The Fiery Cross.

For there, she said, did fays resort,
And satyrs hold their sylyan court,
By moonlight tread their mystic maze,
And blast the rash beholder's gaze.

Now eve, with western shadows long, Floated on Katrine bright and strong, When Roderick, with a chosen few, Repassed the heights of Ben Venue. Above the Goblin-cave they go,

Through the wild pass of Beal-nam-bo;

The prompt retainers speed before,
To launch the shallop from the shore,
For 'cross Loch Katrine lies his way
To view the passes of Achray,
And place his clansmen in array.
Yet lags the Chief in musing mind,
Unwonted sight, his men behind.

A single page, to bear his sword,
Alone attended on his lord;

The rest their way through thickets break,
And soon await him by the lake.

The Prophecy.

"THE rose is fairest when 'tis budding new,

And hope is brightest when it dawns from fears; The rose is sweetest washed with morning dew, And love is loveliest when embalmed in tears. O wilding rose, whom fancy thus endears, I bid your blossoms in my bonnet wave, Emblem of hope and love through future years!" Thus spoke young Norman, heir of Armandave, What time the sun arose on Vennachar's broad wave.

Such fond conceit, half said, half sung,
Love prompted to the bridegroom's tongue:
All while he stripped the wild-rose spray,

His axe and bow beside him lay,
For on a pass 'twixt lake and wood,

A wakeful sentinel he stood.

Hark! on the rock a footstep rung,

And instant to his arms he sprung.
"Stand, or thou diest!-What, Malise? -soon
Art thou returned from Braes of Doune.

By thy keen step and glance I know,
Thou bring'st us tidings of the foe."

(For while the Fiery Cross hied on,

On distant scout had Malise gone.)

"Where sleeps the Chief?" the henchman said.

"Apart, in yonder misty glade;

To his lone couch I'll be your guide."

Then called a slumberer by his side,

And stirred him with his slackened bow

Up, up, Glentarkin! rouse thee, ho!

We seek the Chieftain; on the track

Keep eagle watch till I come back."

Together up the pass they sped.
"What of the foeman?" Norman said.
"Varying reports from near and far,
This certain-that a band of war

Has for two day been ready boune,

At prompt command, to march from Doune;
King James, the while, with princely powers,
Holds revelry in Stirling towers.

Soon will this dark and gathering cloud
Speak on our glens in thunder loud.
Inured to bide such bitter bout,

The warrior's plaid may bear it out;

But, Norman, how wilt thou provide

A shelter for thy bonny bride?"

"What! know ye not that Roderick's care To the lone isle hath caused repair

The Prophecy.

Each maid and matron of the clan,
And every child and aged man
Unfit for arms; and given his charge,
Nor skiff nor shallop, boat nor barge,
Upon these lakes shall float at large,
But all beside the islet moor,

That such dear pledge may rest secure?""'Tis well advised-the Chieftain's plan Bespeaks the father of his clan.

But wherefore sleeps Sir Roderick Dhu
Apart from all his followers true?"
"It is, because last evening-tide

Brian an augury hath tried,

Of that dread kind which must not be
Unless in dread extremity,

The Taghairm called; by which, afar,
Our sires foresaw the events of war.

Duncraggan's milk-white bull they slew,"

MALISE.

"Ah! well the gallant brute I knew,
The choicest of the prey we had,
When swept our merry-men Gallangad.
His hide was snow, his horns were dark,

His red eye glowed like fiery spark;

So fierce, so tameless, and so fleet,

Sore did he cumber our retreat,