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them here for battle boune。' 'Then shall it see a meeting stern！ But； for the place；say； couldst thou learn Nought of the friendly clans of Earn？ Strengthened by them； we well might bide The battle on Benledi's side。 Thou couldst not？well！ Clan…Alpine's men Shall man the Trosachs' shaggy glen； Within Loch Katrine's gorge we'll fight； All in our maids' and matrons' sight； Each for his hearth and household fire； Father for child； and son for sire Lover for maid beloved！But why Is it the breeze affects mine eye？ Or dost thou come； ill…omened tear！ A messenger of doubt or fear？ No！ sooner may the Saxon lance Unfix Benledi from his stance； Than doubt or terror can pierce through The unyielding heart of Roderick Dhu！ 'tis stubborn as his trusty targe。 Each to his post！all know their charge。' The pibroch sounds； the bands advance； The broadswords gleam； the banners dance' Obedient to the Chieftain's glance。 I turn me from the martial roar And seek Coir…Uriskin once more。
IX。
Where is the Douglas？he is gone； And Ellen sits on the gray stone Fast by the cave； and makes her moan； While vainly Allan's words of cheer Are poured on her unheeding ear。 'He will returndear lady； trust！ With joy return；he willhe must。 Well was it time to seek afar Some refuge from impending war； When e'en Clan…Alpine's rugged swarm Are cowed by the approaching storm。 I saw their boats with many a light； Floating the livelong yesternight； Shifting like flashes darted forth By the red streamers of the north； I marked at morn how close they ride； Thick moored by the lone islet's side； Like wild ducks couching in the fen When stoops the hawk upon the glen。 Since this rude race dare not abide The peril on the mainland side； Shall not thy noble father's care Some safe retreat for thee prepare？'
X。
Ellen。
'No； Allan； no ' Pretext so kind My wakeful terrors could not blind。 When in such tender tone； yet grave； Douglas a parting blessing gave； The tear that glistened in his eye Drowned not his purpose fixed and high。 My soul； though feminine and weak； Can image his； e'en as the lake； Itself disturbed by slightest stroke。 Reflects the invulnerable rock。 He hears report of battle rife； He deems himself the cause of strife。 I saw him redden when the theme Turned； Allan； on shine idle dream Of Malcolm Graeme in fetters bound； Which I； thou saidst； about him wound。 Think'st thou he bowed shine omen aught？ O no' 't was apprehensive thought For the kind youth； for Roderick too Let me be justthat friend so true； In danger both； and in our cause！ Minstrel； the Douglas dare not pause。 Why else that solemn warning given； 'If not on earth； we meet in heaven！' Why else； to Cambus…kenneth's fane； If eve return him not again； Am I to hie and make me known？ Alas！ he goes to Scotland's throne； Buys his friends' safety with his own； He goes to dowhat I had done； Had Douglas' daughter been his son！'
XI。
'Nay； lovely Ellen！dearest； nay！ If aught should his return delay； He only named yon holy fane As fitting place to meet again。 Be sure he's safe； and for the Graeme； Heaven's blessing on his gallant name！ My visioned sight may yet prove true； Nor bode of ill to him or you。 When did my gifted dream beguile？ Think of the stranger at the isle； And think upon the harpings slow That presaged this approaching woe！ Sooth was my prophecy of fear； Believe it when it augurs cheer。 Would we had left this dismal spot！ Ill luck still haunts a fairy spot！ Of such a wondrous tale I know Dear lady； change that look of woe； My harp was wont thy grief to cheer。'
Ellen。
'Well； be it as thou wilt； I hear； But cannot stop the bursting tear。' The Minstrel tried his simple art； Rut distant far was Ellen's heart。
XII。
Ballad。
Alice Brand。
Merry it is in the good greenwood； When the mavis and merle are singing； When the deer sweeps by； and the hounds are in cry； And the hunter's horn is ringing。
'O Alice Brand； my native land Is lost for love of you； And we must hold by wood and word； As outlaws wont to do。
'O Alice； 't was all for thy locks so bright； And 't was all for shine eyes so blue； That on the night of our luckless flight Thy brother bold I slew。
'Now must I teach to hew the beech The hand that held the glaive； For leaves to spread our lowly bed； And stakes to fence our cave。
'And for vest of pall； thy fingers small； That wont on harp to stray； A cloak must shear from the slaughtered deer； To keep the cold away。'
'O Richard！ if my brother died； 'T was but a fatal chance； For darkling was the battle tried； And fortune sped the lance。
'If pall and vair no more I wear； Nor thou the crimson sheen As warm； we'll say； is the russet gray； As gay the forest…green。
'And； Richard； if our lot be hard； And lost thy native land； Still Alice has her own Richard； And he his Alice Brand。'
XIII。
Ballad Continued。
'tis merry； 'tis merry； in good greenwood； So blithe Lady Alice is singing； On the beech's pride； and oak's brown side； Lord Richard's axe is ringing。
Up spoke the moody Elfin King； Who woned within the hill； Like wind in the porch of a ruined church； His voice was ghostly shrill。
'Why sounds yon stroke on beech and oak； Our moonlight circle's screen？ Or who comes here to chase the deer； Beloved of our Elfin Queen？ Or who may dare on wold to wear The fairies' fatal green？
'Up； Urgan； up！ to yon mortal hie； For thou wert christened man； For cross or sign thou wilt not fly； For muttered word or ban。
'Lay on him the curse of the withered heart； The curse of the sleepless eye； Till he wish and pray that his life would part； Nor yet find leave to die。'
XIV。
Ballad Continued。
'Tis merry； 'tis merry； in good greenwood； Though the birds have stilled their singing； The evening blaze cloth Alice raise； And Richard is fagots bringing。
Up Urgan starts； that hideous dwarf； Before Lord Richard stands； And； as he crossed and blessed himself； 'I fear not sign；' quoth the grisly elf； 'That is made with bloody hands。'
But out then spoke she； Alice Brand； That woman void of fear； 'And if there 's blood upon his hand； 'Tis but the blood of deer。'
'Now loud thou liest； thou bold of mood！ It cleaves unto his hand； The stain of shine own kindly blood； The blood of Ethert Brand。'
Then forward stepped she； Alice Brand； And made the holy sign； 'And if there's blood on Richard's hand； A spotless hand is mine。
'And I conjure thee； demon elf； By Him whom demons fear； To show us whence thou art thyself； And what shine errand here？ '
XV。
Ballad Continued。
〃Tis merry； 'tis merry； in Fairy…land； When fairy birds are singing； When the court cloth ride by their monarch's side； With bit and bridle ringing：
'And gayly shines the Fairy…land But all is glistening show； Like the idle gleam that December's beam Can dart on ice and snow。
'And fading； like that varied gleam； Is our inconstant shape； Who now like knight and lady seem； And now like dwarf and ape。
'It was between the night and day； When the Fairy King has power； That I sunk down in a sinful fray； And 'twixt life and death was snatched away To the joyless Elfin bower。
'But wist I of a woman bold； Who thrice my brow durst sign； I might regain my mortal mould； As fair a form as thine。'
She crossed him onceshe crossed him twice That lady was so brave； The fouler grew his goblin hue； The darker grew the cave。
She crossed him thrice； that lady bold； He rose beneath her hand The fairest knight on Scottish mould； Her brother； Ethert Brand！
Merry it is in good greenwood； When the mavis and merle are singing； But merrier were they in Dunfermline gray； When all the bells were ringing。
XVI。
Just as the minstrel sounds were stayed； A stranger climbed the steepy glade； His martial step； his stately mien； His hunting…suit of Lincoln green； His eagle glance； remembrance claims 'Tis Snowdoun's Knight； 'tis James Fitz…James。 Ellen beheld as in a dream； Then； starting； scarce suppressed a scream： 'O stranger！ in such hour of fear What evil hap has brought thee here？' 'An evil hap how can it be That bids me look again on thee？ By promise bound； my former guide Met me betimes this morning…tide； And marshalled over bank and bourne The happy path of my return。' 'The happy path！what！ said he naught Of war； of battle to be fought； Of guarded pass？ ' ' No； by my faith！ Nor saw I aught could augur scathe。' 'O haste thee； Allan； to the kern： Yonder his tartars I discern； Learn thou his purpose； and conjure That he will guide the stranger sure！ What prompted thee； unhappy man？ The meanest serf in Roderick's clan Had not been bribed； by love or fear； Unknown to him to guide thee here。'
XVII。
'Sweet Ellen； dear my life must be； Since it is worthy care from thee； et life I hold but idle breath When love or honor's weighed with death。 Then let me profit by my chance； And speak my purpose bold at once。 I come to bear thee from a wild Where ne'er before such blossom smiled； By this soft h