his extensive power, to retain the king in a sort of tutelage, which approached very near to captivity. Several open attempts were made to rescue James from this thraldom, with which he was well known to be deeply disgusted; but the valor of the Douglases, and their allies, gave them the victory in every conflict. At length, the king, while residing at Falkland, contrived to escape by night out of his own court and palace, and rode full speed to Stirling Castle, where the governor, who was of the opposite faction, joyfully received him. Being thus at liberty, James speedily summoned around him such peers as he knew to be most inimical to the domination of Angus, and laid his complaint before them, says Pitscottie, 'with great lamentations: showing to them how he was holding in subjection, thir years bygone, by the Earl of Angus, and his kin and friends, who oppressed the whole country, and spoiled it, under the pretence of justice and his authority; and had slain many of his lieges, kinsmen, and friends, because they would have had it mended at their hands, and put him at liberty, as he ought to have been, at the counsel of his whole lords, and not have been subjected and corrected with no particular men, by the rest of his nobles: Therefore, said he, I desire, my lords, that I may be satisfied of the said earl, his kin, and friends; for I avow, that Scotland shall not hold us both, while [i.e. till] I be revenged on him and his. 'The lords hearing the king's complaint and lamentation, and also the great rage, fury, and malice, that he bure toward the Earl of Angus, his kin and friends, they concluded all and thought it best, that he should be summoned to underly the law; if he fand not caution, nor yet compear himself, that he should be put to the horn, with all his kin and friends, so many as were contained in the letters. And further, the lords ordained, by advice of his majesty, that his brother and friends should be summoned to find caution to underly the law within a certain day, or else be put to the horn. But the earl appeared not, nor none for him; and so he was put to the horn, with all his kin and friends: so many as were contained in the summ …
Stanza 12, line 31 From Tweed to Spey. From the Tweed, the southern boundary of Scotland, to the Spey, a river far to the north in Invernessshire; that is, from one end of the land to the other.
Stanza 13, line 11 Reave. Tear away. The participle reft is still used, at least in poetry. Cf. Shakespeare, V. and A. 766: "Or butcher-sire that reaves his son of life" (that is, bereaves); Spenser, F. Q. i. 3. 36: "He to him lept, in minde to reave his life;" Id. ii. 8. 15: "I will him reave of arms," etc.
Stanza 13, line 19 It drinks, etc. The MS. has "No blither dewdrop cheers the rose." 195, 196. To see... dance. This couplet is not in the MS.
Stanza 14, line 21 The Lady of the Bleeding Heart. The bleeding heart was the cognizance of the Douglas family. Robert Bruce, on his death-bed, bequeathed his heart to his friend, the good Lord James, to be borne in war against the Saracens. "He joined Alphonso, King of Leon and Castile, then at war with the Moorish chief Osurga, of Granada, and in a keen contest with the Moslems he flung before him the casket containing the precious relic, crying out, 'Onward as thou wert wont, thou noble heart, Douglas will follow thee.' Douglas was slain, but his body was recovered, and also the precious casket, and in the end Douglas was laid with his ancestors, and the heart of Bruce deposited in the church of Melrose Abbey" (Burton's Hist. of Scotland).
Stanza 14, line 22 Fair. The 1st ed. (and probably the MS., though not noted by Lockhart) has "Gay."
Stanza 14, line 24 Yet is this, etc. The MS. and 1st ed. read: "This mossy rock, my friend, to me Is worth gay chair and canopy."
Stanza 14, line 26 Footstep. The reading of the 1st and other early eds.; "footsteps" in recent ones.
Stanza 14, line 27 Strathspey. A Highland dance, which takes its name from the strath, or broad valley, of the Spey (159 above).
Stanza 15, line 4 Clan-Alpine's pride. "The Siol Alpine, or race of Alpine, includes several clans who claimed descent from Kenneth McAlpine, an ancient king. These are the Macgregors, the Grants, the Mackies, the Mackinnans, the MacNabs, the MacQuarries, and the Macaulays. Their common emblem was the pine, which is now confined to the Macgregors" (Taylor).
Stanza 15, line 5 Loch Lomond. This beautiful lake, "the pride of Scottish lakes," is about 23 miles in length and 5 miles in its greatest breadth. At the southern end are many islands, one of which, Inch-Cailliach (the Island of Women, so called from a nunnery that was once upon it), was the burial-place of Clan-Alpine. See iii. 191 below.
Stanza 15, line 7 A Lennox foray. That is, a raid in the lands of the Lennox family, bordering on the southern end of Loch Lomond. On the island of Inch-Murrin, the ruins of Lennox Castle, formerly a residence of the Earls of Lennox, are still to be seen. There was another of their strongholds on the shore of the lake near Balloch, where the modern Balloch Castle now stands.
Stanza 15, line 8 Her glee. The 1st ed. misprints "his glee;" not noted in the Errata.
Stanza 15, line 11 Black Sir Roderick. Roderick Dhu, or the Black, as he was called.
Stanza 15, line 12 In Holy-Rood a knight he slew. That is, in Holyrood Palace. "This was by no means an uncommon occurrence in the Court of Scotland; nay, the presence of the sovereign himself scarcely restrained the ferocious and inveterate feuds which were the perpetual source of bloodshed among the Scottish nobility" (Scott).
Stanza 15, line 14 Courtiers give place, etc. The MS. reads: "Courtiers give place with heartless stride Of the retiring homicide."
Stanza 15, line 18 Who else, etc. The MS. has the following couplet before this line: "Who else dared own the kindred claim That bound him to thy mother's name?"
Stanza 15, line 20 The Douglas, etc. Scott says here: "The exiled state of this powerful race is not exaggerated in this and subsequent passages. The hatred of James against the race of Douglas was so inveterate, that numerous as their allies were, and disregarded as the regal authority had usually been in similar cases, their nearest friends, even in the most remote part of Scotland, durst not entertain them, unless under the strictest and closest disguise. James Douglas, son of the banished Earl of Angus, afterwards well known by the title of Earl of Morton, lurked, during the exile of his family, in the north of Scotland, under the assumed name of James Innes, otherwise James the Grieve (i.e. reve or bailiff). 'And as he bore the name,' says Godscroft, 'so did he also execute the office of a grieve or overseer of the lands and rents, the corn and cattle of him with whom he lived.' From the habits of frugality and observation which he acquired in his humble situation, the historian traces that intimate acquaintance with popular character which enabled him to rise so high in the state, and that honorable economy by which he repaired and established the shattered estates of Angus and Morton (History of the House of Douglas, Edinburgh, 1743, vol. ii. p. 160)."
Stanza 16, line 5 Guerdon. Reward; now rarely used except in poetry. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. i. 10. 59: "That glory does to them for guerdon graunt," etc.
Stanza 16, line 6 Dispensation. As Roderick and Ellen were cousins, they could not marry without a dispensation from the Pope.
Stanza 17, line 1 Orphan. Referring to child, not to she, as its position indicates.
Stanza 17, line 4 Shrouds. Shields, protects. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. i. 1. 6: "And this faire couple eke to shroud themselves were fain" (that is, from the rain). So the noun = shelter, protection; as in Shakespeare, A. and C. iii. 13. 71: "put yourself under his shroud," etc. See also on 757 below.
Stanza 17, line 10 Maronnan's cell. "The parish of Kilmaronock, at the eastern extremity of Loch Lomond, derives its name from a cell, or chapel, dedicated to Saint Maronock, or Marnock, or Maronnan, about whose sanctity very little is now remembered" (Scott). Kill = cell; as in Colmekill (Macb. ii. 4. 33), "the cell of Columba," now known as Icolmkill, or Iona.
Stanza 17, line 20 Bracklinn's thundering wave. This beautiful cascade is on the Keltie, a mile from Callander. The height of the fall is about fifty feet. "A few years ago a marriage party of Lowland peasants met with a tragic end here, two of them having tumbled into the broken, angry waters, where they had no more chance of life than if they had dropped into the crater of Hecla" (Black).
Stanza 17, line 21 Save. Unless; here followed by the subjunctive.
Stanza 17, line 24 Claymore. The word means "a large sword" (Gaelic claidheamh, sword, and more, great).
Stanza 18, line 10 Shadowy plaid and sable plume. Appropriate to Roderick Dhu. See on 220 above.
Stanza 18, line 19 Woe the while. Woe be to the time, alas the time! Cf. Shakespeare, J. C. i. 3. 82: "But, woe the while! our fathers' minds are dead," etc. See also on i. 166 above.
Stanza 18, line 22 Tine-man. "Archibald, the third Earl of Douglas, was so unfortunate in all his enterprises, that he acquired the epithet of 'tine-man,' because he tined, or lost, his followers in every battle which he fought. He was vanquished, as every reader must remember, in the bloody battle of Homildon-hill, near Wooler, where he himself lost an eye, and was made prisoner by Hotspur. He was no less unfortunate when allied with Percy, being wounded and taken at the battle of Shrewsbury. He was so unsuccessful in an attempt to beseige Roxburgh Castle, that it was called the 'Foul Raid,' or disgraceful expedition. His ill fortune left him indeed at the battle of Beauge, in France; but it was only to return with double emphasis at the subsequent action of Vernoil, the last and most unlucky of his encounters, in which he fell, with the flower of the Scottish chivalry, then serving as auxiliaries in France, and about two thousand common soldiers, A.D. 1424" (Scott).
Stanza 18, line 23 What time, etc. That is, at the time when Douglas allied himself with Percy in the rebellion against Henry IV. of England. See Shakespeare, 1 Hen. IV.
Stanza 18, line 25 Did, self unscabbarded, etc. Scott says here: "The ancient warriors, whose hope and confidence rested chiefly in their blades, were accustomed to deduce omens from them, especially from such as were supposed to have been fabricated by enchanted skill, of which we have various instances in the romances and legends of the time. The wonderful sword Skofnung, wielded by the celebrated Hrolf Kraka, was of this description. It was deposited in the tomb of the monarch at his death, and taken from thence by Skeggo, a celebrated pirate, who bestowed it upon his son-in-law, Kormak, with the following curious directions: '"The manner of using it will appear strange to you. A small bag is attached to it, which take heed not to violate. Let not the rays of the sun touch the upper part of the handle, nor unsheathe it, unless thou art ready for battle. But when thou comest to the place of fight, go aside from the rest, grasp and extend the sword, and breathe upon it. Then a small worm will creep out of the handle; lower the handle, that he may more easily return into it." Kormak, after having received the sword, returned home to his mother. He showed the sword, and attempted to draw it, as unnecessarily as ineffectually, for he could not pluck it out of the sheath. His mother, Dalla, exclaimed, "Do not despise the counsel given to thee, my son." Kormak, however, repeating his efforts, pressed down the handle with his feet, and tore off the bag, when Skofung emitted a hollow groan; but still he could not unsheathe the sword. Kormak then went out with Bessus, whom he had challenged to fight with him, and drew apart at the place of combat. He sat down upon the ground, and ungirding the sword, which he bore above his vestments, did not remember to shield the hilt from the rays of the sun. In vain he endeavored to draw it, till he placed his foot against the hilt; then the worm issued from it. But Kormak did not rightly handle the weapon, in consequence whereof good fortune deserted it. As he unsheathed Skofnung, it emitted a hollow murmur' (Bartholini de Causis Contemptae a Danis adhuc Gentilibus Mortis, Libri Tres. Hafniae, 1689, 4to, p. 574). "To the history of this sentient and prescient weapon, I beg leave to add, from memory, the following legend, for which I cannot produce any better authority. A young nobleman, of high hopes and fortune, chanced to lose his way in the town which he inhabited, the capital, if I mistake not, of a German province. He had accidentally inv …
Stanza 19, line 1 If courtly spy hath, etc. The 1st ed. has "If courtly spy, and harbored," etc. The ed. of 1821 reads "had harbored."
Stanza 19, line 9 Beltane. The first of May, when there was a Celtic festival in honor of the sun. Beltane = Beal-tein, or the fire of Beal, a Gaelic name for the sun. It was celebrated by kindling fires on the hill-tops at night, and other ceremonies, followed by dances, and merry-making. Cf. 410 below. See also The Lord of the Isles, i. 8: "The shepherd lights his belane-fire;" and Glenfinlas: "But o'er his hills, in festal day, How blazed Lord Ronald's beltane-tree!"
Stanza 19, line 13 But hark! etc. "The moving picture--the effect of the sounds--and the wild character and strong peculiar nationality of the whole procession, are given with inimitable spirit and power of expression" (Jeffrey).
Stanza 19, line 17 The canna's hoary beard. The down of the canna, or cotton-grass.
Stanza 19, line 25 Glengyle. A valley at the northern end of Lock Katrine.
Stanza 19, line 27 Brianchoil. A promontory on the northern shore of the lake.
Stanza 20, line 5 Spears, pikes, and axes. The 1st ed. and that of 1821 have Spears, but all the recent ones misprint "Spear." The "Globe" ed. has "Spear, spikes," etc.
Stanza 20, line 6 Tartans. The checkered woollen cloth so much worn in Scotland. Curiously enough, the name is not Gaelic but French. See Jamieson or Wb. Brave. Fine, beautiful; the same word as the Scottish braw. Cf. Shakespeare, Sonn. 12. 2: "And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;" Ham. ii. 2. 312: "This brave o'erhanging firmament," etc. It is often used of dress, as also is bravery (= finery); as in T. of S. iv. 3. 57: "With scarfs and fans and double change of bravery." See also Spenser, Mother Hubberds Tale, 858: "Which oft maintain'd his masters braverie" (that is, dressed as well as his master).
Stanza 20, line 14 Chanters. The pipes of the bagpipes, to which long ribbons were attached.
Stanza 20, line 20 The sounds. Misprinted "the sound" in the ed. of 1821, and all the more recent eds. that we have seen. Cf. 363 below.
Stanza 21, line 4 Those thrilling sounds, etc. Scott says here: "The connoisseurs in pipe-music affect to discover in a well-composed pibroch, the imitative sounds of march, conflict, flight, pursuit, and all the 'current of a heady fight.' To this opinion Dr. Beattie has given his suffrage, in that following elegant passage:--'A pibroch is a species of tune, peculiar, I think, to the Highlands and Western Isles of Scotland. It is performed on a bagpipe, and differs totally from all other music. Its rhythm is so irregular, and its notes, especially in the quick movement, so mixed and huddled together, that a stranger finds it impossible to reconcile his ear to it, so as to perceive its modulation. Some of these pibrochs, being intended to represent a battle, begin with a grave motion, resembling a march; then gradually quicken into the onset; run off with noisy confusion, and turbulent rapidity, to imitate the conflict and pursuit; then swell into a few flourishes of triumphant joy; and perhaps close with the wild and slow wailings of a funeral procession' (Essay on Laughter and Ludicrious Composition, chap. iii. note)."
Stanza 21, line 8 Hurrying. Referring to their, or rather to the them implied in that word.
Stanza 22, line 7 The burden bore. That is, sustained the burden, or chorus, of the song. Cf. Shakespeare, Temp. i. 2. 381: "And, sweet sprites, the burden bear."
Stanza 22, line 14 Hail to the Chief, etc. The metre of the song is dactylic; the accents being on the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th syllables. It is little used in English. Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade and Longfellow's Skeleton in Armor are familiar examples of it.
Stanza 22, line 20 Bourgeon. Bud. Cf. Fairfax, Tasso, vii. 76: When first on trees bourgeon the blossoms soft;" and Tennyson, In Memoriam, 115: "Now burgeons every maze of quick About the flowering squares," etc.
Stanza 22, line 23 Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu. "Besides his ordinary name and surname, which were chiefly used in the intercourse with the Lowlands, every Highland chief had an epithet expressive of his patriarchal dignity as head of the clan, and which was common to all his predecessors and successors, as Pharaoh to the kings of Egypt, or Arsaces to those of Parthia. This name was usually a patronymic, expressive of his descent from the founder of the family. Thus the Duke of Argyll is called MacCallum More, or the son of Colin the Great. Sometimes, however, it is derived from armorial distinctions, or the memory of some great feat; thus Lord Seaforth, as chief of the Mackenzies, or Clan-Kennet, bears the epithet of Caber-fae, or Buck's Head, as representative of Colin Fitzgerald, founder of the family, who saved the Scottish king, when endangered by a stag. But besides this title, which belonged to his office and dignity, the chieftain had usually another peculiar to himself, which distinguished him from the chieftains of the same race. This was sometimes derived from complexion, as dhu or roy; sometimes from size, as beg or more; at other times, from some peculiar exploit, or from some peculiarity of habit or appearance. The line of the text therefore signifies, Black Roderick, the descendant of Alpine. "The song itself is intended as an imitation of the jorrams, or boat songs, of the Highlanders, which were usually composed in honor of a favorite chief. They are so adapted as to keep time with the sweep of the oars, and it is easy to distinguish between those intended to be sung to the oars of a galley, where the stroke is lengthened and doubled, as it were, and those which were timed to the rowers of an ordinary boat" (Scott).
Stanza 23, line 1 Beltane. See on 319 above.
Stanza 23, line 6 Roots him. See on i. 142 above.
Stanza 23, line 7 Breadalbane. The district north of Loch Lomond and around Loch Tay. The seat of the Earl of Breadalbane is Taymouth Castle, near the northern end of Loch Tay. For Menteith, see on i. 89 above.
Stanza 23, line 10 Glen Fruin. A valley to the southwest of Loch Lomond. The ruins of the castle of Benuchara, or Bannochar (see on 422 just below), still overhang the entrance to the glen. Glen Luss is another valley draining into the lake, a few miles from Glen Fruin, and Ross-dhu is on the shore of the lake, midway between the two. Here stands a tower, the only remnant of the ancient castle of the family of Luss, which became merged in that of Colquhoun.
Stanza 23, line 13 The best of Loch Lomond, etc. Scott has the following note here: "The Lennox, as the district is called which encircles the lower extremity of Loch Lomond, was peculiarly exposed to the incursions of the mountaineers, who inhabited the inaccessible fastnesses at the upper end of the lake, and the neighboring district of Loch Katrine. These were often marked by circumstances of great ferocity, of which the noted conflict of Glen Fruin is a celebrated instance. This was a clan-battle, in which the Macgregors, headed by Allaster Macgregor, chief of the clan, encountered the sept of Colquhouns, commanded by Sir Humphry Colquhoun of Luss. It is on all hands allowed that the action was desperately fought, and that the Colquhouns were defeated with slaughter, leaving two hundred of their name dead upon the field. But popular tradition has added other horrors to the tale. It is said that Sir Humphry Colquhoun, who was on horseback, escaped to the Castle of Benechra, or Bannochar, and was next day dragged out and murdered by the victorious Macgregors in cold blood. Buchanan of Auchmar, however, speaks of his slaughter as a subsequent event, and as perpetrated by the Macfarlanes. Again, it is reported that the Macgregors murdered a number of youths, whom report of the intended battle had brought to be spectators, and whom the Colquhouns, anxious for their safety, had shut up in a barn to be out of danger. One account of the Macgregors denies this circumstance entirely; another ascribes it to the savage and bloodthirsty disposition of a single individual, the bastard brother of the Laird of Macgregor, who amused himself with this second massacre of the innocents, in express disobedience to the chief, by whom he was left their guardian during the pursuit of the Colquhouns. It is added that Macgregor bitterly lamented this atrocious action, and prophesied the ruin which it must bring upon their ancient clan. ... "The consequences of the battle of Glen Fruin were very calamitous to the family of Macgregor, who had already been considered as an unruly clan. The widows of the slain Colquhouns, sixty, it is said, in number, appeared in doleful procession before the king at Stirling, each riding upon a white palfrey, and bearing in her hand the bloody shirt of her husband displayed upon a pike. James VI. was so much moved by the complaints of this 'choir of mourning dames,' that he let loose his vengeance against the Macgregors without either bounds or moderation. The very …
Stanza 23, line 17 Leven-glen. The valley of the Leven, which connects Loch Lomond with the Clyde.
Stanza 23, line 22 The rosebud. That is, Ellen. "Note how this song connects Allan's forebodings with Roderick's subsequent offer" (Taylor).
Stanza 24, line 4 And chorus wild, etc. The MS. has "The chorus to the chieftain's fame."
Stanza 25, line 4 Weeped. The form is used for the rhyme. Cf. note on i. 500 above.
Stanza 25, line 5 Nor while, etc. The MS. reads: "Nor while on Ellen's faltering tongue Her filial greetings eager hung, Marked not that awe (affection's proof) Still held yon gentle youth aloof; No! not till Douglas named his name, Although the youth was Malcolm Graeme. Then with flushed cheek and downcast eye, Their greeting was confused and shy."
Stanza 26, line 7 Bothwell. See on 141 above.
Stanza 26, line 9 Percy's Norman pennon. Taken in the raid which led to the battle of Otterburn, in Northumberland, in the year 1388, and which forms the theme of the ballads of Chevy Chase.
Stanza 26, line 13 My pomp. My triumphal procession; the original meaning of pomp.
Stanza 26, line 16 Crescent. The badge of the Buccleuch family (Miss Yonge).
Stanza 26, line 18 Blantyre. A priory, the ruins of which are still to be seen on a height above the Clyde, opposite Bothwell Castle.

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