"Nor frequent does the bright oar break
"The darkening mirror of the lake,
"Until the rocky isle they reach,
"And moor their shallop on the beach."

In the first Canto we cannot omit the extract of the following songs addressed to the Knight:

SONG.

"Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,

"Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking; "Dream of battled fields no more,

"Days of danger, nights of waking. "In our isle's enchanted hall,

"Hands unseen thy couch are strewing, "Fairy strains of music fall,

"Every sense in slumber dewing. "Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er, "Dream of fighting fields no more; "Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking, "Morn of toil, nor night of waking. "No rude sound shall reach thine ear, "Armour's clang, or war-steed champing, "Trump nor pibroch summon here

"Mustering clan, or squadron tramping. "Yet the lark's shrill fife may come

"At the day break from the fallow, "And the bittern sound his drum,

"Booming from the sedgy shallow. "Ruder sounds shall none be near, "Guards nor warders challenge here, "Here's no war steed's neigh and champing, "Shouting clans or squadrous stamping." "She paused-then, blushing, led the lay "To grace the stranger of the day; "Her mellow uotes awhile prolong "The cadence of the flowing song, "Till to her lips in measured frame "The minstrel verse spontaneous came."Huntsman, rest' thy chase is done,

"While our slumbrous spells assail ye, "Dream not with the rising sun, "Bugles here shall sound reveillie. "Sleep! the deer is in his den;

"Sleep! thy hounds are by thee lying; "Sleep! nor dream in yonder glen,

"How thy gallant steed lay dying. "Huntsman, rest! thy chase is done, "Think not of the rising sun,

For at dawning to assai! ye, "Here no bugles sound reveillie."

Nothing can possibly be more elegant and more picturesque than this description. Unquestionably it appears to us to be the finest part of the Poem, and if Mr Scott had written nothing else, we should not have hesitated to have characterized him, for this only, as the first descriptive Poet of the day.

In the second Cauto, Roderick Dhu and

Malcolm Græme arrive in the Island of Clan Alpine, and Roderick consults the Monk as to the issue of the war, which his scouts inform him is preparing by the King against them.

The most striking part of this Canto is the Boat Song, which is sung by the rowers of Roderick Dhu. It is wild, simple, and poetical, and even in the reading reminds us of the peculiar strain of the Scottish melodies.

BOAT SONG.

"Hail to the chief who in trimph advances, "Honoured and blessed be the ever-green

pine!

"Long may the tree in his banner that glances, “Flourish, the shelter the grace of our line ! "Heaven send it happy dew, "Earth lend it sap anew,

"Gayly to bourgeon, and broadly to grow, "While every highland glen

"Sends our shout back agen,

"Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!" "Ours is no sapling, chance sown by the foun tain,

"Blooming at Beltane, in winter to fade ; "When the whirlwind has stripped every leaf "on the mountain,

"The more shall Clan-Alpine exult in her shade.

"Moored in the rifted rock,

"Proof to the tempest's shock,

"Firmer he roots him the ruder it blow; "Menteith and Breadalbane, then, "Echoe his praise agen,

"Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, bo! ieroe!" "Proudly our pibroch has thrilled in Glen Fruin,

"And Banochar's groans to our slogan re

" that some seedling gem, "Worthy such noble stem, "Honoured and blessed in their shadow

might grow!

"Loud should Clan-Alpine then "Ring from her deepmost glen, "Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! ieroe!"

There are in this Song, indeed, two or three of those old words of which we have before complained, and the inversions in language are perhaps unnecessary. But with these deductions it posseses much merit. Mr. Scott, indeed, seems peculiarly to excel in these Songs

In the third Canto is the assembling of the army. We regret to say, that this Canto appears to us the most defective of the whole. The language is a jargon, and for page after page is almost unintelligible. Inanity is still inanity, whether in a modern dress or an anitiquated one. This nonsense is not a whit the more sufferable because it is given in the Scottish dialect. The best part of this Canto is the description of Brian, the Monk, whom Roderick consults as to the event of the expected battle

"Of Brian's birth strange tales were told, "His mother watch'd a midnight fold, "Built deep within a dreary glen, "Where scatter'd lay the bones of men, "In some forgotten battle slain, "And bleached by drifting wind and rain. "It might have tam'd a warrior's heart, "To view such mockery of his art: "The knot grass fetter'd there the hand, "Which once could burst an iron band; "Beneath the broad and ample bone, "That bucklered heart to fear unknown, "A feeble and a timorous guest, "The field-fare framed her lowly nest; "There the slow blind worm left his slime "On the fleet limbs that mock'd at time; "Aud there too lay the leader's skull, "Still wreath'd with chaplet flushed and full, "For hearth-bell, with her purple bloom,

Supplied the bonnet and the plume. "All night, in this sad glen, the maid "Sate shrouded in her mantie's shade: "She said, no shepherd sought her side, "No hunter's hand her snood untied, "Yet ne'er again to braid her hair "The virgin snood did Alice wcar; "Gone was her maiden glee and sport, "Her maiden girdle all too short, "Nor sought she from that fatal night, "Or holy church or blessed rite, "But lock'd her secret in her breast, "And died in travil unconfessed.

Was Brian from his infant years;

"A moody and heart-broken boy,

Estranged from sympathy and joy, "Bearing each taunt which careless tongne "On his mysterious linage flung.

"Whole nights he spent by moon-light pale, "To wood and stream his hap to wail, "Till frantic, he as truth receiv'd "What of his birth the crowd believ'd, "And sought, in mist and meteor fire, "To meet and know his Phantom Sire! "In vain to sooth his wayward fate, "The cloister oped her pitying gate "In vain the learning of the age "Unclasped the sable-lettered page; "Even in its treasures he could find "Food for the fever of the mind. "Eager to read whatever tells "Of magic, cabala, and spells, "And every dark pursuit allied “To curious and presumptuous pride, "Till with fired brain and nerves o'erstrang, "And heart with mystic horrors wrnug, "Desperate he sought Beuharrow's den, "And hid him from the haunts of men. "The desert gave him visious wild, "Such as might suit the Spectre's child: "Where with black cliffs the torrents toil, "He watch'd the wheeling eddies bail, "Till, from their foam, his dazzling eyes "Bebeld the river-dæmon rise; "The mountain mist took form and limb, "Of noontide hag or geblin grim; "The miduight wind came wild and dread, "Swelled with the voices of the dead; "Far on the future-battle heath "His eyes beheld the ranks of death: "Thus the lone Seer, from mankind hurled, "Shap'd forth a disembodied world.

Oue lingering sympathy of mind "Still bound him to the mortal kind; "The only parent he could claim "Of ancient Alpine's linage came.

"Late had he heard, in prophet's dream, "The fatal Ben-Shie's boding scream; "Sounds, too, had come in midnight blast, "Of charging steeds, careering fast "Along Benharrow's shingly side, "Where mortal horseman ne'r might ride: "The thunder too had split the pine,— "All augur'd ill to Alpine's line. "He girt his loins, and came to show "The signals of impending woe, "And now stood prompt to bless or bann, "As bade the Chief'ain of his clan."

We cannot fo bear iving anothe extract from this Canto.-The messenger sent to as.

"A blithsome rout that morning tide
"Had sought the chapel of Saint Bride.
"Her troth Tombea's Mary gave
"To Norman, beir of Ardmaudave,
"And issuing from the Gothic arch,

The bridal now resumed their marek.
"In rude, but glad procession, came
"Bonneted sire and coif-clad dame;
"And plaided youth, with jest and jeer,
"Which snooded maiden would not hear;
"And children, that, unwitting why,
"Lent the gay shout their thrilly cry;
"And minstrels that in measure vied
"Before the young and bonny bride,
"Whose downcast eye and cheek disclose
"The tear and blush of morning rose.
"With virgin step and bashful hand,
"She held the kerchief's suowy band;
"The gallaut bridegroom, by her side,
"Beheld his prize with victor's pride,
"And the glad mother in her ear
"Was closly whispering word of cheer.

"Who meets them at the church-yard gate? "The messenger of fear and fate! "Haste in his hurried accent lies,

And griet is swimming in his eyes. "All dripping from the recent flood, "Panting and travil-soiled he stood, "The fatal sign of fire and sword "Held forth, and spoke the appointed word; "The mustering place is Lanrick mead.

Speed for the sigual! Norman, speed!'"And must be change so soon the hand, "Just linked to his by holy band, "For the felt Cross of blood and brand? "And must the day, so blithe that rose, "And promised rapture in the close, "Before its setting hour, divide "The bridegroom from the plighted bride? "O fatal doom!-it must! it must! "Clan-Alpine's cause, her Chieftian's trust, "Her summons dead, brooks no delay; "Stretch to the race-away! away!

"Yet slow he laid his plaid aside, "And, lingering, eyed his lovely bride, "Until he saw the starting tear "Speak woe be might not stop to cheer; "Then trusting not a second look, "In haste he sped him up the brook, "Nor backward glanc'd till on the heath "Where Lubnaig's lakes supplies the Teith."What in the racer's bosom stirr'd?"The sickening pang of hope deferred, "And memory, with a torturing train "Of all his morning visions vain.

| ་ Mingled with love's impatience, came "The manly thirst for martial fame; "The stormy joy of mountaineers, "Ere yet they rush upon the spears; "And zeal for clan and chieftain burning, "And hope, from well-fought field returning, "With war's red honours on his crest, "To clasp bis Mary to his breast.

"Stung by such thoughts, o'er bank and brae, "Like fire from Aiut he glanced away, "While high resolve, and feeling strong, "Burst into voluntary soug.

Far, far, from love and thee, Mary; "To-morrow eve, more stilly laid,

My couch may be my bloody plaid,
"My vesper song, thy wail, sweet maid!
"It will not waken me, Mary!

"I may not, dare net, fancy now
"The grief that clouds thy lovely brow,
"I dare not think upon thy vow,

66 And all it promised me, Mary. "No fond regret must Norman know; "When bursts Clan-Alpine on the foe, "His heart must be like bended bow,

"His foot like arrow free, Mary. "A time will come with feeling fraught! "For, if I in battle fought, "Thy hapless lover's dying thought

"Shall be a thought on thee, Mary. "And if returned from conquered foes, "How blithely will the evening close, "How sweet the linnet sing repose,

"To my young bride and me, Mary! In the fourth Canto James Fitz-James,endeavouring to escape from the island Clan-Alpine, falls in with Roderick Dhu, as a shepherd. The following Song may give a good speci men of this Canto:

BALLAD.-ALICE BRAND.

"Merry it is in the good green wood,

"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 wold,
"As outlaws wont to do.

"O Alice, 'twas all for thy locks, so bright,
"And 'twas all for thine eyes so blue,
"That on the night of our luckless flight,
"Thy brother bold I slew.

Sir James Fitz-James. The Lady of the Lake being in a chamber of the palace of Stirling, waiting till the morning shall permit her access to King James, overhears the following song, with which we shall conclude our ex

tracts.

LAY OF THE IMPRISONED HUNTSMAN.

"My hawk is tired of perch and hood,

My idle grey-bound 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, "Hanting the hart in forests green, "With bended bow and blood-hound free, "For that's the life is meet for me. "I hate to learn the ebb of time, "From you dull steeple's drowsy chime, "Or mark it as the sun-beams crawl, “Luch after inch, along the wall. "The lark was wont my matius 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 1 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! "The heart-sick lay was hardly said, "The histuer had not turned her head, "It trickled still, the starting tear, "When light a footstep struck her car, "And Suowdoun's graceful Knight was near. "She turned the hasteier, lest again "The prisoner should renew his strain. «Q welcome, brave Fitz-James' she said; "How may an almost ophan maid "Pay the deep debt'- O say not so!

"To me no gratitude you owe. "Not mine, alas! the boon to give, “And bid thy noble father live; "I cau but be thy guide, sweet maid, "With Scotland's King thy suit to aid. "No tyrant be, though tre and pride "May lead his better mood aside. “Come, Ellen, come!-'tis more than time, "He holds his court at morning prime.' "With beating heart, and bosom wrung, "As to a brother's arm she clung. "Gently he dried the falling tear, "And gently whispered hope and cheer; "Her faultering steps, half led, half staid, "Through gallery fair and high arcade, "Till, at his touch, its wings of pride “A portal arch unfolded wide.

"Within 'twas brilliant all and light,
"A thronging scene of figures bright;
"It glowed ou Ellen's dazzled sight,
"As when the setting sun bas given
"Ten thousand bues to summer even,

And, from their tissue, fancy frames "Aerial kuights and fairy daines. "Still by Fitz-James her footing staid; "A few faint steps she forward inade, "Then slow her drooping head she raised, "And fearful round the presence gazed; "For him she sought, who owned this state, "The dreaded prince whose will was fate!"She gazed on many a princely port, "Might well have ruled a royal court ; "On many a splendid garb she gazed,— "Then turned bewildered aud amazed, "For all stood bare; and, in the room, "Fitz-James alone wore cap and plume. "To him each lady's look was lent, "On him cach courtier's eye was bent; "Midst furs and silks and jewels sheen, "He stood, in simple Lincoln green, "The centre of the glittering ring,"And Snowdoun's Knight is Scotland's King! "As wreath of suow on mountain breast, "Slides from the rock that gave it rest, "Poor Ellen glided from her stay, "And at the Monarch's feet she lay;

No word her choaking voice commands,-"She show'd the ring,—she clasp'd her hands. "O! not a moment could he brook, "The generous prince that suppliant look? "Gently he rais'd her, and the while

"Checked with a glauce the circle's smile,

Graceful, but grave, her brow he kissed, "And bade her terrors be dismissed ;"Yes, Fair; the wandering poor Fitz-James "The fealty of Scotland claims. "To him thy woes, thy wishes, bring; "He will redeem his signet ring.

"Ask nought for Douglas; yester even, "His prince and he have much forgiven: "Wrong hath he had from slanderous tongue, "1, from his rebel kiusmeu, wrong. "We would not to the vulgar crowd "Yield what they craved with clamour loud; "Calmly we heard and judged his cause, "Our council aided and our laws. "I stanched thy father's death feud stern, "With stout De Vaux, and grey Glencairn; "And Bothwell's Lord henceforth we own "The friend and bullwark of our throne."

Having made such ample extracts, our readers will see that this is one of those poems which every poetical reader should add to his library. In descriptive powers, the present age cannot produce its equal.