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

cANTO V. TE COOfBATS j3
The King, with look unmoved, bestowed
A purse well filled with pieces broad.
Indignant smiled the Douglas proud,
And threw the gold among the crowd,
Who nowj with anxious wonder, scan,
And sharper glance, the dark grey man;'
Till whispers rose among the throng,
That heart so free, and hand so strong,
Must to the Douglas' blood belong:
The old men mark'd, and shook the heal,
To see his hair with'silver spread,
And winked aside, and told each son
Of feats upon the English done,
Ere Douglas of the stalwart hand
Was exiled from his native land.
The women praised his stately form,
Though wreck'd by many a winter's storm,
The youth, with awe and wonder, saw
His strength surpassing Nature's law.
Thus judged, as is their wont, the crowd,
Till murmurs rose to clamours loud.
But not a glance from that proud ring
Of peers who circled round the King,
With Douglas held communion kind,
Or called the banished man to mind;
No, not from those who, at the chase,
Once held his side the honoured place,
Begirt his board, and, in the field,
Found safety underneath his shield;
For he,. whom royal eyes disown,
When was his form to courtiers known!
The monarch saw the gambols flag,
And bade let loose a gallant stag,
Whose pride, the holiday to crown,
Two favourite grey-hounds should pull dowp,
That venison free, and Bourdeaux wine,
Might serve the archery to dine.
But Lufra-whom from Douglas' side
Nor bribe nor threat could e'er divide —
The fleetest hound in all the North,
Brave Lufra saw, and darted forth.
She left the royal hounds mid-way,
And, dashing on the antler'd prey,
Sank her sharp muzzle in his flank,
And deen the flowing life-blood dankS.
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