Or, if a path be dangerous known,

The danger's self is lure alone."

66

V.

Thy secret keep, I urge thee not ;— Yet, ore again ye sought this spot, Say, heard ye nought of Lowland war, Against Clan-Alpine, raised by Mar?"— "No, by my word;-of bands prepared To guard King James's sports I heard; Nor doubt I aught, but, when they hear This muster of the mountaineer,

Their pennons will abroad be flung,

Which else in Doune had peaceful hung.".
"Free be they flung! for we were loth
Their silken folds should feast the moth.
Free be they flung!-as free shall wave
Clan-Alpine's pine in banner brave.

But, Stranger, peaceful since you came,
Bewilder'd in the mountain game,

Whence the bold boast by which

you

Vich-Alpine's vow'd and mortal foe?"

show

"Warrior, but yester-morn, I knew Nought of thy Chieftain, Roderick Dhu, Save as an outlaw'd desperate man,

The chief of a rebellious clan,

Who, in the Regent's court and sight,
With ruffian dagger stabb'd a knight;
Yet this alone might from his part

Sever each true and loyal heart."

VI.

Wrothful at such arraignment foul,

Dark lower'd the clans-man's sable scowl.
A space he paused, then sternly said,-.
"And heard'st thou why he drew his blade?
Heard'st thou that shameful word and blow
Brought Roderick's vengeance on his foe?

What reck'd the Chieftain if he stood

On Highland heath, or Holy-Rood?

He rights such wrong where it is given,

If it were in the court of heaven."

Still was it outrage ;—yet, 'tis true,

Not then claim'd sovereignty his due;
While Albany, with feeble hand,

Held borrow'd truncheon of command,
The young King, mew'd in Stirling tower,
Was stranger to respect and power.
But then, thy Chieftain's robber life!-
Winning mean prey by causeless strife,
Wrenching from ruin'd Lowland swain
His herds and harvest rear'd in vain,-
Methinks a soul, like thine, should scorn
The spoils from such foul foray borne.".

VII.

The Gael beheld him grim the while,
And answer'd with disdainful smile,—
"Saxon, from yonder mountain high,
I mark'd thee send delighted eye,

Far to the south and east, where lay,
Extended in succession gay,

Deep waving fields and pastures green,

With gentle slopes and groves between :— These fertile plains, that soften d vale, Were once the birth-right of the Gael; The stranger came with iron hand,

And from our fathers reft the land.

Where dwell we now! See, rudely swell
Crag over crag, and fell o'er fell.

Ask we this savage hill we tread,

For fatten'd steer or household bread;
Ask we for flocks these shingles dry,
And well the mountain might reply,-
'To you, as to your sires of yore,
Belong the target and claymore!

I give you shelter in my breast,

Your own good blades must win the rest.’—

Pent in this fortress of the North,

Think'st thou we will not sally forth,

To spoil the spoiler as we may,

And from the robber rend the prey?
Aye, by my soul!-While on yon plain
The Saxon rears one shock of grain ;
While, of ten thousand herds, there strays
But one along yon river's maze,—

The Gael, of plain and river heir,

Shall, with strong hand, redeem his share.
Where live the mountain Chiefs who hold,
That plundering Lowland field and fold
Is aught but retribution true?

Seek other cause 'gainst Roderick Dhu.".

VIII.

Answer'd Fitz-James,-" And, if I sought,

Think'st thou no other could be brought? What deem ye of my path way-laid?

My life given o'er to ambuscade ?"

"As of a meed to rashness due:

Hadst thou sent warning fair and true,