"What think I of him?--woe the while
That brought such wanderer to our isle!
Thy father's battle-brand, of yore 305
For Tine-man forged by fairy lore.
What time he leagued, no longer foes,
His Border spears with Hotspur's bows,
Did, self-unscabbarded, foreshow
The footstep of a secret foe. 310
If courtly spy hath harbored here,
What may we for the Douglas fear?
What for this island, deemed of old
Clan-Alpine's last and surest hold?
If neither spy nor foe, I pray 315
What yet may jealous Roderick say?
--Nay, wave not thy disdainful head,
Bethink thee of the discord dread,
That kindled when at Beltane game
Thou ledst the dance with Malcolm Graeme; 320
Still, though thy sire the peace renewed,
Smolders in Roderick's breast the feud;
Beware!--But hark, what sounds are these?
My dull ears catch no faltering breeze,
No weeping birch, nor aspens wake, 325
Nor breath is dimpling in the lake,
Still is the canna's hoary beard,
Yet, by my minstrel faith, I heard--
And hark again! some pipe of war
Sends the bold pibroch from afar." 330