The musketeers to watch before they fired;
If from his pocket they should see he drew
A handkerchief—their volley should ensue;
But if he held a paper in its place,
It should be hailed the sign of pardoning grace:—
He, in a fatal moment’s absent fit,
Drew forth the handkerchief, and not the writ;
Wept o’er the corpse, and wrung his hands in woe,
Crying ‘Here’s thy curse again—Glencoe! Glencoe!’”
Though thus his guest spoke feelings just and clear,