One spent with toil, his stedfast

eyes explore, Then from the breathless youth he snatch'd the oar,

With patient toil the task unwearied plies,

Till the mild evening star arose in calmer skies *.
Now slept the winds on ocean's breast serene,
Reflected stars bedeckt her mantle green:

A safer coast they vainly hop'd to view,
And near high Rasay's rocky border drew †:
Pale rose the moon upon the placid wave,
That wont along the rugged bank to rave;
And pale, upon a promontory's brow,

With eyes that anxious search'd the deep below,
The island Chief in silent sorrow sate,
Alarm'd and watchful for th' EXILE's fate.
Suspended on their wearied oars they lie,
And hope to read their welcome in his eye:
"Belov'd, lamented, fly this fatal place,

"Though ever faithful to thy honour'd race!
"Death in dark ambush waits with treach'rous wile,
"The victor's barks surround this narrow isle :

"Thy near approach, unhappy PRINCE, is known, "And watchful thousands seek thy blood alone."

Now to the distant isle, whose swains obey In plenteous peace CLANRONALD'S gentle sway; Grown weak with want, with ceaseless labour spent, To shun the foe the

* See note No. 31.

weary

wanderers went :

See note No. 32.

Yet, e'er they safely reach the destin'd shore,
They see a bark the self-same port explore;
Whose gallant trim and hostile colours shew
The proud defiance of a haughty foe:

With swelling sails she speeds before the wind,
And near, and nearer still, she presses on behind.
With steady eye the PRINCE the danger saw,
And round a rocky point he bids them draw;
Then lightly springing on the sandy shore,
He cries, "Adieu, my generous friends, no more
"For me in pain you draw precarious breath,
"And struggle thro' the bloody toils of death :
"Here in those hollow cliffs will I abide,
"My trust in Heaven, and Providence my guide;
"Ye try'd in perils, faithful to your charge,
"Now wander safely o'er your seas at large."
He said, and silent sought the dark recess,
His parting steps his weeping followers bless.
In the green centre of the sea-girt isle
The Chieftain's dwelling rose,-an ancient pile;
The sylvan virtues lov'd the peaceful dome,
There blameless truth and pity found a home:
The Chief's fair Consort, and her gentle guest *,
'Midst war's rude clamours here in safety rest;
In female tasks consume the lingering hours,

And wake the plaintive lute, or form unwithering flow'rs. * The guest was Miss FLORA MACDONALD

Now from the shore with speed a stranger came,
And thus in secret guise bespoke the dame :
"Oh thou, in virtue's gentlest graces drest,
"If ever soft compassion touch'd thy breast,
"Let not a royal SUFFERER plead in vain ;
"Hard by a rock that juts into the main,

Hid in a darksome grot, he pines away "In want and solitude the tedious day : "The sad retreat his followers dare not trace, "The hostile pinnace anchors near the place: "With hostile troops each neighbouring island swarms, "And all th' adjacent plain is bright with arms." With soft concern the gentle dame returns,• Your Master's fate each generous bosom mourns, Even those who justly blam'd the rash design, And bade his daring hand the sword resign, Lament the rigour of the Victor's hate, And deprecate the youthful HERO's fate, Your secret safely lodg'd within my breast, Suspend your fears, and leave to Heav'n the rest.' Then turning sad, her lovely friend she sought, In whom she safe confided every thought; Who mildly wise, and firm in artless truth With prudent mind, mature in early youth, Pois'd with reflection calm the dubious scale, And felt compassion's sinking weight prevail

With fix'd resolve she said, " My friend, forbear, "Nor thus perplex thy mind with fruitless care;

Thy Lord in peace obeys the ruling pow'rs, "Then, while this storm of fate impending lours, "From base imputed treason keep him free, "Who hopes his peace and honour safe with thee, "Nor dread of guiltless blood the sanguine stain; "I'll seek the EXILE's cavern by the main,"If in his cause I should my life resign, "The guilt or danger shall be only mine." Fair FLORA then, with fortitude serene, And tranquil courage in her modest mien, The viands and the generous wine conveys, And o'er the rocks, as heedless wandering, strays, Bids her attendant maid the shells explore, The lessening tide had scatter'd on the shore. Then to the cavern'd rock unseen she steals, And to the hapless PRINCE obsequious kneels : Receive, indulgent, from thy suppliant's hand, "The humble aid thy urgent wants demand, "And grant my boon, and trust thy life to me, "From danger's thickening toils to set thee free: "No leisure serves thy perils to relate,

"But dark approach the hours with hovering fate." With silent wonder, long the PRINCE survey'd The beauteous guest, then thus :- Heroic maid,

That com'st in pity to this secret cave,
Unvisited, save by the rolling wave,
To thy fair faith my wanderings I resign,
Fraud never harbour'd in a form like thine,
'Nor dark suspicion in a breast like mine.'
Now turning, homewards she her steps addrest,
With peace and conscious honour in her breast;
But when the morn's first beams began to shine,
And glittering danc'd upon the restless brine,
In female garb the hapless youth array'd,
She leads disguis'd in semblance of a maid;
And from the English chief, with specious wile,
Permission seeks to view her native isle :
To ask with her was quickly to obtain,
For when did suppliant beauty plead in vain ?
The gazing troops th' intrepid maid admire,
Nor less her bold attendant's strange attire ;
The haughty measur'd step, the lofty grace,
And air unsuited to a female face :

For in-born dignity but stoops with pain,
And veils the proud superior soul in vain.

Now in the pinnace plac'd, the western gales
Obsequious crowd, to fill the Wanderer's sails:
Across the waves with winged speed they flew,
And soon the misty isle appears to view..

}