5
Life issued at the wound—he fell
A lump of lifeless clay;
So fall my foes, quoth valiant Rose,
And stately strode away.
Through the green wood in haste he passed
Unto Lord Buchan's hall—
Beneath Matilda's window stood,
And thus on her did call:
Art thou asleep, Matilda dear,
Awake, my love! awake;
Behold thy lover waits without,
A long farewell to take.
For I have slain fierce Donald Græme,
His blood is on my sword;
And far, far distant are my men,
Nor can defend their lord.
To Skye I will direct my steps,
Where my brave brothers bide,
And raise the mighty of the Isles
To combat on my side.
O do not so, the maid replied,
With me to morning stay;
For dark and dreary is the night,
And dang'rous is the way.
All night I'll watch you in the park,
My faithful page I'll send
In haste to raise the brave clan Rose;
Their master to defend.
He laid him down beneath a bush,
And wrapped him in his plaid—
While trembling for her lover's fate,
At distance stood the maid.
