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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November 30.
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 | The poems of Ossian |  |
November 30.
But how remove and leave the maid behind,
The pain, the comfort, of my love-sick mind?
Farewell, O north! farewell, ye heathy plains,
The maid detains me in coercive chains.
But how be here, and view these heavenly charms
Infolded willing in another's arms?
Another revel on that snowy breast;
Another in the fair Egidia blessed.
I'll fly, I'll fly these soul-inflaming eyes,
Roar seas betwixt us, and let mountains rise.
Be silent fame, nor ever pain the ear,
I wish to know, it thrills my soul with fear.
The pain, the comfort, of my love-sick mind?
Farewell, O north! farewell, ye heathy plains,
The maid detains me in coercive chains.
But how be here, and view these heavenly charms
Infolded willing in another's arms?
Another revel on that snowy breast;
Another in the fair Egidia blessed.
I'll fly, I'll fly these soul-inflaming eyes,
Roar seas betwixt us, and let mountains rise.
Be silent fame, nor ever pain the ear,
I wish to know, it thrills my soul with fear.
Thus racked the hill-born youth his manly mind;
Nor knew beneath thy hand Egidia pined,
All-conquering love! Increased the golden day,
And darts oblique on earth a sultry ray.
The peers assembled in the audience hall,
And, where the valiant youth? incessant call.
With heavy steps the mountaineer descends;
Each honoured hero to the warrior bends.
The feast renewed—goes round the sparkling bowl,
And temperate draughts revive the drooping soul.
And deigns the stranger tell from whence he came,
To reap this harvest of unequal fame,
The monarch placid spoke—What happy sire
To hear thy deeds shall feel a father's fire?
What happy mother does the hero own,
Who now sits tearful for her godlike son?
What numerous tribe now miss your warrior-head,
While in the youth the people's bulwark fled?
Say, highly-honoured, say, your country's friend,
Speak, valiant youth:—Ye noble peers attend.
The monarch said, and with attentive mien
Expects reply.—The Hunter, touched with pain,
In mute suspense, and deep-revolving stands,
Fain to evade—but 'tis the king commands.
Then thus: Of me no joyful father hears,
No matron's eye for me is drowned in tears;
No numerous tribe sigh for their absent head;
In me, in me no popular bulwark fled:
Obscure, unhonoured, and the mate of swains;
No noble blood encircles in these veins.
Nor knew beneath thy hand Egidia pined,
All-conquering love! Increased the golden day,
And darts oblique on earth a sultry ray.
The peers assembled in the audience hall,
And, where the valiant youth? incessant call.
With heavy steps the mountaineer descends;
Each honoured hero to the warrior bends.
The feast renewed—goes round the sparkling bowl,
And temperate draughts revive the drooping soul.
And deigns the stranger tell from whence he came,
To reap this harvest of unequal fame,
The monarch placid spoke—What happy sire
To hear thy deeds shall feel a father's fire?
What happy mother does the hero own,
Who now sits tearful for her godlike son?
502
While in the youth the people's bulwark fled?
Say, highly-honoured, say, your country's friend,
Speak, valiant youth:—Ye noble peers attend.
The monarch said, and with attentive mien
Expects reply.—The Hunter, touched with pain,
In mute suspense, and deep-revolving stands,
Fain to evade—but 'tis the king commands.
Then thus: Of me no joyful father hears,
No matron's eye for me is drowned in tears;
No numerous tribe sigh for their absent head;
In me, in me no popular bulwark fled:
Obscure, unhonoured, and the mate of swains;
No noble blood encircles in these veins.
| The poems of Ossian | |