the lady of the lake-第15部分

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e；　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！　And　soon　the　bulwark　of　the　North；　Gray　Stirling；　with　her　towers　and　town；　Upon　their　fleet　career　looked　clown。


XIX。

As　up　the　flinty　path　they　strained；　Sudden　his　steed　the　leader　reined；　A　signal　to　his　squire　he　flung；　Who　instant　to　his　stirrup　sprung：　'Seest　thou；　De　Vaux；　yon　woodsman　gray；　Who　townward　holds　the　rocky　way；　Of　stature　tall　and　poor　array？　Mark'st　thou　the　firm；　yet　active　stride；　With　which　he　scales　the　mountain…side？　Know'st　thou　from　whence　he　comes；　or　whom？'　'No；　by　my　word；a　burly　groom　He　seems；　who　in　the　field　or　chase　A　baron's　train　would　nobly　grace'　'Out；　out；　De　Vaux！　can　fear　supply；　And　jealousy；　no　sharper　eye？　Afar；　ere　to　the　hill　he　drew；　That　stately　form　and　step　I　knew；　Like　form　in　Scotland　is　not　seen；　Treads　not　such　step　on　Scottish　green。　'Tis　James　of　Douglas；　by　Saint　Serle！　The　uncle　of　the　banished　Earl。　Away；　away；　to　court；　to　show　The　near　approach　of　dreaded　foe：　The　King　must　stand　upon　his　guard；　Douglas　and　he　must　meet　prepared。'　Then　right…hand　wheeled　their　steeds；　and　straight　They　won　the　Castle's　postern　gate。


XX。

The　Douglas；　who　had　bent　his　way　From　Cambus…kenneth's　abbey　gray；　Now；　as　he　climbed　the　rocky　shelf；　Held　sad　communion　with　himself：　'Yes！　all　is　true　my　fears　could　frame；　A　prisoner　lies　the　nob＇e　Graeme；　And　fiery　Roderick　soon　will　feel　The　vengeance　of　the　royal　steel。　I；　only　I；　can　ward　their　fate；　God　grant　the　ransom　come　not　late！　The　Abbess　hath　her　promise　given；　My　child　shall　be　the　bride　of　Heaven；　Be　pardoned　one　repining　tear！　For　He　who　gave　her　knows　how　dear；　How　excellent！but　that　is　by；　And　now　my　business　isto　die。　Ye　towers！　within　whose　circuit　dread　A　Douglas　by　his　sovereign　bled；　And　thou；　O　sad　and　fatal　mound！　That　oft　hast　heard　the　death…axe　sound。　As　on　the　noblest　of　the　land　Fell　the　stern　headsmen's　bloody　hand；　The　dungeon；　block；　and　nameless　tomb　Preparefor　Douglas　seeks　his　doom！　But　hark！　what　blithe　and　jolly　peal　Makes　the　Franciscan　steeple　reel？　And　see！　upon　the　crowded　street；　In　motley　groups　what　masquers　meet！　Banner　and　pageant；　pipe　and　drum；　And　merry　morrice…dancers　come。　I　guess；　by　all　this　quaint　array；　The　burghers　hold　their　sports　to…　day。　James　will　be　there；　he　loves　such　show；　Where　the　good　yeoman　bends　his　bow；　And　the　tough　wrestler　foils　his　foe；　As　well　as　where；　in　proud　career；　The　high…born　filter　shivers　spear。　I'll　follow　to　the　Castle…park；　And　play　my　prize；King　James　shall　mark　If　age　has　tamed　these　sinews　stark；　Whose　force　so　oft　in　happier　days　His　boyish　wonder　loved　to　praise。'


XXI。

The　Castle　gates　were　open　flung；　The　quivering　drawbridge　rocked　and　rung；　And　echoed　loud　the　flinty　street　Beneath　the　coursers'　clattering　feet；　As　slowly　down　the　steep　descent　Fair　Scotland's　King　and　nobles　went；　While　all　along　the　crowded　way　Was　jubilee　and　loud　huzza。　And　ever　James　was　bending　low　To　his　white　jennet's　saddle…bow；　Doffing　his　cap　to　city　dame；　Who　smiled　and　blushed　for　pride　and　shame。　And　well　the　simperer　might　be　vain；　He　chose　the　fairest　of　the　train。　Gravely　he　greets　each　city　sire；　Commends　each　pageant's　quaint　attire；　Gives　to　the　dancers　thanks　aloud；　And　smiles　and　nods　upon　the　crowd；　Who　rend　the　heavens　with　their　acclaims；　'Long　live　the　Commons'　King；　King　James！'　Behind　the　King　thronged　peer　and　knight；　And　noble　dame　and　damsel　bright；　Whose　fiery　steeds　ill　brooked　the　stay　Of　the　steep　street　and　crowded　way。　But　in　the　train　you　might　discern　Dark　lowering　brow　and　visage　stern；　There　nobles　mourned　their　pride　restrained；　And　the　mean　burgher's　joys　disdained；　And　chiefs；　who；　hostage　for　the*　clan；　Were　each　from　home　a　banished　man；　There　thought　upon　their　own　gray　tower；　Their　waving　woods；　their　feudal　power；　And　deemed　themselves　a　shameful　part　Of　pageant　which　they　cursed　in　heart。


XXII。

Now；　in　the　Castle…park；　drew　out　Their　checkered　bands　the　joyous　rout。　There　morricers；　with　bell　at　heel　And　blade　in　hand；　their　mazes　wheel；　But　chief；　beside　the　butts；　there　stand　Bold　Robin　Hood　and　all　his　band；　　Friar　Tuck　with　quarterstaff　and　cowl；　Old　Scathelocke　with　his　surly　scowl；　Maid　Marian；　fair　as　ivory　bone；　Scarlet；　and　Mutch；　and　Little　John；　Their　bugles　challenge　all　that　will；　In　archery　to　prove　their　skill。　The　Douglas　bent　a　bow　of　might；　His　first　shaft　centred　in　the　white；　And　when　in　turn　he　shot　again；　His　second　split　the　first　in　twain。　From　the　King's　hand　must　Douglas　take　A　silver　dart；　the　archers'　stake；　Fondly　he　watched；　with　watery　eye；　Some　answering　glance　of　sympathy；　No　kind　emotion　made　reply！　Indifferent　as　to　archer　wight；　The　monarch　gave　the　arrow　bright。


XXIII。

Now；　clear　the　ring！　for；　hand　to　hand；　The　manly　wrestlers　take　their　stand。　Two　o'er　the　rest　superior　rose；　And　proud　demanded　mightier　foes；　Nor　called　in　vain；　for　Douglas　came。　For　life　is　Hugh　of　Larbert　lame；　Scarce　better　John　of　Alloa's　fare；　Whom　senseless　home　his　comrades　bare。　Prize　of　the　wrestling　match；　the　King　To　Douglas　gave　a　golden　ring；　While　coldly　glanced　his　eye　of　blue；　As　frozen　drop　of　wintry　dew。　Douglas　would　speak；　but　in　his　breast　His　struggling　soul　his　words　suppressed；　Indignant　then　he　turned　him　where　Their　arms　the　brawny　yeomen　bare；　To　hurl　the　massive　bar　in　air。　When　each　his　utmost　strength　had　shown；　The　Douglas　rent　an　earth…fast　stone　From　its　deep　bed；　then　heaved　it　high；　And　sent　the　fragment　through　the　sky　A　rood　beyond　the　farthest　mark；　And　still　in　Stirling's　royal　park；　The　gray…haired　sires；　who　know　the　past；　To　strangers　point　the　Douglas　cast；　And　moralize　on　the　decay　Of　Scottish　strength　in　modern　day。


XXIV。

The　vale　with　loud　applauses　rang；　The　Ladies'　Rock　sent　back　the　clang。　The　King；　with　look　unmoved；　bestowed　A　purse　well　filled　with　pieces　broad。　Indignant　smiled　the　Douglas　proud；　And　threw　the　gold　among　the　crowd；　Who　now　with　anxious　wonder　scan；　And　sharper　glance；　the　dark　gray　man；　Till　whispers　rose　among　the　throng；　That　heart　so　free；　and　hand　so　strong；　Must　to　the　Douglas　blood　belong。　The　old　men　marked　and　shook　the　head；　To　see　his　hair　with　silver　spread；　And　winked　aside；　and　told　each　son　Of　feats　upon　the　English　done；　Ere　Douglas　of　the　stalwart　hand　Was　exiled　from　his　native　land。　The　women　praised　his　stately　form；　Though　wrecked　by　many　a　winter's　storm；　The　youth　with　awe　and　wonder　saw　His　strength　surpassing　Nature's　law。　Thus　judged；　as　is　their　wont；　the　crowd　Till　murmurs　rose　to　clamours　loud。　But　not　a　glance　from　that　proud　ring　Of　peers　who　circled　round　the　King　With　Douglas　held　communion　kind；　Or　called　the　banished　man　to　mind；　No；　not　from　those　who　at　the　chase　Once　held　his　side　the　honoured　place；　Begirt　his　board；　and　in　the　field　Found　safety　underneath　his　shield；　For　he　whom　royal　eyes　disown；　When　was　his　form　to　courtiers　known！


XXV。

The　Monarch　saw　the　gambols　flag　And　bade　let　loose　a　gallant　stag；　Whose　pride；　the　holiday　to　crown；　Two　favorite　greyhounds　should　pull　down；　That　venison　free　and　Bourdeaux　wine　Might　serve　the　archery　to　dine。　But　Lufra；whom　from　Douglas'　side　Nor　bribe　nor　threat　could　e'er　divide；　The　fleetest　hound　in　all　the　North；　Brave　Lufra　saw；　and　darted　forth。　She　left　the　royal　hounds　midway；　And　dashing　on　the　antlered　prey；　Sunk　her　sharp　muzzle　in　his　flank；　And　deep　the　flowing　life…　blood　drank。　The　King's　stout　huntsman　saw　the　sport　By　strange　intruder　broken　short；　Came　up；　and　with　his　leash　unbound　In　anger　struck　the　noble　hound。　The　Douglas　had　endured；　that　morn；　The　King's　cold　look；　the　nobles'　scorn；　And　last；　and　worst　to　spirit　proud；　Had　borne　the　pity　of　the　crowd；　But　Lufra　had　been　fondly　bred；　To　share　his　board；　to　watch　his　bed；　And　oft　would　Ellen　Lufra's　neck　In　maiden　glee　with　garlands　deck；　They　were　such　playmates　that　with　name　Of　Lufra　Ellen's　image　came。　His　stifled　wrath　is　brimming　high；　In　darkened　brow　and　flashing　eye；　As　waves　before　the　bark　divide；　The　crowd　gave　way　before　his　stride；　Needs　but　a　buffet　and　no　more；　The　groom　lies　senseless　in　his　gore。　Such　blow　no　other　hand　could　deal；　Though　gauntleted　in　glove　of　steel。


XXVI。

Then　clamored　loud　the　royal　train；　And　brandished　swords　and　staves　amain；　But　stern　the　Baron's　warning：　'Back！　Back；　on　your　lives；　ye　menial　pack！　Beware　the　Douglas。Yes！　behold；　King　James！　The　Douglas；　doomed　of　old；　And　vainly　sought　for　near　and　far；　A　victim　to　atone　the　war；　A　willing　victim；　now　attends；　Nor　craves　thy　grace　but　for　his　friends。'　'Thus　is　my　clemency　repaid？　Presumptuous　Lord！'　the　Monarch　said：　'Of　thy　misproud　ambitious　clan；　Thou；　James　of　Bothwell；　wert　the　man；　The　only　man；　in　whom　a　foe　My　woman…mercy　would　not　know；　But　shall　a　Monarch's　presence　brook　Injurious　blow　and　haughty　look？　What　ho！　the　Captain　of　our　Guard！　Give　the　offender　fitting　ward。　Break　off　the　sports！'for　tumult　rose；　And　yeomen　'gan　to　bend　their　bows；　'Break　off　the　sports！'　he　said　and　frowned；　'And　bid　our　horsemen　clear　the　ground。'


XXVII。

Then　uproar　wild　and　misarray　Marred　the　fair　form　of　festal　day。　The　horsemen　pricked　among　the　crowd；　Repelled　by　threats　and　insult　loud；　To　earth　are　borne　the　old　and　weak；　The　timorous　fly；　the　women　shriek；　With　flint；　with　shaft；　with　staff；　with　bar；　The　hardier　urge　tumultuous　war。　At　once　round　Douglas　darkly　sweep　The　royal　spears　in　circle　deep；　And　slowly　scale　the　pathway　steep；　While　on　the　rear　in　thunder　pour　The　rabble　with　disordered　roar　With　grief　the　noble　Douglas　saw　The　Commons　rise　against　the　law；　And　to　the　leading　soldier　said：　'Sir　John　of　Hyndford；　'twas　my　blade　That　knighthood　on　thy　shoulder　laid；　For　that　good　deed　permit　me　then　A　word　with　these　misguided　men。


XXVIII；