THE Chief
in silence strode before,
And reached that torrent"s sounding shore, Which, daughter of three mighty lakes, From Vennachar in silver breaks,Sweeps through the plain and ceaseless minesOn Bochastlethe mouldering lines,
Where Rome, the empress of the world, Of yore her eagle-wings unfurled.
And here his course the Chieftain stayed,Threw down his target and his plaid, And to the Lowland warrior said: "Bold Saxon! to his promise just,Vich-Alpinehas discharged his trust.
This murderous Chief, this ruthless man,
This head of a rebellious clan,
Hath led thee safe through watch and ward, Far past Clan-Alpine"s outmost guard.
Now, man to man, and steel to steel,
A Chieftain"s vengeance thou shalt feel! See here, all vantageless I stand, Armed, like thyself, with single brand: For this is Coilantogle ford,And thou must keep thee with thy sword."The Saxon paused: -"I ne"er delayed, When foeman bade me draw my blade;Nay, more, brave Chief, I vowed thy death; Yet sure thy fair and generous faith,And my deep debt for life preserved, A better meed have well deserved: Can nought but blood our feud atone?
Are there no means-?" "No, Stranger, none? And hear, -to fire thy flagging zeal, -The Saxon cause rests on thy steel;For thus spoke Fate, by prophet bred Between the living and the dead: "Who spills the foremost foeman"s life, His party conquers in the strife." " - "Then, by my word," the Saxon said, "The riddle is already read.
Seek yonder brake beneath the cliff, -
There lies Red Murdoch,
stark and stiff
Thus Fate has solved her prophecy; Then yield to Fate, and not to me. To James, at Stirling, let us go; When, if thou wilt be still his foe, Or if the King shall not agreeTo grant thee grace and favour free,I plight mine honour, oath, and word, That, to thy native strengths restored, With each advantage shalt thou stand That aids thee now to guard thy land." -Dark lightning flashed from Roderick"s eye "Soars thy presumption, then, so high,Because a wretched kernye slew,
Homage to name to Roderick Dhu? He yields not, he, to man nor Fate! Thou add"st but fuel to my hate: -My clansman"s blood demands revenge. -Not yet prepared! Nay, then, I changeMy thought, and hold thy valour light As that of some vain carpet knight, Who ill deserved my courteous care, And whose best boast is but to wear A braid of his fair lady"s hair." -"I thank thee, Roderick, for the word!
It nerves my heart, it steels my sword;
For I have sworn this braid
to stain
In the best blood that warms thy vein. Now, truce farewell! and ruth begone! - Yet think not that by thee alone,Proud Chief! can courtesy be shown; Though not from copse, or heath, or cairn,Start at my whistleclansmen stern.
Of this small horn one feeble blast Would fearful odds against thee cast.
But fear not-doubt not-which thou wilt- We try this quarrel hilt to hilt."Then each at once his falchion drew; Each on the ground his scabbard threw; Each looked to sun, and stream, and plain, As what he ne"er might see again; -Then foot, and point, and eye opposed,In dubious strife they darkly closed. - Ill fared it then with Roderick DhuThat on the field his targehe threw,
Whose brazen studs and tough bull-hide Had death so often dashed aside;For, trained abroad his arms to wield, Fitz-James"s blade was sword and shield. He practised every pass and ward,To thrust, to strike, to feint, to guard; While, less expert, though stronger far, The Gael maintained unequal war. Three times in closing strife they stood, And thrice the Saxon blade drank blood; No stinted draught, no scanty tide- The gushing flood the tartans dyed. Fierce Roderick felt the fatal drain.
And showered his blows like wintry rain; And as firm rock, or castle-roof,Against the winter shower is proof,The foe, invulnerable still,Foiled his wild rage by steady skill; Till, at advantage ta"en, his brandForced Roderick"s weapon from his hand, And backward borne upon the lea, Brought the proud Chieftain to his knee! -"Now yield thee, or by vows oft made Thy very heart"s blood dyes my blade!" - "Thy threats, thy mercy, I defy!
Let recreant yield, who fears to die." - Like adder darting from his coil,Like wolf that dashes through the toil, Like mountain-cat who guards her young, Full at Fitz-James"s throat he sprung; Received, but recked not of a wound, And locked his arms his foeman round! - Now, gallant Saxon, hold thine own!
No maiden"a hand is round thee thrown! That desperate grasp thy frame might feel Through bars of brass and triple steel! - They tug, they strain! -down, down they go The Gael above, Fitz-James below!
The Chieftain"s gripe his throat compressed,His knee was planted on his breast; His clotted locks he backward threw,Across his brow his hand he drew, From blood and mist to clear his sight,Then gleamed aloft his dagger bright! - But hate and fury ill suppliedThe stream of life"s exhausted tide, And all too late the advantage came To turn the odds of deadly game;For, while the dagger gleamed on high, Reeled soul and sense, reeled brain and eye. Down came the blow, but in the heathThe erring blade found bloodless sheath! The struggling foe may now unclasp The fainting Chief "s relaxing grasp; - Unwounded from the dreadful close,But breathless all, Fitz-Jamesarose.
- SIR WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832)
