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 |
 | I. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| II. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
|
| I. | CANTO I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
 | The poems of Ossian |  |
527
CANTO I.
The youth I sing, who, to himself unknown,
Lost to the world and Caledonia's throne,
Sprung o'er his mountains to the arms of Fame,
And, winged by Fate, his sire's avenger, came;
That knowledge learn'd so long deny'd by Fate,
And found that blood, as merit, made him great.
Lost to the world and Caledonia's throne,
Sprung o'er his mountains to the arms of Fame,
And, winged by Fate, his sire's avenger, came;
That knowledge learn'd so long deny'd by Fate,
And found that blood, as merit, made him great.
The aged chieftain on the bier is laid,
And grac'd with all the honours of the dead:
The youthful warriors, as the corpse they bear,
Droop the sad head, and shed the gen'rous tear.
For Abria's shore Tay's winding banks they leave,
And bring the hero to his father's grave.
And grac'd with all the honours of the dead:
The youthful warriors, as the corpse they bear,
Droop the sad head, and shed the gen'rous tear.
For Abria's shore Tay's winding banks they leave,
And bring the hero to his father's grave.
His filial tears the godlike Alpin sheds,
And towards the foe his gallant warriors leads.
The chief along his silent journey wound,
And fixed his rainy eyes upon the ground;
Behind advanced his followers sad and slow,
In all the dark solemnity of woe.
Meantime fierce Scandinavia's hostile pow'r
Its squadrons spread along the murmuring shore;
Prepar'd, at once, the city to invade,
And conquer Caledonia in her head.
His camp, for night, the royal Sweno forms,
Resolv'd with morn to use his Danish arms.
And towards the foe his gallant warriors leads.
The chief along his silent journey wound,
And fixed his rainy eyes upon the ground;
528
In all the dark solemnity of woe.
Meantime fierce Scandinavia's hostile pow'r
Its squadrons spread along the murmuring shore;
Prepar'd, at once, the city to invade,
And conquer Caledonia in her head.
His camp, for night, the royal Sweno forms,
Resolv'd with morn to use his Danish arms.
Now in the ocean sunk the flaming day,
And streaked the ruddy west with setting ray;
Around great Indulph, in the senate, sat
The noble chiefs of Caledonia's state.
In mental scales they either forces weigh,
And act, before, the labours of the day;
Arrange in thought their Caledonia's might,
And bend their little army to the fight.
And streaked the ruddy west with setting ray;
Around great Indulph, in the senate, sat
The noble chiefs of Caledonia's state.
In mental scales they either forces weigh,
And act, before, the labours of the day;
Arrange in thought their Caledonia's might,
And bend their little army to the fight.
Thus they consult. Brave Alpin's martial gait
Approach'd the portals of the dome of state,
Resolv'd to offer to his king and lord,
The gen'rous service of his trusty sword.
Approach'd the portals of the dome of state,
Resolv'd to offer to his king and lord,
The gen'rous service of his trusty sword.
Th' unusual sight the gallant chief admires,
The bending arches and the lofty spires.
On either side the gate, in order stand
The ancient kings of Caledonia's land.
The marble lives; they breathe within the stone,
And still, as once, the royal warriors frown.
The bending arches and the lofty spires.
On either side the gate, in order stand
The ancient kings of Caledonia's land.
The marble lives; they breathe within the stone,
And still, as once, the royal warriors frown.
The Fergusses are seen above the gate;
This first created, that restor'd, the state.
In warlike pomp the awful forms appear,
And, bending, threaten from the stone the spear;
While to their side young Albion seems to rise,
And on her fathers turns her smiling eyes.
This first created, that restor'd, the state.
In warlike pomp the awful forms appear,
And, bending, threaten from the stone the spear;
While to their side young Albion seems to rise,
And on her fathers turns her smiling eyes.
And next appears Gregorius' awful name,
Hibernia's conqu'ror for a gen'rous fame.
Incased in arms, the royal hero stands,
And gives his captive all his conquered lands.
The filial heart of hapless Alpin's son
In marble melts, and beats within the stone.
Revenge still sparkles in the hero's eye:
Around the Picts a nameless slaughter lye.
Hibernia's conqu'ror for a gen'rous fame.
529
And gives his captive all his conquered lands.
The filial heart of hapless Alpin's son
In marble melts, and beats within the stone.
Revenge still sparkles in the hero's eye:
Around the Picts a nameless slaughter lye.
The youthful warrior thus reviews, with joy,
The godlike series of his ancestry.
The godlike forms the drooping hero cheer,
And keen ambition half believes the seer:
Eager he shoots into the spacious gate;
His eye commands;—without his followers wait.
The godlike series of his ancestry.
The godlike forms the drooping hero cheer,
And keen ambition half believes the seer:
Eager he shoots into the spacious gate;
His eye commands;—without his followers wait.
No frowning spearman guards the awful door;
No borrowed terror arms the hand of power;
No cringing bands of sycophants appear,
To send false echoes to the monarch's ear;
Merit's soft voice, oppression's mournful groan,
Advanced, unstifled, to th' attentive throne.
No borrowed terror arms the hand of power;
No cringing bands of sycophants appear,
To send false echoes to the monarch's ear;
Merit's soft voice, oppression's mournful groan,
Advanced, unstifled, to th' attentive throne.
The hero, ent'ring, took his solemn stand
Among the gallant warriors of the land.
His manly port the staring chiefs admire,
And half-heard whispers blow the soldier's fire.
A while his form engaged the monarch's eyes;
At length he raised the music of his voice:
Among the gallant warriors of the land.
His manly port the staring chiefs admire,
And half-heard whispers blow the soldier's fire.
A while his form engaged the monarch's eyes;
At length he raised the music of his voice:
“Whence is the youth? I see fierce Denmark warms
Each generous breast, and fires 'em into arms.
A face once known is in that youth exprest,
And mends a dying image in my breast.”
Each generous breast, and fires 'em into arms.
A face once known is in that youth exprest,
And mends a dying image in my breast.”
He said:—and thus the youth: “'Midst rocks afar,
I heard of Denmark, and of Sueno's war.
My country's safety in my bosom rose:
For Caledonia's sons should meet her foes.
We ought not meanly wait the storm at home,
But rush afar, and break it ere it come.
Few are my followers, but these few are true;
We come to serve our country, fame, and you!”
I heard of Denmark, and of Sueno's war.
My country's safety in my bosom rose:
For Caledonia's sons should meet her foes.
We ought not meanly wait the storm at home,
But rush afar, and break it ere it come.
Few are my followers, but these few are true;
We come to serve our country, fame, and you!”
530
He said:—the king retorts: “Thy form, thy mind,
Declare the scion of a generous kind.
With Scotia's foes maintain the stern debate,
And spring from valour to the arms of state.
Whoe'er would raise his house in Albion, should
Lay the foundation in her en'mies' blood.”
Declare the scion of a generous kind.
With Scotia's foes maintain the stern debate,
And spring from valour to the arms of state.
Whoe'er would raise his house in Albion, should
Lay the foundation in her en'mies' blood.”
Then to the chiefs: “Supporters of my throne,
Your sires brought oft the Roman Eagles down.
Yourselves, my lords, have caused the haughty Dane
To curse the land he tried so oft in vain.
Norvegian firs oft brought them o'er the waves,
For Albion's crown; but Albion gave 'em graves.
Be still the same; exert yourselves like men,
And of th' invaders wash our rocks again.
Though few our numbers, these, in arms grown old,
In Albion's and in Indulph's cause are bold.
The brave man looks not, when the clarion sounds,
To hostile numbers, but his country's wounds;
Bold to the last, and dauntless he'll go on,
At once his country's soldier, and her son.”
Your sires brought oft the Roman Eagles down.
Yourselves, my lords, have caused the haughty Dane
To curse the land he tried so oft in vain.
Norvegian firs oft brought them o'er the waves,
For Albion's crown; but Albion gave 'em graves.
Be still the same; exert yourselves like men,
And of th' invaders wash our rocks again.
Though few our numbers, these, in arms grown old,
In Albion's and in Indulph's cause are bold.
The brave man looks not, when the clarion sounds,
To hostile numbers, but his country's wounds;
Bold to the last, and dauntless he'll go on,
At once his country's soldier, and her son.”
The monarch thus his royal mind exprest,
The patriot kindling in each generous breast.
Each chieftain's mind with pleasure goes before,
Already mingling with the battle's roar.
In thought each hero sweeps the bloody plain,
And deals, in fancy, death upon the Dane.
The patriot kindling in each generous breast.
Each chieftain's mind with pleasure goes before,
Already mingling with the battle's roar.
In thought each hero sweeps the bloody plain,
And deals, in fancy, death upon the Dane.
Dunbar arose, the brave remains of wars,
Silver'd with years, o'er-run with honest scars;
Great in the senate, in the field renown'd:
The senior stood; attention hung around.
Silver'd with years, o'er-run with honest scars;
Great in the senate, in the field renown'd:
The senior stood; attention hung around.
He thus: “Fierce Denmark all the north commands,
And belches numbers on our neighb'ring lands;
England's subdued, the Saxons are o'ercome,
And meanly own a Danish lord at home.
Scarce now a blast from Scandinavia roars,
But wafts a hostile squadron to our shores.
One fleet destroy'd, another crowns the waves:
The sons seem anxious for their fathers' graves:
Thus war returns in an eternal round;
Battles on battles press; and wound on wound.
Our numbers thinned, our godlike warriors dead,
Pale Caledonia hangs her sickly head.
We must be wise, be frugal of our store,
Add art to arms, and caution to our pow'r.
Beneath the sable mantle of the night,
Rush on the foe, and, latent, urge the fight.
Conduct, with few, may foil this mighty power,
And Denmark shun th' inhospitable shore.”
And belches numbers on our neighb'ring lands;
England's subdued, the Saxons are o'ercome,
And meanly own a Danish lord at home.
Scarce now a blast from Scandinavia roars,
But wafts a hostile squadron to our shores.
531
The sons seem anxious for their fathers' graves:
Thus war returns in an eternal round;
Battles on battles press; and wound on wound.
Our numbers thinned, our godlike warriors dead,
Pale Caledonia hangs her sickly head.
We must be wise, be frugal of our store,
Add art to arms, and caution to our pow'r.
Beneath the sable mantle of the night,
Rush on the foe, and, latent, urge the fight.
Conduct, with few, may foil this mighty power,
And Denmark shun th' inhospitable shore.”
The senior spoke: a general voice approves;
To arm his kindred-bands each chief removes.
Night from the east the drowsy world invades,
And clothes the warriors in her dusky shades.
The vassal-throng advance, a manly cloud,
And with their sable ranks the chieftains shroud.
Each chief, now here, now there, in armour shines,
Waves through the ranks, and draws the lengthened lines.
To arm his kindred-bands each chief removes.
Night from the east the drowsy world invades,
And clothes the warriors in her dusky shades.
The vassal-throng advance, a manly cloud,
And with their sable ranks the chieftains shroud.
Each chief, now here, now there, in armour shines,
Waves through the ranks, and draws the lengthened lines.
Thus, on a night when rattling tempests war,
Through broken clouds appears a blazing star;
Now veils its head, now rushes on the sight,
And shoots a livid horror through the night.
Through broken clouds appears a blazing star;
Now veils its head, now rushes on the sight,
And shoots a livid horror through the night.
The full-form'd columns, in the midnight-hour,
Begin their silent journey tow'rds the shore:
Through every rank the chiefs inciting roam,
And rouzing whispers hiss along the gloom.
Begin their silent journey tow'rds the shore:
Through every rank the chiefs inciting roam,
And rouzing whispers hiss along the gloom.
A rising hill, whose night-invelop'd brow
Hung o'er th' encamped squadrons of the foe,
Shoots to the deep its ooze-immantled arm,
And stedfast struggles with the raging storm.
Here ends the moving host its winding road,
And here condenses, like a sable cloud,
Which long was gathering on the mountain's brow,
Then broke in thunder on the vales below.
Hung o'er th' encamped squadrons of the foe,
Shoots to the deep its ooze-immantled arm,
And stedfast struggles with the raging storm.
Here ends the moving host its winding road,
And here condenses, like a sable cloud,
Which long was gathering on the mountain's brow,
Then broke in thunder on the vales below.
532
Again the chiefs, in midnight-council met,
Before the king maintain the calm debate:
This waits the equal contest of the day,
That rushes headlong to the nightly fray.
Before the king maintain the calm debate:
This waits the equal contest of the day,
That rushes headlong to the nightly fray.
At length young Alpin stood, and thus begun:
“Great king! supporter of our ancient throne!
Brought up in mountains, and from councils far,
I am a novice in the art of war;
Yet hear this thought.—Within the womb of night,
Confirm the troops, and arm the youth for fight,
While, softly treading, to yon camp I go,
And mark the disposition of the foe;
Or wakeful arm they for the dismal fight,
Or, wrapt within the lethargy of night,
Are left abandon'd to our Scottish sword;
By sleep's soft hand in fatal chains secur'd.
If Denmark sleeps in night's infolding arms,
Expect your spy to point out latent storms;
But, they in arms, too long delay'd my speed,
Then place the faithful scout among the dead.”
“Great king! supporter of our ancient throne!
Brought up in mountains, and from councils far,
I am a novice in the art of war;
Yet hear this thought.—Within the womb of night,
Confirm the troops, and arm the youth for fight,
While, softly treading, to yon camp I go,
And mark the disposition of the foe;
Or wakeful arm they for the dismal fight,
Or, wrapt within the lethargy of night,
Are left abandon'd to our Scottish sword;
By sleep's soft hand in fatal chains secur'd.
If Denmark sleeps in night's infolding arms,
Expect your spy to point out latent storms;
But, they in arms, too long delay'd my speed,
Then place the faithful scout among the dead.”
A general voice th' exploring thought approves,
And every wish with youthful Alpin moves.
And every wish with youthful Alpin moves.
The hero slides along the gloom of night:
The camp-fires send afar their gleaming light.
Athwart his side the trusty sabre flies;
The various plaid hangs plaited down his thighs;
The crested helm waves awful on his head;
His manly trunk the mail and corslet shade;
The pond'rous spear supports his dusky way;
The waving steel reflects the stellar ray.
The camp-fires send afar their gleaming light.
Athwart his side the trusty sabre flies;
The various plaid hangs plaited down his thighs;
The crested helm waves awful on his head;
His manly trunk the mail and corslet shade;
The pond'rous spear supports his dusky way;
The waving steel reflects the stellar ray.
Arrived, the dauntless youth, solemnly slow,
Observant moved along the silent foe.
Some 'braced in arms the midnight vigil keep;
Some o'er the livid camp-fires nod to sleep;
The feeding courser to the stake is bound;
The prostrate horseman stretched along the ground;
Extended here the brawny footman lay,
And, dozing, wore the lazy night away;
The watchman there, by sleep's soft hand o'erpowered,
Starts at the blast, and half unsheaths his sword.
Th' exploring youth, through night's involving cloud,
Circling the foe, their disposition viewed.
At length the hero's dusky journey ends,
Where Haco feasted with his Danish friends.
Haco by more than Sueno's blood was great,
The promis'd monarch of the triple state.
The Scandinavian camp the youth secured
With watchful troops, and not unfaithful sword.
Observant moved along the silent foe.
Some 'braced in arms the midnight vigil keep;
Some o'er the livid camp-fires nod to sleep;
The feeding courser to the stake is bound;
The prostrate horseman stretched along the ground;
533
And, dozing, wore the lazy night away;
The watchman there, by sleep's soft hand o'erpowered,
Starts at the blast, and half unsheaths his sword.
Th' exploring youth, through night's involving cloud,
Circling the foe, their disposition viewed.
At length the hero's dusky journey ends,
Where Haco feasted with his Danish friends.
Haco by more than Sueno's blood was great,
The promis'd monarch of the triple state.
The Scandinavian camp the youth secured
With watchful troops, and not unfaithful sword.
Two oaks, from earth by headlong tempests torn,
Supply the fire, and in the circle burn;
Around, with social talk, the feast they share,
And drown in bowls the Caledonian war.
O'erpowered at length by slumber's silken hand,
They press the beach, and cower upon the strand.
Supply the fire, and in the circle burn;
Around, with social talk, the feast they share,
And drown in bowls the Caledonian war.
O'erpowered at length by slumber's silken hand,
They press the beach, and cower upon the strand.
A gallant deed the mountain-youth design'd;
And nursed a growing action in his mind.
Awful the chief advanced; his armour bright
Reflects the fire, and shines along the night.
Hovering he stood above the sleeping band,
And shone, an awful column, o'er the strand.
And nursed a growing action in his mind.
Awful the chief advanced; his armour bright
Reflects the fire, and shines along the night.
Hovering he stood above the sleeping band,
And shone, an awful column, o'er the strand.
Thus, often to the midnight traveller,
The stalking figures of the dead appear:
Silent the spectre towers before the sight,
And shines, an awful image, through the night.
At length the giant phantom hovers o'er
Some grave unhallowed, stained with murdered gore.—
The stalking figures of the dead appear:
Silent the spectre towers before the sight,
And shines, an awful image, through the night.
At length the giant phantom hovers o'er
Some grave unhallowed, stained with murdered gore.—
Thus Alpin stood. He exiles to the dead
Six warrior youths; the trembling remnant fled:
Young Haco starts, unsheaths his shining sword,
And views his friends in iron chains secured.
He rushes headlong on the daring foe;
The godlike Alpin renders blow for blow.
Their clattering swords on either armour fell;
Fire flashes round, as steel contends with steel.
Young Alpin's sword on Haco's helmet broke,
And to the ground the staggering warrior took.
Leaning on his broad shield the hero bends;
Alpin aloft in air his sword suspends:
His arm up-raised, he downward bends his brow,
But scorned to take advantage of the foe.
Six warrior youths; the trembling remnant fled:
Young Haco starts, unsheaths his shining sword,
And views his friends in iron chains secured.
He rushes headlong on the daring foe;
The godlike Alpin renders blow for blow.
534
Fire flashes round, as steel contends with steel.
Young Alpin's sword on Haco's helmet broke,
And to the ground the staggering warrior took.
Leaning on his broad shield the hero bends;
Alpin aloft in air his sword suspends:
His arm up-raised, he downward bends his brow,
But scorned to take advantage of the foe.
Young Haco from his hand the weapon threw,
And from his flaming breast these accents drew:
“Bravest of men! who could through night come on;
Who durst attack, and foil an host alone!
I see the man high on the warrior placed,
Both mend each other in your noble breast.
Accept, brave man, the friendship of a Dane,
Who hates the Scot, but yet can love the man.”
He said; while thus the Scot: “With joy I find
The man so powerful in an en'my's mind;
Your forces fled, amidst night's dark alarms,
You both could stand, and use your gallant arms:
Such valiant deeds thy dauntless soul confess,
That I the warrior, though the Dane, embrace.”
And from his flaming breast these accents drew:
“Bravest of men! who could through night come on;
Who durst attack, and foil an host alone!
I see the man high on the warrior placed,
Both mend each other in your noble breast.
Accept, brave man, the friendship of a Dane,
Who hates the Scot, but yet can love the man.”
He said; while thus the Scot: “With joy I find
The man so powerful in an en'my's mind;
Your forces fled, amidst night's dark alarms,
You both could stand, and use your gallant arms:
Such valiant deeds thy dauntless soul confess,
That I the warrior, though the Dane, embrace.”
His brawny arms he round the hero flung;
As they embrace the clashing corslets rung.
As they embrace the clashing corslets rung.
The Dane resumes: “With the sun's rising beam,
We may, in fields of death, contend for fame;
Receive this shield, that, midst to-morrow's storms,
Haco may grateful shun his well-known arms.”
We may, in fields of death, contend for fame;
Receive this shield, that, midst to-morrow's storms,
Haco may grateful shun his well-known arms.”
He said; and gave the gold-enamelled round;
While, as he reached, the studded thongs resound.
The amicable colloquy they end;
And each, a foe, clasped in his arms a friend.
This to the camp his dusky journey bends;
While that to Albion's chiefs the hill ascends.
While, as he reached, the studded thongs resound.
The amicable colloquy they end;
And each, a foe, clasped in his arms a friend.
This to the camp his dusky journey bends;
While that to Albion's chiefs the hill ascends.
Th' exploring journey all with pleasure hear,
And own the valiant scout their noble care.
And own the valiant scout their noble care.
535
Dissolved the council; the attack declined;
Each with the gift of sleep indulged his mind:
And, 'midst his kindred-bands supinely laid,
Each softly slumbered on a mossy bed.
Each with the gift of sleep indulged his mind:
And, 'midst his kindred-bands supinely laid,
Each softly slumbered on a mossy bed.
His mind to soft repose young Alpin bends,
And seeks the humble circle of his friends:
Reclining on a rock the hero lies,
And gradual slumbers steal upon his eyes.
Still to his mind the Danish camp arose,
Hung on his dreams, and hagg'd his calm repose:
Once more he mixed with Haco in the fight,
And urged, impending, on the Danish flight.
And seeks the humble circle of his friends:
Reclining on a rock the hero lies,
And gradual slumbers steal upon his eyes.
Still to his mind the Danish camp arose,
Hung on his dreams, and hagg'd his calm repose:
Once more he mixed with Haco in the fight,
And urged, impending, on the Danish flight.
| The poems of Ossian | |