"Meanwhile Ellen waits anxiously and impatiently for her audience with the King. At last Fitz-James appears to escort her to the audience chamber. Faltering, she looks round to find the King, and sees, to her surprise, that her companion alone remains covered, and 'Snowdoun's Knight is Scotland's King.' He tells her how the feud with Douglas is at an end, and that her father is now to be 'the friend and bulwark of his throne.' But she still has the ring, still some boon to ask. She begs for Roderick's life, but that is past giving; and when she shrinks from further request, the King calls forth Malcolm, and throws over him a golden chain, which he gives to Ellen to keep."--_R. W. Taylor._ THE LADY OF THE LAKE. CANTO FIRST. THE CHASE. Harp of the North![1] that moldering long hast hung On the witch-elm[2] that shades St. Fillan's[3] spring, And down the fitful breeze thy numbers flung, Till envious ivy did around thee cling, Muffling with verdant ringlet every string,-- O minstrel Harp! still must thine accents sleep? Mid rustling leaves and fountain's murmuring, Still must thy sweeter sounds their silence keep, Nor bid a warrior smile, nor teach a maid to weep? Not thus, in ancient days of Caledon,[4] Was thy voice mute amid the festal crowd, When lay of hopeless love, or glory won, Aroused the fearful, or subdued the proud. At each according pause, was heard aloud Thine ardent symphony sublime and high! Fair dames and crested chiefs attention bow'd; For still the burden of thy minstrelsy Was Knighthood's dauntless deed, and Beauty's matchless eye. Oh, wake once more! how rude soe'er the hand That ventures o'er thy magic maze to stray; Oh, wake once more! though scarce my skill command Some feeble echoing of thine earlier lay: Though harsh and faint, and soon to die away, And all unworthy of thy nobler strain, Yet if one heart throb higher at its sway, The wizard note has not been touch'd in vain. Then silent be no more! Enchantress, wake again! [1] The poet invokes the spirit that animated the ancient Scottish minstrels, whose songs were usually accompanied by the music of the harp. [2] Called also the "wizard elm," because forked twigs from the tree were used as divining rods. [3] A Scotch abbot of the seventh century. [4] The Romans gave the name Caledonia to that part of Scotland north of the Clyde and Forth. I. The stag at eve had drunk his fill, Where danced the moon on Monan's[5] rill, And deep his midnight lair had made In lone Glenartney's[6] hazel shade; But, when the sun his beacon red Had kindled on Benvoirlich's[6] head, The deep-mouth'd bloodhound's heavy bay Resounded up the rocky way, And faint, from farther distance borne, Were heard the clanging hoof and horn.