demands　revenge。　Not　yet　prepared？By　heaven；　I　change　My　thought；　and　hold　thy　valor　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；　rush；　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　whistle　clansmen　stern；　Of　this　small　horn　one　feeble　blast　Would　fearful　odds　against　thee　cast。　But　fear　not　　doubt　notwhich　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　they　ne'er　might　see　again；　Then　foot　and　point　and　eye　opposed；　In　dubious　strife　they　darkly　closed。
  XV。
  Ill　fared　it　then　with　Roderick　Dhu；　That　on　the　field　his　targe　he　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　tartars　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　brand　Forced　Roderick's　weapon　from　his　hand；　And　backward　borne　upon　the　lea；　Brought　the　proud　Chieftain　to　his　knee。
  XVI。
  Now　yield　thee；　or　by　Him　who　made　The　world；　thy　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　shine　own！　No　maiden's　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　supplied　The　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　heath　The　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…James　arose。
  XVII。
  He　faltered　thanks　to　Heaven　for　life；　Redeemed；　unhoped；　from　desperate　strife；　Next　on　his　foe　his　look　he　cast；　Whose　every　gasp　appeared　his　last　In　Roderick's　gore　he　dipped　the　braid；　'Poor　Blanche！　thy　wrongs　are　dearly　paid；　Yet　with　thy　foe　must　die；　or　live；　The　praise　that　faith　and　valor　give。'　With　that　he　blew　a　bugle　note；　Undid　the　collar　from　his　throat；　Unbonneted；　and　by　the　wave　Sat　down　his　brow　and　hands　to　rave。　Then　faint　afar　are　heard　the　feet　Of　rushing　steeds　in　gallop　fleet；　The　sounds　increase；　and　now　are　seen　Four　mounted　squires　in　Lincoln　green；　Two　who　bear　lance；　and　two　who　lead　By　loosened　rein　a　saddled　steed；　Each　onward　held　his　headlong　course；　And　by　Fitz…James　reined　up　his　horse；　With　wonder　viewed　the　bloody　spot；　'Exclaim　not；　gallants　'　question　not。　You；　Herbert　and　Luffness；　alight　And　bind　the　wounds　of　yonder　knight；　Let　the　gray　palfrey　bear　his　weight；　We　destined　for　a　fairer　freight；　And　bring　him　on　to　Stirling　straight；　I　will　before　at　better　speed；　　To　seek　fresh　horse　and　fitting　weed。　The　sun　rides　high；I　must　be　boune　　To　see　the　archer…game　at　noon；　But　lightly　Bayard　clears　the　lea。　De　Vaux　and　Herries。　follow　me。
  XVIII。
  'Stand；　Bayard；　stand！　'the　steed　obeyed；　With　arching　neck　and　bended　head；　And　glancing　eye　and　quivering　ear；　As　if　he　loved　his　lord　to　hear。　No　foot　Fitz…James　in　stirrup　stayed；　No　grasp　upon　the　saddle　laid；　But　wreathed　his　left　hand　in　the　mane；　And　lightly　bounded　from　the　plain；　Turned　on　the　horse　his　armed　heel；　And　stirred　his　courage　with　the　steel。　Bounded　the　fiery　steed　in　air；　The　rider　sat　erect　and　fair；　Then　like　a　bolt　from　steel　crossbow　Forth　launched；　along　the　plain　they　go。　They　dashed　that　rapid　torrent　through；　And　up　Carhonie's　hill　they　flew；　Still　at　the　gallop　pricked　the　Knight；　His　merrymen　followed　as　they　might。　Along　thy　banks；　swift　Teith！　they　ride；　And　in　the　race　they　mock　thy　tide；　Torry　and　Lendrick　now　are　past；　And　Deanstown　lies　behind　them　cast；　They　rise；　the　bannered　towers　of　Doune；　They　sink　in　distant　woodland　soon；　Blair…Drummond　sees　the　hoofs　strike　fire；　They　sweep　like　breeze　through　Ochtertyre；　They　mark　just　glance　and　disappear　The　lofty　brow　of　ancient　Kier；　They　bathe　their　coursers'　sweltering　sides　Dark　Forth！　amid　thy　sluggish　tides；　And　on　the　opposing　shore　take　ground　With　plash；　with　scramble；　and　with　bound。　Right…hand　they　leave　thy　cliffs；　Craig…Forth！　And　soon　the　bulwark　of　the　North；　Gray　Stirling；　with　her　towers　and　town；　Upon　their　fleet　career　looked　clown。
  XIX。
  As　up　the　flinty　path　they　strained；　Sudden　his　steed　the　leader　reined；　A　signal　to　his　squire　he　flung；　Who　instant　to　his　stirrup　sprung：　'Seest　thou；　De　Vaux；　yon　woodsman　gray；　Who　townward　holds　the　rocky　way；　Of　stature　tall　and　poor　array？　Mark'st　thou　the　firm；　yet　active　stride；　With　which　he　scales　the　mountain…side？　Know'st　thou　from　whence　he　comes；　or　whom？'　'No；　by　my　word；a　burly　groom　He　seems；　who　in　the　field　or　chase　A　baron's　train　would　nobly　grace'　'Out；　out；　De　Vaux！　can　fear　supply；　And　jealousy；　no　sharper　eye？　Afar；　ere　to　the　hill　he　drew；　That　stately　form　and　step　I　knew；　Like　form　in　Scotland　is　not　seen；　Treads　not　such　step　on　Scottish　green。　'Tis　James　of　Douglas；　by　Saint　Serle！　The　uncle　of　the　banished　Earl。　Away；　away；　to　court；　to　show　The　near　approach　of　dreaded　foe：　The　King　must　stand　upon　his　guard；　Douglas　and　he　must　meet　prepared。'　Then　right…hand　wheeled　their　steeds；　and　straight　They　won　the　Castle's　postern　gate。
  XX。
  The　Douglas；　who　had　bent　his　way　From　Cambus…kenneth's　abbey　gray；　Now；　as　he　climbed　the　rocky　shelf；　Held　sad　communion　with　himself：　'Yes！　all　is　true　my　fears　could　frame；　A　prisoner　lies　the　nob＇e　Graeme；　And　fiery　Roderick　soon　will　feel　The　vengeance　of　the　royal　steel。　I；　only　I；　can　ward　their　fate；　God　grant　the　ransom　come　not　late！　The　Abbess　hath　her　promise　given；　My　child　shall　be　the　bride　of　Heaven；　Be　pardoned　one　repining　tear！　For　He　who　gave　her　knows　how　dear；　How　excellent！but　that　is　by；　And　now　my　business　isto　die。　Ye　towers！　within　whose　circuit　dread　A　Douglas　by　his　sovereign　bled；　And　thou；　O　sad　and　fatal　mound！　That　oft　hast　heard　the　death…axe　sound。　As　on　the　noblest　of　the　land　Fell　the　stern　headsmen's　bloody　hand；　The　dungeon；　block；　and　nameless　tomb　Preparefor　Douglas　seeks　his　doom！　But　hark！　what　blithe　and　jolly　peal　Makes　the　Franciscan　steeple　reel？　And　see！　upon　the　crowded　street；　In　motley　groups　what　masquers　meet！　Banner　and　pageant；　pipe　and　drum；　And　merry　morrice…dancers　come。　I　guess；　by　all　this　quaint　array；　The　burghers　hold　their　sports　to…　day。　James　will　be　there；　he　loves　such　show；　Where　the　good　yeoman　bends　his　bow；　And　the　tough　wrestler　foils　his　foe；　As　well　as　where；　in　proud　career；　The　high…born　filter　shivers　spear。　I'll　follow　to　the　Castle…park；　And　play　my　prize；King　James　shall　mark　If　age　has　tamed　these　sinews　stark；　Whose　force　so　oft　in　happier　days　His　boyish　wonder　loved　to　praise。'
  XXI。
  The　Castle　gates　were　open　flung；　The　quivering　drawbridge　rocked　and　rung；　And　echoed　loud　the　flinty　street　Beneath　the　coursers'　clattering　feet；　As　slowly　down　the　steep　descent　Fair　Scotland's　King　and　nobles　went；　While　all　along　the　crowded　way　Was　jubilee　and　loud　huzza。　And　ever　James　was　bending　low　To　his　white　jennet's　saddle…bow；　Doffing　his　cap　to　city　dame；　Who　smiled　and　blushed　for　pride　and　shame。　And　well　the　simperer　might　be　vain；　He　chose　the　fairest　of　the　train。　Gravely　he　greets　each　city　sire；　Commends　each　pageant's　quaint　attire；　Gives　to　the　dancers　thanks　aloud；　And　smiles　and　nods　upon　the　crowd；　Who　rend　the　heavens　with　their　acclaims；　'Long　live　the　Commons'　King；　King　James！'　Behind　the　King　thronged　peer　and　knight；　And　noble　dame　and　damsel　bright；　Whose　fiery　steeds　ill　brooked　the　stay　Of　the　steep　street　and　crowded　way。　But　in　the　train　you　might　discern　Dark　lowering　brow　and　visage　stern；　There　nobles　mourned　their　pride　restrained；　And　the　mean　burgher's　joys　disdained；　And　chiefs；　who；　hostage　for　the*　cla