But wond'ring starts, to see a lovely form

Who in the self-same shelter shunn'd the storm;

In youth's first bloom, and deck'd with matchless grace,
The morning's orient hues adorn'd her face:

He gaz'd, nor thought the maid of mortal race.
The snow-clad stranger gentle MORAIG saw,
And blushing turn'd, and shrunk with timid awe.
The beauteous vision FARQUHAR still survey'd,
And softly thus in suppliant accents said:
"Fair wanderer of the wood, if deck'd in light
"An airy spirit only cheats my sight;
"Or if a sister of the earth you come,
"No longer let me here bewilder'd roam;
"But to some peaceful harbour guide my path,
Weary and faint, beneath the tempest's wrath
"I sink unpitied in the grasp of death."

66

6

Stranger! in evil hour you come,' she cries And lifts with soft concern her modest eyes:

6

A helpless maid, unaided and alone,

Perplex'd I wander here thro' paths unknown:

An ewe last evening from our sheep-cot stray'd,

In search of her I trace the lonely glade.' "Vain search (cries FARQUHAR) for along the wood "I track'd the guileful fox by marks of blood; "But what are they, who leave those toils severe "To female softness, and to maiden fear?

}

}

Daughter of Beauty, say, what heart of stone

"Could bid thee trace those frozen wilds alone ?"

'Hast thou not heard,' she faintly said, thro' sighs,

The big tears trembling in her lovely eyes,

6

How, to assert the STUART's ancient claim,

To Moidart's wilds a youthful HERO came *! To join his cause, in arms my kindred rose, And while they pour fierce vengeance on his foes, Forlorn and sad we tend their wonted care, And manly toils and dangers learn to bear : • With me our mother anxious tends the flocks, My grandsire pensive shakes his silvery locks; • While gloomy presages his mind engage, The trance of foresight, or the dream of age: But come, however fate decides our lot, And banish cold and hunger in our cot.' The pitying maid, impatient hastes before, Again with wonder FARQUHAR views her o'er; Her auburn locks with azure fillet bound, Her snowy neck luxuriant shaded round; Like some fair huntress of the times of old, Whom, rapt in vision, gifted seers behold:

*It was in Moidart that the PRINCE, who made the rash attempt in 1745, which proved so fatal to his followers, first set up his standard.

SO FARQUHAR Wond'ring sees the lovely form
Smooth gliding, light him thro' the thickening storm.
Glendoe, in high Schicuman's breast repos'd,

With streaming birch and hazel shades inclos'd*,
Receiv'd the pair; where pendent o'er the lake
The aspin trembles, and the osiers shake.
While evening wraps the hills in shadows pale,
The careful matron spreads her frugal meal;
The younger children crowding round the fire,
Sadly their absent father's fate enquire:
The grandsire, narrative, recounts the wars,
Talks o'er the fatal pass, and shews his scars,
When sudden, like two wandering beams of light,
The youthful pair came full upon their sight.
The fire burns clear, the kindling torches blaze,
All eyes with new delight impatient gaze;
"Sweet MORAIG, sister dear!" with fondness wild,
The children cry, thro' tears the mother smil'd;
"Why lonely wandering thro' the drifted snow,
"Where gloomy Tarfe's inchanted waters flow?
"She cries, does MORAIG tempt the haunted path,
"Where lurking withcraft spreads the snares of death?
"And who is this young wanderer of the chace,
"Whose looks bespeak some high-descended race;
+ See note No. 21.

See note No. 20.

"Who o'er these pathless wilds, unus'd to roam, "With kindly care thus deigns to guide thee home?" With downcast eyes the modest youth replied, "An humble swain, to no high race allied, "In hopeless search of wandering steers I come, "By pity thus conducted to your home,dim view imperfect objects swim,

"In my "An icy torpor chills each weary limb: "Too late, alas! my rashness I deplore, "Doom'd to behold my pleasant home no more!" Unfinish'd accents faulter'd on his tongue, And thro' his ears delusive murmurs rung; The aged peasant saw youth's roses fade, And propt the fainting swain with kindly aid: With patient care the matron chafes him o'er, While gradual warmth she labours to restore, To bring the needful cordials MORAIG flies, With soft compassion melting in her * eyes By due attention now the Youth restor❜d, Sees plenty deck, and welcome cheer the board : The hoary sire retraces former times,

Or valiant deeds recounts in rustic rhymes :

* MORAIG is the CHLOE or PHILLIS of the Gaelic Poets; when they conceal the true name of their mistress, for they never pay the tuneful tribute to an ideal personage.

The matron, willing to amuse her guest,
Tells in what distant glen the cheese she prest,
And how the monarch salmon's sportive young,
Snar'd in the brook, within the roof she hung:
How frugal care had made the viands last,

And how they still remain to finish the repast:
Fair MORAIG Softly moves, with silent care,
And pours the draught that crowns their simple fare.
Now social talk and song deceive their woes,
Till wearied Nature lulls them in repose.

The Genius of the storm his wrath forbore,
And rav'd among the leafless woods no more:
Calm silence brooded o'er the long dark night,
Till from the East arose the wish'd for light;
Now FARQUHAR, starting from his downy trance,
Beheld with joy the new-born day advance;
And blest with ardent gratitude the Pow'r,
Who led him thro' that dark and dreadful hour;
And pray'd unnumber'd blessings on the fair
Who sav'd him from the wanderings of despair.
Wrapt in his manly garb of various hue,
He sallies forth the novel scene to view.
Thy waters, Ness! all hush'd to tranquil rest,
Reflected graces deck'd thy halcyon breast * :
There URQUHART's ruin'd castle gleam'd afar,
Disastrous relic of unhallow'd war!

*See note No. 22.