Scott's Lady of the Lake

by Walter Scott

On purple peaks a deeper shade descending;

In twilight copse the glowworm lights her spark,

The deer, half seen, are to the covert wending.

Resume thy wizard elm! the fountain lending,

And the wild breeze, thy wilder minstrelsy;

Thy numbers sweet with Nature’s vespers blending,

With distant echo from the fold and lea,

And herd-boy’s evening pipe, and hum of housing[362] bee.

Yet, once again, farewell, thou Minstrel Harp!

Yet, once again, forgive my feeble sway!