And weak, he backward sinks again:

“O Heaven, they come!” the lady cries,

“The Southrons come, and Urquhart dies!”

Nay, ’tis not fever mocks his sight;

His broider’d couch is red with light;

In light his lady stands confest,

Her hand clasp’d on her heaving breast.

And hark; wild shouts assail the ear,

Loud and more loud, near and more near

They rise!—hark, frequent rings the blade,