Poetry > Lady of the lake

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THE LADY OF THE LAKE.
Canto IV.
And while he stripp’d 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 return’d 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 call’d a slumberer by his side,
And stirr’d him with his slacken’d bow—
“ Up, up, Glentarkin! rouse thee, ho!
We seek the Chieftain ; on the track,
Keep eagle watch till I come back.”
III.
Together up the pass they sped :
“ What of the foemen ?” Norman said.—
“ Varying reports from near and far;
This certain,—that a band of war
Has for two days been ready boune.
At prompt command, to march from Doune