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

CANTO 1n ROKEBY.
For, train'd in licence of a court,
Religion's self was Denzil's sport:
Then judge in what contempt he held
The visionary tales of eld!
His awe for Bertram scarce repress'd
The unbeliever's sneering jest.
"'Twere hard," he said, "for sage or seer
To! spell the subject of your fear;
Nor do I boast the art renown'd,
Vision and omen to expound,
Yet, faith if I must needs afford
To spectre watching treasur'd hoard,
As ban-dog keeps his master's rooft;
Bidding the plund'rer stand aloof,
This doubt remains-thy goblin gaunt
Hath chosen ill his ghostly haunt;
For why his guard on Morthamn hold,
When liokeby castle hath the gold
Thy patron won on Indian soil,
By stealth, by piracy, and spoil?"XX.
At this he paus'd-for angry shame
Lower'd on the brow of Risingham.
He blush'd to think, that he should seem
Assertor of an airy dream,
And gave his wrath another theme.
" Denzil," he says, "though lowly laid,
Wrong not the mecm'ry of the dead;
For, while he liv'd, at Tiortham's look
Thy very soul, Guy l)enzil, shook!
And when he tax'd thy breach of word
To yon fhir rose of Allenford,
I saw thee crouch like chasten'd hound,
Whose- back the hluntsman's lash hath found.
Nor dare to call his olrcign wealth
The spoil of piracy or stealth;
He won it bravely with his brand,
When Spain wag'd warflt're with our land.
Mark, too — brook no idle jeer,
Nor couple Bertram's nlame with fear;
Mine is but half the demon's lot,
IFor I believe, but tremble not,Enough of this.-Say, why this hoard
Thou deem'st at ]iokeby castle stor'd;
Or think'st that Mi\orthaml would btstuw
His treasure with his faction's lie?"