Were both, he said, in captive hold.”

—But here the lay made sudden stand,

The harp escaped the Minstrel’s hand!—

Oft had he stolen a glance, to spy

How Roderick brook’d his minstrelsy:

At first, the Chieftain, to the chime,

With lifted hand, kept feeble time;

That motion ceased,—yet feeling strong

Varied his look as changed the song;

At length, no more his deafen’d ear