ItwasupthecourseofthislaststreamthatWaverley，likeaknightofromance，wasconductedbythefairHighlanddamsel，hissilentguide。Asmallpath，whichhadbeenrenderedeasyinmanyplacesforFlora’saccommodation，ledhimthroughsceneryofaverydifferentdescriptionfromthatwhichhehadjustquitted。Aroundthecastle，allwascold，bare，anddesolate，yettameevenindesolation；butthisnarrowglen，atsoshortadistance，seemedtoopenintothelandofromance。Therocksassumedathousandpeculiarandvariedforms。Inoneplaceacragofhugesizepresenteditsgiganticbulk，asiftoforbidthepassenger’sfartherprogress；anditwasnotuntilheapproacheditsverybase，thatWaverleydiscernedthesuddenandacuteturnbywhichthepathwaywheeleditscoursearoundthisformidableobstacle。Inanotherspot，theprojectingrocksfromtheoppositesidesofthechasmhadapproachedsoneartoeachother，thattwopine-treeslaidacross，andcoveredwithturf，formedarusticbridgeattheheightofatleastonehundredandfiftyfeet。Ithadnoledges，andwasbarelythreefeetinbreadth。
Whilegazingatthispassofperil，whichcrossed，likeasingleblackline，thesmallportionofblueskynotinterceptedbytheprojectingrocksoneitherside，itwaswithasensationofhorrorthatWaverleybeheldFloraandherattendantappear，likeinhabitantsofanotherregion，propped，asitwere，inmidair，uponthistremblingstructure。Shestoppeduponobservinghimbelow，andwithanairofgracefulease，whichmadehimshudder，wavedherhandkerchieftohimbywayofsignal。Hewasunable，fromthesenseofdizzinesswhichhersituationconveyed，toreturnthesalute：andwasnevermorerelievedthanwhenthefairapparitionpassedonfromtheprecariouseminencewhichsheseemedtooccupywithsomuchindifference，anddisappearedontheotherside。
Advancingafewyards，andpassingunderthebridgewhichhehadviewedwithsomuchterror，thepathascendedrapidlyfromtheedgeofthebrook，andtheglenwidenedintoasylvanamphitheatre，wavingwithbirch，youngoaks，andhazels，withhereandthereascatteredyew-tree。Therocksnowreceded，butstillshowedtheirgreyandshaggycrestsrisingamongthecopse-wood。Stillhigher，roseeminencesandpeaks，somebare，someclothedwithwood，someroundandpurplewithheath，andotherssplinteredintorocksandcrags。Atashortturning，thepath，whichhadforsomefurlongslostsightofthebrook，suddenlyplacedWaverleyinfrontofaromanticwaterfall。Itwasnotsoremarkableeitherforgreatheightorquantityofwater，asforthebeautifulaccompanimentswhichmadethespotinteresting。Afterabrokencataractofabouttwentyfeet，thestreamwasreceivedinalargenaturalbasinfilledtothebrimwithwater，which，whenthebubblesofthefallsubsided，wassoexquisitelyclear，that，althoughitwasofgreatdepth，theeyecoulddiscerneachpebbleatthebottom。Eddyingroundthisreservoir，thebrookfounditswayoverabrokenpartoftheledge，andformedasecondfall，whichseemedtoseektheveryabyss；then，wheelingoutbeneathfromamongthesmoothdarkrocks，whichithadpolishedforages，itwanderedmurmuringdowntheglen，formingthestreamupwhichWaverleyhadjustascended。ThebordersofthisromanticreservoirNoteO。Waterfall。’’
correspondedinbeauty；butitwasbeautyofasternandcommandingcast，asifintheactofexpandingintograndeur。
Mossybanksofturfwerebrokenandinterruptedbyhugefragmentsofrock，anddecoratedwithtreesandshrubs，someofwhichhadbeenplantedunderthedirectionofFlora，butsocautiously，thattheyaddedtothegrace，withoutdiminishingtheromanticwildnessofthescene。
Here，likeoneofthoselovelyformswhichdecoratethelandscapesofPoussin，WaverleyfoundFloragazingonthewaterfall。TwopacesfurtherbackstoodCathleen，holdingasmallScottishharp，theuseofwhichhadbeentaughttoFlorabyRoryDall，oneofthelastharpersoftheWesternHighlands。
Thesun，nowstoopinginthewest，gavearichandvariedtingetoalltheobjectswhichsurroundedWaverley，andseemedtoaddmorethanhumanbrilliancytothefullexpressivedarknessofFlora’seye，exaltedtherichnessandpurityofhercomplexion，andenhancedthedignityandgraceofherbeautifulform。
Edwardthoughthehadnever，eveninhiswildestdreams，imaginedafigureofsuchexquisiteandinterestingloveliness。
Thewildbeautyoftheretreat，burstinguponhimasifbymagic，augmentedthemingledfeelingofdelightandawewithwhichheapproachedher，likeafairenchantressofBoiardoorAriosto，bywhosenodthesceneryaroundseemedtohavebeencreated，anEdeninthewilderness。
Flora，likeeverybeautifulwoman，wasconsciousofherownpower，andpleasedwithitseffects，whichshecouldeasilydiscernfromtherespectful，yetconfusedaddressoftheyoungsoldier。
But，asshepossessedexcellentsense，shegavetheromanceofthescene，andotheraccidentalcircumstances，fullweightinappreciatingthefeelingswithwhichWaverleyseemedobviouslytobeimpressed；and，unacquaintedwiththefancifulandsusceptiblepeculiaritiesofhischaracter，consideredhishomageasthepassingtributewhichawomanofeveninferiorcharmsmighthaveexpectedinsuchasituation。Shethereforequietlyledthewaytoaspotatsuchadistancefromthecascade，thatitssoundshouldratheraccompanythaninterruptthatofhervoiceandinstrument，and，sittingdownuponamossyfragmentofrock，shetooktheharpfromCathleen。
Ihavegivenyouthetroubleofwalkingtothisspot，CaptainWaverley，bothbecauseIthoughtthescenerywouldinterestyou，andbecauseaHighlandsongwouldsufferstillmorefrommyimperfecttranslation，wereItointroduceitwithoutitsownwildandappropriateaccompaniments。Tospeakinthepoeticallanguageofmycountry，theseatoftheCelticmuseisinthemistofthesecretandsolitaryhill，andhervoiceinthemurmurofthemountainstream。Hewhowooeshermustlovethebarrenrockmorethanthefertilevalley，andthesolitudeofthedesertbetterthanthefestivityofthehall。’’
Fewcouldhaveheardthislovelywomanmakethisdeclaration，withavoicewhereharmonywasexaltedbypathos，withoutexclaimingthatthemusewhomsheinvokedcouldneverfindamoreappropriaterepresentative。ButWaverley，thoughthethoughtrushedonhismind，foundnocouragetoutterit。Indeed，thewildfeelingofromanticdelightwithwhichheheardthefirstfewnotesshedrewfromherinstrument，amountedalmosttoasenseofpain。Hewouldnotforworldshavequittedhisplacebyherside；yethealmostlongedforsolitude，thathemightdecipherandexamineatleisurethecomplicationofemotionswhichnowagitatedhisbosom。
FlorahadexchangedthemeasuredandmonotonousrecitativeofthebardforaloftyanduncommonHighlandair，whichhadbeenabattle-songinformerages。Afewirregularstrainsintroducedapreludeofawildandpeculiartone，whichharmonizedwellwiththedistantwaterfall，andthesoftsighoftheeveningbreezeintherustlingleavesofanaspenwhichoverhungtheseatofthefairharpress。Thefollowingversesconveybutlittleideaofthefeelingswithwhich，sosungandaccompanied，theywereheardbyWaverley：-
BattleSong。
Thereismistonthemountain，andnightonthevale，ButmoredarkisthesleepofthesonsoftheGael。
Astrangercommanded-itsunkontheland；
Ithasfrozeneachheart，andbenumbedeveryhand！
Thedirkandthetargetliesordidwithdust；
Thebloodlessclaymoreisbutreddenedwithrust；
Onthehillortheglenifagunshouldappear，Itisonlytowarwiththeheath-cockordeer。
Thedeedsofoursiresifourbardsshouldrehearse，Letablushorablowbethemeedoftheirverse！
Bemuteeverystring，andbehushedeverytone，Thatshallbidusrememberthefamethatisflown！
Butthedarkhoursofnightandofslumberarepast；
Themornonourmountainsisdawningatlast；
Glenaladale’speaksareillumedwiththerays，AndthestreamsofGlenfinnanleapbrightintheblaze。
Theyounganddaringadventurer，CharlesEdward，landedatGlenaladale，inMoidart，anddisplayedhisstandardinthevalleyofGlenfinnan，musteringaroundittheMac-Donalds，theCamerons，andotherlessnumerousclans，whomhehadprevailedontojoinhim。Thereisamonumenterectedonthespot，withaLatininscriptionbythelateDr。Gregory。
Ohigh-mindedMoray！-theexiled-thedear！-
TheMarquisofTullibardine’selderbrother，who，longexiled，returnedtoScotlandwithCharlesEdwardin1745。
Intheblushofthedawningthe=Standard=uprear！
Wide，wideonthewindsofthenorthletitfly，Likethesun’slatestflashwhenthetempestisnigh！
Yesonsofthestrong，whenthatdawningshallbreak，Needtheharpoftheagedremindyoutowake？
Thatdawnneverbeamedonyourforefathers’eye，Butitrousedeachhighchieftaintovanquishordie。
O！sprungfromthekingswhoinIslaykeptstate，ProudchiefsofClanRanald，Glengarry，andSleat！
Combinelikethreestreamsfromonemountainofsnow，Andresistlessinunionrushdownonthefoe！
TruesonofSirEvan，undauntedLochiel，Placethytargeonthyshoulderandburnishthysteel！
RoughKeppoch，givebreathtothybugle’sboldswell，TillfarCoryarrickresoundtotheknell！
SternsonofLordKenneth，highchiefofKintail，Letthestaginthystandardboundwildinthegale！
MaytheraceofClanGillean，thefearlessandfree，RememberGlenlivat，Harlaw，andDundee！
LettheclanofgreyFingon，whoseoffspringhasgivenSuchheroestoearth，andsuchmartyrstoheaven，UnitewiththeraceofrenownedRorriMore，Tolaunchthelonggalley，andstretchtotheoar。
HowMac-ShimeiwilljoywhentheirchiefshalldisplayTheyew-crestedbonneto’ertressesofgrey！
HowtheraceofwrongedAlpineandmurderedGlencoeShallshoutforrevengewhentheypouronthefoe！
YesonsofbrownDerraid，whoslewthewildboar，ResumethepurefaithofthegreatCallum-MoreMac-NeiloftheIslands，andMoyoftheLake，Forhonour，forfreedom，forvengeanceawake！
Herealargegreyhound，boundinguptheglen，jumpeduponFlora，andinterruptedhermusicbyhisimportunatecaresses。
Atadistantwhistle，heturned，andshotdownthepathagainwiththerapidityofanarrow。ThatisFergus’sfaithfulattendant，CaptainWaverley，andthatwashissignal。Helikesnopoetrybutwhatishumorous，andcomesingoodtimetointerruptmylongcatalogueofthetribes，whomoneofyoursaucyEnglishpoetscallsOurbootlesshostofhigh-bornbeggars，Mac-Leans，Mac-Kenzies，andMac-Gregors。’’
Waverleyexpressedhisregretattheinterruption。
Oyoucannotguesshowmuchyouhavelost！Thebard，asindutybound，hasaddressedthreelongstanzastoVichIanVohroftheBanners，enumeratingallhisgreatproperties，andotforgettinghisbeingacheereroftheharperandbard，-`aiverofbounteousgifts。’Besides，youshouldhaveheardapracticaladmonitiontothefair-hairedsonofthestranger，wholivesinthelandwherethegrassisalwaysgreen-theriderontheshiningpamperedsteed，whosehueisliketheraven，andwhoseneighislikethescreamoftheeagleforbattle。Thisvalianthorsemanisaffectionatelyconjuredtorememberthathisancestorsweredistinguishedbytheirloyalty，aswellasbytheircourage-Allthisyouhavelost；but，sinceyourcuriosityisnotsatisfied，Ijudge，fromthedistantsoundofmybrother’swhistle，Imayhavetimetosingtheconcludingstanzasbeforehecomestolaughatmytranslation。’’
Awakeonyourhills，onyourislandsawake，Bravesonsofthemountain，thefrith，andthelake！
’Tisthebugle-butnotforthechaseisthecall；
’Tisthepibroch’sshrillsummons-butnottothehall。
’Tisthesummonsofheroesforconquestordeath，Whenthebannersareblazingonmountainandheath：
Theycalltothedirk，theclaymore，andthetarge，Tothemarchandthemuster，thelineandthecharge。
BethebrandofeachChieftainlikeFin’sinhisire！
Maythebloodthroughhisveinsflowlikecurrentsoffire！
Burstthebaseforeignyokeasyoursiresdidofyore，Ordielikeyoursires，andendureitnomore！