206 BURNING OF THE PALACE. 



King Jamie is gone through mist and gloom. 

 And the Earl now seeks that fatal room, 

 Where the Witch with blood to glut his spite. 

 Already had hid the woful wight. 



But when on the lock was the Earl's hand laid, 

 " Alas ! that the King," sweet Willie thus said, 

 " Exposed to the dangers of darkness should go ! 

 " But if / were Lord Atholl, it should not be so ; 



" For rather of these towers I 'd make 



" A bonfire for my sovereign's sake ; 



"Which, spreading wide its friendly light, 



" Should guide him safe through the dangers of night." 



Lord Atholl his head was hot with wine, 

 He heard and adopted sweet Willie's design ; 

 He bade his vassals the Palace forsake, 

 And each in his hand a firebrand take. 



And he burnt the palace so stately and fair, 



With hangings so rich and pictures so rare ; 



And with vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, 



And swift through the chambers the bright flames roll'd. 



But hark ! who shrieks in pain and fright ? 



The fire has seized on the woful wight, 



Who close in his master's room did lie, 



And whom none had warn'd from the flames to fly. 



