CHAPTER VII.
Alas, how many hours and years have past,
Since human forms have round this table sate,
Or lamp, or taper, on its surface gleam'd!
Methinks I hear the sound of time long pass'd
Still murmuring o'er us, in the lofty void
Of these dark arches, like the ling'ring voices
Of those who long within their graves have slept.
Orra, a Tragedy.
While these measures were taking in behalf
of Cedric and his companions, the armed men
by whom the latter had been seized, hurried
their captives along towards the place of security, where they intended to imprison them. But
darkness came on fast, and the paths of the wood
seemed but imperfectly known to the marauders.
They were compelled to make several long halts,
and once or twice to return on their road to resume the direction which they wished to pursue.
The summer morn had dawned upon them ere
they could travel in full assurance that they held
the right path. But confidence returned with
