Ill with King James's mood that day Suited gay feast and minstrel lay;Soon were dismissed the courtly throng, And soon cut short the festal song.

Nor less upon the saddened town The evening sunk in sorrow down.

The burghers spoke of civil jar, Of rumoured feuds and mountain war, Of Moray, Mar, and Roderick Dhu, All up in arms;--the Douglas too, They mourned him pent within the hold, 'Where stout Earl William was of old.'--And there his word the speaker stayed, And finger on his lip he laid, Or pointed to his dagger blade.

But jaded horsemen from the west At evening to the Castle pressed, And busy talkers said they bore Tidings of fight on Katrine's shore;At noon the deadly fray begun, And lasted till the set of sun.

Thus giddy rumor shook the town, Till closed the Night her pennons brown.

CANTO SIXTH.

The Guard-room.