the lady of the lake-第13部分

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rost。'　'Art　thou　a　friend　to　Roderick？'　'No。'　'Thou　dar'st　not　call　thyself　a　foe？'　'I　dare！　to　him　and　all　the　band　He　brings　to　aid　his　murderous　hand。'　'Bold　words！but；　though　the　beast　of　game　The　privilege　of　chase　may　claim；　Though　space　and　law　the　stag　we　lend　Ere　hound　we　slip　or　bow　we　bend　Who　ever　recked；　where；　how；　or　when；　The　prowling　fox　was　trapped　or　slain？　Thus　treacherous　scouts；yet　sure　they　lie　Who　say　thou　cam'st　a　secret　spy！'　'They　do；　by　heaven！come　Roderick　Dhu　And　of　his　clan　the　boldest　two　And　let　me　but　till　morning　rest；　I　write　the　falsehood　on　their　crest。'　If　by　the　blaze　I　mark　aright　Thou　bear'st　the　belt　and　spur　of　Knight。'　'Then　by　these　tokens　mayst　thou　know　Each　proud　oppressor's　mortal　foe。'　'Enough；　enough；　sit　down　and　share　A　soldier's　couch。　a　soldier　's　fare。'


XXXI。。

He　gave　him　of　his　Highland　cheer；　The　hardened　flesh　of　mountain　deer；　Dry　fuel　on　the　fire　he　laid；　And　bade　the　Saxon　share　his　plaid。　He　tended　him　like　welcome　guest；　Then　thus　his　further　speech　addressed：　'Stranger；　I　am　to　Roderick　Dhu　A　clansman　born；　a　kinsman　true；　Each　word　against　his　honour　spoke　Demands　of　me　avenging　stroke；　Yet　more；upon　thy　fate；　'tis　said；　A　mighty　augury　is　laid。　It　rests　with　me　to　wind　my　horn；　Thou　art　with　numbers　overborne；　It　rests　with　me；　here；　brand　to　brand；　Worn　as　thou　art；　to　bid　thee　stand：　But；　not　for　clan；　nor　kindred's　cause；　Will　I　depart　from　honour's　laws；　To　assail　a　wearied　man　were　shame；　And　stranger　is　a　holy　name；　Guidance　and　rest；　and　food　and　fire；　In　vain　he　never　must　require。　Then　rest　thee　here　till　dawn　of　day；　Myself　will　guide　thee　on　the　way；　O'er　stock　and　stone；　through　watch　and　ward；　Till　past　Clan…　Alpine's　outmost　guard；　As　far　as　Coilantogle's　ford；　From　thence　thy　warrant　is　thy　sword。'　'I　take　thy　courtesy；　by　heaven；　　As　freely　as　'tis　nobly　given！　'　Well；　rest　thee；　for　the　bittern's　cry　Sings　us　the　lake's　wild　lullaby。'　With　that　he　shook　the　gathered　heath；　And　spread　his　plaid　upon　the　wreath；　And　the　brave　foemen；　side　by　side；　Lay　peaceful　down　like　brothers　tried；　And　slept　until　the　dawning　beam　Purpled　the　mountain　and　the　stream。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CANTO　FIFTH。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Combat。



I。

Fair　as　the　earliest　beam　of　eastern　light；　　　　　　When　first；　by　the　bewildered　pilgrim　spied；　It　smiles　upon　the　dreary　brow　of　night　　　　　　And　silvers　o'er　the　torrent's　foaming　tide　And　lights　the　fearful　path　on　mountain…side；　　　　　　Fair　as　that　beam；　although　the　fairest　far；　Giving　to　horror　grace；　to　danger　pride；　　　　　　Shine　martial　Faith；　and　Courtesy's　bright　star　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　try；　And　then　awaked　their　fire；　to　steal；　As　short　and　rude；　their　soldier　meal。　That　o'er；　the　Gael　around　him　threw　His　graceful　plaid　of　varied　hue；　And；　true　to　promise；　led　the　way；　By　thicket　green　and　mountain　gray。　A　wildering　path！they　winded　now　Along　the　precipice's　brow；　Commanding　the　rich　scenes　beneath；　The　windings　of　the　Forth　and　Teith；　And　all　the　vales　between　that　lie。　Till　Stirling's　turrets　melt　in　sky；　Then；　sunk　in　copse；　their　farthest　glance　Gained　not　the　length　of　horseman's　lance。　'Twas　oft　so　steep；　the　foot　was　as　fain　Assistance　from　the　hand　to　gain；　So　tangled　oft　that；　bursting　through；　Each　hawthorn　shed　her　showers　of　dew；　That　diamond　dew；　so　pure　and　clear；　It　rivals　all　but　Beauty's　tear！


III。

At　length　they　came　where；　stern　and　steep；　The　hill　sinks　down　upon　the　deep。　Here　Vennachar　in　silver　flows；　There；　ridge　on　ridge；　Benledi　rose；　Ever　the　hollow　path　twined　on；　Beneath　steep　hank　and　threatening　stone；　A　hundred　men　might　hold　the　post　With　hardihood　against　a　host。　The　rugged　mountain's　scanty　cloak　　Was　dwarfish　shrubs　of　birch　and　oak　　With　shingles　bare；　and　cliffs　between　And　patches　bright　of　bracken　green；　And　heather　black；　that　waved　so　high；　It　held　the　copse　in　rivalry。　But　where　the　lake　slept　deep　and　still　Dank　osiers　fringed　the　swamp　and　hill；　And　oft　both　path　and　hill　were　torn　Where　wintry　torrent　down　had　borne　And　heaped　upon　the　cumbered　land　Its　wreck　of　gravel；　rocks；　and　sand。　So　toilsome　was　the　road　to　trace　The　guide；　abating　of　his　pace；　Led　slowly　through　the　pass's　jaws　And　asked　Fitz…James　by　what　strange　cause　He　sought　these　wilds；　traversed　by　few　Without　a　pass　from　Roderick　Dhu。


IV。

'Brave　Gael；　my　pass；　in　danger　tried　　Hangs　in　my　belt　and　by　my　side　　Yet；　sooth　to　tell；'　the　Saxon　said；　'I　dreamt　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　warrior　thou；　and　ask　me　why！　Moves　our　free　course　by　such　fixed　cause　As　gives　the　poor　mechanic　laws？　Enough；　I　sought　to　drive　away　The　lazy　hours　of　peaceful　day；　Slight　cause　will　then　suffice　to　guide　A　Knight's　free　footsteps　far　and　wide；　A　falcon　flown；　a　greyhound　strayed；　The　merry　glance　of　mountain　maid；　Or；　if　a　path　be　dangerous　known；　The　danger's　self　is　lure　alone。'


V。

'Thy　secret　keep；　I　urge　thee　not；　　Yet；　ere　again　ye　sought　this　spot；　Say；　heard　ye　naught　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　loath　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；　Bewildered　in　the　mountain…game；　Whence　the　bold　boast　by　which　you　show　Vich…Alpine's　vowed　and　mortal　foe？　'　'Warrior；　but　yester…morn　I　knew　Naught　of　thy　Chieftain；　Roderick　Dhu；　Save　as　an　outlawed　desperate　man；　The　chief　of　a　rebellious　clan；　Who；　in　the　Regent's　court　and　sight；　With　ruffian　dagger　stabbed　a　knight；　Yet　this　alone　might　from　his　part　Sever　each　true　and　loyal　heart。'


VI。

Wrathful　at　such　arraignment　foul；　Dark　lowered　the　clansman's　sable　scowl。　A　space　he　paused；　then　sternly　said；　'And　heardst　thou　why　he　drew　his　blade？　Heardst　thou　that　shameful　word　and　blow　Brought　Roderick's　vengeance　on　his　foe？　What　recked　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　claimed　sovereignty　his　due；　While　Albany　with　feeble　hand　Held　borrowed　truncheon　of　command；　The　young　King；　mewed　in　Stirling　tower；　Was　stranger　to　respect　and　power。　But　then；　thy　Chieftain's　robber　life！　Winning　mean　prey　by　causeless　strife；　Wrenching　from　ruined　Lowland　swain　His　herds　and　harvest　reared　in　vain；　　Methinks　a　soul　like　shine　should　scorn　The　spoils　from　such　foul　foray　borne。'


VII。

The　Gael　beheld　him　grim　the　while；　And　answered　with　disdainful　smile：　'Saxon；　from　yonder　mountain　high；　I　marked　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　softened　vale；　Were　once　the　birthright　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　fattened　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？　Ay；　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。

Answered　Fitz…James：　'And；　if　I　sought；　Think'st　thou　no　other　could　be　brought？　What　deem　ye　of　my　path　waylaid？　My　life　given　o'er　to　ambuscade？'　'As　of　a　meed　to　rashness　due：　Hadst　thou　sent　warning　fair　and　true；　I　seek　my　hound　or　falcon　strayed；　I　seek；　good　faith；　a　Highland　maid；　Free　hadst　thou　been　to　come　and　go；　But　secret　path　marks　secret　foe。　Nor　yet　for　this；　even　as　a　spy；　Hadst　thou；　unheard；　been　doomed　to　die；　Save　to　fulfil　an　augury。'　'Well；　let　it　pass；　nor　will　I　now　Fresh　cause　of　enmity　avow　To　chafe　thy　mood　and　cloud　thy　brow。　Enough；　I　am　by　promise　tied　To　match　me　with　this　man　of　pride：　Twice　have　I　sought　Clan…Alpine's　glen　In　peace；　but　when　I　come　again；　I　come　with　banner；　brand；　and　bow；　As　leader　seeks　his　mortal　foe。　For　love…lore　swain　in　lady's　bower　Ne'er　panted　for　the　appointed　hour　As　I；　until　before　me　stand　This　rebel　Chieftain　and　his　band！'


IX。

'Have　then　thy　wish！'He　whistled　shrill　And　he　was　answered　from　the　hill；　Wild　as　the　scream　of　the　curlew；　From　crag　to　crag　the　signal　flew。　Instant；　through　copse　and　heath；　arose　Bonnets　and　spears　and　bended　bows　On　right；　on　left；；　above；　below；　Sprung　up　at　once　the　lurking　foe；　From　shingles　gray　their　lances　start；　The　bracken　bush　sends　forth　the　dart；　The　rushes　and　the　willow…wand　Are　bristling　into　axe　and　brand；　And　every　tuft　of　broom　gives　life　'To　plaided　warrior　armed　for　strife。　That　whistle　garrisoned　the　glen　At　once　with　full　five　hundred　men；　As　if　the　yawning　hill　to　heaven　A　subterranean　host　had　given。　Watching　their　leader's　beck　and　will；　All　silent　there　they　stood　and　still。　Like　the　loose　crags　whose　threatening　mass　Lay　totteri