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 |  |
488
CANTO V.
Deep musing in his inmost soul retired,
Or damped with grief, or indignation fired,
The hunter stood, and all himself forgot,
Within the fancied field of solemn thought.
Be shackled, tremble at the sight of arms,
Shook all his youthful soul with dire alarms.
His soul-tormenting thoughts no pleasure find;
And all the hero trembled in his mind.
Or stung by grief, or fired with patriot rage,
O more than slaves—O sluggish poltroon age,
The Hunter cries; O should my life restored
Inform these limbs,—then should the avenging sword
Lop off the mean debasers of our blood,
And drive from earth the gold-deluded brood.
In vain the valiant Caledonian dies,
To conquer liberty, a noble prize
For his degenerate race, if yet a toy,
A glittering plaything, can your cares employ.
Vile empty shew, and no substantial good,
Not proof against the north, no fostering food.
Ah! then shall Liberty for ever fly
With downcast head, and tear-o'erflowing eye!
Methinks I see the lovely form decay;
While honour quenches each resplendent ray.
Or damped with grief, or indignation fired,
The hunter stood, and all himself forgot,
Within the fancied field of solemn thought.
Be shackled, tremble at the sight of arms,
Shook all his youthful soul with dire alarms.
His soul-tormenting thoughts no pleasure find;
And all the hero trembled in his mind.
Or stung by grief, or fired with patriot rage,
O more than slaves—O sluggish poltroon age,
The Hunter cries; O should my life restored
Inform these limbs,—then should the avenging sword
Lop off the mean debasers of our blood,
And drive from earth the gold-deluded brood.
In vain the valiant Caledonian dies,
To conquer liberty, a noble prize
For his degenerate race, if yet a toy,
A glittering plaything, can your cares employ.
489
Not proof against the north, no fostering food.
Ah! then shall Liberty for ever fly
With downcast head, and tear-o'erflowing eye!
Methinks I see the lovely form decay;
While honour quenches each resplendent ray.
The hero tortured thus his manly mind,
While shouts triumphal swell upon the wind.
For lifeless now the English press'd the plains,
Or pined reluctant in coercive chains;
Now sprightly Victory, on her golden car,
Leads arms and trophies, and the spoils of war.
Joy sparkles from her eye, and from her tongue
A turbid stream of vaunting roars along;
Shouts, rough bravadoes, a loquacious train!
Her blustering handmaids, croud her noisy reign.
The assembled chiefs around the Hunter stood,
And withered elders to the hero bowed.
Amazed each chieftain views the great unknown;
Him dread of Saxons, and their bulwark own;
His manly port, and round-form'd limbs admire;
And whence the youth, inquisitive inquire.
While shouts triumphal swell upon the wind.
For lifeless now the English press'd the plains,
Or pined reluctant in coercive chains;
Now sprightly Victory, on her golden car,
Leads arms and trophies, and the spoils of war.
Joy sparkles from her eye, and from her tongue
A turbid stream of vaunting roars along;
Shouts, rough bravadoes, a loquacious train!
Her blustering handmaids, croud her noisy reign.
The assembled chiefs around the Hunter stood,
And withered elders to the hero bowed.
Amazed each chieftain views the great unknown;
Him dread of Saxons, and their bulwark own;
His manly port, and round-form'd limbs admire;
And whence the youth, inquisitive inquire.
Thus they; the monarch, with majestic mien,
Triumphant towers along the bloody plain.
And where the youth to whom my crown I owe?
The bold chastiser of the invading foe?
The monarch cries—where is the youth unknown,
The stedfast pillar of my regal throne?
Methinks I see him 'midst the day's alarms,
Hang on the foe, and raving in his arms;
Towering along the field with panting breath,
Hew down the man, and mark his steps with death.
The task be mine his valour to condone,
While grateful Scotia owns her warlike son.
Triumphant towers along the bloody plain.
And where the youth to whom my crown I owe?
The bold chastiser of the invading foe?
The monarch cries—where is the youth unknown,
The stedfast pillar of my regal throne?
Methinks I see him 'midst the day's alarms,
Hang on the foe, and raving in his arms;
Towering along the field with panting breath,
Hew down the man, and mark his steps with death.
The task be mine his valour to condone,
While grateful Scotia owns her warlike son.
Swift at the word the obsequious herald flies,
His message painted in his joyful eyes.
Then thus: O! chief of men, your country's shield;
O! valiant reaper in the iron field;
Come, bold physician of your country's groans,
Thou best and greatest of her warlike sons;
Thee, thee, O chief, Fergusian Stewart calls
To endless honour in his regal halls.
There, there, in honour's arms resign thy breath,
Till age shall snatch thee to the shades of death.
Nor shall the shade involve thy splendid fame,
But distant ages shall resound thy name.
His message painted in his joyful eyes.
490
O! valiant reaper in the iron field;
Come, bold physician of your country's groans,
Thou best and greatest of her warlike sons;
Thee, thee, O chief, Fergusian Stewart calls
To endless honour in his regal halls.
There, there, in honour's arms resign thy breath,
Till age shall snatch thee to the shades of death.
Nor shall the shade involve thy splendid fame,
But distant ages shall resound thy name.
He ceased—Let him command, whose righteous sway
These heroes own, 'tis Donald's to obey,
The youth rejoins—too well my feats he pays;
And greater merit would deserve thy praise.
He said, then towards the king he greatly moved;
Admired by heroes, and by heroes loved.
These heroes own, 'tis Donald's to obey,
The youth rejoins—too well my feats he pays;
And greater merit would deserve thy praise.
He said, then towards the king he greatly moved;
Admired by heroes, and by heroes loved.
While thus majestic strode the youth along,
To either side incline the warrior throng.
With polished horns, and curling front upreared,
Thus moves the bull amidst the lowing herd;
Awed by their chief, the lowing field divide,
And form a sable wall on either side;
While unconcerned he moves amidst the throng,
And drags behind a length of tail along.
To either side incline the warrior throng.
With polished horns, and curling front upreared,
Thus moves the bull amidst the lowing herd;
Awed by their chief, the lowing field divide,
And form a sable wall on either side;
While unconcerned he moves amidst the throng,
And drags behind a length of tail along.
Arrived—O thou whose all-defending sway,
The hero cries, and godlike chiefs obey;
Who deal'st thy blessings on our rocky shore,
Thy enemies tremble when thy thunders roar.
Let every rising day thy glories sing,
And Caledonians bless their godlike king.
Whene'er the foe assails my country's laws,
My soul takes wing to side the generous cause:
No hope of gain incites, no fears control;
My love, my duty, hurry on my soul:
Unpuffed by honour, by thy gold unstored,
Thy foes shall gasp beneath this shining sword.
That empty toy shall ne'er command my will;
Let future ages God the shining ill.
The hero cries, and godlike chiefs obey;
Who deal'st thy blessings on our rocky shore,
Thy enemies tremble when thy thunders roar.
Let every rising day thy glories sing,
And Caledonians bless their godlike king.
Whene'er the foe assails my country's laws,
My soul takes wing to side the generous cause:
No hope of gain incites, no fears control;
My love, my duty, hurry on my soul:
491
Thy foes shall gasp beneath this shining sword.
That empty toy shall ne'er command my will;
Let future ages God the shining ill.
The king admires the man, his deeds, his mind
Averse to ill, and placid, thus rejoined:
O more than valiant, honest, steady, brave,
Eternal honour shall the hero have,
Who saves his country, nor is basely sold
To sordid interest and the love of gold.
He said, then to his manly bosom prest
The hill-born youth, and grew upon his breast.
Such condescension fired the hero's mind;
The man removed, but left his soul behind.
Love, loyalty, esteem, his mind imprest,
Ran through his soul, and kindled in his breast.
Averse to ill, and placid, thus rejoined:
O more than valiant, honest, steady, brave,
Eternal honour shall the hero have,
Who saves his country, nor is basely sold
To sordid interest and the love of gold.
He said, then to his manly bosom prest
The hill-born youth, and grew upon his breast.
Such condescension fired the hero's mind;
The man removed, but left his soul behind.
Love, loyalty, esteem, his mind imprest,
Ran through his soul, and kindled in his breast.
The ranks condensed, slow to the town incede,
Foot rose with foot, and head advanced with head.
The polished arms reflect the setting day,
Wave o'er the men, and clank along the way.
Round hoarse-voiced drums, and crooked trumpets sound;
And echo trembles through the mountains round.
Now with the pomp Edina's turrets rung;
Soft maids, old matrons, from the windows hung.
A general shout salutes them from their toils,
And gloomy age is brightened into smiles.
Amidst the crowd the fond maternal eye
Seeks out her son, her young and only joy:
Sometimes she hopes, and then she trembling fears,
And down the furrowed cheeks descend the tears.
The soft enamoured maid is racked with pain,
She blushed to seek, and trembled for her swain.
Along the ranks slow moves the silvered sage,
A staff supports the senior's tottering age;
And keen inquires, O does my Allan breathe?
Or gasp'd my son beneath the arm of death?
Foot rose with foot, and head advanced with head.
The polished arms reflect the setting day,
Wave o'er the men, and clank along the way.
Round hoarse-voiced drums, and crooked trumpets sound;
And echo trembles through the mountains round.
Now with the pomp Edina's turrets rung;
Soft maids, old matrons, from the windows hung.
A general shout salutes them from their toils,
And gloomy age is brightened into smiles.
Amidst the crowd the fond maternal eye
Seeks out her son, her young and only joy:
Sometimes she hopes, and then she trembling fears,
And down the furrowed cheeks descend the tears.
The soft enamoured maid is racked with pain,
She blushed to seek, and trembled for her swain.
Along the ranks slow moves the silvered sage,
A staff supports the senior's tottering age;
And keen inquires, O does my Allan breathe?
Or gasp'd my son beneath the arm of death?
492
By slow degrees retired the fading day;
Advanced from east the night in sober gray:
Triumphal bonfires on the darkness gain,
And light internal chequered through the pane.
Rocks, sky, and houses rend with noisy joy:
And sparkling fireworks blaze along the sky.
Advanced from east the night in sober gray:
Triumphal bonfires on the darkness gain,
And light internal chequered through the pane.
Rocks, sky, and houses rend with noisy joy:
And sparkling fireworks blaze along the sky.
Thus some hybernal nights, when darkness veils
The weeping sky, the fiery meteor sails
Oblique along the gloom—and silent night
Yields to the glories of the thwarting light.
The weeping sky, the fiery meteor sails
Oblique along the gloom—and silent night
Yields to the glories of the thwarting light.
Assembled now within the palace halls,
While lights resplendent glitter on the walls,
To crown the joyful day, majestic sat
The dauntless pillars of the rocky state.
Joy, liberty, and dangers past, combine
To mingle gladness with the joys of wine.
With temperate draughts they cheer the tossed soul;
And Gallia's nectar sparkles in the bowl.
Each chief the Hunter's valour blazes forth,
And greatness stoops to honour real worth.
Each valiant Caledonian's health goes round;
With every hero's name the vaulted halls resound.
Exalted with such breast-inflaming joys,
Let fair Egidia come, the monarch cries;
For her, her sovereign, her, her father calls,
To please his heroes in his regal halls.
She and her nymphs shall form a sprightly choir
To move harmonious to the charming lyre.
The blooming nymphs shall form the graceful round,
And trip obedient to the various sound.
While lights resplendent glitter on the walls,
To crown the joyful day, majestic sat
The dauntless pillars of the rocky state.
Joy, liberty, and dangers past, combine
To mingle gladness with the joys of wine.
With temperate draughts they cheer the tossed soul;
And Gallia's nectar sparkles in the bowl.
Each chief the Hunter's valour blazes forth,
And greatness stoops to honour real worth.
Each valiant Caledonian's health goes round;
With every hero's name the vaulted halls resound.
Exalted with such breast-inflaming joys,
Let fair Egidia come, the monarch cries;
For her, her sovereign, her, her father calls,
To please his heroes in his regal halls.
She and her nymphs shall form a sprightly choir
To move harmonious to the charming lyre.
The blooming nymphs shall form the graceful round,
And trip obedient to the various sound.
Swift as the word the blooming maids obey,
The king commands, though blushes tempt to stay.
The blooming bevy come with modest grace,
Love-darting eyes, and rose-suffused face.
Attractive charms each lovely damsel wears,
In youth's fair bloom, and pride of vernal years:
Above the rest, with more majestic air
Egidia towers, and more divinely fair
Outshines the maids, as the bright queen of night,
Amidst attendant stars, with silver-streaming light.
Adown her neck the golden ringlets flow;
Her lovely cheeks with roseate colours glow:
In her mild face the modest graces rise,
And beauty sparkles from her heavenly eyes.
The lilies wander in her heaving breast;
Her beauties self-admiring throngs confest.
A robe around her fragrant body swims,
But ill concealed her round-formed snowy limbs.
The fair advanced, the astonished peers admire,
And withered elders felt an inward fire.
Abashed, immoveable, the Hunter stood,
Unusual ardour bubbled through his blood;
From head to foot the lovely maid surveys,
And on her beauties feeds his longing eyes.
From admiration love's unerring dart
Inflamed his soul, and tickled through his heart.
The king commands, though blushes tempt to stay.
The blooming bevy come with modest grace,
Love-darting eyes, and rose-suffused face.
493
In youth's fair bloom, and pride of vernal years:
Above the rest, with more majestic air
Egidia towers, and more divinely fair
Outshines the maids, as the bright queen of night,
Amidst attendant stars, with silver-streaming light.
Adown her neck the golden ringlets flow;
Her lovely cheeks with roseate colours glow:
In her mild face the modest graces rise,
And beauty sparkles from her heavenly eyes.
The lilies wander in her heaving breast;
Her beauties self-admiring throngs confest.
A robe around her fragrant body swims,
But ill concealed her round-formed snowy limbs.
The fair advanced, the astonished peers admire,
And withered elders felt an inward fire.
Abashed, immoveable, the Hunter stood,
Unusual ardour bubbled through his blood;
From head to foot the lovely maid surveys,
And on her beauties feeds his longing eyes.
From admiration love's unerring dart
Inflamed his soul, and tickled through his heart.
| The poems of Ossian | |