The poetical works of Sir Walter Scott ... Notes & life of the author.

lleln beheld as in a dream,
Then starting, scarce suppressed a scream:
"On stranger! in such hour of fear,
What evil hap has brought thee heref "
"An evil hap how can it be,
That bids me look again on thee?
By promise bound, my former guide
Met me betimes this morning tide,
And marshall'd, over bank and bourn,
The happy path of my return."
"The happy pathi —what! said he. nougih
Of war, of battle to be fought,
Of guarded pass? "-" No, by my faithl
Nor saw I aught could augur scathe."
"Oh haste thee, Allan, to the kern
-Yonder his tartans I discern;
Learn thou his purpose, and conjure
That he will guide the stranger surel —
What prompted thee, unhappy man?
The meanest serf in Roderick's clan
Had not been bribed by love or fear,
Unknown to him, to guide thee here.'
XVIL
"Sweet Ellen, dear my life must be,
Since it is worthy care from thee;
Yet life I hold but idle breath,
When love or honour's weighed with death.
Then let me profit by my chance,
And speak my purpose bold at once.
I come to bear thee from a wild,
Where ne'er before such blossom smiledt
By this soft hand to lead theefar
From frantic scenes of feud and wa,
Near Bochastle my horses wait;
They bear us soon to Stirling gate.
I'll place thee in a lovely bower,
I'll guard thee like a tender flower-'
"Oh! hush, Sir Knight! twere female at'
To say I do not read thy heart;
Too much, before, my selfish ear
Was idly soothed my praise to hear.
That fatal bait hath lured thee back1
In deathfuil hour, o'er dangerous t'lacki
And how, oh how, can I atone
The wreck my vanity brought on!