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

320 THE COMBAT.. 7ANTO w.
But, stranger, peaceful since you came,
Bewildered in the mountain game,
Whence the bold boast by which you show
Vich-Alpine's vowed and mortal foe? ""Warrior, but yester-morn I knew
Nought of thy Chieftain, Roderick Dhu,
Save as an outlaw'd desperate man,
The chief of a rebellious clan,
Who, in the Regent's court and sight,
With ruffian dagger stabbed a knight;
Yet this alone might from his part
Sever each true and loyal heart."
VL
Wrothful at such arraignment foul,
Dark lowered the clansman's sable scowl
A space he paused, then sternly said"And heard'st thou why he drew his blade?
Heard'st thou that shameful word and blow
Brought Roderick's vengeance on his foe?
What reck'd the Chieftain, if he stood
On highland heath or Holy-Rood?
He rights such wrong where it is given,
If it were in the court of Heaven."
"Still was it outrage; —yet,'tis true,
Not then claimed sovereignty his due;
WVhile Albany, with feeble hand,
Held borrowed truncheon of commiand.
The young king, mew'd in Stirling to\; c>,
Was stranger to respect and power.
But then, thy Chieftain's robber life!Winning mean prey by causeless strifb,
Wrenching from ruin'd lowland swain
His herds and harvest reared in vainMethinks a soul like thine should sc"rnl
The spoils from such foul foray borne."
VIL.
The Gael beheld him grim the while,
And answered with disdainful smile-n
"Saxon, from yonder mountain higi,
I marked thee send delightedeye,
Far to the south and east, where lay,
Extended in succession gay,