the lady of the lake-第14部分

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will；　All　silent　there　they　stood　and　still。　Like　the　loose　crags　whose　threatening　mass　Lay　tottering　o'er　the　hollow　pass；　As　if　an　infant's　touch　could　urge　Their　headlong　passage　down　the　verge；　With　step　and　weapon　forward　flung；　Upon　the　mountain…side　they　hung。　The　Mountaineer　cast　glance　of　pride　Along　Benledi's　living　side；　Then　fixed　his　eye　and　sable　brow　Full　on　Fitz…James：　'How　say'st　thou　now？　These　are　Clan…Alpine's　warriors　true；　And；　Saxon；I　am　Roderick　Dhu！'


X。

Fitz…James　was　brave：though　to　his　heart　The　life…blood　thrilled　with　sudden　start；　He　manned　himself　with　dauntless　air；　Returned　the　Chief　his　haughty　stare；　His　back　against　a　rock　he　bore；　And　firmly　placed　his　foot　before：　'Come　one；　come　all！　this　rock　shall　fly　From　its　firm　base　as　soon　as　I。'　Sir　Roderick　marked；and　in　his　eyes　Respect　was　mingled　with　surprise；　And　the　stern　joy　which　warriors　feel　In　foeman　worthy　of　their　steel。　Short　space　he　stoodthen　waved　his　hand：　Down　sunk　the　disappearing　band；　Each　warrior　vanished　where　he　stood；　In　broom　or　bracken；　heath　or　wood；　Sunk　brand　and　spear　and　bended　bow；　In　osiers　pale　and　copses　low；　It　seemed　as　if　their　mother　Earth　　Had　swallowed　up　her　warlike　birth。　The　wind's　last　breath　had　tossed　in　air　Pennon　and　plaid　and　plumage　fair；　The　next　but　swept　a　lone　hill…side　Where　heath　and　fern　were　waving　wide：　The　sun's　last　glance　was　glinted　back　From　spear　and　glaive；　from　targe　and　jack；　The　next；　all　unreflected；　shone　On　bracken　green　and　cold　gray　stone。


XI。

Fitz…James　looked　rolmd；yet　scarce　believed　The　witness　that　his　sight　received；　Such　apparition　well　might　seem　Delusion　of　a　dreadful　dream。　Sir　Roderick　in　suspense　he　eyed；　And　to　his　look　the　Chief　replied：　'Fear　naughtnay；　that　I　need　not　say　　Butdoubt　not　aught　from　mine　array。　Thou　art　my　guest；I　pledged　my　word　As　far　as　Coilantogle　ford：　Nor　would　I　call　a　clansman's　brand　For　aid　against　one　valiant　hand；　Though　on　our　strife　lay　every　vale　Rent　by　the　Saxon　from　the　Gael。　So　move　we　on；I　only　meant　To　show　the　reed　on　which　you　leant；　Deeming　this　path　you　might　pursue　Without　a　pass　from　Roderick　Dhu。'　They　moved；I　said　Fitz…James　was　brave　As　ever　knight　that　belted　glaive；　Yet　dare　not　say　that　now　his　blood　Kept　on　its　wont　and　tempered　flood；　As；　following　Roderick's　stride；　he　drew　That　seeming　lonesome　pathway　through；　Which　yet　by　fearful　proof　was　rife　With　lances；　that；　to　take　his　life；　Waited　but　signal　from　a　guide；　So　late　dishonored　and　defied。　Ever；　by　stealth；　his　eye　sought　round　The　vanished　guardians　of　the　ground；　And　stir＇　from　copse　and　heather　deep　Fancy　saw　spear　and　broadsword　peep；　And　in　the　plover's　shrilly　strain　The　signal　whistle　heard　again。　Nor　breathed　he　free　till　far　behind　The　pass　was　left；　for　then　they　wind　Along　a　wide　and　level　green；　Where　neither　tree　nor　tuft　was　seen；　Nor　rush　nor　bush　of　broom　was　near；　To　hide　a　bonnet　or　a　spear。


XII。

The　Chief　in　silence　strode　before；　And　reached　that　torrent's　sounding　shore；　Which；　daughter　of　three　mighty　lakes；　From　Vennachar　in　silver　breaks；　Sweeps　through　the　plain；　and　ceaseless　mines　On　Bochastle　the　mouldering　lines；　Where　Rome；　the　Empress　of　the　world；　Of　yore　her　eagle　wings　unfurled。　And　here　his　course　the　Chieftain　stayed；　Threw　down　his　target　and　his　plaid；　And　to　the　Lowland　warrior　said：　'Bold　Saxon！　to　his　promise　just；　Vich…Alpine　has　discharged　his　trust。　This　murderous　Chief；　this　ruthless　man；　This　head　of　a　rebellious　clan；　Hath　led　thee　safe；　through　watch　and　ward；　Far　past　Clan…Alpine's　outmost　guard。　Now；　man　to　man；　and　steel　to　steel；　　A　Chieftain's　vengeance　thou　shalt　feel。　See；　here　all　vantageless　I　stand；　Armed　like　thyself　with　single　brand；　　For　this　is　Coilantogle　ford；　And　thou　must　keep　thee　with　thy　sword。'


XIII。

The　Saxon　paused：　'I　ne'er　delayed；　When　foeman　bade　me　draw　my　blade；　Nay　more；　brave　Chief；　I　vowed　thy　death；　Yet　sure　thy　fair　and　generous　faith；　And　my　deep　debt　for　life　preserved；　A　better　meed　have　well　deserved：　Can　naught　but　blood　our　feud　atone？　Are　there　no　means？''　No；　stranger；　none！　And　hear；to　fire　thy　flagging　zeal；　The　Saxon　cause　rests　on　thy　steel；　For　thus　spoke　Fate　by　prophet　bred　Between　the　living　and　the　dead：〃　Who　spills　the　foremost　foeman's　life；　His　party　conquers　in　the　strife。〃'　'Then；　by　my　word；'　the　Saxon　said；　〃The　riddle　is　already　read。　Seek　yonder　brake　beneath　the　cliff；　There　lies　Red　Murdoch；　stark　and　stiff。　Thus　Fate　hath　solved　her　prophecy；　Then　yield　to　Fate；　and　not　to　me。　To　James　at　Stirling　let　us　go；　When；　if　thou　wilt　be　still　his　foe；　Or　if　the　King　shall　not　agree　To　grant　thee　grace　and　favor　free；　I　plight　mine　honor；　oath；　and　word　That；　to　thy　native　strengths　restored；　With　each　advantage　shalt　thou　stand　That　aids　thee　now　to　guard　thy　land。'


XIV。

Dark　lightning　flashed　from　Roderick's　eye：　'Soars　thy　presumption；　then；　so　high；　Because　a　wretched　kern　ye　slew；　Homage　to　name　to　Roderick　Dhu？　He　yields　not；　he；　to　man　nor　Fate！　Thou　add'st　but　fuel　to　my　hate；　My　clansman's　blood　demands　revenge。　Not　yet　prepared？By　heaven；　I　change　My　thought；　and　hold　thy　valor　light　As　that　of　some　vain　carpet　knight；　Who　ill　deserved　my　courteous　care；　And　whose　best　boast　is　but　to　wear　A　braid　of　his　fair　lady's　hair。'　'I　thank　thee；　Roderick；　for　the　word！　It　nerves　my　heart；　it　steels　my　sword；　For　I　have　sworn　this　braid　to　stain　In　the　best　blood　that　warms　thy　vein。　Now；　truce；　farewell！　and；　rush；　begone！　Yet　think　not　that　by　thee　alone；　Proud　Chief！　can　courtesy　be　shown；　Though　not　from　copse；　or　heath；　or　cairn；　Start　at　my　whistle　clansmen　stern；　Of　this　small　horn　one　feeble　blast　Would　fearful　odds　against　thee　cast。　But　fear　not　　doubt　notwhich　thou　wilt　　We　try　this　quarrel　hilt　to　hilt。'　Then　each　at　once　his　falchion　drew；　Each　on　the　ground　his　scabbard　threw　Each　looked　to　sun　and　stream　and　plain　As　what　they　ne'er　might　see　again；　Then　foot　and　point　and　eye　opposed；　In　dubious　strife　they　darkly　closed。


XV。

Ill　fared　it　then　with　Roderick　Dhu；　That　on　the　field　his　targe　he　threw；　Whose　brazen　studs　and　tough　bull…hide　Had　death　so　often　dashed　aside；　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。　Three　times　in　closing　strife　they　stood　　And　thrice　the　Saxon　blade　drank　blood；　No　stinted　draught；　no　scanty　tide；　　The　gushing　flood　the　tartars　dyed。　Fierce　Roderick　felt　the　fatal　drain；　And　showered　his　blows　like　wintry　rain；　And；　as　firm　rock　or　castle…roof　Against　the　winter　shower　is　proof；　The　foe；　invulnerable　still；　Foiled　his　wild　rage　by　steady　skill；　Till；　at　advantage　ta'en；　his　brand　Forced　Roderick's　weapon　from　his　hand；　And　backward　borne　upon　the　lea；　Brought　the　proud　Chieftain　to　his　knee。


XVI。

Now　yield　thee；　or　by　Him　who　made　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　recked　not　of　a　wound；　And　locked　his　arms　his　foeman　round。　Now；　gallant　Saxon；　hold　shine　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。　The　Chieftain's　gripe　his　throat　compressed；　His　knee　was　planted　on　his　breast；　His　clotted　locks　he　backward　threw；　Across　his　brow　his　hand　he　drew；　From　blood　and　mist　to　clear　his　sight；　Then　gleamed　aloft　his　dagger　bright！　But　hate　and　fury　ill　supplied　The　stream　of　life's　exhausted　tide；　And　all　too　late　the　advantage　came；　To　turn　the　odds　of　deadly　game；　For；　while　the　dagger　gleamed　on　high；　Reeled　soul　and　sense；　reeled　brain　and　eye。　Down　came　the　blow！　but　in　the　heath　The　erring　blade　found　bloodless　sheath。　The　struggling　foe　may　now　unclasp　The　fainting　Chief's　relaxing　grasp；　Unwounded　from　the　dreadful　close；　But　breathless　all；　Fitz…James　arose。


XVII。

He　faltered　thanks　to　Heaven　for　life；　Redeemed；　unhoped；　from　desperate　strife；　Next　on　his　foe　his　look　he　cast；　Whose　every　gasp　appeared　his　last　In　Roderick's　gore　he　dipped　the　braid；　'Poor　Blanche！　thy　wrongs　are　dearly　paid；　Yet　with　thy　foe　must　die；　or　live；　The　praise　that　faith　and　valor　give。'　With　that　he　blew　a　bugle　note；　Undid　the　collar　from　his　throat；　Unbonneted；　and　by　the　wave　Sat　down　his　brow　and　hands　to　rave。　Then　faint　afar　are　heard　the　feet　Of　rushing　steeds　in　gallop　fleet；　The　sounds　increase；　and　now　are　seen　Four　mounted　squires　in　Lincoln　green；　Two　who　bear　lance；　and　two　who　lead　By　loosened　rein　a　saddled　steed；　Each　onward　held　his　headlong　course；　And　by　Fitz…James　reined　up　his　horse；　With　wonder　viewed　the　bloody　spot；　'Exclaim　not；　gallants　'　question　not。　You；　Herbert　and　Luffness；　alight　And　bind　the　wounds　of　yonder　knight；　Let　the　gray　palfrey　bear　his　weight；　We　destined　for　a　fairer　freight；　And　bring　him　on　to　Stirling　straight；　I　will　before　at　better　speed；　　To　seek　fresh　horse　and　fitting　weed。　The　sun　rides　high；I　must　be　boune　　To　see　the　archer…game　at　noon；　But　lightly　Bayard　clears　the　lea。　De　Vaux　and　Herries。　follow　me。


XVIII。

'Stand；　Bayard；　stand！　'the　steed　obeyed；　With　arching　neck　and　bended　head；　And　glancing　eye　and　quivering　ear；　As　if　he　loved　his　lord　to　hear。　No　foot　Fitz…James　in　stirrup　stayed；　No　grasp　upon　the　saddle　laid；　But　wreathed　his　left　hand　in　the　mane；　And　lightly　bounded　from　the　plain；　Turned　on　the　horse　his　armed　heel；　And　stirred　his　courage　with　the　steel。　Bounded　the　fiery　steed　in　air；　The　rider　sat　erect　and　fair；　Then　like　a　bolt　from　steel　crossbow　Forth　launched；　along　the　plain　they　go。　They　dashed　that　rapid　torrent　through；　And　up　Carhonie's　hill　they　flew；　Still　at　the　gallop　pricked　the　Knight；　His　merrymen　followed　as　they　might。　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　tow