370 And Christabel awoke and spied The same who lay down by her sideOh rather say, the same whom she Raised up beneath the old oak tree! Nay, fairer yet; and yet more fair! For she belike hath drunken deep Of all the blessedness of sleep! And while she spake, her locks, her air Such gentle thankfulness declare, That (so it seemed) her girded vests Grew tight beneath her heaving breasts. "Sure I have sinned!" said Christabel, "Now heaven be praised if all be well!" And in low faltering tones, yet sweet, Did she the lofty lady greet, With such perplexity of mind As dreams too lively leave behind. 379 The lovely maid and lady tall Are pacing both into the hall, And pacing on through page and groom, Enter the Baron's presence-room. The Baron rose, and while he prest His gentle daughter to his breast, With cheerful wonder in his eyes The lady Geraldine espies, And gave such welcome to the same, As might beseem so bright a dame! But when he heard the lady's tale, And when she told her father's name, Why waxed Sir Leoline so pale, Murmuring o'er the name again, Lord Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine? X 400 Alas! they had been friends in youth; But whispering tongues can poison truth; And constancy lives in realms above; 410 And life is thorny; and youth is vain; And to be wroth with one we love Doth work like madness in the brain. And thus it chanced, as I divine, With Roland and Sir Leoline. Each spake words of high disdain. And insult to his heart's best brother: They parted-ne'er to meet again! But never either found another To free the hollow heart from painingThey stood aloof, the scars remaining, 421 Like cliffs which had been rent asunder; A dreary sea now flows between:But neither heat, nor frost, nor thunder, Shall wholly do away, I ween, The marks of that which once hath been. x Sir Leoline, a moment's space, Stood gazing on the damsel's face: So quickly she rose, and quickly And the youthful Lord of Tryermaine arrayed Her maiden limbs, and having prayed Came back upon his heart again. O then the Baron forgot his age, His noble heart swelled high with rage; He swore by the wounds in Jesu's side. He would proclaim it far and wide 430 The lady fell, and clasped his knees, 519 Her face upraised, her eyes o'erflowing; And Bracy replied, with faltering voice, His gracious hail on all bestowing!"Thy words, thou sire of Christabel, Are sweeter than my harp can tell; Yet might I gain a boon of thee, This day my journey should not be, So strange a dream hath come to me; That I had vowed with music loud To clear yon wood from thing unblest, Warn'd by a vision in my rest! For in my sleep I saw that dove, That gentle bird, whom thou dost love, And call'st by thy own daughter's nameSir Leoline! I saw the same, 530 Green as the herbs on which it couched, 559 Half-listening heard him with a smile; Thus Bracy said: the Baron, the while, Then turned to Lady Geraldine, His eyes made up of wonder and love; With arms more strong than harp or song, And like a thing that sought relief, 600 The maid, alas! her thoughts are gone, That look of dull and treacherous hate! And when the trance was o'er, the maid Why is thy cheek so wan and wild, 610 620 The same, for whom thy lady died! pride! That prayer her deadly pangs beguiled, Sir Leoline! THE CONCLUSION A little child, a limber elf, A fairy thing with red round cheeks, 660 670 (0 sorrow and shame should this be true!) Such giddiness of heart and brain And wouldst thou wrong thy only child, Comes seldom save from rage and pain Her child and thine? So talks as it's most used to do. SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832) THE LAY OF THE LAST MINSTREL INTRODUCTION The way was long, the wind was cold, 10 The humble boon was soon obtained; 60 And then, he said, he would full fain He could recall an ancient strain He never thought to sing again. 70 |