herself for an instant to her devoted worshipper, had again
returned to the darkness of her sanctuary--or as an influential
planet, which, having darted in some auspicious minute one
favourable ray, wrapped itself again in its veil of mist. The
motions of the lady of his love were to him those of a superior
being, who was to move without watch or control, rejoice him by
her appearance, or depress him by her absence, animate him by her
kindness, or drive him to despair by her cruelty--all at her own
free will, and without other importunity or remonstrance than
that expressed by the most devoted services of the heart and
sword of the champion, whose sole object in life was to fulfil
her commands, and, by the splendour of his own achievements, to
exalt her fame.

Such were the rules of chivalry, and of the love which was its
ruling principle. But Sir Kenneth's attachment was rendered
romantic by other and still more peculiar circumstances. He had
never even heard the sound of his lady's voice, though he had
often beheld her beauty with rapture. She moved in a circle
which his rank of knighthood permitted him indeed to approach,
but not to mingle with; and highly as he stood distinguished for
warlike skill and enterprise, still the poor Scottish soldier was
compelled to worship his divinity at a distance almost as great
as divides the Persian from the sun which he adores. But when
was the pride of woman too lofty to overlook the passionate
devotion of a lover, however inferior in degree? Her eye had
been on him in the tournament, her ear had heard his praises in
the report of the battles which were daily fought; and while
count, duke, and lord contended for her grace, it flowed,
unwillingly perhaps at first, or even unconsciously, towards the