Scott's Lady of the Lake

Due westward, fronting to the green,
A rural portico was seen,
Aloft on native pillars borne,
Of mountain fir, with bark unshorn,
Where Ellen’s hand had taught to twine
The ivy and Idæan vine,[64 - “Idæan vine,” i.e., a translation of the Latin name of the red whortleberry, Vitis Idæa; but this is a shrub, and could not be “taught to twine.”]
The clematis, the favor’d flower
Which boasts the name of virgin bower,
And every hardy plant could[65 - Which could.] bear
Loch Katrine’s keen and searching air.
An instant in this porch she staid,
And gayly to the stranger said,
“On Heaven and on thy Lady call,
And enter the enchanted hall!”

XXVII

“My hope, my heaven, my trust must be,
My gentle guide, in following thee.”
He cross’d the threshold – and a clang
Of angry steel that instant rang.
To his bold brow his spirit rush’d,
But soon for vain alarm he blush’d,
When on the floor he saw display’d,
Cause of the din, a naked blade
Dropp’d from the sheath, that careless flung,
Upon a stag’s huge antlers swung;
For all around, the walls to grace,
Hung trophies of the fight or chase:
A target[66 - Small shield.] there, a bugle here,
A battle-ax, a hunting spear,
And broadswords, bows, and arrows store,
With the tusk’d trophies of the boar.
Here grins the wolf as when he died,
And there the wild cat’s brindled hide
The frontlet of the elk adorns,
Or mantles o’er the bison’s horns;
Pennons and flags defaced and stain’d,
That blackening streaks of blood retain’d,
And deerskins, dappled, dun, and white,
With otter’s fur and seal’s unite,
In rude and uncouth tapestry[67 - Hangings used to decorate the walls of a room.] all,
To garnish forth the silvan hall.

XXVIII

The wondering stranger round him gazed,
And next the fallen weapon raised: —
Few were the arms whose sinewy strength
Sufficed to stretch it forth at length:
And as the brand he poised and sway’d,
“I never knew but one,” he said,
“Whose stalwart arm might brook[68 - Endure.] to wield
A blade like this in battlefield.”
She sighed, then smiled and took the word:
“You see the guardian champion’s sword;
As light it trembles in his hand,
As in my grasp a hazel wand;
My sire’s tall form might grace the part
Of Ferragus, or Ascabart;[69 - Ferragus and Ascabart were two giants of romantic fable. The former appears in Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso; the latter in the History of Bevis of Hampton. His effigy may be seen guarding the gate at Southampton.]
But in the absent giant’s hold
Are women now, and menials old.”

XXIX

The mistress of the mansion came,
Mature of age, a graceful dame;
Whose easy step and stately port
Had well become a princely court;
To whom, though more than kindred knew,[70 - Dame Margaret was Roderick Dhu’s mother, but had acted as mother to Ellen, and held a higher place in her affections than the ties of blood would warrant.]
Young Ellen gave a mother’s due.
Meet welcome to her guest she made,
And every courteous rite was paid
That hospitality could claim,
Though all unask’d his birth and name.
Such then the reverence to a guest,
That fellest[71 - Bitterest.] foe might join the feast,
And from his deadliest foeman’s door
Unquestion’d turn, the banquet o’er.
At length his rank the stranger names,
“The Knight of Snowdoun,[72 - An old name of Stirling Castle.] James Fitz-James;[73 - Fitz means “son” in Norman French.]
Lord of a barren heritage,[74 - “By the misfortunes of the earlier Jameses and the internal feuds of the Scottish chiefs, the kingly power had become little more than a name.”]
Which his brave sires, from age to age,
By their good swords had held with toil;
His sire had fall’n in such turmoil,
And he, God wot,[75 - Knows.] was forced to stand
Oft for his right with blade in hand.
This morning with Lord Moray’s[76 - A half-brother of James V. (James Fitz-James).] train
He chased a stalwart stag in vain,
Outstripp’d his comrades, miss’d the deer,
Lost his good steed, and wander’d here.”

XXX

Fain would the Knight in turn require
The name and state of Ellen’s sire.
Well show’d the elder lady’s mien
That courts and cities she had seen;
Ellen, though more her looks display’d
The simple grace of silvan maid,