女神电子书 > 浪漫言情电子书 > the lady of the lake >

第20部分

the lady of the lake-第20部分

小说: the lady of the lake 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



      Bear back both friend and foe! 〃      Like reeds before the tempest's frown;      That serried grove of lances brown           At once lay levelled low;      And closely shouldering side to side;      The bristling ranks the onset bide。 〃      〃We'll quell the savage mountaineer;           As their Tinchel cows the game!      They come as fleet as forest deer;           We'll drive them back as tame。〃


XVIII。

'Bearing before them in their course The relics of the archer force; Like wave with crest of sparkling foam; Right onward did Clan…Alpine come。      Above the tide; each broadsword bright      Was brandishing like beam of light;           Each targe was dark below;      And with the ocean's mighty swing;      When heaving to the tempest's wing;           They hurled them on the foe。 I heard the lance's shivering crash; As when the whirlwind rends the ash; I heard the broadsword's deadly clang; As if a hundred anvils rang! But Moray wheeled his rearward rank Of horsemen on Clan…Alpine's flank;            〃My banner…man; advance!      I see;〃 he cried; 〃 their column shake。      Now; gallants! for your ladies' sake;           Upon them with the lance!〃 The horsemen dashed among the rout;      As deer break through the broom;

Their steeds are stout; their swords are out;      They soon make lightsome room。 Clan…Alpine's best are backward borne      Where; where was Roderick then! One blast upon his bugle…horn      Were worth a thousand men。 And refluent through the pass of fear      The battle's tide was poured; Vanished the Saxon's struggling spear;      Vanished the mountain…sword。 As Bracklinn's chasm; so black and steep;      Receives her roaring linn As the dark caverns of the deep      Suck the wild whirlpool in; So did the deep and darksome pass Devour the battle's mingled mass; None linger now upon the plain Save those who ne'er shall fight again。


XIX。

'Now westward rolls the battle's din; That deep and doubling pass within。 Minstrel; away! the work of fate Is bearing on; its issue wait; Where the rude Trosachs' dread defile Opens on Katrine's lake and isle。 Gray Benvenue I soon repassed; Loch Katrine lay beneath me cast。      The sun is set;the clouds are met;           The lowering scowl of heaven      An inky hue of livid blue           To the deep lake has given; Strange gusts of wind from mountain glen Swept o'er the lake; then sunk again。 I heeded not the eddying surge; Mine eye but saw the Trosachs' gorge; Mine ear but heard that sullen sound; Which like an earthquake shook the ground; And spoke the stern and desperate strife That parts not but with parting life; Seeming; to minstrel ear; to toll The dirge of many a passing soul。      Nearer it comesthe dim…wood glen      The martial flood disgorged again;           But not in mingled tide;      The plaided warriors of the North      High on the mountain thunder forth           And overhang its side;      While by the lake below appears      The darkening cloud of Saxon spears。      At weary bay each shattered band;      Eying their foemen; sternly stand;      Their banners stream like tattered sail;      That flings its fragments to the gale;      And broken arms and disarray      Marked the fell havoc of the day。


XX。

'Viewing the mountain's ridge askance; The Saxons stood in sullen trance; Till Moray pointed with his lance;      And cried: 〃 Behold yon isle! See! none are left to guard its strand But women weak; that wring the hand: 'Tis there of yore the robber band      Their booty wont to pile; My purse; with bonnet…pieces store; To him will swim a bow…shot o'er; And loose a shallop from the shore。 Lightly we'll tame the war…wolf then; Lords of his mate; and brood; and den。〃 Forth from the ranks a spearman sprung; On earth his casque and corselet rung;      He plunged him in the wave: All saw the deed;the purpose knew; And to their clamors Benvenue      A mingled echo gave; The Saxons shout; their mate to cheer; The helpless females scream for fear And yells for rage the mountaineer。 'T was then; as by the outcry riven; Poured down at once the lowering heaven: A whirlwind swept Loch Katrine's breast; Her billows reared their snowy crest。 Well for the swimmer swelled they high; To mar the Highland marksman's eye; For round him showered; mid rain and hail; The vengeful arrows of the Gael。 In vain。He nears the isleand lo! His hand is on a shallop's bow。 Just then a flash of lightning came; It tinged the waves and strand with flame; I marked Duncraggan's widowed dame; Behind an oak I saw her stand; A naked dirk gleamed in her hand: It darkened;but amid the moan Of waves I heard a dying groan; Another flash!the spearman floats A weltering corse beside the boats; And the stern matron o'er him stood; Her hand and dagger streaming blood。


XXI。

〃'Revenge! revenge! 〃 the Saxons cried; The Gaels' exulting shout replied。 Despite the elemental rage; Again they hurried to engage; But; ere they closed in desperate fight; Bloody with spurring came a knight; Sprung from his horse; and from a crag Waved 'twixt the hosts a milk…white flag。 Clarion and trumpet by his side Rung forth a truce…note high and wide; While; in the Monarch's name; afar A herald's voice forbade the war; For Bothwell's lord and Roderick bold Were both; he said; in captive hold。' But here the lay made sudden stand; The harp escaped the Minstrel's hand! Oft had he stolen a glance; to spy How Roderick brooked his minstrelsy: At first; the Chieftain; to the chime; With lifted hand kept feeble time; That motion ceased;yet feeling strong Varied his look as changed the song; At length; no more his deafened ear The minstrel melody can hear; His face grows sharp;his hands are clenched' As if some pang his heart…strings wrenched; Set are his teeth; his fading eye Is sternly fixed on vacancy; Thus; motionless and moanless; drew His parting breath stout Roderick Dhu! Old Allan…bane looked on aghast; While grim and still his spirit passed; But when he saw that life was fled; He poured his wailing o'er the dead。


XXII。

Lament。

'And art thou cold and lowly laid; Thy foeman's dread; thy people's aid; Breadalbane's boast; Clan…Alpine's shade! For thee shall none a requiem say? For thee; who loved the minstrel's lay; For thee; of Bothwell's house the stay; The shelter of her exiled line; E'en in this prison…house of shine; I'll wail for Alpine's honored Pine!

'What groans shall yonder valleys fill! What shrieks of grief shall rend yon hill! What tears of burning rage shall thrill; When mourns thy tribe thy battles done; Thy fall before the race was won; Thy sword ungirt ere set of sun! There breathes not clansman of thy line; But would have given his life for shine。 O; woe for Alpine's honoured Pine!

'Sad was thy lot on mortal stage! The captive thrush may brook the cage; The prisoned eagle dies for rage。 Brave spirit; do Dot scorn my strain! And; when its notes awake again; Even she; so long beloved in vain; Shall with my harp her voice combine; And mix her woe and tears with mine; To wail Clan…Alpine's honoured Pine。'


XXIII。

Ellen the while; with bursting heart; Remained in lordly bower apart; Where played; with many…coloured gleams; Through storied pane the rising beams。 In vain on gilded roof they fall; And lightened up a tapestried wall; And for her use a menial train A rich collation spread in vain。 The banquet proud; the chamber gay; Scarce drew one curious glance astray; Or if she looked; 't was but to say; With better omen dawned the day In that lone isle; where waved on high The dun…deer's hide for canopy; Where oft her noble father shared  The simple meal her care prepared; While Lufra; crouching by her side; Her station claimed with jealous pride; And Doug'as; bent on woodland game; Spoke of the chase to Malcolm Graeme; Whose answer; oft at random made; The wandering of his thoughts betrayed。 Those who such simple joys have known Are taught to prize them when they 're gone。 But sudden; see; she lifts her head; The window seeks with cautious tread。 What distant music has the power To win her in this woful hour? 'T was from a turret that o'erhung Her latticed bower; the strain was sung。


XXIV。

Lay of the Imprisoned Huntsman。

'My hawk is tired of perch and hood; My idle greyhound loathes his food; My horse is weary of his stall; And I am sick of captive thrall。 I wish I were as I have been; Hunting the hart in forest green; With bended bow and bloodhound free; For that's the life is meet for me。

I hate to learn the ebb of time From yon dull steeple's drowsy chime; Or mark it as the sunbeams crawl; Inch after inch; along the wall。 The lark was wont my matins ring; The sable rook my vespers sing; These towers; although a king's they be; Have not a hall of joy for me。

No more at dawning morn I rise; And sun myself in Ellen's eyes; Drive the fleet deer the forest through; And homeward wend with evening dew; A blithesome welcome blithely meet; And lay my trophies at her feet; While fled the eve on wing of glee; That life is lost to love and me!'


XXV。

The heart…sick lay was hardly said; The listener had not turned her head; It trickled still; the starting tear; When light a footstep struck her ear; And Snowdoun's graceful Knight was near。 She

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的