Of war, of battle to be fought,

Of guarded pass?”—“No, by my faith!

Nor saw I aught could augur scathe.”[254]

“Oh haste thee, Allan, to the kern,[255]

—Yonder his tartans I discern;

Learn thou his purpose, and conjure

That he will guide the stranger sure!—

What prompted thee, unhappy man?

The meanest serf in Roderick’s clan

Had not been bribed by love or fear,