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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 | The poems of Ossian |  |
536
CANTO II.
Heaven's opening portals shot the beam of day;
Earth changed her sable robe to sprightly grey;
To west's dark goal the humid night is fled;
The sun o'er ocean rears his beamy head;
The splendid gleam from Scottish steel returns,
And all the light reflexive mountains burns.
Earth changed her sable robe to sprightly grey;
To west's dark goal the humid night is fled;
The sun o'er ocean rears his beamy head;
The splendid gleam from Scottish steel returns,
And all the light reflexive mountains burns.
Deep-sounding bag-pipes, gaining on the air,
With lofty voice awake the Scottish war.
The gallant chiefs, along the mountain's brow,
Stand 'cased in arms, and lower upon the foe;
Or awful through the forming squadrons shine,
Build up the ranks, and stretch the lengthened line.
With lofty voice awake the Scottish war.
The gallant chiefs, along the mountain's brow,
Stand 'cased in arms, and lower upon the foe;
Or awful through the forming squadrons shine,
Build up the ranks, and stretch the lengthened line.
Each clan their standards from the beam unbind;
They float along, and clap upon the wind:
The hieroglyphic honours of the brave
Acquire a double horror as they wave.
They float along, and clap upon the wind:
The hieroglyphic honours of the brave
Acquire a double horror as they wave.
The southern warriors stretch the lines of war
Full on the right, obedient to Dumbar.
Hardened to manhood in the school of arms,
He moves along sedately as he forms:
Next deeply stretch their regular array,
To break the iron tempest of the day,
The sons of Lennox, and their gallant Grahame,
Oft honoured with the bloody spoils of fame.
He towers along with unaffected pride,
Whilst they display their blazing arms aside.
Full on the right, obedient to Dumbar.
537
He moves along sedately as he forms:
Next deeply stretch their regular array,
To break the iron tempest of the day,
The sons of Lennox, and their gallant Grahame,
Oft honoured with the bloody spoils of fame.
He towers along with unaffected pride,
Whilst they display their blazing arms aside.
Great Somerled possest the middle space,
And ranged the kindred valour of his race;
The dauntless sons of Morchuan's rocky soil,
And the rough manhood of Mull's sea-girt isle.
And ranged the kindred valour of his race;
The dauntless sons of Morchuan's rocky soil,
And the rough manhood of Mull's sea-girt isle.
The mountain-chiefs, in burning arms incased,
And carrying all their country in their breast,
Undaunted rear their useful arms on high,
Now fought for food, and now for liberty,
Now met the sport of hills, now of the main,
Here pierced a stag, and there transfixed a Dane.
Though nature's walls their homely huts inclose;
To guard their homely huts, though mountains rose;
Yet feeling Albion in their breasts, they dare
From rocks to rush, and meet the distant war.
And carrying all their country in their breast,
Undaunted rear their useful arms on high,
Now fought for food, and now for liberty,
Now met the sport of hills, now of the main,
Here pierced a stag, and there transfixed a Dane.
Though nature's walls their homely huts inclose;
To guard their homely huts, though mountains rose;
Yet feeling Albion in their breasts, they dare
From rocks to rush, and meet the distant war.
The full-formed lines now crown the mountain's brow,
And wave a blazing forest o'er the foe.
The king commands: down in array they creep;
Their clanking arms beat time to every step;
As they descend, they stretch along the strand,
Restore the ranks, and make a solemn stand.
And wave a blazing forest o'er the foe.
The king commands: down in array they creep;
Their clanking arms beat time to every step;
As they descend, they stretch along the strand,
Restore the ranks, and make a solemn stand.
Before the camp the Danish columns rise,
And stretch the battle to the clarion's voice.
Majestic Sueno kept the higher place,
Great in the war, as in his noble race;
And, when the sword to milder peace shall yield,
In council great, as in the thundering field.
And stretch the battle to the clarion's voice.
Majestic Sueno kept the higher place,
Great in the war, as in his noble race;
And, when the sword to milder peace shall yield,
In council great, as in the thundering field.
Behind their king, to either hand afar,
Rough Norway's sons extend the front of war.
He moves, incased in steel and majesty,
Along the ranks, and plans them with his eye;
Speaks his commands with unaffected ease,
And unconcerned the coming battle sees.
Bent on his purpose, obstinately brave,
To win a kingdom, or an honest grave,
He seemed to look tow'rds Norway's rocky shore,
And say,—I'll conquer, or return no more.
Rough Norway's sons extend the front of war.
538
Along the ranks, and plans them with his eye;
Speaks his commands with unaffected ease,
And unconcerned the coming battle sees.
Bent on his purpose, obstinately brave,
To win a kingdom, or an honest grave,
He seemed to look tow'rds Norway's rocky shore,
And say,—I'll conquer, or return no more.
Far to the right fierce Magnus' fiery sway
Compels the troops, and rears the quick array:
Haughty he moves, and catching flame from far,
Looks tow'rds the Scots, anticipates the war;
Feels cruel joys in all his fibres rise,
And gathers all his fury to his eyes.
Compels the troops, and rears the quick array:
Haughty he moves, and catching flame from far,
Looks tow'rds the Scots, anticipates the war;
Feels cruel joys in all his fibres rise,
And gathers all his fury to his eyes.
Young Haco on the left the battle rears,
And moves majestic through a wood of spears;
With martial skill the rising ranks he forms,
No novice in the iron-trade of arms.
Thus formed, the Danes, in unconfused array,
Stretch their long lines along the murmuring sea.
Their anchored ships, a sable wood, behind,
Nod on the wave, and whistle to the wind.
And moves majestic through a wood of spears;
With martial skill the rising ranks he forms,
No novice in the iron-trade of arms.
Thus formed, the Danes, in unconfused array,
Stretch their long lines along the murmuring sea.
Their anchored ships, a sable wood, behind,
Nod on the wave, and whistle to the wind.
On either side thus stretched the manly line;
With darting gleam the steel-clad ridges shine:
On either side the gloomy lines incede,
Foot rose with foot, and head advanced with head.
Thus when two winds descend upon the main,
To fight their battles on the watery plain,
In two black lines the equal waters crowd,
On either side the white-topped ridges nod.
At length they break, and raise a bubbling sound,
While echo rumbles from the rocks around.
With darting gleam the steel-clad ridges shine:
On either side the gloomy lines incede,
Foot rose with foot, and head advanced with head.
Thus when two winds descend upon the main,
To fight their battles on the watery plain,
In two black lines the equal waters crowd,
On either side the white-topped ridges nod.
At length they break, and raise a bubbling sound,
While echo rumbles from the rocks around.
Thus march the Danes, with spreading wings afar;
Thus moves the horror of the Scottish war;
While drowsy silence droops her mournful head,
Whose calm repose the clanking arms invade.
Thus moves the horror of the Scottish war;
While drowsy silence droops her mournful head,
Whose calm repose the clanking arms invade.
539
The mountain-youth, with unaffected pride,
Twice thirty warriors rising by his side,
His native band, precedes the Scottish forms,
A shining column in the day of arms.
In act to throw, he holds the ponderous spear,
And views with awful smiles the face of war.
Nodding along, his polished helmet shines,
And looks superior o'er the subject lines.
Twice thirty warriors rising by his side,
His native band, precedes the Scottish forms,
A shining column in the day of arms.
In act to throw, he holds the ponderous spear,
And views with awful smiles the face of war.
Nodding along, his polished helmet shines,
And looks superior o'er the subject lines.
On either side, devoured the narrow ground
The moving troops. The hostile ridges frowned.
From either host the herald's awful breath
Rung, in the trumpet's throat, the peal of death.
The martial sound foments their kindling rage;
Onward they rush, and in a shout engage.
The swords through air their gleaming journeys fly,
Crash on the helms, and tremble in the sky.
Groan follows groan, and wound succeeds on wound,
While dying bodies quiver on the ground.
The moving troops. The hostile ridges frowned.
From either host the herald's awful breath
Rung, in the trumpet's throat, the peal of death.
The martial sound foments their kindling rage;
Onward they rush, and in a shout engage.
The swords through air their gleaming journeys fly,
Crash on the helms, and tremble in the sky.
Groan follows groan, and wound succeeds on wound,
While dying bodies quiver on the ground.
Thus, when devouring hatchet-men invade,
With sounding steel, the forest's leavy head,
The mountains ring with their repeated strokes;
The tapering firs, the elms, the aged oaks,
Quake at each gash; then nod the head and yield,
Groan as they fall, and tremble on the field.
Thus fell the men; blood forms a lake around,
While groans and spears hoarse harmony resound.
The mountains hear, and thunder back the noise,
And echo stammers with unequal voice.
With sounding steel, the forest's leavy head,
The mountains ring with their repeated strokes;
The tapering firs, the elms, the aged oaks,
Quake at each gash; then nod the head and yield,
Groan as they fall, and tremble on the field.
Thus fell the men; blood forms a lake around,
While groans and spears hoarse harmony resound.
The mountains hear, and thunder back the noise,
And echo stammers with unequal voice.
As yet the battle hung in doubtful scales;
Each bravely fought, in death or only fails.
All, all are bent on death or victory,
Resolved to conquer, or with glory die.
Fierce Denmark's honour kindles fire in these;
On these pale Albion bends her parent-eyes.
This sternly says, “Shall Denmark's children fly?”
But that, “Or save, or with your country die.”
The Scots, a stream, would sweep the Danes away,
The Danes, a rock, repelled the Scots array.
They fight alternate, and alternate fly,
Both wound, both conquer, both with glory die.
Each bravely fought, in death or only fails.
All, all are bent on death or victory,
Resolved to conquer, or with glory die.
Fierce Denmark's honour kindles fire in these;
On these pale Albion bends her parent-eyes.
This sternly says, “Shall Denmark's children fly?”
But that, “Or save, or with your country die.”
540
The Danes, a rock, repelled the Scots array.
They fight alternate, and alternate fly,
Both wound, both conquer, both with glory die.
Thrice Haco strove to break Dumbar's array,
And thrice Dumbar impelled him to the sea.
The fiery Magnus, foaming on the right,
Pours on the mountain-chiefs his warrior might.
The mountain-youths the furious chief restrain,
And turn the battle back upon the Dane.
And thrice Dumbar impelled him to the sea.
The fiery Magnus, foaming on the right,
Pours on the mountain-chiefs his warrior might.
The mountain-youths the furious chief restrain,
And turn the battle back upon the Dane.
The ranks of Sueno stand in firm array,
As hoary rocks repel the raging sea.
The hero to the phalanx crowds his might,
And calmly manages the standing fight;
Not idly madd'ning in the bloody fray,
He wears delib'rately the foe away.
As hoary rocks repel the raging sea.
The hero to the phalanx crowds his might,
And calmly manages the standing fight;
Not idly madd'ning in the bloody fray,
He wears delib'rately the foe away.
Straight on his spear the godlike Alpin stood,
His flaming armour 'smeared with Danish blood.
He casts behind an awe-commanding look,
And to his few, but valiant, followers spoke:
“The cautious Danes, O friends! in firm array,
With perseverance may secure the day;
Our people fall. Let us their force divide;
Invade with flame their transports on the tide.
They will defend, the Scots restore the day;
Follow, my friends, your Alpin leads the way!”
He said, and rushed upon the phalanxed Dane;
The bending ranks beneath his sword complain.
Arms, groans of men, beat time to every wound,
Nod at each blow, and thunder on the ground.
Behind his friends advance with martial care,
Move step for step, and spread the lane of war.
He lowers before, and clears the rugged road;
They rush behind, a rough and headlong flood.
His flaming armour 'smeared with Danish blood.
He casts behind an awe-commanding look,
And to his few, but valiant, followers spoke:
“The cautious Danes, O friends! in firm array,
With perseverance may secure the day;
Our people fall. Let us their force divide;
Invade with flame their transports on the tide.
They will defend, the Scots restore the day;
Follow, my friends, your Alpin leads the way!”
He said, and rushed upon the phalanxed Dane;
The bending ranks beneath his sword complain.
Arms, groans of men, beat time to every wound,
Nod at each blow, and thunder on the ground.
Behind his friends advance with martial care,
Move step for step, and spread the lane of war.
He lowers before, and clears the rugged road;
They rush behind, a rough and headlong flood.
Thus on some eminence the lab'ring swain
Unlocks his sluice to drench the thirsty plain;
With mattock armed, he shapes the water's course;
The liquid flows behind with rapid force.
Unlocks his sluice to drench the thirsty plain;
541
The liquid flows behind with rapid force.
Thus valiant Alpin hews his bloody way,
And thus his friends force through their firm array;
With great effort he seizes on the strand,
Turns to his friends, and issues his command:
And thus his friends force through their firm array;
With great effort he seizes on the strand,
Turns to his friends, and issues his command:
“Thicken your lines, the battle's shock sustain,
And gall with vigour the recoiling Dane.
Brave Caledonians! face your country's foe;
Your lives are hers, her own on her bestow.”
He added not. The valiant youths obey;
The hero shaped along his rapid way;
Rushed to the camp, and seized a flaming brand,
Then took his lofty seat upon the strand.
Swift from his arm the crackling ember flies,
Whizzes along, and kindles in the skies:
The pitchy hull receives the sparkling fire;
The kindling ship the fanning winds inspire.
Black smoke ascends; at length the flames arise,
Hiss through the shrouds, and crackle in the skies.
The riding fleet is all in darkness lost,
Its canvas wings the flame spreads on the blast.
Red embers, falling from the burning shroud,
Hiss in the wave, and bubble in the flood.
And gall with vigour the recoiling Dane.
Brave Caledonians! face your country's foe;
Your lives are hers, her own on her bestow.”
He added not. The valiant youths obey;
The hero shaped along his rapid way;
Rushed to the camp, and seized a flaming brand,
Then took his lofty seat upon the strand.
Swift from his arm the crackling ember flies,
Whizzes along, and kindles in the skies:
The pitchy hull receives the sparkling fire;
The kindling ship the fanning winds inspire.
Black smoke ascends; at length the flames arise,
Hiss through the shrouds, and crackle in the skies.
The riding fleet is all in darkness lost,
Its canvas wings the flame spreads on the blast.
Red embers, falling from the burning shroud,
Hiss in the wave, and bubble in the flood.
Great Sueno turns, and sees the flame behind
Swell its huge columns on the driving wind;
Then thus to Eric: “Urge your speedy flight,
Recal the fiery Magnus from the right:
Quick let him come! th' endanger'd transports save,
And dash against the burning ship the wave.”
Swell its huge columns on the driving wind;
Then thus to Eric: “Urge your speedy flight,
Recal the fiery Magnus from the right:
Quick let him come! th' endanger'd transports save,
And dash against the burning ship the wave.”
The youth obeys, and, flying o'er the sand,
Repeats in Magnus' ear the king's command.
The warrior starts, rage sparkling in his eyes,
He towers along, resounding as he flies.
He comes: from Sueno's army squadrons fall
Around the chief, and rear the manly wall;
Till in their front the stately chief appears,
They wave behind an iron wood of spears;
In all the gloomy pomp of battle lower,
And beat with sounding steps the fatal shore.
Repeats in Magnus' ear the king's command.
The warrior starts, rage sparkling in his eyes,
He towers along, resounding as he flies.
He comes: from Sueno's army squadrons fall
Around the chief, and rear the manly wall;
542
They wave behind an iron wood of spears;
In all the gloomy pomp of battle lower,
And beat with sounding steps the fatal shore.
Bent to support the flame, his thin array
Young Alpin draws along the murmuring sea.
He holds the massy spear in act to throw,
And bends his fiery eyes upon the foe.
Advanced,—with awful din the fight began;
Steel speaks on steel, man urges upon man.
Groans, shouts, arms, men, a jarring discord sound,
Gain on the sky, and shake the mountains round.
Young Alpin draws along the murmuring sea.
He holds the massy spear in act to throw,
And bends his fiery eyes upon the foe.
Advanced,—with awful din the fight began;
Steel speaks on steel, man urges upon man.
Groans, shouts, arms, men, a jarring discord sound,
Gain on the sky, and shake the mountains round.
Fierce Magnus here would rush into the main;
Young Alpin there would keep at bay the Dane.
One pushes the swift boat into the sea;
Through his bent back the faulchion cleaves its way:
Another dashes to the ship the wave,
And bends at once into a watery grave;
Spouts with departing breath the bubbling flood,
And dyes the water with his foaming blood.
Young Alpin there would keep at bay the Dane.
One pushes the swift boat into the sea;
Through his bent back the faulchion cleaves its way:
Another dashes to the ship the wave,
And bends at once into a watery grave;
Spouts with departing breath the bubbling flood,
And dyes the water with his foaming blood.
Thus fought the men.—Behind the flame resounds,
Gains on the fleet, and spreads its wasteful bounds.
Great Magnus, burning at the dismal sight,
Advanced, with rage redoubled, to the fight.
“Degen'rate Danes!” the raging warrior cries,
“The day is lost,—your fame, your honour, dies!
Advance,—condense your ranks,—bear on your way,
And sweep these daring striplings to the sea.”
The men advance: proceeds their haughty lord,
And wounds the air with his impatient sword.
Bending where Alpin reapt the bloody plain,
“Turn! here's a man; turn, stripling, here's a Dane!”
He said.—The mountain-warrior turns his eyes,
Then sternly wheels, and with a blow replies.
Great Magnus falling on young Alpin's shield,
Adds to the dismal thunder of the field.
Revengeful Alpin, with descending blade,
Crashes the shining thunder on his head.
They aim, defend; their swords, at every stroke,
Talk on the way, and gleam along the smoke.
Gains on the fleet, and spreads its wasteful bounds.
Great Magnus, burning at the dismal sight,
Advanced, with rage redoubled, to the fight.
“Degen'rate Danes!” the raging warrior cries,
“The day is lost,—your fame, your honour, dies!
Advance,—condense your ranks,—bear on your way,
And sweep these daring striplings to the sea.”
The men advance: proceeds their haughty lord,
And wounds the air with his impatient sword.
Bending where Alpin reapt the bloody plain,
“Turn! here's a man; turn, stripling, here's a Dane!”
He said.—The mountain-warrior turns his eyes,
Then sternly wheels, and with a blow replies.
Great Magnus falling on young Alpin's shield,
Adds to the dismal thunder of the field.
543
Crashes the shining thunder on his head.
They aim, defend; their swords, at every stroke,
Talk on the way, and gleam along the smoke.
At length on Magnus fate deals home a wound;
He nods to death, and thunders on the ground.
Starting from the wide wound, the bubbling blood
Sinks through the sand, and rolls a smoking flood.
Prone on the strand, extended every way,
Clad o'er with steel, a shining trunk he lay.
Thus, on its lofty seat, should winds invade
The statue, keeps the mem'ry of the dead,
It quakes at every blast, and nods around,
Then falls, a shapeless ruin, to the ground.
He nods to death, and thunders on the ground.
Starting from the wide wound, the bubbling blood
Sinks through the sand, and rolls a smoking flood.
Prone on the strand, extended every way,
Clad o'er with steel, a shining trunk he lay.
Thus, on its lofty seat, should winds invade
The statue, keeps the mem'ry of the dead,
It quakes at every blast, and nods around,
Then falls, a shapeless ruin, to the ground.
The Danes beholding their commander die,
Start from their ranks, and in confusion fly.
The youth pursues: the flames behind him roar,
Catch all the fleet, and clothe with smoke the shore.
Mean time great Sueno, Denmark's valiant king,
Round royal Indulph bends the hostile ring.
Hemmed in a circle of invading men,
They face on every side the closing Dane;
Deal blow for blow, and wound return for wound,
And bring the staggering en'my to the ground.
Great Somerled, Argyle's majestic lord,
Through Harald's sounding helmet drives his sword:
Staggering he falls; his rattling arms resound,
And in the pangs of death he bites the ground.
Start from their ranks, and in confusion fly.
The youth pursues: the flames behind him roar,
Catch all the fleet, and clothe with smoke the shore.
Mean time great Sueno, Denmark's valiant king,
Round royal Indulph bends the hostile ring.
Hemmed in a circle of invading men,
They face on every side the closing Dane;
Deal blow for blow, and wound return for wound,
And bring the staggering en'my to the ground.
Great Somerled, Argyle's majestic lord,
Through Harald's sounding helmet drives his sword:
Staggering he falls; his rattling arms resound,
And in the pangs of death he bites the ground.
Through Hilric's shield great Indulph urged the spear;
It pierced his breast, and smoked behind in air:
Groaning he sinks; as when repeated strokes
Bring headlong to the ground the slaughtered ox.
It pierced his breast, and smoked behind in air:
Groaning he sinks; as when repeated strokes
Bring headlong to the ground the slaughtered ox.
Brave Grahame through mighty Canute urged the spear,
Where, 'twixt the helm and mail, the neck was bare.
Pressed with the helm his ponderous head inclined,
He nodding falls, as trees o'erturned by wind.
Where, 'twixt the helm and mail, the neck was bare.
Pressed with the helm his ponderous head inclined,
He nodding falls, as trees o'erturned by wind.
544
While thus the en'my's front the chieftains wore,
And piled with hostile trunks the fatal shore,
By slow degrees their force declines away,
Surrounding Denmark gains upon the day.
Great Indulph stood amidst the warrior-ring;
All give attention to their valiant king:
“Hear me, ye chiefs,” the mournful monarch cries,
“We fall to-day, our state, our country dies.
Let us acquit ourselves of Albion's death,
And yield in her defence our latest breath.”
He said, and rushed from the surrounding ring,
And 'midst the battle sought the Danish king.
Ready to fight the royal warriors stood,
And longed to revel in each other's blood;
While Alpin, rushing from the flaming shore,
With wasteful path pursued the flying power,
Hewed through great Sueno's ring his bloody way,
And to the desp'rate chieftains gave the day,
Rushed 'twixt great Indulph and bold Sueno's sword,
And with his royal life preserved his lord.
Brave Sueno nods, falls to the strand, and cries,
“O honour! Denmark lost, undone!” and dies.
And piled with hostile trunks the fatal shore,
By slow degrees their force declines away,
Surrounding Denmark gains upon the day.
Great Indulph stood amidst the warrior-ring;
All give attention to their valiant king:
“Hear me, ye chiefs,” the mournful monarch cries,
“We fall to-day, our state, our country dies.
Let us acquit ourselves of Albion's death,
And yield in her defence our latest breath.”
He said, and rushed from the surrounding ring,
And 'midst the battle sought the Danish king.
Ready to fight the royal warriors stood,
And longed to revel in each other's blood;
While Alpin, rushing from the flaming shore,
With wasteful path pursued the flying power,
Hewed through great Sueno's ring his bloody way,
And to the desp'rate chieftains gave the day,
Rushed 'twixt great Indulph and bold Sueno's sword,
And with his royal life preserved his lord.
Brave Sueno nods, falls to the strand, and cries,
“O honour! Denmark lost, undone!” and dies.
But still fierce Denmark made a broken stand;
Here stands a squadron, there a gloomy band
Rears a firm column on the smoky shore,
Makes the last efforts of a dying power.
Here stands a squadron, there a gloomy band
Rears a firm column on the smoky shore,
Makes the last efforts of a dying power.
Thus, after fire through lanes its way has took,
A prostrate village lies o'erwhelmed in smoke;
But here and there some sable turrets stand,
And look, a dismal ruin, o'er the land.
So stood the Danes; but, soon o'erpowered, they fly,
Stumble along, and in their flight they die.
A prostrate village lies o'erwhelmed in smoke;
But here and there some sable turrets stand,
And look, a dismal ruin, o'er the land.
So stood the Danes; but, soon o'erpowered, they fly,
Stumble along, and in their flight they die.
Norvegia's sons, of Magnus' fire bereft,
Fell down before the chieftains of the left.
The great Dumbar, upon the right, repelled
Young Haco's force, and swept him off the field:
He winds his hasty march along the coast,
Fights as he flies, and shields his little host.
At length, within a wood o'ershades the sea,
With new-felled oaks he walls his thin array;
Bent on his fate, and obstinately brave,
There marked at once his battle-field and grave.
Fell down before the chieftains of the left.
The great Dumbar, upon the right, repelled
Young Haco's force, and swept him off the field:
545
Fights as he flies, and shields his little host.
At length, within a wood o'ershades the sea,
With new-felled oaks he walls his thin array;
Bent on his fate, and obstinately brave,
There marked at once his battle-field and grave.
| The poems of Ossian | |