The Lady of the lake . odericks breast. THE GATHERING. 123 With sheathed broadsword in his hand, Abrupt he paced the islet strand, And eyed the rising sun, and laid His hand on his impatient blade. Beneath a rock, his vassals care Was prompt the ritual to prepare. With deep and deathful meaning fraught: Tor such Antiquity liad taught Was preface meet, ere yet abroad The Cross of Fire should take its road. The shrinking band stood oft aghast At the impatient glance he cast; — Such glance the mountain eagle threw, As, from the cliffs of Benvenue, Slie spread her dark sails on the wind, And, high
The Lady of the lake . odericks breast. THE GATHERING. 123 With sheathed broadsword in his hand, Abrupt he paced the islet strand, And eyed the rising sun, and laid His hand on his impatient blade. Beneath a rock, his vassals care Was prompt the ritual to prepare. With deep and deathful meaning fraught: Tor such Antiquity liad taught Was preface meet, ere yet abroad The Cross of Fire should take its road. The shrinking band stood oft aghast At the impatient glance he cast; — Such glance the mountain eagle threw, As, from the cliffs of Benvenue, Slie spread her dark sails on the wind, And, high in middle heaven reclined. With her broad shadow on the lake, Silenced the warblers of the brake. A heap of withered boughs was piled,Of juniper and rowan Avith shivers from the oak,Rent by the lightnings recent the Hermit by it , in his frock and grizzled beard and matted hairObscured a visage of despair;His naked arms and legs, seamed oer, lU THE LADT OF THE Tlie scars of frantic penance monk, of savage form and face,The impending danger of his raceHad drawn from deepest in Benharrows bosom rude. THE GATHHEING, 1^5 Not his tlie mien of Christian priest, But Druids, from the grave released, Whose hardened heart and eye might brook On human sacrifice to look; And much, t was said, of heathen lore Mixed in the charms he muttered oer. The hallowed creed gave only worse And deadlier emphasis of curse. No peasant sought tliat Hermits prayer. His cave the pilgrim shunned with care; The eager huntsman knew his bound, And in mid chase called off his hound; Or if, in lonely glen or strath, The desert-dweller met his path. He prayed, and signed the cross between, While terror took devotions mien. Of Brians birth strange tales were mother watched a midnight deep within a dreary glen,Where scattered lay the bones of menIn some forgotten battle bleached by drifting wind and rai
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherbosto, bookyear1896
