202 KING JAMES AND HIS COURT. 



" For I '11 hide you in Lord Atholl's room, 



" And wrap your form in magic gloom ; 



" Till near his bed you can softly creep, 



" When your dirk may stab him while buried in sleep. 



" And if any one hears and dares betray 

 " My secret ere St. Andrew's Day, 

 '* I'll drink his blood, and crack each bone, 

 " And turn the strings of his heart to stone." 



Sighing with sorrow, and burning with rage, 



All this had heard Lord Atholl's page ; 



Who, curious, had follow'd the woful wight 



When he sought the mountain's snow-crown'd height. 



Home he sped with heavy cheer, 

 " Oh how shall I save my master dear ! 

 " Oh how shall I manage the truth to tell, 

 " Yet avoid myself the beldame's spell ! " 



Thus mourn'd the page till broke the morn, 

 But he sprang from bed when he heard the horn, 

 The jolly horn, which, loud and clear, 

 Summon'd King Jamie to chase the deer. 



For now two days with Lord Atholl had been 

 King Jamie the Fifth, and his mother the Queen 

 With lords and with ladies, a goodly show, 

 And all were lodged on Ben-y-gloe. 



