the lady of the lake-第17部分

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their　pride　restrained；　And　the　mean　burgher's　joys　disdained；　And　chiefs；　who；　hostage　for　the*　clan；　Were　each　from　home　a　banished　man；　There　thought　upon　their　own　gray　tower；　Their　waving　woods；　their　feudal　power；　And　deemed　themselves　a　shameful　part　Of　pageant　which　they　cursed　in　heart。


XXII。

Now；　in　the　Castle…park；　drew　out　Their　checkered　bands　the　joyous　rout。　There　morricers；　with　bell　at　heel　And　blade　in　hand；　their　mazes　wheel；　But　chief；　beside　the　butts；　there　stand　Bold　Robin　Hood　and　all　his　band；　　Friar　Tuck　with　quarterstaff　and　cowl；　Old　Scathelocke　with　his　surly　scowl；　Maid　Marian；　fair　as　ivory　bone；　Scarlet；　and　Mutch；　and　Little　John；　Their　bugles　challenge　all　that　will；　In　archery　to　prove　their　skill。　The　Douglas　bent　a　bow　of　might；　His　first　shaft　centred　in　the　white；　And　when　in　turn　he　shot　again；　His　second　split　the　first　in　twain。　From　the　King's　hand　must　Douglas　take　A　silver　dart；　the　archers'　stake；　Fondly　he　watched；　with　watery　eye；　Some　answering　glance　of　sympathy；　No　kind　emotion　made　reply！　Indifferent　as　to　archer　wight；　The　monarch　gave　the　arrow　bright。


XXIII。

Now；　clear　the　ring！　for；　hand　to　hand；　The　manly　wrestlers　take　their　stand。　Two　o'er　the　rest　superior　rose；　And　proud　demanded　mightier　foes；　Nor　called　in　vain；　for　Douglas　came。　For　life　is　Hugh　of　Larbert　lame；　Scarce　better　John　of　Alloa's　fare；　Whom　senseless　home　his　comrades　bare。　Prize　of　the　wrestling　match；　the　King　To　Douglas　gave　a　golden　ring；　While　coldly　glanced　his　eye　of　blue；　As　frozen　drop　of　wintry　dew。　Douglas　would　speak；　but　in　his　breast　His　struggling　soul　his　words　suppressed；　Indignant　then　he　turned　him　where　Their　arms　the　brawny　yeomen　bare；　To　hurl　the　massive　bar　in　air。　When　each　his　utmost　strength　had　shown；　The　Douglas　rent　an　earth…fast　stone　From　its　deep　bed；　then　heaved　it　high；　And　sent　the　fragment　through　the　sky　A　rood　beyond　the　farthest　mark；　And　still　in　Stirling's　royal　park；　The　gray…haired　sires；　who　know　the　past；　To　strangers　point　the　Douglas　cast；　And　moralize　on　the　decay　Of　Scottish　strength　in　modern　day。


XXIV。

The　vale　with　loud　applauses　rang；　The　Ladies'　Rock　sent　back　the　clang。　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　now　with　anxious　wonder　scan；　And　sharper　glance；　the　dark　gray　man；　Till　whispers　rose　among　the　throng；　That　heart　so　free；　and　hand　so　strong；　Must　to　the　Douglas　blood　belong。　The　old　men　marked　and　shook　the　head；　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　wrecked　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！


XXV。

The　Monarch　saw　the　gambols　flag　And　bade　let　loose　a　gallant　stag；　Whose　pride；　the　holiday　to　crown；　Two　favorite　greyhounds　should　pull　down；　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　midway；　And　dashing　on　the　antlered　prey；　Sunk　her　sharp　muzzle　in　his　flank；　And　deep　the　flowing　life…　blood　drank。　The　King's　stout　huntsman　saw　the　sport　By　strange　intruder　broken　short；　Came　up；　and　with　his　leash　unbound　In　anger　struck　the　noble　hound。　The　Douglas　had　endured；　that　morn；　The　King's　cold　look；　the　nobles'　scorn；　And　last；　and　worst　to　spirit　proud；　Had　borne　the　pity　of　the　crowd；　But　Lufra　had　been　fondly　bred；　To　share　his　board；　to　watch　his　bed；　And　oft　would　Ellen　Lufra's　neck　In　maiden　glee　with　garlands　deck；　They　were　such　playmates　that　with　name　Of　Lufra　Ellen's　image　came。　His　stifled　wrath　is　brimming　high；　In　darkened　brow　and　flashing　eye；　As　waves　before　the　bark　divide；　The　crowd　gave　way　before　his　stride；　Needs　but　a　buffet　and　no　more；　The　groom　lies　senseless　in　his　gore。　Such　blow　no　other　hand　could　deal；　Though　gauntleted　in　glove　of　steel。


XXVI。

Then　clamored　loud　the　royal　train；　And　brandished　swords　and　staves　amain；　But　stern　the　Baron's　warning：　'Back！　Back；　on　your　lives；　ye　menial　pack！　Beware　the　Douglas。Yes！　behold；　King　James！　The　Douglas；　doomed　of　old；　And　vainly　sought　for　near　and　far；　A　victim　to　atone　the　war；　A　willing　victim；　now　attends；　Nor　craves　thy　grace　but　for　his　friends。'　'Thus　is　my　clemency　repaid？　Presumptuous　Lord！'　the　Monarch　said：　'Of　thy　misproud　ambitious　clan；　Thou；　James　of　Bothwell；　wert　the　man；　The　only　man；　in　whom　a　foe　My　woman…mercy　would　not　know；　But　shall　a　Monarch's　presence　brook　Injurious　blow　and　haughty　look？　What　ho！　the　Captain　of　our　Guard！　Give　the　offender　fitting　ward。　Break　off　the　sports！'for　tumult　rose；　And　yeomen　'gan　to　bend　their　bows；　'Break　off　the　sports！'　he　said　and　frowned；　'And　bid　our　horsemen　clear　the　ground。'


XXVII。

Then　uproar　wild　and　misarray　Marred　the　fair　form　of　festal　day。　The　horsemen　pricked　among　the　crowd；　Repelled　by　threats　and　insult　loud；　To　earth　are　borne　the　old　and　weak；　The　timorous　fly；　the　women　shriek；　With　flint；　with　shaft；　with　staff；　with　bar；　The　hardier　urge　tumultuous　war。　At　once　round　Douglas　darkly　sweep　The　royal　spears　in　circle　deep；　And　slowly　scale　the　pathway　steep；　While　on　the　rear　in　thunder　pour　The　rabble　with　disordered　roar　With　grief　the　noble　Douglas　saw　The　Commons　rise　against　the　law；　And　to　the　leading　soldier　said：　'Sir　John　of　Hyndford；　'twas　my　blade　That　knighthood　on　thy　shoulder　laid；　For　that　good　deed　permit　me　then　A　word　with　these　misguided　men。


XXVIII；

'Hear；　gentle　friends；　ere　yet　for　me　Ye　break　the　bands　of　fealty。　My　life；　my　honour；　and　my　cause；　I　tender　free　to　Scotland's　laws。　Are　these　so　weak　as　must　require　'Fine　aid　of　your　misguided　ire？　Or　if　I　suffer　causeless　wrong；　Is　then　my　selfish　rage　so　strong；　My　sense　of　public　weal　so　low；　That；　for　mean　vengeance　on　a　foe；　Those　cords　of　love　I　should　unbind　Which　knit　my　country　and　my　kind？　O　no！　Believe；　in　yonder　tower　It　will　not　soothe　my　captive　hour；　To　know　those　spears　our　foes　should　dread　For　me　in　kindred　gore　are　red：　'To　know；　in　fruitless　brawl　begun；　For　me　that　mother　wails　her　son；　For　me　that　widow's　mate　expires；　For　me　that　orphans　weep　their　sires；　That　patriots　mourn　insulted　laws；　And　curse　the　Douglas　for　the　cause。　O　let　your　patience　ward　such　ill；　And　keep　your　right　to　love　me　still　I'


XXIX。

The　crowd's　wild　fury　sunk　again　In　tears；　as　tempests　melt　in　rain。　With　lifted　hands　and　eyes；　they　prayed　For　blessings　on　his　generous　head　Who　for　his　country　felt　alone；　And　prized　her　blood　beyond　his　own。　Old　men　upon　the　verge　of　life　Blessed　him　who　stayed　the　civil　strife；　And　mothers　held　their　babes　on　high；　The　self…devoted　Chief　to　spy；　Triumphant　over　wrongs　and　ire；　To　whom　the　prattlers　owed　a　sire。　Even　the　rough　soldier's　heart　was　moved；　As　if　behind　some　bier　beloved；　With　trailing　arms　and　drooping　head；　The　Douglas　up　the　hill　he　led；　And　at　the　Castle's　battled　verge；　With　sighs　resigned　his　honoured　charge。


XXX。

The　offended　Monarch　rode　apart；　With　bitter　thought　and　swelling　heart；　And　would　not　now　vouchsafe　again　Through　Stirling　streets　to　lead　his　train。　'O　Lennox；　who　would　wish　to　rule　This　changeling　crowd；　this　common　fool？　Hear'st　thou；'　he　said；　'the　loud　acclaim　With　which　they　shout　the　Douglas　name？　With　like　acclaim　the　vulgar　throat　Strained　for　King　James　their　morning　note；　With　like　acclaim　they　hailed　the　day　When　first　I　broke　the　Douglas　sway；　And　like　acclaim　would　Douglas　greet　If　he　could　hurl　me　from　my　seat。　Who　o'er　the　herd　would　wish　to　reign；　Fantastic；　fickle；　fierce；　and　vain？　Vain　as　the　leaf　upon　the　stream；　And　fickle　as　a　changeful　dream；　Fantastic　as　a　woman's　mood；　And　fierce　as　Frenzy's　fevered　blood。　Thou　many…headed　monster…thing；　O　who　would　wish　to　be　thy　king？


XXXI。。

'But　soft！　what　messenger　of　speed　Spurs　hitherward　his　panting　steed？　I　guess　his　cognizance　afar　What　from　our　cousin；　John　of　Mar？'　'He　prays；　my　liege；　your　sports　keep　bound　Within　the　safe　and　guarded　ground；　For　some　foul　purpose　yet　unknown；　Most　sure　for　evil　to　the　throne；　The　outlawed　Chieftain；　Roderick　Dhu；　Has　summoned　his　rebellious　crew；　'Tis　said；　in　James　of　Bothwell's　aid　These　loose　banditti　stand　arrayed。　The　Earl　of　Mar　this　morn　from　Doune　To　break　their　muster　marched；　and　soon　Your　Grace　will　hear　of　battle　fought；　But　earnestly　the　Earl　besought；　Till　for　such　danger　he　provide；　With　scanty　train　you　will　not　ride。'


XXXII。

'Thou　warn'st　me　I　have　done　amiss；　I　should　have　earlier　looked　to　this；