The poems of Ossian &c. containing the Poetical Works of James Macpherson, Esq. in prose and rhyme: with notes and illustrations by Malcolm Laing. In two volumes |
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| VI. | CANTO VI. |
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 | The poems of Ossian |  |
494
CANTO VI.
The tuneful minstrel touch'd the sounding string,
And at the sound the virgins form a ring;
And to his voice he first prelusive played,
When music's soul his moving hand obeyed,
How Kenneth, furious for his father slain,
Hews down the foe, and reaps the bloody plain,
When hostile bodies, Scoon, thy fields bestrowed,
And Tay empurpled ran with Pictish blood,
The peers take fire with the war-moving sound,
And vaulted halls rebellow the hoarse sound.
The minstrel changes to a softer strain,
The vows of virgins, and the lover's pain.
How Wallace fired with fair Hersclea's charms,
His country saved, then rushed into her arms:
How first reluctant, then with love opprest,
The fair one melts upon the lover's breast.
And at the sound the virgins form a ring;
And to his voice he first prelusive played,
When music's soul his moving hand obeyed,
How Kenneth, furious for his father slain,
Hews down the foe, and reaps the bloody plain,
When hostile bodies, Scoon, thy fields bestrowed,
And Tay empurpled ran with Pictish blood,
The peers take fire with the war-moving sound,
And vaulted halls rebellow the hoarse sound.
The minstrel changes to a softer strain,
The vows of virgins, and the lover's pain.
How Wallace fired with fair Hersclea's charms,
His country saved, then rushed into her arms:
How first reluctant, then with love opprest,
The fair one melts upon the lover's breast.
Obedient to the sound, the maids advance,
And form the mazes of the sprightly dance.
First slow-majestic swim the harmonious round;
Then soft-inclining catch the changing sound.
Poise the small body, swing arms white and soft,
And with alternate tripping shake the loft.
In mournful melody now melts the strain;
How the fair one, by cruel Heslrig slain,
Transfixed with steel, resigned her balmy breath,
And pallid, gasp'd in the iron jaws of death:
How tossing her white limbs the charmer died,
When blood flows round her in a crimson tide.
The lovely choir restrain the swelling joy,
And pearly drops hang in each tender eye.
The harmonious gestures sorrowful represt,
And sadness heaves the great o'erwhelmed breast.
Then, then, he sung the hero's shameful end,
Who thought no foe lurked in the insidious friend.
What cries, O Scotland! filled thy studded plains!
When thy great son thus struggled in thy chains.
And form the mazes of the sprightly dance.
495
Then soft-inclining catch the changing sound.
Poise the small body, swing arms white and soft,
And with alternate tripping shake the loft.
In mournful melody now melts the strain;
How the fair one, by cruel Heslrig slain,
Transfixed with steel, resigned her balmy breath,
And pallid, gasp'd in the iron jaws of death:
How tossing her white limbs the charmer died,
When blood flows round her in a crimson tide.
The lovely choir restrain the swelling joy,
And pearly drops hang in each tender eye.
The harmonious gestures sorrowful represt,
And sadness heaves the great o'erwhelmed breast.
Then, then, he sung the hero's shameful end,
Who thought no foe lurked in the insidious friend.
What cries, O Scotland! filled thy studded plains!
When thy great son thus struggled in thy chains.
The hill-born youth, fired with the moving strain,
All furious rose, concussed with generous pain.
He half-unsheathed his sword, and even though dead,
Wish'd in the traitor's head to sheath the blade.
He greatly towers along, nor can assuage
His manly fury, and his patriot rage.
The fair admire his shape, his port, his size,
The sprightly splendour of his manly eyes;
The endearing features of his generous face;
He stands majestic, and he walks with grace.
Adown his neck a flowing tide unfurls
Of golden hair, that waves in orient curls.
His party-coloured leg is decked with snow;
And all the graces in the hero glow.
But more than all, his high-respected name,
His well-got honours, and unspotted fame,
Find easy access to a virgin's heart,
And venom add to Cupid's killing dart.
All furious rose, concussed with generous pain.
He half-unsheathed his sword, and even though dead,
Wish'd in the traitor's head to sheath the blade.
He greatly towers along, nor can assuage
His manly fury, and his patriot rage.
The fair admire his shape, his port, his size,
The sprightly splendour of his manly eyes;
The endearing features of his generous face;
He stands majestic, and he walks with grace.
Adown his neck a flowing tide unfurls
Of golden hair, that waves in orient curls.
His party-coloured leg is decked with snow;
And all the graces in the hero glow.
But more than all, his high-respected name,
His well-got honours, and unspotted fame,
Find easy access to a virgin's heart,
And venom add to Cupid's killing dart.
496
The fair Egidia views, and viewing loves;
Through all the man her eye incessant roves.
By slow degrees she felt the flame increase;
Her soul denies it, but her eyes confess.
High inbred thoughts oft turn the eye aside;
But love steps in, and steals a look from pride.
Long, long, against the rushing tide she strove;
Then tumbled headlong down the stream of love.
Through all the man her eye incessant roves.
By slow degrees she felt the flame increase;
Her soul denies it, but her eyes confess.
High inbred thoughts oft turn the eye aside;
But love steps in, and steals a look from pride.
Long, long, against the rushing tide she strove;
Then tumbled headlong down the stream of love.
Thus watermen incessant ply the oar
Up the rough stream, and round the billows roar:
Then wearied throw the water vans aside,
And unobserved descend along the tide.
Up the rough stream, and round the billows roar:
Then wearied throw the water vans aside,
And unobserved descend along the tide.
The pleasant tyrant all the fair oppressed,
And lordly revelled in her snowy breast.
Love heavy sits on every deep-fetched sigh,
Love languid looks from either tender eye:
Love, love expelled each passion of the soul;
No room for these, for love possessed the whole.
Despised the minstrel, and forgot the strain,
Love only pleases; love alone shall pain:
Disturbed the mien of unaffected ease,
And all that native sweetness formed to please.
The fair to all the pangs of love resigned;
And hugged the tyrant in her labouring mind.
What blest solace shall the racked maid require!
In crowds and silence glows the inchanted fire:
Some hope of ease in solitude to find,
The fair removes, but left her soul behind.
And lordly revelled in her snowy breast.
Love heavy sits on every deep-fetched sigh,
Love languid looks from either tender eye:
Love, love expelled each passion of the soul;
No room for these, for love possessed the whole.
Despised the minstrel, and forgot the strain,
Love only pleases; love alone shall pain:
Disturbed the mien of unaffected ease,
And all that native sweetness formed to please.
The fair to all the pangs of love resigned;
And hugged the tyrant in her labouring mind.
What blest solace shall the racked maid require!
In crowds and silence glows the inchanted fire:
Some hope of ease in solitude to find,
The fair removes, but left her soul behind.
Night's silver shield possessed the southern way,
And silent sheds on earth nocturnal day.
Remove the peers—to drown in soft repose
The care, the toils of day, and all its woes.
In vain the hill-born courts, with bending eyes,
The downy power, soft sleep far distant flies.
To heart-corroding thoughts he gives his breast,
And fair Egidia all his soul possessed.
Still to his mind the fair ideas rise,
Still blooming painted to his fancy's eyes.
The blooming virgin swims th' harmonious round,
Her eyes with every glance inflict a wound,
Each little gesture, each attractive grace,
Each smirking feature of her lovely face;
Each harmless look, to innocence resigned,
In fond procession pass before the mind.
O blooming! lovely, more than mortal charms;
But, ah! created for another's arms.
O! heavenly nymph, adorned with every grace,
Whom lavish nature has designed to please:
Could aught like me, O maid! the Hunter cries,
Draw but one look from these love-darting eyes!
O could my longing hours, devoid of rest,
Excite a sigh within that throbbing breast!
But, ah! methinks I hear yon virgin say,
Away, away, indecent clown, away:
It ill befits these labour-hardened arms
To clasp, enraptured, such a world of charms.
How ill his figure, how uncouth he moves:
Away, rough hind, unfit for courtly loves.
Life I will sink the pangs of love beneath,
Or shame shall throw me to the jaws of death.
The Hunter said, and hugged his gloomy care,
And pined beneath thy sable hand, Despair!
These drooping thoughts employed the troubled head;
He tumbles ceaseless on the downy bed:
Till pitying sleep floats on his boiling breast,
Stole on his eyes, and gave a troubled rest.
And silent sheds on earth nocturnal day.
Remove the peers—to drown in soft repose
The care, the toils of day, and all its woes.
In vain the hill-born courts, with bending eyes,
The downy power, soft sleep far distant flies.
To heart-corroding thoughts he gives his breast,
And fair Egidia all his soul possessed.
497
Still blooming painted to his fancy's eyes.
The blooming virgin swims th' harmonious round,
Her eyes with every glance inflict a wound,
Each little gesture, each attractive grace,
Each smirking feature of her lovely face;
Each harmless look, to innocence resigned,
In fond procession pass before the mind.
O blooming! lovely, more than mortal charms;
But, ah! created for another's arms.
O! heavenly nymph, adorned with every grace,
Whom lavish nature has designed to please:
Could aught like me, O maid! the Hunter cries,
Draw but one look from these love-darting eyes!
O could my longing hours, devoid of rest,
Excite a sigh within that throbbing breast!
But, ah! methinks I hear yon virgin say,
Away, away, indecent clown, away:
It ill befits these labour-hardened arms
To clasp, enraptured, such a world of charms.
How ill his figure, how uncouth he moves:
Away, rough hind, unfit for courtly loves.
Life I will sink the pangs of love beneath,
Or shame shall throw me to the jaws of death.
The Hunter said, and hugged his gloomy care,
And pined beneath thy sable hand, Despair!
These drooping thoughts employed the troubled head;
He tumbles ceaseless on the downy bed:
Till pitying sleep floats on his boiling breast,
Stole on his eyes, and gave a troubled rest.
Now mimic Fancy, fleeting fairy! reigns,
And gentle trips through thought-created scenes.
A thousand eye-balls in her forehead stare;
A thousand wings around her beat the air.
Far swifter than the cloud-compelling wind,
The fleetest daughter of the spirit mind,
Or skims the sea, or trips o'er desart land,
And nature listens to her great command.
Create, with equal ease, the goddess can
An atom, world, an insect, or a man.
By Fancy's hand, the sleeping hero led,
Strayed in the windings of a verdant mead;
Her own creation: rocks environed round,
And leafy wood surround the happy ground.
Down the black rocks, descend on every side
The bubbling streams, and silent roll the tide
Through the dyed vale; while breathing zephyrs pass
Along the plain, and whistle through the grass.
The fragrant flowers their dewy bells unfold,
While southern Phœbus paints the buds with gold.
There, half-inclining, blushed the crimson rose;
The snowy lily all its beauty shews;
In golden splendour there the crocus shines;
Surcharged with dew the violet inclines:
And more ten thousand ne'er acquired a name,
Hanging, projected o'er the murmuring stream.
From every bough the feathered warblers sing,
And youthful laughs around the joyful spring.
And gentle trips through thought-created scenes.
A thousand eye-balls in her forehead stare;
A thousand wings around her beat the air.
Far swifter than the cloud-compelling wind,
The fleetest daughter of the spirit mind,
498
And nature listens to her great command.
Create, with equal ease, the goddess can
An atom, world, an insect, or a man.
By Fancy's hand, the sleeping hero led,
Strayed in the windings of a verdant mead;
Her own creation: rocks environed round,
And leafy wood surround the happy ground.
Down the black rocks, descend on every side
The bubbling streams, and silent roll the tide
Through the dyed vale; while breathing zephyrs pass
Along the plain, and whistle through the grass.
The fragrant flowers their dewy bells unfold,
While southern Phœbus paints the buds with gold.
There, half-inclining, blushed the crimson rose;
The snowy lily all its beauty shews;
In golden splendour there the crocus shines;
Surcharged with dew the violet inclines:
And more ten thousand ne'er acquired a name,
Hanging, projected o'er the murmuring stream.
From every bough the feathered warblers sing,
And youthful laughs around the joyful spring.
While thus the sleeping youth delighted roves
Through fancied fields, and breeze-remurmuring groves,
Upon a flowery bank Egidia lay,
In beauty's bloom, and all serenely gay.
The fair observed, and to the grove she flies,
But gently courts him with returning eyes.
The youth inflamed, O! stay, my darling, stay!
No foe you fly, O stay, my love! I pray.
No wood-born savage rudely seeks your arms;
Stay, stay, O nymph! and let us view thy charms.
I crave, I burn, I die of mad despair;
Stay, lovely maid! and sooth my glowing care.
The fair relents, and seems to yield her charms;
The youth prepares to clasp her in his arms:
While, fleet as thought, the blissful vision flies,
And nought appears to his new-wakening eyes.
The youth awakes, again awakes the flame;
Dream on, fond soul, for ever dream the same,
The hero cries; in vain he calls for rest,
Soft sleep far flies from the revolving breast.
Through fancied fields, and breeze-remurmuring groves,
Upon a flowery bank Egidia lay,
In beauty's bloom, and all serenely gay.
The fair observed, and to the grove she flies,
But gently courts him with returning eyes.
The youth inflamed, O! stay, my darling, stay!
No foe you fly, O stay, my love! I pray.
No wood-born savage rudely seeks your arms;
Stay, stay, O nymph! and let us view thy charms.
I crave, I burn, I die of mad despair;
Stay, lovely maid! and sooth my glowing care.
The fair relents, and seems to yield her charms;
The youth prepares to clasp her in his arms:
499
And nought appears to his new-wakening eyes.
The youth awakes, again awakes the flame;
Dream on, fond soul, for ever dream the same,
The hero cries; in vain he calls for rest,
Soft sleep far flies from the revolving breast.
| The poems of Ossian | |