The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Philip of Mortham raised his band, And march'd at Fairfax's command; While VVyclille, bound bv many a train Of kindred art with v/ily Vane, Less prompt to brave the bfoody field, Made Barnard's battlements his shield, Secured them with his Lunedale powers, And for the Commons held the towers. XXIX. The lovely heir of Rokeby's Knight, Waits in his halls the event of fight; For England's war revered the claim Of every unprotected name, And spared, amid its fiercest rage, Childhood and womanhood and age. But Wilfrid, son to Rokeby's foe, Must the dear privilege forego, By Greta's side in evening grey, To steal upon Matilda's way, Striving, with fond hypocrisy, For careless step and vacant eye; Calming each anxious look and glance, To give the meeting all to chance, Or framing as a fair excuse, The book, the pencil, or the muse; Something to give, to sing, to say, Some modern tale, some ancient lay. Then, while the long'd-for minutes last, ? Ah! minutes quickly over-past! ? Recording each expression free, Of kind or careless courtesy, Each friendly look, each softer tone, As food for fancy when alone. All this is o'er?- but still, unseen, Wilfrid may lurk in Eastwood green, To watch Matilda's wonted round, While springs his heart at every sound. She comes! ? 'tis but a passing sight, Yet serves to cheat his weary night; She comes not?He will wait the hour, When her lamp lightens in the tower; 'Tis something yet, if, as she past, Her shade is o'er the lattice cast. What is my life, my hope ? he said; Alas! a transitory shade. Thus wore his life, though reason strove For mastery in vain with love, Forcing upon his thoughts the sum Of present woe and ills to come, While still he turn'd impatient ear From Truth's intrusive voice severe. Gentle, indifferent, and subdued...