in spite of him

"If you will go, accept my arm, though I 190 am not perhaps the person who can with most propriety offer

you support."

But, without heeding this intimation, Lucy took him at his word. "O if you be a man," she said,

"If you be a gentleman, assist me to find my father! You shall not 195 leave me you must go with me he is dying perhaps while we are talking here!"

Then, without listening to excuse or apology, and holding fast by the stranger's arm, though unconscious of any thing save the support which it gave, and without which she 200 could not have moved, mixed with a vague feeling of preventing his escape from her, she was urging, and almost dragging him forward, when Sir William Ashton came up, followed by the female attendant of blind Alice, and by two wood-cutters, whom he had summoned from their occupa- 205 tion to his assistance. His joy at seeing his daughter safe, overcame the surprise with which he would at another time have beheld her hanging as familiarly on the arm of a stranger, as she might have done upon his own.

"Lucy, my dear Lucy, are you safe? are you well?" 210 were the only words that broke from him as he embraced her in ecstasy.

"I am well, sir, thank God! and still more that I see you so; but this gentleman," she said, quitting his arm, and shrinking from him, "What must he think of me?" and her 215 eloquent blood, flushing over neck and brow, spoke how much she was ashamed of the freedom with which she had craved, and even compelled his assistance.

"This gentleman," said Sir William Ashton, "will, I trust, not regret the trouble we have given him, when I assure him 220 of the gratitude of the Lord Keeper for the greatest service which one man ever rendered to another for the life of my child for my own life, which he has saved by his

bravery and presence of mind. He will, I am sure, permit us 225 to request"

"Request nothing of me, my lord," said the stranger, in a stern and peremptory tone; "I am the Master of Ravenswood."

There was a dead pause of surprise, not unmixed with less 230 pleasant feelings. The Master wrapt himself in his cloak, made a haughty inclination towards Lucy, muttering a few words of courtesy, as indistinctly heard as they seemed to be reluctantly uttered, and, turning from them, was immediately lost in the thicket.

Ruder sounds shall none be near,

Guards nor warders challenge here,

Here's no war-steed's neigh and champing,
Shouting clans or squadrons stamping.

Huntsman, rest! thy chase is done;
While our slumbrous spells assail ye,
Dream not, with the rising sun,
Bugles here shall sound reveillé.
Sleep! the deer is in his den;

Sleep! thy hounds are by thee lying:
Sleep! nor dream in yonder glen

How thy gallant steed lay dying. Huntsman, rest! thy chase is done; Think not of the rising sun,

For at dawning to assail ye

Here no bugles sound reveillé.

Here's a Health to King Charles

(From Woodstock, Chap. XX)

Bring the bowl which you boast,

Fill it up to the brim;

"Tis to him we love most,

And to all who love him.

Brave gallants, stand up,

And avaunt ye, base carles!

Were there death in the cup,

Here's a health to King Charles !

Though he wanders through dangers,

Unaided, unknown,

Dependent on strangers,

Estranged from his own;

Though 'tis under our breath,

Amidst forfeits and perils,

Here's to honour and faith,

And a health to King Charles!

Let such honours abound

As the time can afford,
The knee on the ground,

And the hand on the sword;
But the time shall come round

When, 'mid Lords, Dukes, and Earls,

The loud trumpet shall sound,

Here's a health to King Charles !

The Escape of Marmion

(From Marmion, Canto VI)

XIII

Not far advanced was morning day,
When Marmion did his troop array
To Surrey's camp to ride;

He had safe-conduct for his band
Beneath the royal seal and hand,
And Douglas gave a guide;

The ancient Earl, with stately grace,
Would Clara on her palfrey place,
And whisper'd in an under tone,

"Let the hawk stoop, his prey is flown."
The train from out the castle drew,

But Marmion stopp'd to bid adieu :

"Though something I might plain," he said,

"Of cold respect to stranger guest,

15

Sent hither by your King's behest,

20

20

While in Tantallon's towers I staid;
Part we in friendship from your land,
And, noble Earl, receive my hand."
But Douglas round him drew his cloak,
Folded his arms, and thus he spoke :
"My manors, halls, and bowers, shall still
Be open, at my Sovereign's will,

To each one whom he lists, howe'er

Unmeet to be the owner's peer.

My castles are my King's alone,
From turret to foundation-stone
The hand of Douglas is his own;
And never shall in friendly grasp
The hand of such as Marmion clasp."

25

XIV

Burn'd Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire,
And shook his very frame for ire,

And "This to me!" he said,

"An 'twere not for thy hoary beard,
Such hand as Marmion's had not spared

To cleave the Douglas' head!
And, first, I tell thee, haughty Peer,
He, who does England's message here,
Although the meanest in her state,
May well, proud Angus, be thy mate:
And, Douglas, more I tell thee here,
Even in thy pitch of pride,
Here in thy hold, thy vassals near,
(Nay, never look upon your lord,

And lay your hands upon your sword,)

I tell thee, thou'rt defied!

And if thou said'st, I am not peer

To any lord in Scotland here,

Lowland or Highland, far or near,

Lord Angus, thou hast lied!"

On the Earl's cheek the flush of rage

O'ercame the ashen hue of age:

Fierce he broke forth, -"And darest thou then

To beard the lion in his den,

The Douglas in his hall?

And hopest thou hence unscathed to go?

No, by Saint Bride of Bothwell, no!

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35

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45

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55

Up drawbridge, grooms what, Warder, ho!
Let the portcullis fall."