Walter Scott

“ The dun deer's hide for canopy;
Where oft her noble father shared
The simple meal her care prepared,
While Lufra, crouching by her side,
Her station claimed with jealous pride,
And Douglas, bent on woodland game,
Spoke of the chase to Malcolm Græme,
Whose answer, oft at random made,
The wandering of his thoughts betrayed.—
Those who such simple joys have known
Are taught to prize them when they're gone.
But sudden, see, she lifts her head!
The window seeks with cautious tread.
What distant music has the power
To win her in this woeful hour! ”

“ Slow on the harp his hand he laid;
But soon remembrance of the sight
He witnessed from the mountain's height,
With what old Bertram told at night,
Awakened the full power of song.
And bore him in career along;—
As shallop launched on river's tide,
That slow and fearful leaves the side,
But, when it feels the middle stream,
Drives downward swift as lightning's beam. ”

“ Makes clansmen vassals to a lord:
Yet kind my noble landlord's part,—
God bless the house of Beaudesert!
And, but I loved to drive the deer,
More than to guide the labouring steer,
I had not dwelt an outcast here. ”

“ I see,' he cried, 'their column shake.—
⁠Now, gallants! for your ladies' sake,
⁠Upon them with the lance!'—
The horsemen dashed among the route,
⁠As deer break through the broom;
Their steeds are stout, their swords are out,
They soon make lightsome room. ”

“ Upon her eyrie nods the erne,
⁠The deer has sought the brake;
The small birds will not sing aloud,
⁠The springing trout lies still,
So darkly glooms yon thunder cloud,
That swathes, as with a purple shroud,
⁠Benledi's distant hill. ”

“ Our vicar thus preaches—and why should he not?
For the dues of his cure are the placket and pot;
And 'tis right of his office poor laymen to lurch,
Who infringe the domains of our good mother Church. ”

“ And closely shouldering side to side,
The bristling ranks the onset bide.—
—'We'll quell the savage mountaineer,
⁠As their Tinchel [2] cows the game!
They come as fleet as forest deer,
⁠We'll drive them back as tame.' ”

“ Kindled 'gainst him, who, for her sire,
Rebellious broad-sword boldly drew;
And, to her generous feeling true,
She craved the grace of Roderick Dhu.—
"Forbear thy suit:—the King of Kings
Alone can stay life's parting wings. ”

“ END OF CANTO SIXTH.
↑ A Bacchanalian interjection, borrowed from the Dutch. ↑ A circle of sportsmen, who, by surrounding a great space, and gradually narrowing, brought immense quantities of deer together, which usually made desperate efforts to break through the Tinchel. ”