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

332 THE LADY OF THE LAIE. CANeTO V.
Their bugles challenge all that will,
In archery to prove their skill
The Donglas bent a bow of might —
His first shaft centered in the white,
And when in turn he shot again,
His second split the first in twain.
From the King's hand must Douglas take
A silver dart, the archers' stake;
Fondly he watched, with watery eye,
Some answering glance of sympathy —
No kind emotion made reply!
Indifferent as to archer wight,
The monarch gave the arrow bright.
XXIIL
Now, clear the ring! for, hand to hand,
The manly wrestlers take their stand.
Two o'er the rest superior rose,
And proud demanded mightier foes,
Nor called in vain; for Douglas came.
-For life, is Hugh of Larbert lame;
Scarce better John of Alloa's fare,
Whom senseless home his comrades bear,
Prize of the wrestling match, the King
To Douglas gave a golden ring,
While coldly glanced his eye of blue,
As frozen drop of winter dew.
Douglas would speak, but in his breast
His struggling soul his words suppress'd.
Indignant then he turned him where
Their arms the brawny yeoman bare,
To hurl the massive bar in air.
WVhen each his utmost strength had shown,
The Douglas rent an earth-fast stone
From its deep bed, then heaved it high,
And sent the fragment through the sky,
A rood beyond the farthest mark;
And still in Stirling's royal park,
The grey-haired sires who know the past,
To strangers point the Douglas-cast,
And moralize on the decay
Of Scottish strength in modern day.
XXIV.
The vale with loud applauses rang,
Te Ladies' Rock sent back the clang;