"And gayly shines the Fairyland-- But all is glistening show, Like the idle gleam that December's beam Can dart on ice and snow. "And fading, like that varied gleam, Is our inconstant shape, Who now like knight and lady seem, And now like dwarf and ape. "It was between the night and day, When the Fairy King has power, That I sunk down in a sinful fray, And, 'twixt life and death, was snatched away To the joyless Elfin bower. "But wist[251] I of a woman bold, Who thrice my brow durst sign, I might regain my mortal mold, As fair a form as thine." She cross'd him once--she cross'd him twice-- That lady was so brave; The fouler grew his goblin hue, The darker grew the cave. She cross'd him thrice, that lady bold; He rose beneath her hand The fairest knight on Scottish mold, Her brother, Ethert Brand! Merry it is in good greenwood, When the mavis and merle are singing, But merrier were they in Dunfermline[252] gray, When all the bells were ringing. [251] Knew. [252] A town in Fifeshire, thirteen miles northwest of Edinburgh, the residence of the early Scottish kings. Its Abbey of the Gray Friars was the royal burial place. XVI. Just as the minstrel sounds were stayed, A stranger climb'd the steepy glade; His martial step, his stately mien, His hunting suit of Lincoln green, His eagle glance, remembrance claims-- 'Tis Snowdoun's Knight, 'tis James Fitz-James. Ellen beheld as in a dream, Then, starting, scarce suppress'd a scream: "O stranger! in such hour of fear, What evil hap has brought thee here?"-- "An evil hap how can it be, That bids me look again on thee? By promise bound, my former guide Met me betimes this morning tide, And marshal'd, over bank and bourne,[253] The happy path of my return."-- "The happy path!--what! said he naught Of war, of battle to be fought, Of guarded pass?"--"No, by my faith! Nor saw I aught could augur scathe."[254]-- "Oh haste thee, Allan, to the kern,[255] --Yonder his tartans I discern; Learn thou his purpose, and conjure That he will guide the stranger sure!-- What prompted thee, unhappy man? The meanest serf in Roderick's clan Had not been bribed by love or fear, Unknown to him to guide thee here." [253] Boundary; stream. [254] Harm. [255] Foot soldier. Referring to the treacherous guide, Red Murdoch (see Stanza VII. p. 109). XVII.