The lady of the lake . soft hand to lead thee farFrom frantic scenes of feud and Bochastle my horses wait;They bear us soon to Stirling 11 place thee in a lovely bower,I 11 guard thee like a tender flower— Oh hush, Sir Knight! t were female art,To say I do not read thy heart;Too much, before, my selfish earWas idly soothed my praise to fatal bait hath lured thee back,In deathful hour, oer dangerous track;And how, oh how, can I atoneThe wreck my vanity brought on ! —One way remains — I 11 tell him all —Yes ! struggling bosom, forth it shall!Thou, whose light folly bear
The lady of the lake . soft hand to lead thee farFrom frantic scenes of feud and Bochastle my horses wait;They bear us soon to Stirling 11 place thee in a lovely bower,I 11 guard thee like a tender flower— Oh hush, Sir Knight! t were female art,To say I do not read thy heart;Too much, before, my selfish earWas idly soothed my praise to fatal bait hath lured thee back,In deathful hour, oer dangerous track;And how, oh how, can I atoneThe wreck my vanity brought on ! —One way remains — I 11 tell him all —Yes ! struggling bosom, forth it shall!Thou, whose light folly bears the blame,Buy thine own pardon with thy shame !But first — my father is a manOutlawed and exiled, under ban ;The price of blood is on his head,With me t were infamy to wouldst thou speak ? — then hear the truthFitz-James, there is a noble youth —If yet he is! — exposed for meAnd mine to dread extremity —?Thou hast the secret of my heart;Forgive, be generous, and depart! THE PROPHECY. 177. XVIII. Fitz-James knew every wily trainA ladys fickle heart to gain,But here he knew and felt them shot no glance from Ellens eye, 178 THE LADY OF THE LAKE. To give her steadfast speech the lie; In maiden confidence she stood, Though mantled in her cheek the blood, And told her love with such a sigh Of deep and hopeless agony, As death had sealed her Malcolms doom And she sat sorrowing on his tomb. Hope vanished from Fitz-Jamess eye, But not with hope fled sympathy. He proffered to attend her side, As brother would a sister guide. Oh little knowst thou Rodericks heart! Safer for both we go apart. Oh haste thee, and from Allan learn If thou mayst trust yon wily kern. With hand upon his forehead laid. The conflict of his mind to shade, A parting step or two he made; Then, as some thought had crossed his brain, He paused, and turned, and came again. XIX. Here, lady, yet a parting word ! —It chanced in fight that my poor swordPreserved the life of Scotlan
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