II.

The summer dawn’s reflected hue

To purple changed Loch Katrine blue;

Mildly and soft the western breeze

Just kiss’d the lake, just stirr’d the trees;

And the pleased lake, like maiden coy,

Trembled but dimpled not for joy;

The mountain shadows on her breast

Were neither broken nor at rest;

In bright uncertainty they lie,

Like future joys to Fancy’s eye.

The water lily to the light

Her chalice rear’d of silver bright;

The doe awoke, and to the lawn,

Begemm’d with dewdrops, led her fawn;

The gray mist left the mountain side,

The torrent show’d its glistening pride;

Invisible in flecked sky,

The lark sent down her revelry;

The blackbird and the speckled thrush

Good-morrow gave from brake and bush;

In answer coo’d the cushat dove

Her notes of peace, and rest, and love.