Scott's Lady of the Lake

by Walter Scott

Far o’er its roof the volumed flame

Clan-Alpine’s vengeance shall proclaim,

While maids and matrons on his name

Shall call down wretchedness and shame,

And infamy and woe.”

Then rose the cry of females, shrill

As goshawk’s whistle on the hill,

Denouncing[187] misery and ill,

Mingled with childhood’s babbling trill

Of curses stammer’d slow;