The scene of the poem now changes to the stormy island of Skye, where Sir Walter pauses to give one of his beautiful descriptions in the fourteenth and fifteenth divisions of canto third. The fourth canto takes the king _en route_ past the island of Staffa, with its Fingal’s Cave, and Iona, with its sainted shrine—the cradle of Christianity in Britain, now in ruin. His description of Staffa is one of the most beautiful in English verse: “Where, as to shame the temples decked By skill of earthly architect, Nature herself, it seemed would raise A minster to her Maker’s praise! Not for a meaner use ascend Her columns, or her arches bend; Nor of a theme less solemn tells That mighty surge that ebbs and swells, And still, between each awful pause, From the high vault an answer draws, In varied tones prolonged and high, That mocks the organ’s melody. Nor doth its entrance front in vain To old Iona’s holy fame, That nature’s voice might seem to say, ‘Well hast thou done, frail child of clay! Thy humble powers that stately shrine Tasked high and hard—but witness mine!’” In canto fifth the king returns to Scotland. He rallies his adherents, and the sixth canto closes with a graphic description of the battle of Bannockburn. The incidents are so stirring that we almost forget the fate of fair Edith and her brave Roland, but the last line of the poem assures us that they are at last happily wedded. “The Lord of the Isles” does not possess the pleasing qualities of the “Lady of the Lake,” or the sustained vigor of “Marmion;” but it is a noble poem throughout, and abounds with passages revealing the deep reverence and exalted character of the author. The reader will note the heart-spoken prayer and God-speed of the priest as King Robert embarks upon his uncertain mission: “O heaven! when swords for freedom shine And monarch’s right, the cause is thine! Edge doubly every patriot blow! Beat down the banners of the foe! And be it to the nations known, That victory is from God alone.”