Walter Scott

Name: The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth
Author: Walter Scott

The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (1810)

Summary

“The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth”, published in 1810, is a work by Walter Scott. It explores elements such as Craig-Forth, Sassenach and Lowlanders.

Quotes from The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (Walter Scott)

Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (1810)

“ The world, thy heart's blood dyes my blade!"—
"Thy threats, thy mercy, I defy!
Let recreant yield, who fears to die."—
Like adder darting from his coil,
Like wolf that dashes through the toil,
Like mountain-cat who guards her young,
Full at Fitz-James's throat he sprung,
Received, but reck'd not of a wound,
And locked his arms his foeman round.—
Now, gallant Saxon, hold thine own!
No maiden's hand is round thee thrown!
That desperate grasp thy frame might feel,
Through bars of brass and triple steel!—
They tug, they strain!—down, down, they go,
The Gael above, Fitz-James below. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (1810)

“ IV.
"Brave Gael, my pass, in danger tried,
Hangs in my belt, and by my side;
Yet, sooth to tell," the Saxon said,
"I dreamed not now to claim its aid.
When here, but three days since, I came,
Bewildered in pursuit of game,
All seemed as peaceful and as still,
As the mist slumbering on yon hill;
Thy dangerous Chief was then afar,
Nor soon expected back from war.
Thus said, at least, my mountain guide,
Though deep, perchance, the villain lied."—
"Yet why a second venture try?"—
"A warior thou, and ask me why!—
Moves our free course by such fixed cause,
As gives the poor mechanic laws? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (1810)

“ 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? ”

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Source: Wikisource

Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (1810)

“ For, trained abroad his arms to wield,
Fitz-James's blade was sword and shield.
He practised every pass and ward,
To thrust, to strike, to feint, to guard;
While less expert, though stronger far,
The Gael maintained unequal war. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (1810)

“ Thou art my guest;—I pledged my word
As far as Coilantogle ford:
Nor would I call a clans-man's brand
For aid against one valiant hand,
Though on our strife lay every vale
Rent by the Saxon from the Gael. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (1810)

“ Through all the wreckful storms that cloud the brow of War.
II.
That early beam, so fair and sheen,
Was twinkling through the hazel screen,
When, rousing at its glimmer red,
The warriors left their lowly bed,
Looked out upon the dappled sky.
Muttered their soldier matins by,
And then awaked their fire, to steal,
As short and rude, their soldier meal.
That o'er, the Gael [1] around him threw
His graceful plaid of varied hue,
And, true to promise, led the way,
By thicket green and mountain grey. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (1810)

“ Along thy banks, swift Teith! they ride,
And in the race they mock thy tide,
Torry and Lendrick now are past,
And Deanstown lies behind them cast;
They rise, the bannered towers of Doune,
They sink in distant woodland soon;
Blair-Drummond sees the hoofs strike fire,
They sweep like breeze through Ochtertyre;
They mark just glance and disappear
The lofty brow of ancient Kier;
They bathe their coursers' sweltering sides,
Dark Forth! amid thy sluggish tides,
And on the opposing shore take ground,
With plash, with scramble, and with bound.
Right hand they leave thy cliffs, Craig-Forth! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (1810)

“ END OF CANTO FIFTH.
↑ The Scottish Highlander calls himself Gael, or Gaul, and terms the Lowlanders, Sassenach, or Saxons. ↑ An eminence on the north-east of the castle, where state criminals were executed. See Note. ↑ Stabbed by James II. in Stirling Castle. ”

Walter Scott

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Quotes from The Lady of the Lake — Canto Fifth (Walter Scott)

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