The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott, with memoir of the author.

CANTO V.] ROKEBY. 219
Wrapt in their sorrow and their fear
At parting of their Mistress dear,
Tear-blinded to the Castle-hall,1
Came as to bear her funeral pall.
XVII.
All that expression base was gone,
When waked the guest his minstrel tone;
It fled at inspiration's call,
As erst the demon fled from Saul.2
More noble glance he cast around,
More free-drawn breath inspired the sound,
His pulse beat bolder and more high,
In all the pride of minstrelsy!
Alas! too soon that pride was o'er,
Sunk with the lay that bade it soar!
His soul resumed, with habit's chain,
Its vices wild and follies vain,
And gave the talent, with him born,
To be a common curse and scorn.
Such was the youth whom Rokeby's Maid,
With condescending kindness, pray'd
1 [MS.-" Came blindfold to the Castle-hall,
As if to bear her funeral pall."]
2 [" But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an
evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
" And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man
that can play well, and bring him to me. And it came to
pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David
took an harp, and played with his hand: So Saul was refieshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him."
-1 SAMIUEL, chap. xvi. 14, 17, 23.]