"Which to his lord he did impart,

And made him seem, by glamour art,

A knight from hermitage."

"Meantime, full anxious was the Dame,

For now arose disputed claim,

Of who should fight for Deloraine,

'Twixt Harden and 'twixt Thirtlestaine,

&c. &c.

But yet, not long the strife—for, lo!

Himself the Knight of Deloraine,

Strong, as it seemed, and free from pain,

In armour sheathed from top to toe,

Appeared, and craved the combat due;

The Dame her charm successful knew,

And the fierce chiefs their claims withdrew."

"As if exhausted in the fight,

Or musing o'er the piteous sight,

The silent victor stands:

His beaver did he not unclasp,

Marked not the shouts, felt not the grasp

Of gratulating hands.

When lo! strange cries of wild surprise,

Mingled with seeming terror rise

Among the Scottish bands,

And all, amid the thronged array,

In panic haste gave open way

To a half-naked ghastly man,

Who downward from the castle ran;

He crossed the barriers at a bound,

And wild and haggard looked around,

As dizzy, and in pain;

And all, upon the armed ground

Knew William of Deloraine!

Each ladye sprung from seat with speed,

Vaulted each marshal from his steed;

'And who art thou,' they cried,

'Who hast this battle fought and won?'

His plumed helm was soon undone—

'Cranstoun of Teviotside!

For this fair prize I've fought and won,'

And to the Ladye led her son."

"And how the clan united prayed

The Ladye would the feud forego,

And deign to bless the nuptial hour

Of Cranstoun's Lord and Teviot's Flower.

XXVI.

"She looked to river, looked to hill,

Thought on the Spirit's prophecy,

Then broke her silence stern and still,

'Not you, but Fate, has vanquished me;

Their influence kindly stars may shower

On Teviot's tide and Branksome's tower,

For pride is quelled, and love is free.'"

"A secret horror checked the feast,

And chilled the soul of every guest;

Even the high Dame stood half aghast,

She knew some evil in the blast;

The elvish Page fell to the ground,

And, shuddering, muttered, 'Found! found! found!'

XXV.

"Then sudden through the darkened air,

A flash of lightning came,

So broad, so bright, so red the glare,

The castle seemed on flame,

&c. &c.

Full through the guests' bedazzled band

Resistless flashed the levin-brand,

And filled the hall with smouldering smoke,

As on the elvish Page it broke,

&c. &c.

When ended was the dreadful roar,

The elvish Dwarf was seen no more.

XXVI.

"Some heard a voice in Branksome Hall,

Some saw a sight, not seen by all;

That dreadful voice was heard by some

Cry, with loud summons, 'Gylbin, come!'

And on the spot where burst the brand,

Just where the Page had flung him down,

Some saw an arm, and some a hand,

And some the waving of a gown:

The guests in silence prayed and shook,

And terror dimmed each lofty look,

But none of all the astonished train

Was so dismayed as Deloraine,

&c. &c.

At length, by fits, he darkly told,

With broken hint, and shuddering cold,

That he had seen, right certainly,

A shape with amice wrapped around,

With a wrought Spanish baldric bound,

Like a pilgrim from beyond the sea,

And knew—but how it mattered not—

It was the wizard, Michael Scott."

"Nought of the bridal will I tell,

Which after in short space befell,"

&c. &c.