Part 10 (2/2)

'Tis Ellen, or an angel, sings.

XXIX

HYMN TO THE VIRGIN

_Ave Maria!_ maiden mild!

Listen to a maiden's prayer!

Thou canst hear though from the wild, 715 Thou canst save amid despair.

Safe may we sleep beneath thy care, Though banished, outcast, and reviled-- Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer; Mother, hear a suppliant child! 720 _Ave Maria!_ _Ave Maria!_ undefiled!

The flinty couch we now must share Shall seem with down of eider piled, If thy protection hover there. 725 The murky cavern's heavy air Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled; Then, Maiden! hear a maiden's prayer; Mother, list a suppliant child!

_Ave Maria!_ 730 _Ave Maria!_ stainless styled!

Foul demons of the earth and air, From this their wonted haunt exiled, Shall flee before thy presence fair.

We bow us to our lot of care, 735 Beneath thy guidance reconciled; Hear for a maid a maiden's prayer, And for a father hear a child!

_Ave Maria!_

x.x.x

Died on the harp the closing hymn-- 740 Unmoved in att.i.tude and limb, As listening still, Clan-Alpine's lord Stood leaning on his heavy sword, Until the page, with humble sign, Twice pointed to the sun's decline. 745 Then while his plaid he round him cast, ”It is the last time--'tis the last,”

He muttered thrice, ”the last time e'er That angel voice shall Roderick hear!”

It was a goading thought--his stride 750 Hied hastier down the mountain side; Sullen he flung him in the boat, And instant 'cross the lake it shot.

They landed in that silvery bay, And eastward held their hasty way, 755 Till, with the latest beams of light, The band arrived on Lanrick height, Where mustered, in the vale below, Clan-Alpine's men in martial show.

x.x.xI

A various scene the clansmen made, 760 Some sat, some stood, some slowly strayed; But most with mantles folded round, Were couched to rest upon the ground, Scarce to be known by curious eye, From the deep heather where they lie, 765 So well was matched the tartan screen With heath-bell dark and brackens green, Unless where, here and there, a blade, Or lance's point, a glimmer made, Like glow-worm twinkling through the shade. 770 But when, advancing through the gloom, They saw the Chieftain's eagle plume, Their shout of welcome, shrill and wide, Shook the steep mountain's steady side.

Thrice it arose, and lake and fell 775 Three times returned the martial yell; It died upon Bochastle's plain, And Silence claimed her evening reign.

CANTO FOURTH

THE PROPHECY

I

”The rose is fairest when 'tis budding new, And hope is brightest when it dawns from fears; The rose is sweetest washed with morning dew, And love is loveliest when embalmed in tears.

O wilding rose, whom fancy thus endears, 5 I bid your blossoms in my bonnet wave, Emblem of hope and love through future years!”

Thus spake young Norman, heir of Armandave, What time the sun arose on Vennachar's broad wave.

II

Such fond conceit, half said, half sung, 10 Love prompted to the bridegroom's tongue.

All while he stripped the wild-rose spray, His ax and bow beside him lay, For on a pa.s.s 'twixt lake and wood, A wakeful sentinel he stood. 15 Hark! on the rock a footstep rung, And instant to his arms he sprung.

”Stand, or thou diest!--What, Malise?--soon Art thou returned from Braes of Doune.

By thy keen step and glance I know, 20 Thou bring'st us tidings of the foe.”

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