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

/ X alsCTo "s. ROWEItV. 438
What lack I, vengeance to commanjl
But of stanch comrades such a band?
This D)enzil, vow'd to ev'ry evil,
Might read a lesson to the deviL
Well,be it sol each knave and fool
Shall serve as my revenge's tooL"Aloud, *' I take thy proffer, Guy,
But tell me where thy comrades lie?""Not far from hence," Guy Denzil said;
4'Descend, and cross the river's bed,:i Where rises yonder cliff so grey."
4'Do thou," said Bertram, "lead the way."
Then mutter'ed, " it is best make sure;
Guy Denzil's faith was never pure."'H e follow'd down the steep descent,
Then through the Greta's streams they went;
And, when they reach'd the farther shore,
They stood the lonely chliff before.
XIV.
With wonder Bertram heard within
The flinty rock a murmur'd din;
But when Guy pull'd the wilding spray,
And brambles, from its base away,
lHe saw, appearing to the air,
A little entrance, low and square,
Like op'ning cell of hermit lone,
Dark, winding through the living stone.
I Here enter'd Denzil, Bertram here;
And loud and louder on their ear,
As from the bowels of the earth,
Resounded shouts of boist'rous mirth.
Of old, the cavern strait and rude,
In slaty rock the peasant hew'd;
And Brignall's woods, and Scargill'sw.vve.,
E'en now, o'er many a-sister cave,
Where, far within the darksome-rift,
The wedge and lever ply their thrift
But war had silenc'd rural trade,
And the deserted mine was made
The banquet-hall and fortress too,
Of Denzil and his desp'rate crew. —
There Guilt his anxious revel kept;'There, on his sordid pallet, slept
Guilt-born Excess, the goblet drain'd
l till in his ~lumb'ring grasp retain'd;