And like that mountain's hoary form,
All blench'd and wither'd by the storm,

Was every feature's grisly cast,

-Pale, but majestic to the last.

"Grieve not, my gallant friends,” he said, "That by a queen the land is sway'd; When woman rules without control, Her generous but dependent soul To worth and wisdom gives commandAnd then 'tis man that rules the land.

"But when in second place she sits,
Then all her cunning, all her wits,
Are on the stretch with knaves to league,
And rule the king by court intrigue.
Trust me, 'tis truth to you I tell—

I have been tried, and know it well!-
A queen by men of wisdom rules,

A king by mistresses and fools.

"Now note my will-My daughter Hynde Must wed the knight that suits her mind;

Her choice no interest let revoke,

Be it as free as bird on oak,

Or the grey eagle of the rock.

But suffer not, on any plea,
A lover to her privacy;

No breathings of ecstatic bliss,
No fond caress, or burning kiss,
May be allow'd, else all is done-
A coxcomb shall the lady won,
And Albyn's ancient royal blood
Run to a weak and spurious brood.
Forbid it, God!-In time to be,
Should my unbodied spirit see
A son of mine to sloth betake,

Or sleep while warriors toil and wake:
On such my soul shall never tend,
As guardian angel or as friend!

"These woes and failings to prevent, Let young Queen Hynde, in royal tent, Hear chiefs debate on government; Mark all their feats in bold tournay, And list their love or warrior lay;

And thus, her keen and piercing sight
Can hardly fail to judge aright.

"Think of this charge-much it portends;

I go-but not resign my friends;

No home I'll seek within the sky;
My patriot soul shall hover nigh,
To watch your actions, mark your deeds
In battle-field, where glory leads;
And o'er the counsel group, reclined
Upon the eddy of the wind,

I'll list how truth your counsel brooks,
And read your spirits in your looks.

"Woe be to him whom I observe

Daring from loyalty to swerve!
Though neither blood nor bone invest
The living flame within this breast,
That flame shall sear his palsied sight,
With shades of horror strew the night,
Load with disgust the light of day,

His motions cross, his path belay;

Each warden spirit's arm control,

And whisper vengeance to his soul,
Till down the miscreant shall be driven-

The hate of man, the scorn of heaven!

"Be thou, my child, upright as fair,

And thou shalt be my special care;
And oh! should power's temptations try,
Think of thy father's spirit nigh:

Be that thy stay on ruin's brink.

Nor tongue may frame, nor heart may think, How distant far such crime will spurn

The kindred minds that round thee burn.

66 I

may not warn thee face to face;
But still, when danger or disgrace
Unseen approaches, I'll be nigh;
Therefore, my child, on dreams rely.
Then to thy spirit's eye unfurl'd,
I'll hold, in shadowy courses hurl'd,
The motions of the moving world.
Farewell-be calm-my time is nigh;

Would that the parting thróe were by !”—

He stretch'd him on his couch, resign'd;

The ruthless foe of human kind,

Whom he had met mid fire and storm,

And braved in every hideous form,
Now unresisting found his arm,

And stopp'd the tide that scarce was warm.

No plaint-no groan hung on his breath, To gratify the ear of death;

Steady and dauntless was his look,

As one a bitter draught who took,

Or, for the sake of health to be,

Suffer'd a transient

agony :

On that pale face, when turn'd to clay,

When lifeless on the couch he lay,

A bold defiance still was blent,
Uncancell'd, with each lineament.

The cross was o'er the body hung,
The royal coronach was sung,
And paid each rite, each honour due,

To sire beloved and sovereign true;