Of my misfortunes. Ruling fate decreed, That my brave brother should in battle save The life of Douglas' son, our house's foe: The youthful warriors vow'd eternal friendship. Impatient, Douglas to Balarmo came, Under a borrow'd name.-My heart he gain'd; Nor did I long refuse the hand he begg'd: My brother's presence authorized our marriage. Three weeks, three little weeks, with wings of down, Had o'er us flown, when my loved lord was call'd To fight his father's battles; and with him, In spite of all my tears, did Malcolm go. Scarce were they gone, when my stern sire was told Thou first of virtues, let no mortal leave Thy onward path! although the earth should gape, 15 And from the gulph of hell destruction cry, To take dissimulation's winding way. Anna. Alas! how few of woman's fearful kind Durst own a truth so hardy! Lady Rand. The first truth Is easiest to avow. This moral learn, Anna. My dearest lady! many a tale of tears Lady Rand. In the first days Of my distracting grief, I found myself- Till time should make my father's fortune mine. VOL. I. My nurse, the only confidante I had, Set out with him to reach her sister's house: Or heard of, Anna, since that fatal hour. world. Anna. Not seen nor heard of! then perhaps he lives. Lady Rand. No. It was dark December: wind Had beat all night. Across the Carron lay The comfort of a solitary sorrow. Though dead to love, I was compell❜d to wed Randolph, who snatch'd me from a villain's arms; And Randolph now possesses the domains, That by Sir Malcolm's death on me devolved; Domains, that should to Douglas' son have given A baron's title, and a baron's power. Such were my soothing thoughts, while I bewail'd And when that son came, like a ray from heaven, Anna. The hand, that spins the uneven thread of life, May smooth the length that's yet to come of your's. Lady Rand. Not in this world: I have consi der'd well Its various evils, and on whom they fall. Anna. That God, whose ministers good angels are, Hath shut the book in mercy to mankind, But we must leave this theme: Glenalvon comes: Lady Rand. I will avoid him. An ungracious person Is doubly irksome in an hour like this, Anna. Why speaks my lady thus of Randolph's heir? Lady Rand. Because he's not the heir of Randolph's virtues. Subtle and shrewd, he offers to mankind An artificial image of himself: And he with ease can vary to the taste Of different men its features. Self-denied, And master of his appetites he seems: But his fierce nature, like a fox chain'd up, And stands aloft in these unruly times, |