physical capabilities have proved inadequate to the require ments of his method of employing life, and are fast dropping to pieces. Slyder Downehylle is consequently more miser able than ever. He is troubled with doubts.

Perhaps he

may have proceeded upon an error; perhaps the principlethe high pressure principle—of his action was not the right one. It may be that excitement is not happiness; that our pleasures are fleeting in proportion to their intensity; that, indeed, if "life be a feast," the amount of satisfaction to be derived from it is rather diminished than increased by swallowing the viands hastily, and by having a free recourse to condiments; and that a physical economy is as wise and as necessary to well-being, as economy of any other kind. He is almost led to suppose that his "something to be happy with" is a fallacy; he never could hold it within his grasp : and he inclines to the belief that a man probably does well to have a home in himself, that he may not always be compelled to run abroad for recreation, or to appeal to his senses to give vivacity to the hour. If it were his luck to begin again But that hollow cough! Our experiences oft reach their climax too late; yet others may learn from the example of Slyder Downehylle.

JOSEPH C. NEAL

131. Fitz-James and Roderick Dhu.

FITZ-JAMES, in danger and alone,

Famished and chilled, through ways unknown,
Tangled and steep, yet journeyed on;
Till, as a rock's huge point he turned,
A watch-fire close before him burned.

Beside its embers, red and clear,
Basked, in his plaid, a mountaineer;

And up he sprung

'Thy name and purpose! Saxon, stand! "A stranger." "What dost thou require?

"Rest and a guide, and food and fire.

My life's beset, my path is lost,

The gale has chilled my limbs with frost."
"Art thou a friend to Roderick?" "No."
"Thou dar'st not call thyself a foe!"

"I dare! to him and all the band

He brings to aid his murderous hand."

"Bold words!

but though the beast of game The privilege of chase may claim, Though space and law the stag we lend, Ere hound we slip, or bow we bend, Who ever recked, where, how, or when, The prowling fox was trapped or slain? Thus treacherous scouts, - yet sure they lie, Who say thou camest a secret spy!" "They do, by Heaven! - Come Roderick Dhu, And of his clan the boldest two,

And let me but till morning rest,

I write the falsehood on their crest."

"If by the blaze I mark aright,

Thou bear'st the belt and spur of knight."
"Then, by these tokens, mayst thou know
Each proud oppressor's mortal foe."
"Enough, enough; sit down and share
A soldier's couch, a soldier's fare."

He tended him like welcome guest,

Then thus his further speech addressed:

Stranger, I am to Roderick Dhu

A clansman born, a kinsman true;
Each word against his honor spoke
Demands of me avenging stroke;
Yet more, - upon thy fate, 'tis said,
A mighty augury is laid.

It rests with me to wind my horn,
Thou art with numbers overborne ;
It rests with me, here, brand to brand,
Worn as thou art, to bid thee stand;
But not for clan, nor kindred's cause,
Will I depart from honor's laws:

To assail a wearied man were shame,
And stranger is a holy name;
Guidance and rest, and food and fire,
In vain he never must require.
Then rest thee here till dawn of day;

Myself will guide thee on the way,

O'er stock and stone, through watch and waru Till past Clan Alpine's outmost guard,

As far as Coilantogle's Ford;

From thence thy warrant is thy sword."
"I take thy courtesy, by Heaven,
As freely as 'tis nobly given!"
"Well, rest thee; for the bittern's cry
Sings us the lake's wild lullaby."
With that he shook the gathered heath,
And spread his plaid upon the wreath;
And the brave foemen, side by side,
Lay peaceful down like brothers tried,
And slept until the dawning beam
Purpled the mountain and the stream.

With morn they came where, stern and steep, The hill sinks down upon the deep;

Here Vennachar in silver flows,

There, ridge on ridge, Benledi rose.

Ever the hollow path twined on,

Beneath steep bank and threatening stone:

A hundred men might hold the post

With hardihood against a host.

The guide led through the pass's jaws,

And asked Fitz-James by what strange cause

He sought these wilds, traversed by few,
Without a pass from Roderick Dhu.

"Brave Gael,* my pass, in danger tried,
Hangs in my belt, and by my side;
Yet, sooth to tell," the Saxon said,
"I dreamed not now to claim its aid;
When here, but three days since, I came,
Bewildered in pursuit of game,

All seemed as peaceful and as still
As the mist slumbering on yon hill;
Thy dangerous chief was then afar,
Nor soon expected back from war :
Thus said, at least, my mountain guide;
Though deep, perchance, the villain lied.'
"Yet why a second venture try?"
"A warrior thou, and ask me why!
Moves our free course by such fixed cause,
As gives the hardy workman laws?
Enough, I sought to drive away
The lazy hours of peaceful day;
Slight cause will then suffice to guide
A knight's free footsteps far and wide;
A falcon flown, a greyhound strayed,
The merry glance of mountain maid;
Or, if a path be dangerous known,
The danger's self is lure alone."

132. The Same, continued.

THE Gael beheld him grim the while,

And thus he spoke with scornful smile:

* The Scottish Highlander calls himself Gael, or Gaul, and terms the Lowlander Sassenach, or Saxon.

66

Saxon, from yonder mountain high,
I marked thee send delighted eye

Far, to the south and east, where lay,
Extended in succession gay,

Deep waving fields and pastures green,
With gentle slopes and groves between ;
These fertile plains, that softened vale,
Were once the birthright of the Gael;
The stranger came with iron hand,
And from our fathers reft the land.
Where dwell we now? See rudely swel
Crag over crag, and fell o'er fell.
Ask we this savage hill we tread
For fattened steer or household bread,
Ask we for flocks these shingles dry,

Your own good blades must win the rest.' Pent in this fortress of the north, Think'st thou we will not sally forth

To spoil the spoiler as we may,

And from the robber rend the prey?

Ay, by my soul! While on yon plain

The Saxon rears one shock of grain, While, of ten thousand herds, there strays But one along yon river's maze,

The Gael, of plain and river heir,

Shall, with strong hand, redeem his share. Where live the mountain chiefs who hold That plundering Lowland field and fold, Is aught but retribution due ?

Seek other cause 'gainst Roderick Dhu."

Answered Fitz-James," And if I sough., Think'st thou no other could be brought?