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(From The Lady of the Lake)
IT was a wild and strange retreat, | |
| As e’er was trod by outlaw’s feet. | |
| The dell, upon the mountain’s crest, | |
| Yawned like a gash on warrior’s breast; | |
| Its trench had stayed full many a rock, | 5 |
| Hurled by primeval earthquake shock | |
| From Benvenue’s gray summit wild, | |
| And here, in random ruin piled, | |
| They frowned incumbent o’er the spot, | |
| And formed the rugged sylvan grot. | 10 |
| The oak and birch, with mingled shade, | |
| At noontide there a twilight made, | |
| Unless when short and sudden shone | |
| Some straggling beam on cliff or stone, | |
| With such a glimpse as prophet’s eye | 15 |
| Gains on thy depth, Futurity. | |
| No murmur waked the solemn still, | |
| Save tinkling of a fountain rill; | |
| But when the wind chafed with the lake, | |
| A sullen sound would upward break, | 20 |
| With dashing hollow voice, that spoke | |
| The incessant war of wave and rock. | |
| Suspended cliffs, with hideous sway, | |
| Seemed nodding o’er the cavern gray. | |
| From such a den the wolf had sprung, | 25 |
| In such the wildcat leaves her young; | |
| Yet Douglas and his daughter fair | |
| Sought for a space their safety there. | |
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