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SONG.

Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,

Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking; Dream of battled fields no more,

Days of danger, nights of waking. In our isle's enchanted hall,

Hands unseen thy couch are strewing, Fairy streams of music fall,

Every sense in slumber dewing.

Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,

Dream of fighting fields no more:
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Morn of toil, nor night of waking.

"No rude sound shall reach thine ear, Armour's clang, or war-steed champing, Trump nor pibroch summon here

Mustering clan, or squadron tramping. Yet the lark's shrill fife may come At the day-break from the fallow, And the bittern sound his drum, Booming from the sedgy shallow. 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."

She paused-then, blushing, led the lay
То grace the stranger of the day.
Her mellow notes awhile prolong

The cadence of the flowing song,

Till to her lips in measured frame
The minstrel verse spontaneous came.

L

Song continued.

"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."

The King, half enamoured and altogether delighted with Ellen Douglas, leaves the Isle on the following morning; and we are admitted into other secrets of the story by the convenient loquacity of an old harper, who cautions his fair mistress not to offend her cousin-son of the Lady Margaret-the revengeful Sir Roderick Vich Alpine Dhu, by her preference of the young and powerless Malcolm Græme. But Love laughs at harpers as well as at wiser men.

Rather will Ellen Douglas dwell

A votaress in Maronnan's cell;
Rather through realms beyond the sea,
Seeking the world's cold charity,
Where ne'er was spoke a Scottish word,
And ne'er the name of Douglas heard;
An outcast pilgrim will she rove,
Than wed the man she cannot love!

Black Roderick, the descendant of Alpine, is not long of making his appearance to prosecute his suit in person. A gallant fleet of boats, glittering with streamer and pennant, comes across the Lake. Pipers are playing, rowers keep time to the music, and as they near the shore, a hundred voices are raised in a triumph song in honour of the Chief. Roderick looks round in vain for the form of Ellen Douglas among the ladies fair and young who have accompanied his mother to receive him at the landing. She has stolen away in her light shallop, for she has heard her father's signalhorn on the mainland.

Some feelings are to mortals given,

With less of earth in them than heaven;
And if there be a human tear

From passion's dross refined and clear,
A tear so limpid and so meek,
It would not stain an angel's cheek;
'Tis that which pious fathers shed
Upon a duteous daughter's head!
And as the Douglas to his breast
His darling Ellen closely press'd,
Such holy drops her tresses steep'd
Though 'twas a hero's eyes that weep'd.
Nor while on Ellen's faltering tongue
The filial welcomes crowded hung,
Mark'd she that fear (affection's proof)
Still held a graceful youth aloof;
No! not till Douglas named his name,
Although the youth was Malcolm Græme.

With Malcolm Græme, however, the Douglas and his daughter return to the island bower. Roderick is not delighted with his new guest, but Highland hospitality cannot be withdrawn, even from a rival. After the dinner, Roderick communicates bad news to his assembled friends. The King has pacified the Southern borders with fire and sword, and has come, it is reported, to execute the same dread justice on the inhabitants of the Highlands. Under pretence of hunting the deer, he wormed himself into the confidence of the chiefs of the Tweed and Yarrow, and hung them over the gates of their own fortresses, and he will use the same stratagem, and wreak the same vengeance, on the chieftains of the Western clans. Douglas also has been recognised in Glenfinlas-and what is to be done? Ellen is terrified. Douglas counsels submission, and proposes to retire to some still more secret hiding-place, to leave Roderick at liberty to apply for pardon to the King. But the blood of the Highland ruler is on fire— he swears he will never yield, but will celebrate his marriage with Ellen with a bonfire of a hundred villages, and a shout that shall startle James in the towers of Stirling Castle. Douglas, however, is firm, and declares that his daughter cannot be his bride, for he perceives that her heart is no longer her own to give. Roderick has perceived it too, and in a moment fixes on

the fortunate possessor of the prize. Nothing can restrain his furious wrath, not so much the offspring of injured affection as of offended pride.

Then Roderick from the Douglas broke—
As flashes flame through sable smoke,
Kindling its wreaths, long, dark, and low,
To one broad blaze of ruddy glow,
So the deep anguish of despair
Burst, in fierce jealousy, to air.
With stalwart grasp his hand he laid

On Malcolm's breast and belted plaid :

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Back, beardless boy!" he sternly said,

"Back, minion! hold'st thou thus at nought

The lesson I so lately taught?

This roof, the Douglas, and that maid,
Thank thou for punishment delay'd."
Eager as greyhound on his game,
Fiercely with Roderick grappled Græme.
"Perish my name, if aught afford
Its chieftain safety save his sword!"
Thus as they strove, their desperate hand
Griped to the dagger or the brand,
And death had been-but Douglas rose,
And thrust between the struggling foes
His giant strength :-" Chieftains, forego!
I hold the first who strikes my foe.-
Madmen, forbear your frantic jar!
What! is the Douglas fall'n so far,
His daughter's hand is doom'd the spoil
Of such dishonourable broil!"

Sullen and slowly, they unclasp,

As struck with shame, their desperate grasp,

And each upon his rival glared,

With foot advanced, and blade half bared.